What is the case/argument for traditionals over a modern folder?

[jc57]

I don't really see that it has to be an all or nothing thing. I own and carry both, and will switch up depending on what I have planned for the day. In fact I usually carry both a modern locking thumbstud folder and a traditional multiple-blade slipjoint bone handled folder together every day. They serve different needs. Here's a pic of a typical daily combo. The choice of slipjoint may vary but the little Boker KeyCom is truly every day carry.

It's hard to tell from that pic but the KeyCom is very small, about the size of a typical USB thumb drive when closed.



We already have a thread somewhere about traditional and modern folder combos and if you'll look at that one you'll see that not everyone is a purist. I think it's really just a matter of individual tastes and things we enjoy.

 

[herisson]

Why traditionals are great has been said here in so many, relevant and, even, moving ways that I just have no more words... I will only add that today I still own some modern folders but mainly traditionals. The moderns are great performing tools and I should use them more but most of the time I grab a small and/or a bigger traditional for EDC. They make me feel good carrying and using them. Most of them are slippies, so basically no legal issues in Old Europe. That's the added bonus : I can EDC all of them anytime. Sweet.

 

[cchu518]

At least for me, as a knife newbie, the journey to a traditional has been somewhat philosophical and enlightening to myself. I stopped myself that very day I posted that question about traditionals because my obsession with spec sheets on moderns got out of hand and did so very quickly.

From March to now I somehow ended up with a drawer full of pocket folders like 10 of them at some point. It was my own doing of course no one to blame but myself. Flip vs thumbstud S30, 8CR13Mov, VG10 it got out of hand, and it fueled my own little pleasure synapses in terms of how I've been conditioned to enjoy consumerism.

I was about to kick it up a notch quite literally and break the $100 knife barrier not 10 minutes before posting this thread. Before that, the most expensive knife not counting my Henckels and Globals in the kitchen was a mini grip and that Pinnacle 750, nice knife but too big btw... see there I go again...

Yet still, I was there that morning feverishly debating which other Ti-Framelock I was about to buy when it dawned on me, I cut boxes, twine, fruit, vegetables off the vine, letters and not much anything more serious since buying all of these modern folders with their different characteristics.

I think I'm going to rotate what I have but generally speaking will have the traditional on me as that pretty much covers what I'm going to cut. There is nothing for me to Baton in the middle of Manhattan so I don't need an overbuilt knife...lmao. I still love moderns but symbolically speaking the humble slipjoint is what I am choosing to use to combat my own consumerism. I don't like that every time I see a cool knife that I want it makes me want to reach into my wallet and grab my debit card to buy it when what I have already works splendidly. I don't want to put any additional value into knives even though they can be beautiful and expensive on both traditionals and moderns outside of the fact that they cut things as I should be holding other things in life at a higher priority.

Of course this is a mindset that I'm shooting for. I still wanna pull the trigger on a Ti Framelock everytime I see one, lol, but I'm going to refrain. Having used 8CR13Mov, 440A, 440C, 420, VG10, Gin 1, Aus 8, Sandvik, S30 I can categorically say that these are all good steels and you have got to be kidding me about splitting hairs over the performance of MOST of them over one another as they generally perform evenly in a paper cutting test . And pretty darn close in edge retention for the most part.

Which is what I would say is the top thing that I was doing besides whittling a little wood with the knives that I tried out. I was being stupid, but I had to know... like 154 vs VG10 for example...because I read somewhere on BF, the giant debate about it. It's all splitting hairs at the end of the day. The traditional that I just ordered, it has a great Gadsden flag on it (I'm pro small government, individual freedoms and I love reptiles), a nice handle and some sharp steel with a thin profile that I know will slice the heck out of that piece of paper that I'm going to throw at it. I know that it will open some boxes well and cut a piece of fruit and I know that it will fit really well in my pocket or bag and that if I whip it out no one is going to freak out as it looks like a sak and takes two hands to open.

With a modern the fitting in the pocket is an issue as is a whole bunch of other things. Now in the garden that's another issue or in a situation where one handed open is handy and safe. In any case for me its trying to keep the whole love of knives in perspective.

I don't really see that it has to be an all or nothing thing. I own and carry both, and will switch up depending on what I have planned for the day. In fact I usually carry both a modern locking thumbstud folder and a traditional multiple-blade slipjoint bone handled folder together every day.

