What exactly makes a knife traditional?

[Cory Hess]

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to disagree here, just have been curious for a while and since this thread is up thought it would be a good place to ask.

modern one-hand opening features are out. (thumb studs and thumb holes)

What about old army knives, like those made by Camillus and Queen? The bottle opener seems to have a thumb stud on many of these knives. Does that disqualify them from being traditional? Here's a picture that seems to indicate that Camillus was making these at least as early as the 1940s:

I would assume that this would be an exception to the rule, and understand that it's going to be very difficult to come up with guidelines where there aren't exceptions. You have to draw the line somewhere. I'm asking because there was one occasion where I was going to post a picture to one of these and didn't because I wasn't sure about the thumb stud.

 

[meako]

I think the word "traditional" is the root of the confusion. Its almost like a fog bank. You can see it, feel it,maybe even smell it,but once you are in it all you see is fog and you're not sure of your position. That's a bit of an esoteric analogy even for me.:yawn:
I have the same question-personally I don't use any of my "trappers" for trapping or skinning game as they were built to do. A Persian Kard ? I would consider to be traditional-it's just someone else's tradition.
The knives we mainly discuss and show on this subforum I would term " American or English vintage style" .Any way I'm happy that the definiton is slightly loose otherwise there would be too many subfora pertaining to individual styles ,makers,materials,design and purpose. Eg the "Case G10 Russlock forum" or the "Laguiole wooden scales forum".
Sorry to be so wordy first thing in the morning .

 

[meako]

sorry double post

 

[Cory Hess]

I think the word "traditional" is the root of the confusion.

I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description ["traditional knife"], and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it, and the carbon fiber, spring assisted Benchmade with thumb studs involved in this case is not that.

OK, so I paraphrased a little.

 

[knarfeng]

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to disagree here, just have been curious for a while and since this thread is up thought it would be a good place to ask.



What about old army knives, like those made by Camillus and Queen? The bottle opener seems to have a thumb stud on many of these knives. Does that disqualify them from being traditional? Here's a picture that seems to indicate that Camillus was making these at least as early as the 1940s:

I would assume that this would be an exception to the rule, and understand that it's going to be very difficult to come up with guidelines where there aren't exceptions. You have to draw the line somewhere. I'm asking because there was one occasion where I was going to post a picture to one of these and didn't because I wasn't sure about the thumb stud.

It's not an exception because that is not a thumb stud. That is part of the can opener. You brace it against the can.

 

[Cory Hess]

It's not an exception because that is not a thumb stud. That is part of the can opener. You brace it against the can.

Gotchya. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[5K Qs]

It's always worth searching the Traditional forum rather than the whole of Bladeforums. Instead of using the search box at the top of the page use the box which appears when you scroll over the words 'Search Forum' just above and to the right of the stickies :thumbup:

Thanks for the hint, Jack. I'll try that out later today.

-GT

 

[5K Qs]

OK, so I paraphrased a little.

That quote from Justice Stewart ("I know it when I see it") sprang to my mind when I read the original post. But I didn't know who actually said it, nor would I have been able to spoof a post from him . Cory, you sure know a lot of miscellaneous stuff!

-GT

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the hint, Jack. I'll try that out later today.

I have Pertinux to thank for just about everything I know about how this forum works! Glad to pass it on GT :thumbup:

Jack

 

[stabman]

Generally, it seems that if I own it, it doesn't count as traditional.



The Northwoods Burnside Jack may no longer count as traditional.

 

[Trapper92]

Trapper, is your handle referring to a Trapper version of a Winchester 92 or 92 clone? I have a little LSI Puma 92 Trapper in .357 mag that I love and cherish. I'd let a lot of other things go before that I think. I just hope I never have to.

Well I have definitely always loved the old Winchester 92s, but the main reason for my handle was that my first Case knife was a yellow cv trapper, the 92 part is the year I was born, just kinda seemed to work I guess. I've always been around working cattle with a good buddy of mines family, and it seemed like every dang one of em had either a yella Case Trapper or a yella Moore Maker on em. I always had my 110 and was and still am very attached to that knife, might sound odd but it holds alot of good memories of things I've done with it, and I always was very content with that and only that knife in my pocket.. I honestly didn't know Case made nearly as many knives as they do up until about 8 or so months ago. I always toyed with the idea of getting a Case trapper just never did. I picked one up one day from the outdoors store and it started the knife addiction. Even now though with 11 or so Case knives, my 110 my case trapper and my peanut are the only ones that see any long term pocket carry, everything else might come with me for a day or so, but one of those three are the ones that seem to find their way to work with me most often

 

[Trapper92]

Thanks for the "back story", Trapper92. I really enjoy getting a little history about how forumites ended up here, what their "knife goals" are, how their interest has "escalated" , and so on. Welcome to the traditional subforum!

