What do you look for in a traditional knife?

freedoom

freedoom

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Jan 31, 2010
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I'm curious what you look at when you are going to buy a traditional knife. I know fit and finish is important but what about half stops, number of blades, blade shapes, handle material? When you find a knife at a yard sale, antique shop or even new at your favorite dealer, what's the first thing you look at?
 
I lean quite heavily towards the "Jack" configuration - two blades opening on the same end ..... peanut, sway back jack, small texas jack, etc. Stockman pattern is fine too (but I prefer the ones that substitute a pen blade for the spey).

I like clip, wharncliffe/sheepsfoot, and pen blades.

Bone handles are more than good enough for me ..... I don't care for wood or synthetic handles. I don't usually pony up the $$ for stag.

Case CV or SS, 1095, D2, 440C are all fine with me ..... I don't need "supersteels". Half stops aren't an issue either way - take 'em or leave 'em ..... depends on the knife.
 
coyote711 said:
I lean quite heavily towards the "Jack" configuration - two blades opening on the same end ..... peanut, sway back jack, small texas jack, etc. Stockman pattern is fine too (but I prefer the ones that substitute a pen blade for the spey).

I like clip, wharncliffe/sheepsfoot, and pen blades.

Bone handles are more than good enough for me ..... I don't care for wood or synthetic handles. I don't usually pony up the $$ for stag.

Case CV or SS, 1095, D2, 440C are all fine with me ..... I don't need "supersteels". Half stops aren't an issue either way - take 'em or leave 'em ..... depends on the knife.
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Which of these steels would develop a patina over time ?
 
I like half stops, long pulls, spear and wharncliffe blades. 1-2 blades. Relatively sturdy. My favourite patterns: Canoe, Barlow, Jack and Sodbuster. I also like Copperheads and Trappers. For handle material: I take it all, wood, leather, bark, (ebony is very, very nice) bone, horn and stag.
 
fatehbajwa said:
Which of these steels would develop a patina over time ?
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1095, cv. d2 will patina. I look for anything old. I'll buy an Imperial or Richards with a tin handle if I like it.Buying specific new knives I go after stockmans,trappers, bone stag and wood. I also like unusual knives or patterns.If I can avoid half stops I will.
 
There's much talk about 'perfect 'knives but if the knife looks and feels good and the price hasn't appalled you, you enjoy using and looking at it, then that's the real criterion. We all have our particular 'issues' that makes us look askance at a knife. Mine are clearly noticeable gaps and raised springs on open, that's what I look for as regards build quality in a Traditional knife. Decent jigging and bone quality and the use of a suitable shield are also noteworthy.
 
freedoom said:
I know fit and finish is important but what about half stops, number of blades, blade shapes, handle material?
Click to expand...

I look for a comfortable size, natural handle materials, and often shop by brand.

When you find a knife at a yard sale, antique shop or even new at your favorite dealer, what's the first thing you look at?
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Condition and price; I don't buy used stuff. :)
 
Hmm. I have a strong preference for 2-bladed jack style knives about 3.25 inches long closed, with bone or acrylic scales and fairly wide/bulky handles. I like wharncliffes and california clips, spear blades as long as they have long pulls and a swedge for the primary, and pen or coping for the secondary blade. Don't like spey blades, not a huge fan of wood or stag scales (Though there are, of course, exceptions). Carbon steel. Traditional slippies just don't seem right if they're stainless. I prefer half stops, but their absence isn't a deal breaker.

However, I'm willing to branch out and try new things.
 
thejamppa said:
I like half stops, long pulls, spear and wharncliffe blades. 1-2 blades. Relatively sturdy. My favourite patterns: Canoe, Barlow, Jack and Sodbuster. I also like Copperheads and Trappers. For handle material: I take it all, wood, leather, bark, (ebony is very, very nice) bone, horn and stag.
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For me, I don't know how you could say it much better than that. I like the old traditional blade patterns, bone/stag/wood colors, and different finishes. I don't get tired of them. I have some knives that I purchased years ago that I like more than when I bought them 35 - 40 years ago.

Just this evening I put back my Eye Brand mini Canoe that I bought back in the mid '80s. A quick few strokes over the diamond rod, a quick strop on the pen blade and it looks as good as ever. A classic indeed with its burnished German silver bolsters and the engraved Federal shield embedded into the all black stag.

Buy something YOU like when you see it and handle it. Recommendations are good, especially when it comes to getting info on the makers. You would be well served to identify the patterns you like, then go to a knife store, gun show, gun shop or anywhere else they sell knives so you can see them in person.

They need to be sturdy, feel good in the hand, and be well constructed. I don't care much about the super steels as I have several knives with them and in practical use they really don't make that much difference for me.

Buy from a good maker, and the knife will last for years. I am on a Queen jag now, and have a couple coming from XXike XXtham that I ordered from him on Friday. Be tough to go wrong with Queen (love that D2!!) based on the last two I got from XXike.

Robert
 
I'm really liking the single-blade trapper pattern. Just got a Scagel Fruitport clip with smooth bone handle scales. An old-school beauty.
 
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