Why have locking single-blade folders replace stockman/barlow/pen style knives?

It seems that I very seldom see someone whip out a "traditional" style pocketknife anymore - those like a classic stockman style, barlow, trapper, pen knife, etc.. Instead, 75% of the folks I see today have a single-blade locking knife on them. I have one on me now. But I also have a Swiss Army knife in my other pocket because it has that danged plastic toothpick that I always seem to use on a daily basis.
I've always appreciated have two or more blades on a knife - one blade for general heavier work, the other kept razor sharp to trim really small things from time to time.

I wonder why so few people carry the more traditional pocketknives anymore.

Theories? Discussion?

Why did you by the Kershaw OSO Sweet? That might answer your question.
 
8CE4B6F6-17F1-4747-9C1F-2D0B9BF66C7D.jpg

Are those meant to be carried Tip-Up or Tip-Down? ;)
 
For many, I think it is the mall ninja effect. For me, it was the novelty. For most of my life I had a few Opinels, a few SAKs and a couple of other odd knives. They were stashed in motorcycle luggage or in the tool kits, to be used in camp or for repairs. I rarely carried a knife in my pocket. I didn't pay much attention to traditional slip joints, and the one-handed openers were just coming into the market; I managed to remain oblivious to them as well.

Then my wife gave me a liner lock with a thumb stud. It was an afterthought. She meant to give me the head lamp, and the knife was packaged with it. That led to a Benchmade, then another, and some Kershaws. The one-handed openers were useful, especially in one of my jobs. They also could be flipped open, recalling the gravity knives of my wannabe hoodlum youth.

After a while, I wanted to read up on Moras and Opinels, which led me to BF and the traditional forum, where I could not avoid exposure to traditional slip-joints. Now those are the novelties for me. I have quite a few, and carry them.
 
Last edited:
Go to the traditionals section.
I think the only reason so many people go modern is style and the tactical mindset.
It's not always about what you do or don't need, but almost everyone could get by perfectly fine with a Barlow , stockman...ect ( I carry a an old imperial Barlow )

I like modern knives to a degree ( not strictly one way or the other and carried my buck 482 constantly for 2 yrs ) but have more recently went traditional because the imperial is in carbon steel which I prefer .


What I was trying to say is really that a lot if people only carry them because they just like them, and that some people have a tactical mindset.
( like I said its not always about what we require,but just what we like )
 
Last edited:
Go to the traditionals section.
I think the only reason so many people go modern is style and the tactical mindset.

So the only reasons behind the popularity of one handed opening locking folders are "style and the tactical mindset"?!?

People don't carry them for safety and ease of use? Maybe we can get Sal Glesser in here to tell us how he was motivated by just "style and the tactical mindset".
 
I guess I must be the odd man out, I always carry a traditional slip joint along with a lockblade. Sometimes it's a traditional lock back or liner lock other times it's a more modern knife like a Sebenza but regardless I always have at least one traditional in my pocket.

In fact the bulk of my collection is based on traditional folders, most over 30-40 years old some over 200 years old and I still carry them.

I think as the novelty of the modern folder eventually gives way to the quality and personality of the traditional folder. We mature as we age, just like we drank cheap wine and beer when we were young and as we aged so our tastes evolved and the knives in our pockets also change.

More modern....

HAtOxZm.jpg


200 year old traditional.

3v8Axl5.jpg


Modern traditional folders, they all see pocket time.

UprM4eq.jpg


Modern lockers...

lOn41u7.jpg


Not so modern....

NPEGg2X.jpg


Size matters....

XXS0EaO.jpg
 
So the only reasons behind the popularity of one handed opening locking folders are "style and the tactical mindset"?!?

People don't carry them for safety and ease of use? Maybe we can get Sal Glesser in here to tell us how he was motivated by just "style and the tactical mindset".

It's not the only reason, but honestly most of us don't actually need anything more for an edc cutting tool ( I never thought I could actually get by with a slipjoint before I started carrying my Barlow ). People are in such a hurry these days that they can't even stand to spend one extra second opening their knife, even though whatever they're cutting will still be there in need of cutting a second later ( obviously life or Death situations are a different story )
There's nothing wrong with modern folders and I do like them, but I have come to realize that I can get by perfectly well without them and they are a joy to carry and use.
 
For many, I think it is the mall ninja effect.

I agree..."many"...but by no means all. I carry strictly slipjoints...I never have been able to get into "modern" folders...but I will not dismiss everyone who carries "moderns" as a "mall ninja."

Sure, some are.

And I would still like the hear the OPs reasoning behind buying the OSO Sweet beyond his "killing snakes" reply.

It seems odd to question why people carry "modern" knives when you have one yourself. :confused:
 
There's nothing wrong with modern folders and I do like them, but I have come to realize that I can get by perfectly well without them and they are a joy to carry and use.

As can I. But I'm not going to dismiss someone who feels differently as having a "tactical mindset."

People do need to quickly open and close knives many, many times a day for their jobs, and people need to open their knives one handed.