-GT

Thanks GT, it's a great subforum to be apart of. I knew it was a very close knit group of people here who from what I've seen are some of the least selfish and most genuinely generous people. Thanks again to all on here for being so welcoming!

 

[22-rimfire]

Most of us know a traditional when we see it. It is sort of like porn, you know it when you see it. Excuse my analogy.

The mods will certainly let you know that something does NOT fit the traditional mold. Those threads either are closed or moved to the General Discussion forum.

 

[pertinux]

I consider myself reasonably computer literate for an old geezer, but I've yet to conduct what I'd consider a successful search on BladeForums. I suppose I should check if the FAQ gives helpful hints on searching.

-GT

It's always worth searching the Traditional forum rather than the whole of Bladeforums. Instead of using the search box at the top of the page use the box which appears when you scroll over the words 'Search Forum' just above and to the right of the stickies :thumbup:

Thanks for the hint, Jack. I'll try that out later today.

-GT

I have Pertinux to thank for just about everything I know about how this forum works! Glad to pass it on GT :thumbup:

Jack

The forum software and Search functions are idiosyncratic enough, including the software's archiving of relatively recent posts, that searching here successfully is as much an art as it is a science....

My most successful searches often come on the heels of having read something here previously, and thus having *something* to go on (such as user name, odd turn of phrase, specific terminology etc.). Of course, that is of no help to newer members-- nor to me, now that I no longer have the ability to read as extensively as I was once able to.

Still, there are certain tips that can help, with Jack's above being one of the most pertinent.

Here's a picture of the Search Box in question:

Notice, you can also select "Show Posts" in the gray box to the right instead of the default "Show Threads," which is sometimes more helpful yet-- especially if one's top result is the zillion-page "What Traditional Knife Are You Toting Today?" thread.

I've intended to put together a blog entry-- complete with pictures!-- to aid Searchers, but continue to get sidetracked. If and when I do, I'll be sure to let y'all know.

~ P.

 

[knarfeng]

The mods will certainly let you know that something does NOT fit the traditional mold.

You bet your bippy.

 

[knarfeng]

Razzle Frattin' double post.

 

[Amos Iron Wolf]

That would be very helpful, Pertinux. I've found forum searching on several forums with any history to be at times more an exercise in irritation and frustration and only rarely actually helpful. Even using careful keywording strings and having some database query experience in the dark old days when a Wang VS25 was the size of a commercial washing machine and I was talking to a DEC 2060 in USC via a 300 baud dial-up modem from my Franklin Ace 1000 at home near Ft. Bragg, NC.

Trapper, nothing wrong with a good ole trapper pattern knife either. One of my favorites. I ended up with the Case smooth chestnut boned mini-trapper as a mistake on my part in the last moments of several years ago. I thought I was bidding on a full size trapper and only a few moments after I won did I realize that I'd sort of overlooked the part where it was a mini-trapper. I thought, "Man, I hope I like this thing." Nope. Love it. It lives in my watch pocket 24/7 and only comes out to cut something or move to a clean pair of jeans. Same as my SAK Farmer.

That little Trapper carbine in my hands and the mini-trapper or a full sized trapper in the pocket makes for a good combo. Good in either case. And traditional.

 

[Trapper92]

The trapper really is a great pattern. It's done everything I've asked of it for sure. The trapper carbine and trapper knife combo sure does sound like a winner! I go a little over board on the lever gun of my choice, I've got a Marlin 1895 sbl in 45-70 that I can't get enough of! Big bore cartridge with a lot of history in a very compact and nice shooting combo

 

[Jack Black]

:thumbup: P

 

[Will Power]

These are Traditional but it aint always black&white Other colours count too!

Some are wood, bone,stag,delrin,plastic,metal,horn,shell,cell but no opening holes or buttons please Should have a solid backspring not skeleton construction either I suspect......