What Slip-Joint Folder Patterns Would You Like To See?

J

John Schedel

Joined
Jun 29, 2000
Messages
168



Which slip-joint folder patterns would you like to see more often in production knives? What blade steels and handle materials would you prefer?

To "get the ball rolling", I would like to see more "old fashioned" patterns like the Sunfish, the Canoe, the Teardrop, and the Cattle Knife. I would like to see more "state of the art" steels like ATS-34 , BG-42, and 5200 used. I would like to see more picked bone, stag (when available), pearl, fossil ivory, mother of pearl and abalone, and fine woods used. I guess I wouldn't object too much to "pretty" celluloid, either. What are your preferences?




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I *really* wish more companies would go back to using carbon steels. Most stainless steels used in traditional knives these days, well, they just plain suck. I love the look of an old slip joint that's developed a nice patina. I also have an almost impossible time getting a decent edge on these cheap stainless steels.

I also wish there were more higher-end traditional knives. I'm willing to pay more, but not for the quality levels I've seen from Case, Schrade, etc... The Case Pocketworn have been higher quality for the most part (at least the ones I've seen), but there are still too many fit/finish issues. Edge quality, scale and shield fit, and backspring fit could all use higher standards. Even several of the Bose/Case knives I've handled have had poor fit.

Check out Bailey Bradshaw's Whitewing line of traditional knives. They're much cheaper than the Bose/Case models, but have much higher quality. He's also using CPM3V steel, and has introduced some models that haven't been around in years. Here are a few links:
http://www.knifeart.com/knifeart/noname3.html
http://members.tripod.com/ctexknife/whitewing.htm

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Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice
 
I, like Bob, am partial to Wharncliffs (and we are talking real whittlers here with split and tapered backsprings) with at least one coping blade. I also like longer Anglo Saxon Whittlers.

I like stockmans, but a three bladed whittler is just a stockman with class.

Half stops are nice if production costs have not gone through the roof already with these thoughts.

Oh yeah - pin the handles and shields.

Other patterns folding guard knives (Case 111 1/2), sowbellies (lots of blade options here)and gunstocks. Swell center and serpentine patterns are other nice variations to consider when applicable.

Carbon Steel would be great, but in todays market you will need to incorporate a stainless (pick a nice one and heat treat it well)and/or one of the CPM's. (most likely 440v)

And before Blues jumps in on this thresd you may want to consider a "Bullet" trapper pattern
biggrin.gif


I had a little different experience with the Case Bose last year. I handled 7 and without exception they were the finest knives Case has produced (including the old ones). My only complaint was that they could have done better taking the burrs off of the edges. My experience being different from my friend Kelly's could be from the fact that these were hand fitted. That might lead to the conclusion (at least from me that the checking of quality could have been better).
(There is no agenda here as far as selling these for a profit, but I will be adding a new one to my collection this year and I do not buy many factory knives).

Kelly is right, check out Whitewing, if they do not have the pattern you are looking for wait for it, more are in the works.

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" I am continually reminded of the rewards of dealing with custom knife makers and the custom knife community." Jeff J.

[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 07-21-2000).]
 
YES!!! To what Kelly said!!!!!
I like the Sunfish patern and seem to have put together a pretty good collection of Trappers and Stockmans. I REALY like the Split Back Spring, 3 bladed knives just because of the technical aspect and difficulty to make.
I also seem to have gathered quite a collection of "fish" knives. The ones that look like the toothpick style with the fish scaler/hook remover blade. I never realy new how many of the old and european companies made them!!! I would LOVE to have a custom one made. I'm going to Bill Simons shop tomorow to pick up the Lock Back he made form me, I think I'll bounce that idea off him
smile.gif

Neil

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Talonite, new pics, knives in stock!

blackwoodknives.com
 
Good topic, I like the 3 blade stockmans and whittlers and I happen to know that Whitewing is planning to produce some whittlers in the future. The trappers and lockblades that are being made by Bailey/whitewing are very fine knives. Also the surveyor jack is probably the classiest pattern being made by whitewing right now.

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Chris http://www.members.tripod.com/ctexknife
 
I'm partial to the Doctor, Swing guard and Whittler patterns.All kinds of handle materials.Love em all,those slipjoints.
smile.gif


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have a"knife"day
 
I like trappers and stockmans. It would be great to see them with any good steel. Its hard to find any of them now that are even made with 440C. But I would realy like to find one with something like D2, 420V, or 440V. Some of those steels that are really supposed to take an edge.
You still se a lot of the nicer handle materials, or at least imitations of them. I think it would be kind of nice to see a few traditional pattern knives with modern day materials for the handles to. Something to realy make it a user like micarta or G10. Carbon fiber would be pretty sweet too.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Nice post Gus. Seems to be quite a bit of interest in whittlers. You can add me to that list.