 

[timberweasel]

I reckon I prefer traditional pocket knives to modern one-handers for the same reason I prefer an analogue watch over digital. When I was growing up, kids all wore digital watches because they didn't yet know how to tell time on an analogue clock. I recall feeling quite proud the day I got my first analogue watch--like Dad's. Kinda stuck with me, I suppose. There's just something a little more refined and adult about carrying a slip-joint. Classier, in my mind.

-Brett

 

[herisson]

Because it implies a solid dosis of "know how". The touch of class inherent to the "old materials" is the cherry on the cake.

 

[zeroed4x]

That is a Rough Rider "Don't Tread On Me" Stockman, RR1390. Available from [large well known non-BF dealer knife vendor] (maybe elsewhere, too? - dunno) for around $12 - $15. Also available in trapper and, not sure, but possibly other patterns.

Yea thanks I found them on ebay, its a novelty type knife, made with garbage steel but its still a collectable for me just to have one with a Gadsden.

 

[zeroed4x]

Well said Will (DrPenguin) I agree but I carry modern, fixed and traditional.

Both Modern and Traditional knives have their appeal but for different reasons. Its subjective, some people must have chocolate and others must have vanilla, I for one am lucky to have a deep appreciation for most all of them.

 

[RI Swamp Yankee]

When I was a kid, I saved up for a BB gun. I wanted the Crossman, which had the removable magazine and CO2 cartridges and looked just like a real army rifle. While I was at the hunting shop, I saw a new import from Korea of all places - it looked like an old Brown Bess musket, and was slightly cheaper than the Crossman rifle. It was an under-lever pneumatic, one looooong pull per shot. You had to unscrew the magazine from the "muzzle", and pinch the bejeezus out of your fingers fighting the magazine spring to add in BB's one at a time. It had a full length wood stock and accurately aligned iron sights. The Crossman had injection-molded hollow plastic stocks bolted carelessly to a stamped steel action, making it nose-heavy, and had some phony plastic ring-sight things.

I told the guy behind the counter, "The Crossman is cool and modern, but the musket feels better."

"Musket it is, then," he said and rang up the sale before I could even reply. I don't regret the purchase, and have the gun to this very day.

Traditional knife it is, then.

 

[Planterz]

Another thing I like about traditional knives is they can be unique, despite being mass produced. Of course, some aren't, and can never be all that "unique", like a delrin handled stainless steel Case. But every knife hafted in wood, bone, horn, or antler is unique. And every knife with a carbon steel blade will become unique with its patina. I recently sold one, but I had 2 Case 6332 stockmans both made in 1974. The one I kept has jigging along the entirety of the handles and a fairly uniform dye job. The one I sold had jigging only towards the center and the dye was darker in the center and lighter on the ends. They're the same knife, yet so different. The grain on my ebony handled GEC #33 whittler will never be the same as any other, nor will with burnt stag on my Case wharncliffe trapper.

But when it comes to modern knives, differences are usually the source of complaints. Uneven grinds, off-centered blades, etc. Slabs of titanium, G-10, and carbon fiber look the same. When they don't, people complain. The jigging and dye on bone will never be identical. The grain and color of wood will never be identical. Stag will never match 100%. Knives like these will always be unique.

 

[richstag]

I love and use both. I got along well with a no8 opinel in carbon steel as a work knife. No lock and no problems. I really love that knife. It's about as simple as you will find and as easy to sharpen as you can get. I mainly carried modern knives for most of my life (29 years old) and for the last three years I carried traditional knives exclusively. With that said I am currently carrying a modern knife. My reasoning began with wanting to try CPM-M4 and I am very happy that I did. The more I thin the edge and use the knife the more I am impressed to a far higher extent than I would be with 1095 or the likes. Impressed by a far margin. Then you add the lock back in. Yes I can get along without a lock but I have found situations that the lock really helps, mainly when loaning the knife (I think you can see my point). For what I am doing now the modern with its thin blade, practical design, weatherproof materials, strong pivot bolt and performance is keeping it in my pocket. I just can't justify putting a traditional back in my pocket to have to sharpen it 5 times a day to get through work when this CPM-M4 can go unphased. With that said, right now I am using the knife as a "cold" tool in an environment that I have no worries. If I was to go out in the wilderness I would stick with 1095 or the likes for the simple fact that I can sharpen it on nearly anything. CPM-M4 is an amazingly easy steel to sharpen with diamond but the old timers tricks for the field will NOT work. Also, you will not find me warming up to the cold plastic feel of the modern. As a pure tool to get me through a day with a sharp knife that can do it all the modern has been winning out, mainly because I have been cutting very abrasive materials. One cut with 1095 would end in a DULL knife. I also don't care about the modern like I do my traditional. The modern I can toss to the side and I don't care if it gets dropped or stepped on in a construction site. My stag and wood handled beauties??? I would be sick.

