What do you stay away from when it comes to slipjoints?

About the only thing I avoid in a slippy is it being over 4 inches in length closed. Very few exceptions to this rule. IMO it takes it out of the realm of being a comfortable pocket knife, to a belt knife riding in a sheath.
 
Not to turn this into an anti-lady's-leg thread, but.... I see a lady's leg knife and I sort of imagine it as something Errol Flynn would have carried. Seems like a throwback to when this would have been seen as quite naughty. Not my taste, but whatever. But then I see a lady's leg knife finished with heavily craggy, burnt stag scales, and it just turns my stomach. Why in the world would they put this on a knife that is supposed to be a bit risque?
Is there a sub-sect of the secret society that collects granny-leg knives?:eek:
 
Filework, soft springs, more than two backsprings, acrylic, stainless steel, wharncliffe blades, and knives under 3.5".
 
This thread is interesting & often very amusing.

Frankly, it's a miracle anything gets sold :D:D:eek:
 
What do I stay away from when it comes to slipjoints?
I only buy stainless steel blades; I wouldn't purchase anything with "yella" plastic, stag doesn't appeal to me at all, and I wouldn't buy anything made in china.
 
RonnieC said:
But then I see a lady's leg knife finished with heavily craggy, burnt stag scales, and it just turns my stomach. Why in the world would they put this on a knife that is supposed to be a bit risque?
Is there a sub-sect of the secret society that collects granny-leg knives?:eek:
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lol! That's some funny stuff!
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I tell you two what. I'm going to get one. And post pictures of it opening bottles every day in the "What traditional knife are you toting today" until I find a 2011 Forum Knife! :p
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Please, please do this and write up a review for the rest of us! Someone needs to do it! :D
 
RonnieC said:
Not to turn this into an anti-lady's-leg thread, but.... I see a lady's leg knife and I sort of imagine it as something Errol Flynn would have carried. Seems like a throwback to when this would have been seen as quite naughty. Not my taste, but whatever. But then I see a lady's leg knife finished with heavily craggy, burnt stag scales, and it just turns my stomach. Why in the world would they put this on a knife that is supposed to be a bit risque?
Is there a sub-sect of the secret society that collects granny-leg knives?:eek:
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Actually there is Ronnie.
 
I prefer mine to have a single back spring, and anything over 2 is a no go for daily carry. Just gets too lumpy. My EDC is a Douk-Douk squirrel and a little Vic Classic SD on my keychain if that tells you something about my requirements for fit and finish.
 
Well I am open to a lot but, a few things I do shy from. I really just can not get behind carrying anything under 3 1/2 inches. I am finding it hard to buy any new multi blade knives that dont contain a straight and bellied blade combo. Blade play and weak springs suck!
 
RonnieC said:
But then I see a lady's leg knife finished with heavily craggy, burnt stag scales, and it just turns my stomach. Why in the world would they put this on a knife that is supposed to be a bit risque?
Is there a sub-sect of the secret society that collects granny-leg knives?:eek:
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That's funny. :)

rma100 said:
Actually there is Ronnie.
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huh.gif


In which the conversation takes a troubling turn....


;)

~ P.
 
I just never could quite warm up to Case's Tru-Sharp. It's more than serviceable, but I can't connect (in my mind anyhow) to a Case without a Patina of a sort. They've offered stainless for ages now, but I just prefer mine, with a patina, sort of a stereotype I've developed with Case I guess. Likewise I like Buck and their stainless, and always picture a Buck sporting a nice shiny blade of a sort. Just how I see traditional knives, whether it be right or wrong. Never did take much of a liking to overzealous firework, or damascus blades ( I know) especially on a traditional folder.
 
confucius37 said:
I don't like knives that are hard to open, be it for a stiff spring or an uncomfortable nail nick...just doesn't make me feel good to carry a knife that I can't open easily.

I prefer carbon steel because I like seeing the gleam of a freshly honed edge, I don't know why it just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside seeing that edge sparkle in the sun. Not that I don't own or carry SS knives...I just prefer carbon steel.

I don't like knives with more than two blades...I like just pulling out my knife, opening the blade and cutting what needs to be cut. I don't like standing there thinking about what blade I am going to use...then again if I ever decided to take up whittling or became a ranch hand my opinion might change...

I don't like brass on slipjoints, I prefer nickel silver or steel...just an aesthetics issue I guess.

I don't like thick knives, I much prefer a longer knife with a slimmer body, it fits my pocket better.

I guess that's about it for me...the majority of these are personal preferences, I've gone through more than a few knives to figure these things out, but now that I do, I am more prudent in my buying habits and I have a higher "it's a keeper" rate :D
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me too, on all of these
 
I generally avoid:
synthetic handles (unless it's an Old Timer);
blades with too much etching or printing;
single blade knives with Sheepfoot or Wharncliffe (don't mind as a second blade);
'fat' patterns (sunfish, elephant toe, etc.);
goofy shapes (footballs, legs, or fish);
used knives!
 
I find myself avoiding synthetic handles, although some of the acrylics have tempted me.
I also seem to prefer a flat grind on the blades, the ones I have had with a hollow grind just didn't get carried.
I pay attention to length and width. I tend to prefer knives with a closed length around 3.5" and around 1/2" thick or less. Anything much more than this to me just gets too bulky and heavy.
I don't care for knives with redundant blades like some of the congress patterns have. I also avoid knives that have secondary blades that protrude excessively from the handle when closed.
I like 1095 but I will take a stainless blade as long as its more toward the higher end as far as stainless goes (440C, 154CM) I tend to avoid 420.
 
Bob W said:
I generally avoid:
used knives!
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That reminds me, I tend to stay away from new knives. Of the ones I currently own only the Case peanut and the Colonial barlow (bought in the late '60s) were purchased new. All the others had a life of use before they came to me.
 
Hmmm, well, I have plenty of carbon steel knives but I prefer stainless just because I like shiny :D The main things I don't like are blade wobble, severely off center blades, gaps, and thick edges. As an unskilled (but practicing!) sharpener, I just don't have the ability to make an obtuse edge sharp yet.

I also hate the new, junky "official" BSA knives. I know that the Scouts didn't always have the best quality official knives, but the current ones are really awful :(
 
Great news, guys! The 2013 forum knife is going to be a 5" leg done in gold glitter celluloid in fine 420J surgical stainless, etched with "Get a leg up!" on all 4 blades - sheepsfoot, wharncliffe, spey, and serrated reverse tanto. Taking orders starting on February 29.
 
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