Which traditional folders ?

beluga

beluga

Joined
Nov 17, 2001
Messages
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I've been meaning to EDC a traditional folder (slip joint / lock back), but I have very little experience with this kind of folders. Can someone please point me to the right direction where I can find a good production slip joints (lockbacks preferred) that have excellent fit and finish ?

I own a Case folder (with MOP handle), but there's a horizontal blade play when opened. Is it to be expected from a Case product ?
 
beluga said:
I've been meaning to EDC a traditional folder (slip joint / lock back), but I have very little experience with this kind of folders. Can someone please point me to the right direction where I can find a good production slip joints (lockbacks preferred) that have excellent fit and finish ?

I own a Case folder (with MOP handle), but there's a horizontal blade play when opened. Is it to be expected from a Case product ?
Click to expand...

Nope none of mine have any blade play, they vary on snap when opening and closing but no wiggle, you could send it in to case to see if they could fix it.
As far as a nice pattern to start with
1) 3 BLADE medium Stockman (i prefer Yeller handle with the CV blades)
2) A Canoe (dont have one yet, will one day as i love this pattern)
3) Trapper, everybody needs a Trapper
4) a Yeller CV Sodbuster
As far as other manufacturers i like Schatt and Morgan alot FF was top notch a little better then my case but maybe not quite as robust a feel to it.
Check out CASE, S&M, Queen, Canal Street, Great Eastern
good luck
ivan
 
"New User" yet you have 1,484 posts and joined Nov 2001?

Can you say, "Troll?" :jerkit:
 
rmfnla said:
"New User" yet you have 1,484 posts and joined Nov 2001?
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Some people may be into other aspects of knives (Tactical folders, reg. folders with clips, FBs, certain types of knives, etc). This may truly be his 1st slip-joint & he has no standard to compare it to.

I personally got "into" slippies" within the last yr & started a similar thread awhile ago. I was (& have been) getting more slippies in & noticing some had blade play. It's a good question since slippies don't have a pivot to tighten (Most anyways).

As for the OP, the newer Cases seem to not have as many of those. I found slight blade-play on some nicer (More expensive) knives, so I don't think it's exclusive to Case. In fact, all 3 of my Cases are fine, but that doesn't mean a whole lot if the one you have has it.

"beluga", welcome to the traditional side of things...I still think, for the $, the Cases are very good products. However, if you want something larger, you could check out Buck's 110 & 112 lock-backs.
 
beluga said:
Can someone please point me to the right direction where I can find a good production slip joints (lockbacks preferred) that have excellent fit and finish ?
Click to expand...
Actually, if the knife is a lockback, its not a slip-joint. There are traditional looking lock blades, but it can't be both. Case does make a few "traditional" locking knives. You might want to check out the Copperlock if you want a lock back, or the Trapperlock if you don't mind liner locks. If you want an actual slip-joint, the Trapper (2-blade) and Stockman (3-blade) are probably two of the most popular patterns, are made by Case, Queen, Buck, and other makers, and are available in different sizes to fit your preference.

I own a Case folder (with MOP handle), but there's a horizontal blade play when opened. Is it to be expected from a Case product ?
Click to expand...
I own over a dozen Case knifes, and none of them display any noticable blade play. I would consider sending it in to Case customer service to have it fixed.
 
Way out of line in this forum.

I issued a warning that had better sink in.

Beluga,
Sorry for the out of line comment.
Ivan gave some good advice that I think will serve well.

As far as the blade play in the folder, I would send it back. (Especially considering the cost of the pearl handled ones.)
 
beluga said:
I've been meaning to EDC a traditional folder (slip joint / lock back), but I have very little experience with this kind of folders. Can someone please point me to the right direction where I can find a good production slip joints (lockbacks preferred) that have excellent fit and finish ?
Click to expand...

The Buck 55 is a very pocketable version of the traditional classic Buck 110. Some guys say the 55 is too small. They're wrong. ;)
 
My cases show no play, as others have said case should take good care or you, they have been great in my experience. I really like case in cv, and GReat Eastern Cutlery case makes several traditional lockbacks for you to check out.
 
Welcome to the our little home here in traditional. Lot of great people here, with a lot of knowledge that they are happy to share. The response you got from rmfnla is WAY out of character for folks that hang out here.... While the lock back is a nice feature, you may find that after you edc a non locking slipjoint for a while, you will become comfortable enough and not feel as much need for the lock. If you do still want a lock, nothing is wrong with that. Use what you are comfortable with.

The blade play yours has is not the norm, but there are always some that fall through the cracks before they go out the door.
Definetely send yours back to Case. They will take care of you.

If your looking for a traditional style knife with a lock back, check out the Case Copperlocks. They come in numerous variations to choose from for scale colors.
Queen makes a Mountain Man folder with a lock back that still looks fairly traditional as well. Both of these are single bladed versions.
As others have mentioned, while not traditional looking like a slipjoint, the Buck 110 and 112 are great knives and very reasonably priced.
 