Another pattern I like is the coffin handle jack. If done right, it is very classy.

Jeff
 
Gus, what a wise guy.
wink.gif


I like, as Gus said, the Bullet and Baby Bullet Trappers, Saddlehorn Trappers, "Coke Bottle" Hunters (sometimes called fiddlebacks or folding hunters)and Stockman patterns.

The Congress is also one of my favorites.

I prefer carbon steel to stainless steels in these patterns, but wouldn't object to "high end" stainless steels like the CPM steels or BG-42. D2 or A2 always welcome.

A well made slipjoint is a thing of beauty as well as functionality.

Blues


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Live Free or Die

Some Knife Pix

[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 07-22-2000).]
 
well, i would love to see a warncliff main blade stockman with a drop point instead of the sheepsfoot and keep the spey blade, but make them wider and generally larger. Say, 3/8 longer and proportionally wider, maybe 4.5" closed with a 1095 or other high carbon steel.
 
Originally posted by Senator:
I *really* wish more companies would go back to using carbon steels. Most stainless steels used in traditional knives these days, well, they just plain suck. I love the look of an old slip joint that's developed a nice patina. I also have an almost impossible time getting a decent edge on these cheap stainless steels.

I also wish there were more higher-end traditional knives. I'm willing to pay more, but not for the quality levels I've seen from Case, Schrade, etc... The Case Pocketworn have been higher quality for the most part (at least the ones I've seen), but there are still too many fit/finish issues. Edge quality, scale and shield fit, and backspring fit could all use higher standards. Even several of the Bose/Case knives I've handled have had poor fit.

Check out Bailey Bradshaw's Whitewing line of traditional knives. They're much cheaper than the Bose/Case models, but have much higher quality. He's also using CPM3V steel, and has introduced some models that haven't been around in years. Here are a few links:
http://www.knifeart.com/knifeart/noname3.html
http://members.tripod.com/ctexknife/whitewing.htm
Click to expand...

I have to say that I agree with you on practically all points. In fact, I agree with almost everything that everybody who has responded to my question has written. Scary! Bailey/Whitewing knives look really good. However they seem to fall more under the category of "custom knives" than they do "production knives". The "production" maker that comes closest to the standards of The Golden Age of Pocket Knives, in my opinion, is Queen Cutlery Company. Queen`s lines of Schatt&Morgan,"File and Wire Tested", Robeson, and Queen`s Winterbottom Bone and "Mini Pearl" pocket knives are second to none in terms of overall quality in a production knife. If a knife enthusiast has never experienced the quality of a "high-end" Queen knife, he/she has really missed something! Further information on Queen products and retailers can be obtained from John O`Brien, who is V.P. of Sales and Marketing at Queen and Queen`s "sister company", Ontario Knife Company. Mr. O`Brien can be reached at (800)222-5233;FAX (800)299-2618;or EMail: salesOKC@aol.com. The company`s website, www.queencutlery.com, is currently "under construction, I understand. Ask Mr. O`Brien for information about the Queen Cutlery Collector`s Club, too.

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The Whitewing line is probably best categorized as "semi-production" because while the knives are mostly made by production methods, you have some flexibility with blade patterns, handles, etc... They are not cheap, but no "production" company can come close to the materials, fit and finish, or execution of the WW's.

As for Queen, I've got a Schatt & Morgan antique green bone Gunstock Jack pattern in ATS-34 arriving any day now. That fat clip point blade, green bone and the slanted and pinched bolsters make this knife look fantastic. I can't wait to get it.

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Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection
AKTI Member #A000289

Deo Vindice
 
Two bladed trapper. Definitely a Wharncliffe, along with anything but a spey as the second blade. I hate spey blades. That new Case/Tony Bose would be really nice, but for the spey blade and the fact that I generally dislike 90% of the clip point style blades in traditional folders... They just look so crappy for some reason. Maybe the fact that so many POS knives that I've owned had blades like that and ruined them form me. The previous Case/Bose collaboration was much nicer with that cool swedged wharncliffe in there...

On another note, for the time not so far away when the antis get around to banning the carry of lock-blade folders, I would like to see some more modernized (dare I say "tactical"?) slipjoints. Single blade in a high-end steel, 3"-3.5", Ti bolsters, Micarta/G-10/CF, the whole bit. Actually, I'd love to have a little 3" wharncliffe done up this way right now, for travel and such.

PM

PS. Wow! I just went to the Whitewing site and I think I just found the perfect two-blade trapper. Wharncliffe + Spear. The only problem is I that can't justify the US$265 at the moment. NICE piece though!

[This message has been edited by mr44 (edited 07-27-2000).]
 
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