Why you should edc traditional slip joint knives

It doesn't really come down to which is their most popular model when referring to GEC. The f&f is going to be nice and the individual knife and how the scales look is what one generally goes by when purchasing one.

Go to a supporting vendor like knivesshipfree, and check out the GEC tab. The models will be sorted numerically, so have a pen and paper ready to write down the models that catch your eye, then start narrowing it down by basing the cuts on smaller preferential pieces.
Do you want a sheepsfoot, wharncliffe, spear, drop or clip main?
if you want a secondary blade, what shape then?
what about scale materials, now the list is yet further narrowed.

Take your time, find out what really speaks to you, have other knives and a tape measure nearby for reference and have fun.

Oh, don't forget customs too...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1279590-Black-amp-Brown-Box-Elder-Burl

Welcome aboard and good luck!
 
Several Years ago I carried a Leatherman C305 knife, that had a 2.8 inch blade that could be deployed quickly with a non spring assisted lever or a thumb stud. I'd carried it a while because it assisted me in my IT work. I ended up getting a new job at a hospital and was often opening up boxes of new equipment for users. Suddenly what was second nature to me by then flipping it open to access equipment was getting horrified looks. It was a short, stubby blade being used to open equipment boxes and cut straps off pallets. I was getting looks like I was about to take hostages. After several concerned looks, comments, and recommendations to put my "weapon" away I decided to go back to carrying and SAK. The blade on the SAK was a full inch longer, but it never got a second look from anyone. If anything it got compliments. I've been carrying traditionals ever since. Occasionally I pull out that old C305 or my Skyline, and pop them open a time or two, but they don't have the soul of a traditional. People also don't see traditionals as weapons like they do modern folders. My skyline is sleek, fast, and light, but it doesn't have the charm and warmth of an SAK, Barlow, Huckleberry Boy's Knife, or a Bullet end Jack. I guess I'll just keep carrying those traditionals. Poor me! HA!
 
SAKs and Peanuts - the non-scary knife alternatives. I am carrying the ultra-thin Vic Alox Bantam and a Case Peanut today, along with a Vic Alox Mini-Champ and LM Squirt P4 on the keyring. Lots of tiny tools and non-threatening blades.

I have a very small, non-assisted modern knife (Boker KeyCom) that I opened once in front of a friend to cut open a small package and he joking referred to it as a weapon. (Mind you, this same guy carries a full-size .45 semi-auto). It has a 1 1/2" blade, smaller than the Case Peanut. It's the click when they lock into place, and the fact that you can open them one handed that seems to freak people out. I guess people have been conditioned by the movies where a bad guy pulls out a switchblade, so that anyone opening a knife one-handed that clicks into place is a movie villain.

That's also the reason I never carry red-bladed lightsabers - only the bad guys use those. ;)
 
jc57 said:
SAKs and Peanuts - the non-scary knife alternatives. I am carrying the ultra-thin Vic Alox Bantam and a Case Peanut today, along with a Vic Alox Mini-Champ and LM Squirt P4 on the keyring. Lots of tiny tools and non-threatening blades.

I have a very small, non-assisted modern knife (Boker KeyCom) that I opened once in front of a friend to cut open a small package and he joking referred to it as a weapon. (Mind you, this same guy carries a full-size .45 semi-auto). It has a 1 1/2" blade, smaller than the Case Peanut. It's the click when they lock into place, and the fact that you can open them one handed that seems to freak people out. I guess people have been conditioned by the movies where a bad guy pulls out a switchblade, so that anyone opening a knife one-handed that clicks into place is a movie villain.

That's also the reason I never carry red-bladed lightsabers - only the bad guys use those. ;)
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Everything John wrote makes sense, and, except for the statement I highlighted, I probably have had the same thoughts myself. But the analysis of red lightsabres is new to me, and certainly food for thought!! :eek::D:eek:

- GT
 
The problem in people's perception of modern style knives is that so many of them are specifically built as weapons. There are modernistic knives that are more tool or implement in design so when in use people unacustomed to and frightened by weapons aren't immediately put on edge by the user whipping out something that looks more like a zombie decapitator than a common hand tool. Some traditional knives bring the weapon reaction out; Italian stilleto switchblades for example. Any large deadly looking knife can garner a negative reaction, whether it is covered in jigged bone or black plastic; but the large size and intimidating appearance of many modern knives sets off red flag reactions instantly.
 