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beluga, may I make a suggestion?

If you want a really traditional slip joint pocket knife, but the locking blade is important to you, check out e-bay. Look for good condition used Schrade Uncle Henry catpaw's or the Old Timer 194OT. Both are very traditional looking knives, and Both are great cutters. The catpaw (can't recall the model number, maybe someone will chime in,) is a 3 and 9/16ths single blade serpintine pocket knife. It disapears in a pocket, and like most of Schrades knives, has a very nice flat ground thin blade that cuts like a razor.

The 194OT is a sigle blade trapper shape, with the Old Timer 1095 carbon steel, that next to Case's CV, I have the most respect for in a edc pocket knife. You have to go a very long way to beat those Old Timers.

For something a bit bigger, look for a Old Timer 125OT. It's a large single blade folding hunter with a carbon steel blade and brass liner lock. A very good camping knife. I let someone talk me out of mine many years ago, and regreted it ever since. I'm sure their around on the 'bay.

Now these are not the lockback, but have a liner type lock that is identical to what you find on the screwdriver blade of the TL-29. A bit old fashioned, but highly effective. Either knife will give you the flavor of a traditional slip joint, while giving you the locking blade feature you seek. They can be picked up on e-bay for not too great a sacrafice.

Good luck.
 
In terms of Traditional looking locking knives: CASE Mini Copperlock(lockback)
Queen Cutlery Teardrop Jack(liner) Great Eastern No.73 (liner lock) They come in stainless,D2 and carbon respectively. Large choice of scale marterials too. Never had blade play in my CASE knives, some with Schatt&Morgan unfortunately
 
Hello beluga, you will soon learn one slipjoint is never enough :D

"Blade play"

Probably means something a little different to each of us. I don't think you should try to compare a slipjoint to something like a Sebenza when it comes to blade play, unless you wan to be dissapointed.

Most of the slipjoints I own(ed) have had some "play" if you grip the blade when open and try to move it side to side. As long as they don't click and clack when I do that, and I don't notice it when opening/closing I am ok with a little "give". I have had a few that you could just open the blade and shake the knife while holding it by the handle and feel the blade wobble. If that is what you mean by play, that is unacceptable in a new knife IMO. Of the three knives in my avatar (GEC, Queen, and Case), only the big GEC has no play at all. That's because it was a wobbler I sent back to be either tightened or replaced. They tightened it, and now it's perfect :thumbup:.
 
Good call JK on the Schrade 194OT. How did I forget that one, its one of my favoritist Old Timers....
 
Don't count out Boker. They have quite a few patterns and scale materials in carbon and can be had for a fair price. They make good users.

Frank
 
I think the AG Russell lockbacks are real nice .He has a few sizes & styles.
Good quality there,too
-Vince
 
You've already received some excellent advice, but I'll add my two cents anyway.

If a locking blade is a must, take a look at Queen's Mountain Man. I've got one from their Schatt & Morgan line and it has excellent fit and finish, it's also much more pocket friendly than a Buck 110 and you can get it with a D2 blade. However, my experience with Queen edges has been quite bad. I got two of their limited edition knives, and both where butter knife dull and needed to be sent to a knifemaker to be re-ground.

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Most of my traditional folders are Cases. Good quality, nice variety and decent price keeps me coming back to this brand. I got a couple with rough edges, but nothing that couldn't be sorted out in a few minutes with a fine grit whetstone. There are dozens of patterns available, like somebody mentioned before stockmen and trappers are the two most popular. But Case has a couple of interesting locking knives, like the Russlock (which I find very enjoyable and handy, it's funny looking but I like it) and the Midfolding Hunter, which isn't a very "traditional" folder but is quite nice. They are both available with Case's excelent CV blades.
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I still carry a locking, one hand opening folder from time to time (mostly for self defense purposes), so I try to find traditional knives that complement it. That's why I love the Scout pattern, the extra tools are really usefull and they keep me from trying to use my knife for stuff it wasn't designed for. I got an A.G. Russell Premium Scout a few months ago, and I'm loving it. It's very nice looking, and it comes with a fantastic 154CM main blade, it's a great cutter.

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I guess we will give them as many opinions as there are of 'us'. I may just stand on Jackknife's side of the dodge ball court on this one......300
 
Franciscomv said:
You've already received some excellent advice, but I'll add my two cents anyway.

If a locking blade is a must, take a look at Queen's Mountain Man. I've got one from their Schatt & Morgan line and it has excellent fit and finish, it's also much more pocket friendly than a Buck 110 and you can get it with a D2 blade. However, my experience with Queen edges has been quite bad. I got two of their limited edition knives, and both where butter knife dull and needed to be sent to a knifemaker to be re-ground.

3lacsb.jpg

..............
Click to expand...

The Queen Mountain Man is a great transition knife.
Lockback, good steel, larger and with very nice scales

Yes, you will very likely need to rebevel the D2!
But worth it
 
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