Why are traditionals different?

Squidman24

Squidman24

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Dec 23, 2015
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I am very new to the traditional knife hobby - a recent convert from the tactical flipper world.

Other than my favorite Hinderer and a beat up PM2 that has been to hell and back with me, I have sold all my tacti-cool knives. During the height of my modern/tactical phase I had no problems carrying a Sebenza, Hinderer or some other folding knife that set me back more than a few pennies.

Then I began my transition to traditionals and my dilemma began. Looking for some enlightenment here from those with more knowledge than I on the subject.

My question is this: why do I have such a hard time carrying a traditional daily? They are such works of art - yet so simple in nature. Traditional folding knives remind me of my youth and time spent with my Grandfather and working on a dairy farm. If you didn't carry a pocket knife during those days people legitimately looked at you funny.

I find myself leaving them in the safe in fear that I might scratch/break/damage them in some way causing them to lose their luster and beauty. What is my problem? I mean it's a knife and knives were meant to be carried and used....right? I do have a "user" Beer Scout that I do carry occasionally but that's only because it already had wear on it when I got it so I don't feel so bad.

Somebody smack me and tell me to get over it already!

I look forward to learning from the folks in this subforum as it appears that there is a good group of folks here. Please be patient with me as I learn what most of you already know and my apologies for this novel of a post.
 
My first custom traditional was a stag lockback that cost five bills. It took me over a year before I felt OK about carrying it. Finally I decided, why not carry it and increase my enjoyment of it. Nothing wrong with either using or safe-queening. You buy something expensive to enjoy it, so however you enjoy it the most is how you should use it. There's no wrong choice.
 
Squidman24 said:
I find myself leaving them in the safe in fear that I might scratch/break/damage them in some way causing them to lose their luster and beauty. What is my problem? I mean it's a knife and knives were meant to be carried and used....right? I do have a "user" Beer Scout that I do carry occasionally but that's only because it already had wear on it when I got it so I don't feel so bad.

Somebody smack me and tell me to get over it already!
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Smack! Get over it already!

My advice is to get an inexpensive folder - something in the Buck 300 series, or a Rough Rider. Maybe a Case, though those cost a little more. The point is carry something for a while that you won't fret about damaging. Carry it, do a little whittling, don't baby it, and you'll get an idea of how a traditional will hold up to use. Knives with natural materials like wood and bone and stag do get pocketworn and the colors can change over time from the oils in your hand, etc. That can be part of the appeal.

There's nothing stopping you from carrying both a modern knife clipped to your pocket and a traditional in the pocket. When something needs cutting, consider which one is best suited for the job. Which one is more enjoyable to use?
 
I know what you mean. Some folks will even buy two of each knife - one to be a safe queen, and one to use.

Take a look through some pictures here on the porch. You'll see expensive knives that have very obviously gained MORE beauty through use. They have a type of class that a shiny new knife could never have.

Some knives are bought to keep really nice, and that is fine. Some are bought for hard use, with little regard to maintaining appearance. Most fall somewhere in between. Some you will use for awhile and then retire, because they've become too meaningful to risk losing them.

Personally, I don't get a whole lot out of buying a knife and never using it. It means a lot more to me if I carry it. I take good pictures of new knives, so I can always remember what they looked like all shiny and fresh, but then I carry them. Mind you, I probably won't use my new GEC Calf Roper for the same things I might do with a $40 Case yellow stockman, (like castrate a bull, for example!), but, I'll use it. And, after some years, it won't be as shiny as it is now, but it will have a lot more memories.
 
SMACK- get over it already, our grandfathers did not carry any modern flipper new age steel and nothing got in their way of cutting things on a daily basis.
they usually could only afford 1 pocket knife and it was their trusty companion day in and day out. carry 1 and only 1 and you WILL know how to get by on a daily basis just like grandpa did, SO GET OVER IT, and have a great journey my friend
 
Get a vintage old timer that's still in good useable condition, or get an inexpensive cv case like the sodbuster Jr.
You'll bee much more inclined to use the old already patina covered Old Timer, or inexpensive sodbuster that doesn't have bolsters to keep shiny.
This will get you into the habit of not worrying about keeping them shiny.

For quite a while I was like this with my Buck 110, but once it ended up with my thumbprint patina'd into the bolster ( even after I polished the brass it returned and always does ) I stopped caring about keeps it shiny.
 
I usually have a tough time using a new knife, all my traditionals are mostly babied and stored in their tubes or boxes. Even my users are not really users, and mostly just pristine modded gecs. I did a receive a nice user from the bigbiscuit as a gift to help me get over this. I suppose the only knife I truly dont baby are my balisongs, one of them usually gets thrown around and what not. Except if I buy them mint. then they mostly stay that way.
 
Since you mentioned @BigBiscuit, I will mention that I have had the privilege of having a few conversations with Bob as I learn the subject matter of traditional knives and he has been very gracious (and patient) with me by answering my ignorant questions. A fine man indeed.
 
Squidman24 Squidman24
You're not alone. There are only a few new GEC's that I use. The way I get over it is to find a good user on the exchange and then clean it up and put it in my pocket.
 
I look at it like this; there's an inherent impermanence in a traditional knife. Take a Sebenza, for example. If you beat the heck out of it and it gets battle scars, you just send it off to spa land and it comes back good as new*. Modern folders can be disassembled, serviced, and put back together - by the maker if not by the end user.