5K Qs said:
Everything John wrote makes sense, and, except for the statement I highlighted, I probably have had the same thoughts myself. But the analysis of red lightsabres is new to me, and certainly food for thought!! :eek::D:eek:

- GT
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They're red due to using synthetic crystals. Star Wars "wookiepedia" is a fountain of nerdish knowledge (love it).

images

Keychain knives

The non-threatening-ness ☺ of traditionals is pretty large in my love of them. I love the gestalt and the craftsmanship, but I revel in carrying a tiny slipjoint in my watch pocket and taking it out in a crowded store if I need to.
 
Very nice article. Welcome to Bladeforums and the folksy confines of Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades. :thumbup::cool:
 
Jake Middleton said:
How are Northwoods from knivesshipfree? They just got a new stock in of their whittler
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That new whittler is made by GEC based on their #38 pattern. By all accounts, Northwoods are very fine knives. KSF is also very good about standing behind their product and is almost universally praised in these forums. If you're looking to "step up" your traditional game you could do a lot worse than Northwoods, but not much better.
 
The sad reality is that any assisted-opening knife is going to be perceived as a "switchblade" by non-knife folks. Heck, even one hand openers may be seen negatively by the general public. They won't care it's spring assisted; to their eyes it opens instantly and that makes it a switchblade. I cringe every time I see a bad guy in a movie or on TV using an ordinary Spyderco. In media only bad guys and soldiers use knives.
 
Thanks all for the advice on some new traditional knives for me to look at! My next one will be a GEC or Northwoods from knivesshipfree. I owe them a purchase anyways, they sent me one of those free Buck's with their knives for kids program. I know now were you all stand on knives, but what other items do you EDC other than your slipjoint? for me it's a Benchmade mini grip(this gets rotated out depending on what I'm doing), a Snakebite bottle opener, leatherman fuse, and streamlight, or maglite.
 
Good article Jake, I've always got my stockman with along with a modern folder and or a fixed blade. The stockman always comes along though.


In the article, when you first used the Buck to open up the top of your sons milk, you said you "whipped" it out. Did you flick it out quickly with the thumbstud? If so, the method of opening could have been what caused the reactions, not the knife itself.

Anecdote time: I was in a Sports Authority a few months ago looking at some soccer cleats. There was a mother with her daughter there trying on some cleats behind me. The cleats she was trying on were zip tied together at the top lace hole so there was no way to walk in them. I heard her say they should find someone that works there and see if they had some scissors. Being the knife guy that I am I tell them I have a knife and ask if they'd like me to cut it for them. I reached in my pocket for my Leatherman to use the scissors on it because her foot was in one of the shoes when I went to go cut it. Unfortunately I left the Leatherman in the car and the only knife I had was my Umnumzaan. Not a small knife by anyone's standards and possibly an intimidating blade shape to non knife people. I pulled it out of my pocket and slowly opened it two handed and cut the zip tie making sure to angle it away from her daughter and closer to me while I cut it. As I was closing it up, two handed again, her mother thanked me and commented how handy it was to have. It's really all about perception.
 
Jake Middleton said:
Thanks all for the advice on some new traditional knives for me to look at! My next one will be a GEC or Northwoods from knivesshipfree. I owe them a purchase anyways, they sent me one of those free Buck's with their knives for kids program. I know now were you all stand on knives, but what other items do you EDC other than your slipjoint? for me it's a Benchmade mini grip(this gets rotated out depending on what I'm doing), a Snakebite bottle opener, leatherman fuse, and streamlight, or maglite.
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There is a separate subforum here for general "gear" chat. This one is reserved specifically for discussion of Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades. Frank or Gary will move the thread if we start talking too much about other pocket gear.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/731-Gadgets-amp-Gear

I never much post there, since I get my fix for the broader range of gear discussions on EDCForums.com.
 
jc57 said:
There is a separate subforum here for general "gear" chat. This one is reserved specifically for discussion of Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades. Frank or Gary will move the thread if we start talking too much about other pocket gear.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/731-Gadgets-amp-Gear

I never much post there, since I get my fix for the broader range of gear discussions on EDCForums.com.
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Didn't know that! thanks, still learning to flow of things.
 
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