Why do you like traditional knives?

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I like the old time feeling, the nostalgia involved with using a knife that is as old as I am, if not older, and I like the kind of folks who feel the same way.

And then there is that sound of a good snap, the feel, and the look of the well seasoned handles and blades.

GOOD THREAD! :cool:

Well done Primble... :thumbup:
 
Good karma Primble! I'm glad I poke my head in here from time to time. Kind and generous folks in more ways than one.:thumbup:

Primble said:
What's wrong with a good old Case? Anything against a good old pocket watch ? :confused:

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Such rich color in these scales. Great group shot.

Please excuse my ignorance, but could you explain the purpose of the metal that's is pinned to the blade on the larger lock backs at the left and top left? From your picture with the blade slightly open it looks like the mechanism swings but I can't figure out why.

Thanks!
 
benchwarmer380 said:
Please excuse my ignorance, but could you explain the purpose of the metal that's is pinned to the blade on the larger lock backs at the left and top left? From your picture with the blade slightly open it looks like the mechanism swings but I can't figure out why.
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It's called a swing guard, and just as you guessed it swings up when the knife opens in order to form a guard like you might see on a fixed blade knife. Here's a picture of a couple that are fully open that I can't take credit for:

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Cory pegged the swing guard lock. This is one of mine opened up, in stag - yet another old design and traditional pattern :
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"traditional |trəˈdi sh ənl|
adjective
existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established "
 
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Thanks for the response Corey.

That is an interesting design feature. The present examples are simple yet attractive. I could see a custom maker get very creative in that regard.
 
Thanks Primble.

Is there any movement while in the open position or does it set firmly on top of the bolster?
 
Why does anybody "like" certain things? It's not something you can quantify with a fixed definition. It's very rare for any two people to "like" the same things. I like certain things; antique furniture made from solid wood, instead of modern vinyl, glass and stainless steel. I like walnut stocked blued steel guns, like rimfire bolt action sporters, and SxS double shotguns. I prefer older architecture in homes, instead of modern like space aged looking designs. Referring to the knives, I've been buying knives of some sort for close to 40 years now as I am going to be 50 this fall. Within price limitations, I could buy any knife on the market, aside from the really expensive ones. I go to the knife shop or sporting goods/hunting stores, and I look at and handle "old timey" traditional styled knives AND modern one handed opening, carbon fiber, plastic, assisted opening, etc., and I just don't like them. I don't have a specific reason, they just don't appeal to me. Just as the plastic stocked, alloy framed and stainless steel guns do not attract my attention. I've examined plenty of them, and they'd shoot bullets or shot pellets just like any old gun that's ever been made, but I don't like them. I put them back on the rack and go to the blued and walnut stuff, just as I put down the "modern" knives and amble over to the display of "traditional" knives. There is a large variety of things made in this world, from clothing, cell phones, furniture, even foods, and each of us have particulars that we are attracted to. Nothing against anyone else for liking what they happen to like; and at the same time, no need to try to push people that are attracted to one type of gear to another. If you've got a traditional type knife, post here about it, this section is for that type of thing. If not, go post in the sections of the board that you like. It's not complicated, birds of a feather flock together, as the old traditional saying goes.....................:)
 
Phil in Alabama said:
Why does anybody "like" certain things? It's not something you can quantify with a fixed definition. It's very rare for any two people to "like" the same things. I like certain things; antique furniture made from solid wood, instead of modern vinyl, glass and stainless steel. I like walnut stocked blued steel guns, like rimfire bolt action sporters, and SxS double shotguns. I prefer older architecture in homes, instead of modern like space aged looking designs. Referring to the knives, I've been buying knives of some sort for close to 40 years now as I am going to be 50 this fall. Within price limitations, I could buy any knife on the market, aside from the really expensive ones. I go to the knife shop or sporting goods/hunting stores, and I look at and handle "old timey" traditional styled knives AND modern one handed opening, carbon fiber, plastic, assisted opening, etc., and I just don't like them. I don't have a specific reason, they just don't appeal to me. Just as the plastic stocked, alloy framed and stainless steel guns do not attract my attention. I've examined plenty of them, and they'd shoot bullets or shot pellets just like any old gun that's ever been made, but I don't like them. I put them back on the rack and go to the blued and walnut stuff, just as I put down the "modern" knives and amble over to the display of "traditional" knives. There is a large variety of things made in this world, from clothing, cell phones, furniture, even foods, and each of us have particulars that we are attracted to. Nothing against anyone else for liking what they happen to like; and at the same time, no need to try to push people that are attracted to one type of gear to another. If you've got a traditional type knife, post here about it, this section is for that type of thing. If not, go post in the sections of the board that you like. It's not complicated, birds of a feather flock together, as the old traditional saying goes.....................:)
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Looks like we are from the same flock Phil. :eek: Nice post. :) Do you like catfish too ? :D:D:D
 
You guys and gals are nothing short of fantastic. :)

Here is a kinda fancy one by Ken Erickson that I have had for a couple or three years. I am sure some of you remember his wip thread.