I don't. It sounds like you dont. But people do.

What was Spyderco's first knife called? The one that really made the whole "one handed opening, locking knife with a clip" industry?

C01 something....
 
I think the only reason so many people go modern is style and the tactical mindset.
It's not always about what you do or don't need, but almost everyone could get by perfectly fine with a Barlow , stockman...ect ( I carry a an old imperial Barlow )

I am old enough to have started my love of all things Sharp and pointy back when all we had were "traditional" knives.

When one hand openers and pocket clips hit the market I stopped carrying traditional knives and never looked back.

You can claim tactical mindset all you want, but just try to dig that little Barlow out of your pocket, open it, cut , close, replace the knife all while wearing work gloves.

Instead of getting all mistyeyed for the knives I grew up with I embraced progress.
 
The Spyderco C01 Worker was the first, I bought mine from some guy at one of the first ECCK shows, I went to check out this crazy triangle shaped pair of crock sticks and he showed me this ugly knife with a hump, a hole and a thing called a pocket clip. I bought the ugly knife anyway, the guy's name was Sal something, I wonder what ever happened to him and his company?

fbFvb0N.jpg
 
It seems that I very seldom see someone whip out a "traditional" style pocketknife anymore - those like a classic stockman style, barlow, trapper, pen knife, etc.. Instead, 75% of the folks I see today have a single-blade locking knife on them. I have one on me now. But I also have a Swiss Army knife in my other pocket because it has that danged plastic toothpick that I always seem to use on a daily basis.
I've always appreciated have two or more blades on a knife - one blade for general heavier work, the other kept razor sharp to trim really small things from time to time.

I wonder why so few people carry the more traditional pocketknives anymore.

Theories? Discussion?

People prefer modern folders because:

-they're way faster to use
-pocket clips
-have locks, take more abuse
-they're larger
-self-defense fantasy?
-they have way more cool factor to the average Joe
 
The Spyderco C01 Worker was the first, I bought mine from some guy at one of the first ECCK shows, I went to check out this crazy triangle shaped pair of crock sticks and he showed me this ugly knife with a hump, a hole and a thing called a pocket clip. I bought the ugly knife anyway, the guy's name was Sal something, I wonder what ever happened to him and his company?

Ah! "Worker"! I thought it was the C01 "Style and Tactical Mindset"! :D
 
Let me be clear that I wasn't saying that all who carry them have a tactical mindset, but some do so I mentioned it.

I certainly do not dismiss all as tactical , and I'm sorry if I gave that impression.
( I'm carrying my new sog seal pup right now, and I certainly don't have a tactical mindset )
 
People prefer modern folders because:

-they're way faster to use
-pocket clips
-have locks, take more abuse
-they're larger
-self-defense fantasy?
-they have way more cool factor to the average Joe

I have also found out that they are sometimes required. Our local Boyscouts mandate locking blades.

n2s
 
I agree..."many"...but by no means all. I carry strictly slipjoints...I never have been able to get into "modern" folders...but I will not dismiss everyone who carries "moderns" as a "mall ninja."

Sure, some are.

And I would still like the hear the OPs reasoning behind buying the OSO Sweet beyond his "killing snakes" reply.

It seems odd to question why people carry "modern" knives when you have one yourself. :confused:

I mainly purchased it to carry with me when I do carpentry work, as it seems like I'm always having to trim out an errant piece of wood that I couldn't get out with a chisel, cut lumber straps, etc.. in other words, things that require a sturdy knife, capable of being opened with one hand while on a ladder.
However, I can't stand to carry that thing every day in a pocket like I thought I might. I'm not "dissing" them, just wondering why they have pushed the slip-joints aside with the majority of the public.
 
I mainly purchased it to carry with me when I do carpentry work, as it seems like I'm always having to trim out an errant piece of wood that I couldn't get out with a chisel, cut lumber straps, etc.. in other words, things that require a sturdy knife, capable of being opened with one hand while on a ladder.
However, I can't stand to carry that thing every day in a pocket like I thought I might. I'm not "dissing" them, just wondering why they have pushed the slip-joints aside with the majority of the public.

Well...maybe many people require a sturdy knife, capable of being opened with one hand.
 
I don't own a traditional, nor do I have any real interest. I won't discount that they're beautiful to look at, and likely a joy to use. The reality is that I have no use for them - I'm not a collector by any stretch of the imagination. I wound up here looking for a good work knife. What I ended up with I still proclaim to be the very best work knife - the Delica. I've bought a handful of others since, but I don't have any need for any additional knives. One handed opening/closing was priority number 1, and I was quite unsure about the knife initially as it was very stiff. The second thing I appreciate is a good pocket clip. I already have enough crap bouncing around in my pocket, so I required something that stays exactly where I last put it, and the Spyderco hourglass clip is the best I've used.

I did go out and buy a PM2 because of the hype, and while I like it, I very rarely carry it. The Delica and the 531 see the most time these days - very light and quick to use.

As far as being tactical That's what guns are for. :)
 
Back
Top