Where is the line?

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As William - Bill - Scagel 1873-1963 is alleged to have said " There are no straight lines in Nature" He wasn't influenced by others but he influenced 'traditional' knives and their making ;)
 
Case Trapperlock and Case Mid-Folding Hunter with thumbstuds and optional clip ... not allowed here
Boker Copperliner and Trapperliner. Both with thumbstuds but no clip ... not allowed here
Kershaw Double Duty Gentleman's Folder. Thumbstuds ... not allowed here
Buck makes a lockback with thumbstuds ... not allowed here (don't ask me how I know Lol)
There are probably a few other traditional patterns with thumbstuds and/or clips that aren't allowed here

The one-hand opening requirement pretty much takes it out of the realm of "Traditional". Although "one armed bandits" are allowed
If you can clip it to a pocket, don't post it here

Which brings me to Auto-Open knives, some of which are allowed here. Don't think you could open with two hands if you tried
It's always puzzled me why they are allowed here
They're illegal in some states/countries and legal with restrictions, blade length, weapons carry license, limited to law enforcement and emergency personnel in some others
Auto-Open knives weren't considered traditional when first produced and I don't consider them traditional now. Your mileage might vary.
 
As far as an answer for the op...

Any knife using steel is inherently "modern" in the grand scheme of mankind and tool usage. So far as slip joint knives go, screwed construction doesn't really bother me, lines inevitably become schewed with the passage of time. Still, it's not hard to read the rules to see what's allowed and what isn't. I personally wouldn't post a Spyderco slip joint, but a CRK impinda with the clip removed might be a different story.
 
Traditional is a moving target anyway.
Hence the need for drawing lines in the sands of time.

Right now we’re specifying knives that were in the pockets of some of our… more patina’ed… members in their youth.

Blade Forums 3022 will probably draw the line at levitation, and this sub forum will become “knives in antiquity”.
 
Jack Black said:
I'm also not sure everyone who posts here either knows, or cares, what a traditional pocket knife looks like, judging from the number of thumb studs and pocket clips regularly seen here. Nonetheless, I think threads like this are largely pointless, and inevitably end in acrimony ☹️
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Thanks, I learned a new word. Acrimony.
 
I think that a traditional pattern by definition is one that has been being made, in one form or another, for a very long time. Using newer materials or manufacturing practices doesn't make a pattern not traditional, it just modernizes it. I lean to the side of traditional materials myself but I'm happy that there are lots of options coming around that make some of the patterns more accessible.
 
Of my over 30 knives, only 3 are of a pocket clip, one hand opening variety. And they don’t see any pocket time. Those include a buck 345, that I deflippered.

I’d like a spyderco, but would I use it? I can’t say. I don’t use the buck 345. But I’d darn sure use another case stockman or Barlow. Cause I like traditionals.

My buck 192 is of traditional design and construction. I consider it traditional even though it’s a new variety.

But I don’t think a lionsteel Barlow is traditional. But I don’t mind seeing them and wouldn’t mind having one to evaluate myself. But it doesn’t look as nice to my eye as a case Barlow for some reason. Hmmm

Part of what attracts me to the traditional knives is the aesthetics. I know it when I see it.
 
I have nothing against modern knives or modern traditional knives. I own several and carry them occasionally. They are good knives.
But, I only post pictures of them in the "Modern and Traditional Pairing" thread. I have too much respect for this place to trample on their traditions.
 
Hickory n steel said:
That's basically it for me.
Most people do have a basic idea of the average traditional knife, if not just browse a couple pages of the daily carry thread and you'll get a clearer picture.


It really bugs me when some smartass tries to weasel in a modern folder just because it meats the technical perameters.
It's not like you can't show traditionals in GKD, so why insist on trying to force the knife onto the porch.

I say go take that modern slipjoint to the crack house in the city and let us keep the porch on this old farmhouse a clean wholesome place.
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If a "modern traditional" meets parameters, then it meets the stated parameters and should be allowed to be posted here. You can relax, it'll still be a "clean, wholesome place".:rolleyes:
 
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To me I think either a slip joint or friction folder in a “traditional style” is how I would define a traditional knife. Friction folder were in use from ancient times, and slip joints since the 1600’s.
I guess you could argue a simple lockback is a traditional knife so long as it is made in a traditional style / materials. What exactly is “traditional styling” is where it starts to get fuzzy as that varies from person to person.
Pocket knife design was little changed until the latter part of the 20th century, and then everything started changing rapidly. In my opinion if you could take a time machine to the 1960’s, show somebody your knife and them not think it seemed out of place or strange, then it would pass the test as traditional. If you took a Spyderco, CRK, etc. I would imagine you would get the “what is that?!” look. Not to say they wouldn’t like it, but it would be out of place and different. To me, that is “modern”.
For traditional knife lovers, I think a lot of it is nostalgia so it is hard to get that from something new
 
dantzk8 said:
Say it ain't so !

Dan.
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Yes, it is so.
When working horses and cattle, I found the value of having a knife I could access quickly... very quickly.
If you look at Dave's Horsewright Horsewright photos, you'll see a lot of fixed blade knives carried for exactly that reason.
Nowadays, my life doesn't demand that type of knife, but I still appreciate what they have to offer... but don't carry them much any more.
 
JohnDF said:
Yes, it is so.
When working horses and cattle, I found the value of having a knife I could access quickly... very quickly.
Nowadays, my life doesn't demand that type of knife, but I still appreciate what they have to offer... but don't carry them much any more.
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Necessity is the mother of invention, right?
Internet forums were pretty quiet when the the one arm razor became more prevalent in the 1860's.
 
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