Traditional will always excel for me in the ease of sharpening, warmth of feel and character and heritage.

My next step when funds allow will be looking to a maker like Ken Erickson to build me a traditional with CPM-M4 if he would accept.

Even then I would probably baby the knife more so than a cheap plastic modern knife.

Kevin

 

[pmew]

I initially replied quite quickly to this thread, here is my post #15 from earlier.

For me firstly they tend to have no lock, secondly they tend to have blades of less than three inches in length and thirdly, they look completely classic and timeless.
These are my preferences, that's all

Paul

This is completely true but I'm going to expand because yesterday something happened that sums it up perfectly for me. But going back first, in my late teens I was into modern locking knives and was obsessed with steel types and locks etc, I still have many spydercos and modern bokers and various huge multitool leatherman type knives that I do rarely use from time to time. Then after realising that I was buying knives that I couldn't legally carry about (UK) and that the knife I carried daily was one that belonged to my father (Taylor's eye witness lambsfoot jack) I moved into traditionals. Aside from the fact that I love their utility they do all the jobs I need them to to, I don't miss super-steel or locks. Anyway...

Yesterday my neighbour asked for my help. He is building a hot-tub out if recycled stuff and was using the plastic outer shell of a fish-farm float as the main body. Approx 1.2m square plastic filled with polystyrene. So we needed to scalp this thing and remove the insulation from its insides. I went into my garage, to my toolbox past my array of do it all knives and all my traditionals and lifted an old paint stained Stanley knife with a retractable replaceable blade (you know the odd quadrangle shaped ones) and headed back to help. My point is this. When I really had a lot of very serious cutting to do, I went to my toolbox not to my pocket.

Paul

 

[cchu518]

I'm not gonna lie I would have grabbed the Crossman and not waited two seconds to run to the cash register. LMAO.

What would be interesting to see is what are the views of those who have traditionals and the favored firearms. I love my dad's old 80's Beretta's in .380 and 9mm but my money is in polymer's xD and CZ75 P07 the latter more than the former! Better yet I would love to hear the view I'm going to post this as a new question.

When I was a kid, I saved up for a BB gun. I wanted the Crossman, which had the removable magazine and CO2 cartridges and looked just like a real army rifle. While I was at the hunting shop, I saw a new import from Korea of all places - it looked like an old Brown Bess musket, and was slightly cheaper than the Crossman rifle. It was an under-lever pneumatic, one looooong pull per shot. You had to unscrew the magazine from the "muzzle", and pinch the bejeezus out of your fingers fighting the magazine spring to add in BB's one at a time. It had a full length wood stock and accurately aligned iron sights. The Crossman had injection-molded hollow plastic stocks bolted carelessly to a stamped steel action, making it nose-heavy, and had some phony plastic ring-sight things.

I told the guy behind the counter, "The Crossman is cool and modern, but the musket feels better."

"Musket it is, then," he said and rang up the sale before I could even reply. I don't regret the purchase, and have the gun to this very day.

Traditional knife it is, then.

 

[puukkoman]

I'm not gonna lie I would have grabbed the Crossman and not waited two seconds to run to the cash register. LMAO.

What would be interesting to see is what are the views of those who have traditionals and the favored firearms. I love my dad's old 80's Beretta's in .380 and 9mm but my money is in polymer's xD and CZ75 P07 the latter more than the former! Better yet I would love to hear the view I'm going to post this as a new question.

You'll find a lot more wheelguns, methinks, among the traditional knife enthusiast crowd. Not so much black plastic. Generally, we tend to favor traditional tools of all types, not just our knives.

