Why Do We Like Traditionals?

Horsewright

Horsewright

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
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I wanted to share a review with you. I think, more than anything I've ever read it defines, spells out what quickens our pulse about a nice traditional. Its a short little blog post about artisans here in the US written by a friend of mine, JP. It will be a recurring review of different artisans. He covers our work in this first one but thats not the important part. The important part is the first half where he defines the difference between handwork and mass produced items. With traditionals thats what makes em special there is handwork involved. Whether production or full custom there is handwork by somebody thats handy. Folder or fixed blade, don't matter. Why do you have that Case trapper in your pocket instead of the latest greatest flipper with internet connection so ya can text and a camera? This might answer it for ya. Whats your thoughts?

http://www.readjamesonparker.com/blog
 
That's a good question. I just got bit by this bug and even though my nails are ripped and my thumb hurst I'm still looking at buying more because for some reason I like them .
 
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I am more into modern folders and that is what I carry. But once in awhile I too see the appeal of a good traditional knife.
 
My first reason was (and is): they generally cut better. Second reason, they feel better, in hand, materials-wise, and energetically (yes, I'm a person who values the spirit of an object). Third reason: because of how they sound. Fourth reason: because they suit my needs. Fifth reason: because they're fun.

From the article you posted, this is the passage that spoke to me the most: "It’s the difference between a Buick and a Bugatti. A Buick will move you down the road with comfort, safety, and efficiency. A classic Bugatti will move you just by looking at it." And that's true for me about traditional knives vs. modern ones. A handful of moderns can do that to me, but even traditionals I don't like will do that to me.
 
Three words & Three Pics for me: History, History, History can tell a 1000 words!


 
For me it's variety and utility. Variety of materials, patterns, number of blades, and all with a great deal of hand fitting and finishing. It's the main reason I rarely carry the same knife more than a few days at a time: I just love the variety! Utility comes with multiple, thin, purpose-designed blades that cut so nicely. There is just something about the right tool for the right job, and multi-blade slipjoints are the pinnacle of this ethic.
 
I don't get that philosophical about it. I like the way they look and the materials they are made from, and they cover most of my needs. That's really all there is to it. I have modern knives too that I carry and use when I feel like it, or when they are the right tool for the task. When I carry a Case Trapper it's usually because I'm going out to eat. I wouldn't want to use a ZT to cut up food, but the trapper has the right blades for that.
 
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jc57 said:
I don't get that philosophical about it. I like the way they look and the materials they are made from, and they cover most of my needs. That's really all there is to it. I have modern knives too that I carry and use when I feel like it, or when they are the right tool for the task. When I carry a Case Trapper it's usually because I'm going out to eat. I wouldn't want to use a ZT to cut up food, but the trapper has the right blades for that.
Click to expand...

+1. :thumbup:
 
When I was a kid (1940's and 1950's), the Modern Knife as being referenced in this thread didn't exist. All we had were Traditionals. As a result, the traditionals are what I stick with. Sure, I have some Modern Knives but I rarely use or carry them. There's really nothing more a Modern Knife can co that a Traditional Knife can't do.
 
It comes down to one word; soul.

Too many of todays things have all the charm of a jack handle. Modern knives are in that category. An old barlow, stockman, or jack of some kind with nice jigged bone scales have a nice feel in the hand. They have an aesthetic appeal to the human being that is going to use it. Too much of the modern stuff has all the appeal of the afor mentioned jack handle. I've had a few modern knives, and they didn't stay around long. They not only lacked any redeeming style and human friendly feel, but I found them actually limited. Yes, they had a nice thick strong blade and a blade lock that coiuld hold the blade open under very heavy use, like stabbing a car door. but, the thick ground blades just didn't cut as precise as the thinner stock of an old jack, they were more limiting by just having one blade. A blade that was all to often too long, or blunt for the task.

It's nice having two, or even three blades on hand in a small easily pocketed package. Three different blades with three different profiles and even three different levels of sharpness. For over 25 years my go-to pocket knife was a stockman pattern. I served in the army combat engineers, and a sharp knife was a nice the to have on hand. No matter what Ihad buggered up my blade on by stripping some wire, sawing through something that I knew was going to mess up my edge, it was nice having two more blades on tap. No modern knife gives me that. Even the little two blade serpentine jack called a peanut, gives me two blades so I can keep one sharp, and one semi sharp for the dirty work that one does run into now and then.

In the case of a scout pattern or SAK, the modern knife does not even come into the ball park. When you have cutting blades and a few tools on a pocketknife, it's gravy on the taters. Yes, I'm sure if I were contemplating using the knife as a weapon, the modern one hand knife is a good choice, but I haven't ever used a knife as a weapon nor come close to it. Just not on my radar. The fact of the matter is, I've never even needed a lock on a blade at all. A two or three blade slip joint does all my cutting needs jus fine with a selection of blade shapes and edges.

So why do I prefer the traditional? Style and function in one nice pocketable package that actually feels as good in true hand as it looks. NIce soft gray patined blade and peach seed jigging is a hard combo to beat with a thick bladed black handled tractional knife that caters to fantasies of fighting off Chinese paratroopers or the zombie apocalypse. I prefer to keep my choices in the real world.
 
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Simple answer for me... They were the kind of knives my dad let me have/gave to me when I was a kid. I don't have any of those left, and I've also lost my father, so I feel a very special connection to carrying a slipjoint like he did. Just feels right!
 
