What Traditional turned out to be unexpectedly loved?

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Sep 28, 2015
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567
I recently bought a Case Cheetah with the intention of removing the swing guard and having a slim lock back. Yeah, my Copperlock can be that knife, but the beefier handles on the Cheetah appealed to me. In reality, I never got the swing guard appeal before. Having said that, I have found that I love this knife as-is, and in has been in my pocket a lot lately.

Has anyone else tried a traditional that ended up unexpectedly adored? What made you change your mind?

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I nearly didn't buy my 'Abbeydale Jack' because there was no maker's name on the tang :)

 
Nice Case Cheetah! Isn't cool when you unexpectedly trip into the perfect knife? I had carried a 4" square bolster Stockman for many years (Buck 301) followed by downsizing to the Buck 303 (and Schrade 108OT and 34OT) as they carried easier in dress pants. My brother had given me a NRA Schrade 897UH about 15 or 16 years ago, which stayed in it's box for a decade. As I became a "knife nut" (aka collector) I decided to carry the 897UH about five or so years ago and found it to be a great EDC knife. I have now taken completely to the Schrade USA 897UH in it's variations and to Case 6318 pocketknives. 95% of my carry for the last couple of years has been one or the other - I never saw it coming! OH

My EDC Schrade 897UH and my "dress occasion" Case 5318, as well as my EDC Case 6318.

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This little Peanut has travelled around world with me several times. Carried safely in countries and places where knives are generally a no-no. It has never even raised an eyebrow and it is capable of doing most small cutting chores.

When I first read the stories about these little knives on BF I was sceptical based on its size but it has turned out to be a gem which goes everywhere with me.:)

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The Farmers Jack has definitely been a surprise for me. I have been interested in and collecting Traditional pocket knives since the early 70's. The pruning style blades and the patterns that they were in never had any appeal to me what so ever! Even when the folks at Great Eastern Cutlery, along with the input from Charlie and Lyle, introduced the new 38's I really didn't know how I really felt about the pattern. That all took a big turn at the 2015 Rendezvous. I got to meet Charlie and Lyle and look at Lyles terrific collection. I got to handle and admire the Orchard Gem and Lick Creek Northfield models first hand. Well I came home with a Lick Creek in Smooth Oiled Bone from Lyle. Very soon afterwards I acquired an Orchard Gem in African Blackwood and Cranberry Jigged Bone. The Cranberry has become one of my favorite EDC knives. So I guess the old saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" can be applied to pocket knives also. Here is my Cranberry Gem. :D

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For me, it has to be the Alox Cadet. I was never a big fan of fat scout knives, but this little thing is so useful & takes up so little room in my left front pocket, that there's no reason NOT to carry it; regardless of what other knife I choose to carry.
 
This little Peanut has travelled around world with me several times. Carried safely in countries and places where knives are generally a no-no. It has never even raised an eyebrow and it is capable of doing most small cutting chores.

When I first read the stories about these little knives on BF I was sceptical based on its size but it has turned out to be a gem which goes everywhere with me.:)

DSCF1783.jpg

Nice job on engraving the delrin handle!:thumb up:

Definitely adds a nice touch.
 
I can think of a couple.....a Buck 501 and a Case small Texas Jack. I don't even remember why I bought a 501, but when I got it I absolutely loved it. I've had some QC issues with them, but I still love that little knife. The Texas Jack won me over as a great secondary blade. I don't know if I would ever carry it by itself unless I was just tooling around the house though. The TJ can take the place of a stockman to me with the shape of the pen blade.
 
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I won this little Rough Rider here a few months back in a giveaway, with the thought that I would like to try a smaller pocketknife. I like it so well that it hasn't left my pocket since.
 
Nice job on engraving the delrin handle!:thumb up:

Definitely adds a nice touch.

Thank you Sir.:)

Courtesy of the wonderful folks at Knifeworks. They offer it as an option and I am glad I opted for it.
 
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This one took me really by surprise. I'd always thought I'd never like a SAK, I found the lines boring and the blade metal bothered me. But this one has been really really good. A great urban carry. It also taught me that a great grind can make an uninspiring metal sing.
 
Nice Case Cheetah! Isn't cool when you unexpectedly trip into the perfect knife? I had carried a 4" square bolster Stockman for many years (Buck 301) followed by downsizing to the Buck 303 (and Schrade 108OT and 34OT) as they carried easier in dress pants. My brother had given me a NRA Schrade 897UH about 15 or 16 years ago, which stayed in it's box for a decade. As I became a "knife nut" (aka collector) I decided to carry the 897UH about five or so years ago and found it to be a great EDC knife. I have now taken completely to the Schrade USA 897UH in it's variations and to Case 6318 pocketknives. 95% of my carry for the last couple of years has been one or the other - I never saw it coming! OH

My EDC Schrade 897UH and my "dress occasion" Case 5318, as well as my EDC Case 6318.

IMG_66122.JPG


Case_6318_HP_SSP_ten-dot_1980.JPG

The slim stockmans like that are one of the most size efficient knives one can carry, they really are hard to beat for all around practicality.
 
For me, it has to be the Alox Cadet. I was never a big fan of fat scout knives, but this little thing is so useful & takes up so little room in my left front pocket, that there's no reason NOT to carry it; regardless of what other knife I choose to carry.

This exactly for me. The cap lifter and fingernail file get the most use, because I always carry another knife with usually two or three blades for the cutting work.

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I loved my vic recruit so much that when I got this tinker as a gift I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it's extra size and weight, but the length weight and extra width are negligible in pocket and I like the Philips screwdriver and awl . I don't necessarily need the Philips driver, but it's much handier than going to my leatherman fuse and this one actually fits in screw holes like a regular screwdriver does.
 
I snagged a 2016 Queen Historical Society Gathering mini-trapper this August when I was at their factory. I bought it as a souvenir. I've never had any interest in the mini-trapper pattern. It sat on my desk for about a week getting use as a worry stone. For some reason I ended up throwing it in my watch pocket and it's been in there ever since. I haven't been able to put this thing down. It's a fantastic knife for small jobs in times when people might get squeamish about seeing a larger knife.

This is what she looked like new:



And a shot of her today:

 
For me it was the canoe pattern. I always wanted one as a kid, but never actually bought one until I was out of college. Bought this Case CV in 1989 and then stored it away because I didn't want the blades to patina like my 1973 Mini Copperhead's blades had done. So I just took it out of storage last year and it now alternates with my 2000 Red Bone Pocket-Worn Case Canoe in Tru-Sharp. Love the fact that it has two backsprings instead of one. What a waste of years denying myself the pleasure of using this fine knife.

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That would be the Beagle. I often find myself coming up with reasons to carry it, even though I already have a pocketful of capable blades.

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I'd have to say that I have really enjoyed the 66 jack. This one is pre-owned; all of the previous owners of this knife are members of this forum.

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Ed J
 
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