Where can I find a good old fashioned high carbon steel folder?

H

Hokie Claw

Joined
Sep 5, 2002
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2
Hello everyone, and thanks for all the information I've gotten from these forums so far. However I haven't actually bought anything yet, so I'll pose my own question.

Rather than trying to hunt down the latest and greatest stainless, I'm about to go with high carbon or damascus steel. I've got a ratty old h.c. boy scout knife that blows away my ATS-34 blades, and a tiny AG Russell damascus lockback that's even better. I don't mind the extra maintenance, so why not?

If you started with a Camillus EDC and gave it wood scales, a damascus blade (slightly recurved and thin), and made it slightly larger, you'd have what I'm looking for. Oh, and I'm not too picky about the lock type.

I haven't seen anything like this from the big name brands, and I'm not willing to pay top dollar for a custom job. Maybe someone can point me towards a niche company - I'm thinking <$200, but feel free to tempt me. Also feel free to smack some sense into me if I don't know what I'm talking about:eek:
 
First of all welcome to the forums!
The closest thing I could think of is the A.G. Russell version of the Camillus EDC in D2.
 
Check out the Benchmade 710 in M2 steel. It is a little on the big side with its 4" blade, but is otherwise perfect.

If you want to spend a little more, you could always look at the Caffery Progresion folder.

Blademan13, who makes some screaming sharp edges, says the Cafferey edge cuts like a laser. That is high praise coming from a man of Jamie's ability.
 
Look into knives by moormaker and whitewing,(not sure if those are spelled right) they make traditional style folders with carbon steel blades.
 
I'd disagree about D2 and M2. Those are wery highly alloyed steels and definitely not OLD FASHIONED carbon steels.

If one adds 1% Cr to D2 it would be classified as stainless steel. M2 has about 17% other alloying elements besides carbon in the steelmix (more than D2).

It would be great if people used terms carbon steel, alloy steel (could be grouped as low alloy and high alloy steels) and stainless steel.

EKA (sweden) makes folders (some of those are locking folders) with carbonsteel. Böker (Germany) makes some locking folders with carbonsteel. You can also find old slip joints patterns with carbon steel blades (Case etc.)
 
Striper28 and Crockett on the forums both make high quality liner locks at reasonable prices and will sometimes use O1. Striper tends to do more high end stuff right now, but I know some of his pieces are in the $200 range. Do a search on those two names and you'll be able to contact them.
 
Case is always a winner for a classic knife or check out the Queen Cutlery knives. They have all the classic styles and just switched from a cheaper stainless steel to D2 steel on all thier knives. I don't have one (yet), but with the new steel they have become very attractive.
 
Cold Steel makes 2 that I like, their stockman, and a locking folder called the Trailguide. Both are good high carbon steel, and inexpensive.
 
Thanks for your input, folks. I just ordered a Cold Steel Stockman.

Not *exactly* what I wanted - that would have been one of the damascus Bokers - but at the end of the day I'm just not a big spender.

Still, give me a couple months and I'll be coming back for more...
 
Had you seen <a href="http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=218701">this thread</a> before selecting the Cold Steel? Just curious? There are some good suggestions in there.
 
Tommi said:
I'd disagree about D2 and M2. Those are wery highly alloyed steels and definitely not OLD FASHIONED carbon steels.

If one adds 1% Cr to D2 it would be classified as stainless steel. M2 has about 17% other alloying elements besides carbon in the steelmix (more than D2).

It would be great if people used terms carbon steel, alloy steel (could be grouped as low alloy and high alloy steels) and stainless steel.

EKA (sweden) makes folders (some of those are locking folders) with carbonsteel. Böker (Germany) makes some locking folders with carbonsteel. You can also find old slip joints patterns with carbon steel blades (Case etc.)
Click to expand...

shouldnt it be 12 percent cr?
 
First thing I think of when I think "old fashioned" and "high carbon steel folder" is an Opinel. It's definitely a traditional design, and one of my first choices when looking for a no-frills knife. However, something that fits what you're looking for a bit better is probably a Laguiole. Not too sure if there's locking versions though.
 
There are different definitions of 'stainless steel' .Certainly D2 would at least be semi-stainless and in use for me it's stainless !
 
Hokie Claw said:
Hello everyone, and thanks for all the information I've gotten from these forums so far. However I haven't actually bought anything yet, so I'll pose my own question.

Rather than trying to hunt down the latest and greatest stainless, I'm about to go with high carbon or damascus steel. I've got a ratty old h.c. boy scout knife that blows away my ATS-34 blades, and a tiny AG Russell damascus lockback that's even better. I don't mind the extra maintenance, so why not?

If you started with a Camillus EDC and gave it wood scales, a damascus blade (slightly recurved and thin), and made it slightly larger, you'd have what I'm looking for. Oh, and I'm not too picky about the lock type.

I haven't seen anything like this from the big name brands, and I'm not willing to pay top dollar for a custom job. Maybe someone can point me towards a niche company - I'm thinking <$200, but feel free to tempt me. Also feel free to smack some sense into me if I don't know what I'm talking about:eek:
Click to expand...

Well on a 2nd post I'd normally welcome you to the forums, but I see you've been lurking since 2002. :eek:

So if you want a one-hand opener in carbon steel, Mooremaker offers some one hand folders in 1095 carbon steel.
http://catalog.mooremaker.com/viewProduct.cfm?item_id=727407

You might also look around the stores. Case made some CV versions of the min-folding hunter. I think it is out of production, but I think it was in production last summer, so you might still find one.
The stainless version looks like this:
http://www.casexx.com/DisplayDetailPage.asp?ProductCode=7453
 
Queen makes nice slipjoints, they use D2, which by the way is not new it's been around quite a while, being called AIRDI-150.
 
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