Why do I collect/accumulate knives?

Here's a link to a similar thread and my answer which applies here also.

Somebody asked me "the" question we as knife people as always asked and after answering his question I thought this was the best answer I've come up with in 40+ years so I thought I'd share.

Why do I collect/accumulate knives? Wow! If I could answer that effectively I'd save myself a lot of money on therapy.

I guest I'd have to break it out into a couple different areas.

1) Historical
2) Functionality
3) Aesthetics
4) Emotional

Historically: It's man's 3rd oldest tool preceded by his brain and a rock/hammer first. There's something about a tool that can trace it's roots back a half a million years. There's a lot of history between that first piece of chipped rock early man picked up realizing it made separating things, (skin from meat/flesh from bone, branches from trees and even trees from their earthen trap) and today's modern edged tools that allowed us to conquer our environment.

Here's an old 1800s Josef Sziraki Pearl Lobster I happened across in a box lot at an estate sale.

cn5Ynkw.jpg


Functionality: There's no such thing as that "one" knife, if that were true there'd be no reason for places like this, we'd all have the same knife and we'd use it for everything, end of discussion. There's a problem though, there's no such thing as that one perfect knife. That's why we have different patterns, some blade shapes and geometries are better at certain tasks than others and that's why I collect. One knife will never serve all my needs perfectly so I'll spend the rest of my life trying and searching for the best compromise or the exact/best tool for the specific job.

When it comes to functionality you can build a collection on Swiss Army Knives alone. One of the first to try to fit as many functions into a pocket knife as possible and certainly still tryin'.

zQDeyhg.jpg


Aesthetics: Pretty self explanatory, I love a beautiful handcrafted knife, when the cutler's hit his stride and everything comes together to create a functional piece of art/jewelry.and what person doesn't like surrounding themselves with beautiful things right? :)

Some knives I collect because they look cool while being knives too.

d5rQKTB.jpg


Emotional: This covers everything from knives my Old Man and grandfather carried to gifts from friends whether it's a $5 yard sales knife or a custom a friend's made for or given me, this is the hardest category to explain, Knives just speak to me, some of my most prized knives are crazy Franklin Mint knives given to me by well meaning family and friends. The fact that they took the time to get me something they know so little about means a lot so I have a few "novelty" knives and even a few gems they got lucky with.

I have many knives that fit into this category from my Old Man's hunting knives form 45 years ago and my grandfather's pocket knife from a hundred years ago or like this gift from a friend because he knew I liked knives.

np2uHuh.jpg
 
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I think the biggest reason I like traditional knives is because of their "soul". Even production knives like Case and GEC still have a lot of human touch on them. The parts may be stamped by machines, but the final sanding polishing is still done by hand. They're as much a work of art as they are a tool. I can't quite put my finger on why, but a slip joint just gives me the impression that it was FITTED, not simply assembled. There is more about them that you feel and less that you measure compared to modern folders.

When strictly talking practicality, it's hard to beat a multitool for the sheer number of jobs that it can do. And I don't mean a SAK or a scout, I mean a folding pair of pliers with more stuff in the handles. I carried a Leartherman Wave for years, and when I was working outside jobs I used it every day. Even in my office job now, I still need it every now and then. I earned my reputation as "the guy who fixes stuff" with it. But there were two problems that I had with it. It was huge, and though it had lots of great tools, it was a terrible knife. It's a blocky, heavy, slippery handle with no sort of guard or finger groove. It always feels like it's going to slip and cut my hand. It was also very heavy and bulky in-pocket.

A traditional pocket knife (as we generally think of them) is the polar opposite. My jack knife may not have a guard or finger groove either, but it's such a light and efficient cutter that I don't really need it. The feeling in-pocket is a night and day difference. I actually have to check and make sure it's there from time to time, not like the Leatherman that always knocked my knee when pulling my pants on and dug it's corners into my leg whenever it got moved around in my pocket.
 
They are a better tool for me.

1. They are better slicers
2. They are more people friendly and I use them in public more
3. They are more comfortable in the hand

*Some* moderns are beautiful in a sleek, shiny way, albeit not as pretty as most trads. But the above advantages usually hold true.
 
I am 32, but I have always been an old man on the inside. I love doing most things the old-fashioned way, knives included.


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Soul..class..family tradition. And, as I told a friend, I don't typically carry a modern tactical because I cut more food, open more cans (my yellow Victorinox), and open more boxes, than cut and stab people. Plus...again...they have class.
 
Traditional knives are my link to the past. They remind me of a simpler time before pagers, cell phones, smart phones. Back when we wrote our reports using a typewriter. When I started my first LE job if I needed to make a phone call I had to find a phone booth. I had to get up out of my chair the change the channel and only had a choice of 5-7 channels anyway. Life was much simpler. it just seems the computer age has made life much more complicated. I used to buy 3-4 knife magazines every month and read knife books til they practically fell apart. Yup I love Traditional Pocket Knives!
 
I like traditional knives because I find the blade shapes more useful than those of most one handers when it comes to my day to day chores. Day to day chores is why I carry a knife.
 
I love all sorts of knives, its just Im from a city that has strict laws. Traditionals usually fly by with no fuss unlike a beefy tactical folder with a huge blade.
 
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