Even has a built in nutcracker ;)

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This has been my daily carry for about 3 years now.

It weighs right at 1/2 an ounce and cuts/opens the things I cut and open with little to no effort at all.
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From openils to fancy stuff, what's not to like.
 
Thanks again Primble for sharing your knowledge.

Bastid, those are very nice pieces. I've seen Ken's work on the Exchange and in the Customs forum and they are always clean and never disappoint.
That Rogers really takes the cake though! Slick and classy.
 
In response to the OP. I saw your previous thread and I thought you were being an ass, so I declined to comment. However, I do love me some knapped blades and would love to see some more. I don't carry a traditional because of nostalgia, my first knife I fell in love was a Spyderco Pro-grip I got at 13. You see I'm 27, I grew up with "modern knives", the cheap "boy's knives" of my childhood looked nothing like a GEC 15. They were lockback folders, with cheap stainless, serrated edges, flimsy black plastic handles and were made in Taiwan. That 1st Spyderco was a wonder to me and my friends. I continued to collect "modern folders" but eventually began to lose interest.

I got tired of black handles and coated blades. I got better and better steels but they were a pain to sharpen. I realized that maybe I didn't need huge knife taking all of my precious pocket real estate. So I got a Northwoods Presidential and it completely rekindled my love of knives. To me traditionals are new and unexplored territory, which is exciting.

First, I was brought in by the form of the traditional knife. There is so much less constraint in the design of traditional knives. If you read this Cinn, I know you'll scoff but hear me out. When you drop the tactical pretenses, you open up all kinds of choices in handle materials and colors alone. Organic materials like bone, antler and wood are warm and comfortable in the hand. The color choices are endless, there is nothing dull or staid about traditionals, each pattern can be had in a rainbow of colors, not just black or flat brown. This makes them far less intimidating to the general population too. The traditional knife is disarmingly familiar to all but the most paranoid soccer mom and can be used almost anywhere without being questioned.

Once I got my first slipjoint, I realized I could actually use it for anything a modern folder could do and that's another reason I find them interesting. They don't just challenge the prevailing notions of what you "need" in a knife, they flip it on it's head. They show you what you don't need in a knife. Jimping, super steel, Ti, bearings, flippers, frame locks (now with SUPER EARLY LOCKUP[SUP]tm[/SUP] BRO), inch thick blade stock and the whole overbuilt mall ninja tactical circle jerk is just a steaming load of marketing hype. Smooth rounded handle shapes that don't dictate how you hold them are surprisingly delightful to actually use. Furthermore carbon steel when properly treated takes a glorious scary sharp edge much faster than say S30V and will hold it pretty well too.

There are hundreds of years of history and lore to uncover about them. I love learning about where different patterns originated and how they were used. There are so many companies other than Case out there to collect. In fact I strongly suspect you didn't actually read a single thread here before you posted because I think Great Eastern Cutlery posts outnumber Case posts by far. 3 in 5 posts on the trad knife exchange are either GEC 77s or GEC 15s selling for astronomical prices but I digress. There are many fine companies cranking out weird and wonderful knives at all price points, there is really a trad knife or pattern for anything you can think of and a story behind each one.

I don't dislike modern folders at all but my focus has shifted away from them for now. One by one my collection of modern folders is being given away to friends and family who will use them more than I. I just never seem to need them.

I don't think traditional is a precise word for the class of knife that gets posted here either but it seems to be the generally accepted best fit. I think they are called Traditional because the people who began collecting them were alive at a time when there was period of rapid development in knife design. So they drew an arbitrary line in the sand. Just like BC and AD, you may not believe in the ideas that gave rise to the terms but that doesn't make them any less useful as words.

I highly doubt you are going to read this OP. I don't think you care about the answer to your question. If you do see this, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it and I'd love to have a conversation about flint knapping too. Some people here say you just got outta school and can't find a job. Good luck with all that; I've been there too.
 
Couldn't have said it better myself, Doc!! ^^^^^^^^^

I don't know abut the rest of you guys, but that post of Doc's needs to be sticky why we like traditional knives.
 
Ladies and gents, you have done Traditional proud!

Said the pedantic mod.
 
Fine responses! I have to say I wasn't expecting the thread to be here at this point:)

Personally I think just because we call these knives Traditionals doesn't mean they stand still. Their timeless designs lend themselves to modern interpretation and materials (the recently posted Rogers exemplifies this, liner less, carbon fiber and stonewashed. Yet a traditional, slim trapper frame).

Old patterns get tweaked and re interpreted, sometimes raising lively debate. The Northfield #77 Medium Barlow being a recent example of this. Yet, whilst the discussion gets warm everyone keeps a healthy respect for each other's opinions.

I personally find that evolution fascinating, hence I started this thread:)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...als-)?highlight=avoidspam+modern+traditionals

I have appreciated the contributions and Frank et al's soft touch, appreciating my purpose.

Sam
 
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