Would you classify a Swiss army as a traditional/classic?

Would you classify a Swiss Army knife as a traditional/classic?

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Actually, OP, now that I've thought about it-'classic' and 'traditional' don't belong together in a title question.

'Classic': My Uncle's 1965 Mustang.
'Traditional': My Uncle's 1965 Mustang being inherited upon his death.

Can a SAK be both? Yes, of course.

Is it a knife AND a multitool? Yes.

So, what is your real question? Are you simply looking for validation of a choice? Or are you looking for an alternative to a SAK?

Or as your name implies, you are simply trying to promote Gerber products?
 
Arathol said:
Well since the OP has a Tinker Deluxe, we can probably assume thats what he is asking about.....
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I am not sure the OP has a lot of experience with SAK - the Thinker Deluxe is quite heavy and bulky for an EDK in the pocket. A two-layer 91mm or an 84mm ones will give him a better idea of the useablity of SAK. Sadly, for many the traditionals are something to collect for their beaty/historicity and here we have a SAK that is actually very practical, cuts surprisingly well, and excell for most tasks - who dares to call the SAK "traditionals"!:) I voted that they are, but seemingly I am wrong.
 
I would definitely consider them traditional as they haven't changed a whole bunch in 140 years. They are certainly carried by folks all over the world.
 
Yes, traditional in a different nation’s history of knives and the fact that they are used by a lot of people over the years that they have become commonplace in a person’s pocket. Much like a Barlow became quite common, even mentioned in Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
 
After reading some of the comments in this thread I feel that Swiss Army Knives are both traditional and classic and have the distinction of being so well designed, recognized, and liked that they are considered so in most of the world in addition to still being regarded as one of the most useful pocket knives to have.

Except in England where you will get charged with war crimes for slicing sausage strips for your sandwich with it at a picnic after being arrested by an assault rifle totting bobby.
 
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Absolutely the early models have been around as long or longer.
Definitely earns the right imo to be in the Traditional category .
 
No, with extra bonus content.

Every field/genre/niche has one or a few things that get to be their own category. For motorcycles it's the Rokon. The Platypus has been doing it's own thing for quite a long time, content to have features of both mammal and reptile.

For knives, the SAK/Vic has it's own piece of carpet in a corner of our big tent.
 
I think we are so far into modern times that we forget that 100 years ago is still fairly modern. Also, when we think of traditionals, we tend to think of a specific type of knife with natural covers, carbon steel, multi blades. Victorinox is traditional, first and foremost by age. Secondly, because it is a traditional pattern. Thirdly, is made in a traditional styling.

Victorinox has just refined and honed in the process so much that is appears modern. Of course, they also do most likely have material upgrades from when they first started.

By the same sense you could compare them to Case, or Great Eastern Cutlery. If Victorinox is not traditional, with all of the history, and design of their tools… you would also have to make the argument for Case since it would essentially be the same argument.

I think you really need to think about what traditional means. For most I think it means historically accurate patterns, and materials that were used back in the day. One thing you could say about Victorinox is they have upgraded their manufacturing over time, and the making of them is very modern. I would say Case most likely has done the same. But no one would call a jigged bone sodbuster jr a modern traditional.


The truth of the matter is all knife terms are a bit of a haze, and everybody online is an expert.
 
Dictionary
Definitions from Oxford Languages ·
adjective

Traditional

  1. existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.

    Sounds like a SAK to me :-)
I agree, I think the red plastic scales throw some people off, but as someone here mentioned, even those have been around since the 30s. I think the Vic Classic dates back to the 1950s.

An “archaeological resource” by definition needs only be 100 yrs old. A cultural resource 50yrs. Lol
 
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Similar type knives and tools have been around for a long time, some dating back 1800 years to 200 AD in Roman era. So yes I consider SAKs and similar to be traditional and classic if not ancient. Lol. They might have looked different but still had multiple tools and a knife blade.
 
Maximumbob54 said:
Is this only referring to a SAK?
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One-hand opening knives are not considered "traditional", no matter whether it is an SAK or not.
(The one exception might be the Case Razor, which can sort of be one hand opened by hooking the tip of the razor blade on a pocket edge. But the purpose of that pattern has been in question for decades.)
 
knarfeng said:
One-hand opening knives are not considered "traditional", no matter whether it is an SAK or not.
(The one exception might be the Case Razor, which can sort of be one hand opened by hooking the tip of the razor blade on a pocket edge. But the purpose of that pattern has been in question for decades.)
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That is exactly what popped into my mind. I've read between the Civil war and WWI a lot of one hand opening and closing designs popped up for war vets. I hate thinking of becoming one handed would generate a knife tradition but I'm not sure what else to call that much history. I'd also swear the Russ lock is based on or inspired by old designs.
 
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