A traditional, on the other hand, is in a way more fragile. If it gets cracked, dented, or something jammed up in there, there's not a whole lot you can necessarily do about it**. It is compensated by the fact that they're pretty much rock solid simple little beasts. No complex pivots with tight machined tolerances and wrist flipping action; that blade needs to open, and close, against a spring or *maybe* a backlock. It's nice if it's snappy and firm without breaking a thumbnail in the process. Because the good ones are relatively small in number, they take on a very individual quality (there are many Hawthorne Jacks like it, but this one is MINE sort of thing). Oh, and the two-handed opening really does stop me at times - one hand is so much *easier*, if not always as fulfilling.

I made peace with it like this; first, I try to avoid buying any knife I won't carry around. I'm not trying to fund retirement or college off my knife collection. Second, like my kitchen knives, some patina and wear are signs of a life well lived, and I want to earn that unique worn-in feel. (Patina. Never rust.) Third, my few traditionals tend to run a bit smaller in size than my moderns. That alone gives me reason to carry one of each every day. At least. I try not to count too closely lest the wife give me more sideeye over my knives. :)
 
I think that part of the issue is that without a lot of first hand experience in carrying and using a traditional long term, you have reservations on how they will wear and hold up? If this is the case, have no worries as the knife will be fine. Just pick one and use it steady for a month or so and learn to appreciate it for what it is.

Funny thing is, my dilemma is the complete opposite of yours. I am getting to the point when I feel guilty for NOT using a knife and as a result I am looking to liquidate a considerable portion of my horde. I have just found that most of my favorites, those I would miss most not having around, are those that I use regularly. A knife well used over the years invokes memories and beauty unsurpassed by anything left sitting on a shelf. Just one man's opinion that only took me about 20 years to realize. Just a slow learner I guess.....:rolleyes:
 
Squidman24 said:
Somebody smack me and tell me to get over it already!
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Drop one in a parking lot and accidentally kick it under your car. That'll get it some pavement patina and you'll never worry about it again. :)

Also - you can get some pretty inexpensive slipjoints. Buy two if it makes you feel better, and just use one like it was intended. You don't have to abuse them. You can use them and still take care of them if you are so inclined.

Another option - buy a stock, standard production Case or Buck knife. The kind that they make thousands of and there is no shortage. And use that one. My most often carried and enjoyed pocket knives are standard production Case knives. Nice knives but nothing safe-worthy or rare.
 
Find a pattern you are pretty sure you'll like a lot. The most recent one of those for me was the GEC #48 Improved Trapper; buy two. Use one.

Now reality for me.... I carry a SAK every day and adding another traditional is something that I tend to forget. Hard to displace my SAK from my pocket by ANY knife unless it's a second knife. Second knife usually means I don't need it.
 
I tried carrying a smaller SAK and a larger traditional, but I missed my larger 111 mm SAK.
 
Most times a SAK is all I really NEED. Alox Cadet or Alox Electrician could well be my only pocket knife for life. Alox Cadet plus a Case Peanut was my daily combo for a long time. But you're not helping the OP get his good knives out of the safe. ;) Come on, help the poor guy conspicuously consume.
 
Yeah, I'd be down for just a SAK in my pocket. Only carried the Wenger SI today, actually. Lost my 38 Bocote for a couple of days, so the Wenger got the pocket.

Anyway, for me it's a lot to do with living in NYC. They're legal, and don't raise eyebrows. I have one in my pocket all the time, and use it no problem. My modern Kershaw/ZT collection doesn't spend much time outside anymore, I just don't want the stress and anxiety.

Traditional pocket knives also make me feel a bit more at ease, as having a few has helped me get away from the obsessive "EDC" mentality. I have a pocket knife and a small flashlight that sit with my wallet as the pile of stuff that goes in my pants each day. I'm happy with that, I don't have to worry or think about it.

If you have an aversion to using a knife, then just be rid of it. It took me time, but I got away from having doubles, and nursing safe/drawer queens with a microfiber for years. If I don't see myself using it, I'll pass it along. The rest will get used. Now it's more of a time issue than anything else. I've stopped worrying about the 1 of 64 knife that I have, knowing it doubles what I paid. To me, the point is I've got it.

If you don't enjoy what you have, do you really have anything? I say go cut something with your knife. It'll thank you one day.
 
Hickory n steel said:
Get a vintage old timer that's still in good useable condition, or get an inexpensive cv case like the sodbuster Jr.
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This is great advice, get something inexpensive and use it daily. You may be surprised at how great traditionals are as slicers, having much thinner blades than modern knives. Dings/scratches/rubs are all normal, as is the aging of natural handle materials. It does add character and your own story to a knife though.
 
jc57 said:
Most times a SAK is all I really NEED. Alox Cadet or Alox Electrician could well be my only pocket knife for life. Alox Cadet plus a Case Peanut was my daily combo for a long time. But you're not helping the OP get his good knives out of the safe. ;) Come on, help the poor guy conspicuously consume.
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:D Maybe the solution is carry a SAK. They aren't expensive, but they're pretty good. If the extra tools don't do it for you, carry a smaller SAK with fewer tools or a larger thin one and carry a Case or whatever appeals to you. If you're concerned about marking up the blade, just go with stainless steel as they won't form the patina and pay attention when you sharpen it.

I own a lot of SAKs and there isn't a single one that I won't use. I do have a number of GEC's still unused and stored in the tubes. So, I understand your dilemma.
 
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Pick one traditional folder to carry, then lock everything else up. Give the key to your wife...ect and tell them not to give it back to you for 2 weeks or a month, you'll have no choice but to use the knife that's on you.
 
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