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

For work i need a knife with a strong blade and a big enough handle to get a full grip on. Wearing a fix blade gets very annoying when going house to house in a truck. Its alway digs in my side. Thats why i choose a modern folder. If im on a job site all day then its a fixed blade. I still carry a traditional slip joint as well.
 
I like many modern styles AND traditionals. I think it's funny when so many modern knife adherents criticize traditionals, and traditional knife adherents criticize modern designs. Each side has those who say that all anybody needs is a knife from the category they like; and that nobody really needs the 'other' style (the category they themselves don't like).

Meanwhile, most of the rest of humanity thinks that NOBODY needs to carry a knife of any type.

People in the past accomplished plenty of daily hard work without any "super steels" and foolproof locking mechanisms. As well, there are many modern folders that have superb blade/edge geometry that also work very well.

As far as multi-bladed pocketknives, I prefer SAKs over a stockman, peanut, 2-blade pen, or other knife blade-only pattern, as there is so much more versatility. Though I do consider most SAKs to be traditional patterns.

Funny enough, before too long, knives like the Spyderco Delica/Endurance/Police, etc., the CRK Sebenza, etc., will be considered 'traditional'. The same as the Buck 110 now being considered 'traditional'.

Jim
 
T. Erdelyi said:
200 year old traditional.

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My mind can't wrap around that idea for some reason. You're saying that knife which looks like a SAK complete with toothpick was made in the 1800's?

I suppose there's some story that goes along with how you got it?

To the OP's question, I think the traditionals got supplanted by the multitools more so than by the modern single blade. But that's just my personal assessment.
 
Convenience.
I have never encountered a situation where having to use two hand to open a knife was a benefit; I have encountered times where being able to open, use and then close it with one hand was a benefit.

I have knives that require two hands to open (my Swisschamp being one of them), but it is annoying to have to put down what I'm working on, open the knife, then pick it up again.
 
stabman said:
Convenience.
I have never encountered a situation where having to use two hand to open a knife was a benefit; I have encountered times where being able to open, use and then close it with one hand was a benefit.
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Again, no idea what this has to do with traditionals. Many traditional patterns can be opened and closed with one hand.
 
pinnah said:
Again, no idea what this has to do with traditionals. Many traditional patterns can be opened and closed with one hand.
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This is true in part, but I find it requires significantly more effort and concentration to do. Leaving modern one handers as the much more convenient option.
 
Television.
Compulsively playing with a modern OHO while watching TV is more fun than playing with a slippy.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
This is true in part, but I find it requires significantly more effort and concentration to do. Leaving modern one handers as the much more convenient option.
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I find that effort and concentration are a matter of practice morphed into habit.

I've practiced enough with my Opinel on my long commute that its second nature. One hand opening a lock back was mastered in high school. If anything, the Opinel is the safest, as the blade is not active.

The difference in the design is speed. A modern knife deploys faster. If I had a job that demanded 100s of deployments a day I would consider a Mora (I like the plastic sheath for working) or a modern knife.

But that's it. The issue is speed.
 
pinnah said:
I find that effort and concentration are a matter of practice morphed into habit.

I've practiced enough with my Opinel on my long commute that its second nature. One hand opening a lock back was mastered in high school. If anything, the Opinel is the safest, as the blade is not active.

The difference in the design is speed. A modern knife deploys faster. If I had a job that demanded 100s of deployments a day I would consider a Mora (I like the plastic sheath for working) or a modern knife.

But that's it. The issue is speed.
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Yes, but there's an alternative now that requires negligible practice and totally negates the effort and concentration needed. If one thing requires tremendous amounts of training and practice and the other offers immediate proficiency to amateurs one is, by definition, more convenient. You can decide it's speed all you want, that does nothing to make it true.
 
I agree with you Insipid. The difference is speed mostly. Speed is not necessary for me, so I am comfortable with traditional knives. But I like both. I often use two hands on my manual one-handers anyway. Assisted openers, not so much unless I want to diminish the "whack" when it opens.
 
I like the style and tradition of older style knives and slip-joints better than more modern designs, but I cant get past the convenience of the modern folder. For a while a decided that I was only going to buy "traditional" knives. I stuck with it for a few months and honestly didn't find a task they couldn't do. The first time I went back and used a modern folder I really loved the fact that I could open a knife, cut what I needed to cut, close the knife, and put it back in my pocket in the same or less time than it would take to get the blade open on one of my traditional knives. All that with one hand mind you. My "old timey" knives mostly sit in a drawer now. I like style and tradition, but convenience trumps it for me most of the time.
 
Rey HRH said:
My mind can't wrap around that idea for some reason. You're saying that knife which looks like a SAK complete with toothpick was made in the 1800's?

I suppose there's some story that goes along with how you got it?

To the OP's question, I think the traditionals got supplanted by the multitools more so than by the modern single blade. But that's just my personal assessment.
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Long before there were SAK's there were the lobster pattern gentlemen's knives produced by the cutlery firms in Sheffield, England. These were intricate and beautifully crafted knives with many blades ranging from pipe reamers and scissors to button hooks and nail files. They even packed a penknife blade or two in there. Handles ranged from mostly pearl to stag and horn. Charles Elsner probably go this idea from the Sheffield knives.
 
Rey HRH said:
My mind can't wrap around that idea for some reason. You're saying that knife which looks like a SAK complete with toothpick was made in the 1800's?

I suppose there's some story that goes along with how you got it?

To the OP's question, I think the traditionals got supplanted by the multitools more so than by the modern single blade. But that's just my personal assessment.
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Here's a link to the story and it's not a toothpick it's an ear pick for cleaning the earwax outta your ear, remember the q-tip is a modern invention created in the 20s. :)
 
When climbing and reaching from scaffold or standing on the top rung of a ladder the last thing I want to do is dig in my pocket searching for the opinel and then having do something weird to open it.
 
Wowbagger said:
In the past I ignored black blades as just "ninja" and not anything I needed. It has very recently come to my attention that specifically the DLC surface treatment may actually be practical in everyday peaceful cutting tasks. As I understand it it can cut down on friction. Not at the edge obviously but at the sides of the blade.

I know when I cut up fairly large double wall card board boxes the knife actually gets hot from friction so might make some dif. Two mating machine parts, both with DLC, in use can approach zero friction.
The YouTubes I have seen on DLC in other uses and in knife tests in particular seem to show the coating is durable in use.

I have not bought a knife with it yet but I'm considering which one to try.

I wonder . . . GEC . . . a new run of Grinling Whittlers . . . with . . . DLC black blades.
It's a natural right ?
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If you re looking for a dlc knife, try an American Lawman. That is a heck of an edc knife if you re not put off by the black blade. Fine ergonomics, and fit and finish. Great steel with very good heat treatment. Good slicer. Very strong . Relatively light weight. Bargain price for all of the above.
 
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