What about Walk & Talk!

[supratentorial]

Some additional considerations...

If I recall correctly, the original (not reproduction) Robeson "MasterCraft" knives had bronze bushings. I think some were etched "Never bind" or something similar.

Tony Bose uses bushings in his customs as well as the "collaboration knives" from Case. Also the liners are mill relieved. He is often described as creating mechanically perfect knives and these features play some role as well as decades of experience. His generosity and his expertly tuned patterns have also helped a lot of beginning knife makers.

 

[Modoc ED]

While I like a knife to have a firm, solid, walk and talk, I do not let the blade snap closed. Instead. I pinch the blade between thumb and forefinger and ease it down when closing.

 

[supratentorial]

Here's a post by Charlie N. with a beautiful Robeson salesman's sample that has translucent handles to show the bearing.

Here are some Robeson MasterCraft knives. MasterCraft knives had a "U" shaped bronze bearing afixed to the rear of the tang, the portion that bore on the backspring. That bearing made for very easy opening and closing of the knife's blades

MasterCraft pocketknives were premium quality items. The master blade was most often nicely etched, "NEV-R-BIND OILESS BEARINGS" inside a flowing banner.

First is a salesman's sample single blade knife with green transparent handles illustrating the bronze bearing.
This is a rare item. I've seen one other with clear handles.
This one is essentially a mint knife.

A close-up detail of the knife's tang with the bronze bearing visible through
the handle.

....

And this photo shows the bushings and mill relieved liners on one of Tony Bose's beautiful custom knives.

 

[Bugdoc]

I find that W&T is the quality that sets traditional slippies apart from other knives. So, yes it has to be there unless there's some exceptional reason to accept less of it.

 

[Bugdoc]

While I like a knife to have a firm, solid, walk and talk, I do not let the blade snap closed. Instead. I pinch the blade between thumb and forefinger and ease it down when closing.

Me too Ed. (Picked that up here on the forum.)

 

[black mamba]

To me the W&T is more important that the F&F. The action is involved in using the knife, while cosmetics are nice, but rarely affect performance. Good walk & talk are like the smooth action and crisp trigger pull on a good old S&W revolver: pure delight to the senses.

 

[BenjaminRush]

A nice snappy knife is a beautiful thing

 

[jblyttle]

I don't have any proof of it but I've always assumed that a knife with exceptional walk & talk can afford to get a little worse as it ages with use. If the walk & talk is already poor when it's brand new and then gets worse with use, the knife might be retired sooner.

I've never carried a knife long enough to find out if walk & talk actually decreases but it seems like it might.

Maybe, and while I'm an enthusiast I'm an amateur in experience compared to many. But, I can can say that I have had more than a couple old well made knives with blades worn from years of use that still had great snap. I've also seen more than a few weak old knives. Who can say? Some knives lose it, some never had it and the top ones keep it forever.

 

[Railsplitter]

Maybe, and while I'm an enthusiast I'm an amateur in experience compared to many. But, I can can say that I have had more than a couple old well made knives with blades worn from years of use that still had great snap. I've also seen more than a few weak old knives. Who can say? Some knives lose it, some never had it and the top ones keep it forever.

Thanks for your input, Justin. That makes perfect sense and very well stated.