 

[kamagong]

I'm not gonna lie I would have grabbed the Crossman and not waited two seconds to run to the cash register. LMAO.

What would be interesting to see is what are the views of those who have traditionals and the favored firearms. I love my dad's old 80's Beretta's in .380 and 9mm but my money is in polymer's xD and CZ75 P07 the latter more than the former! Better yet I would love to hear the view I'm going to post this as a new question.

I don't know if that would be an accurate gauge of people's preferences. My favorite firearms (personally owned) are my 1911, SR15, and CZ 452. The ones next on my To Buy list are a Blaser R93, Beretta Silver Pigeon, and Winchester 1886 in .45-70. Hmmm...modern and traditional, just like my knives. Might be a good test after all.

- Christian

 

[KYenglish]

great thread, I've enjoyed reading through it,

About the only thing I can think to add is that one of the reason I stared towards transnationals over modern folders (part from many of the reasons mentioned above) is that it is nice to be able to go out and find, or hope to find, somehtign you're interested in in a store (flea market or yard sale for that matter, that's even better!) and I've hardly ever found a "good" modern folder like that where I live or where I've traveled, it's fairly rare for em to catch sight of a benchmade in real life that I didn't own (since sold the off) but there's always a good chance of finding an Old Timer to drool over while the kids look of or toys and the wife...whatever it is wives look for

As for the commercialism, I've thought similar things, but I find the knife community a little different where the emphasis is on quality not quantity and people are interested in paying more for something that will last a life time, made form a person not a machine as much as possible. On the other hand I've taken to buying knifes, when I have money , thinking of what I can fix on them or who else might like them.

Last few I've bought have been to "clean up" or re-build and send to friends or give as gifts or, sure, sell because it's better then it wasting away in a dirty case and then i get to fondle it a while as well before it goes off to an owner who'll appreciate it. It's not a cure but ti has kept my "knife horde" down to a fairly 9subhjective) small number, and lets me stay "in the game."

 

[Rich S]

Because they have character and have stood the test of time. Also they don't look like mechanical robotic tin cans stamped out by some Romulan factory.

Rich

 

[akadave2]

I reckon I prefer traditional pocket knives to modern one-handers for the same reason I prefer an analogue watch over digital. When I was growing up, kids all wore digital watches because they didn't yet know how to tell time on an analogue clock. I recall feeling quite proud the day I got my first analogue watch--like Dad's. Kinda stuck with me, I suppose. There's just something a little more refined and adult about carrying a slip-joint. Classier, in my mind.

-Brett

Analog all the way!!! No digital for me...and sadly Im an Application Developer!

 

[Getahl]

I like both, but definitely lean toward slipjoints and traditional styled knives. My grandfather is my only knife-carrying kin, and I have no desire to carry a boat anchor like the Buck 112 out of sentimentality.

I like wood handles. Bone and stag and others are fine, but i like the aesthetic of wood. Most one handers out there don't have them, or other natural materials, for that matter.

Blade stock seems to be thinner on traditionals, too. This is a generalization, not a rule. But, I like 1/16" thick blades. Great slicers, all of them. Most of my one handers are 1/8". Unless the grind is flat, I haven't had the greatest luck with tacticals as slicers.

I guess that's about it. Aesthetics and blade width. I find tacticals comfy enough to use, and blade shape has never been an issue.

 

[Rich S]

Analog here too, a Hamilton 992 pocket watch. Now that's a watch! No bells, whistles, flashing lights, etc. It just let me see what time it is. If it was good enough to keep the railroads running on time, it's certainly good enough to keep me on time.

Rich

 

[jackknife]

You'll find a lot more wheelguns, methinks, among the traditional knife enthusiast crowd. Not so much black plastic. Generally, we tend to favor traditional tools of all types, not just our knives.

I know that's true in my case. Pretty much all my guns would look at home in a western or 1930's detective flick with Bogy or Cagney. All lever actions and revolvers. Only exception being the old Ruger standard model I bought when I was in my late teens. So it's no accident that all my pocket knives would look at home in the same genre. Bone, stag, wood, horn, all have an old time natural look to them that age nicely. Some get better looking with the years. Stag gets that buttery yellow, jigged bone gets that soft look as it gets pocket worn and handled. I can't say that I've ever admired any patina on black plastic or titanium.

Carl.