Your Educated (or not) Opinion?

I'd say that amongst Traditional users and carriers it would very likely be a Stockman of some sort. Not only is it versatile but it can be got in a useful range of frame sizes.

SAKs are produced in vast numbers and configurations but I think a lot lurk at home in drawers waiting for use or the pic-nic outing. I know some people collect them a lot, I have a Farmer that's more or less in my bag everyday, but I don't carry it or use it until I need a tool. I can't honestly 'prize' them like I do other Traditionals, too utilitarian.

Myself, I like single-spring two blades a great deal, so one of them is always about me. I also like the Whittler a great deal, possibly carry it more often than Stockman, but I don't think my tastes ever correspond to the majority..:D
 
I know most of the people in my neck of the woods carry some type of stockman pattern. That's my choice 1st and then a Barlow.
 
Given the ubiquity of the SAK, I'd say the congress pattern. I'm partial to the trapper pattern myself. I have found stockmans (medium sized) to be a bit uncomfortable in use, but I do see the appeal and the versatility.
 
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"What do you think is the most popular traditional multi-blade pattern for EDC?"

May seem a little unfair as there are many 'patterns' in each size, but the answer is SAK, no question.

I'm sure 40 years back it may have been a Stockman or similar.
 
SAK for sure, but i will note that around here, not in town, farmers do seem to carry a trapper alot. purina and a number of seed 'n' feed companies used to, and probably still do, gave them out to customers as premiums(thanks for buying all our xxx or here's a nice knife, will you try some of my seed) some are kinda collectible,once in awhile you'll see an odd canoe or stockman, but it's almost always trappers. heck they were free, right?:) i always carry a stockman or 2 blade jack/whittler pattern.
thanks, Neal
 
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For the average non knife person, I would say it's a SAK,
I've always found the stockman to be the most versatile or a two blade Barlow. So that's my non-educated guess.
 
I would say the most popular pattern would be the "camper", considering how many SAKs are sold. If fellow carries a SAK, I'd certainly vote him in to my "knife person" club. ;) (I've carried different knives at different times but I favor the Canoe pattern.)
 
most popular traditional multi-blade pattern for EDC?
Ok, no multitool.
I think the jack is, but I like more single spring canoe.
 
I have a very hard time regarding the modern SAK as a traditional knife. Something changed when they got snap on/off scales and lost the traditional bail.

Removing the SAK from consideration, I would bet that the single blade lock back is up there near the top of the list. More than the stockman? I'd wager so.
 
I have a very hard time regarding the modern SAK as a traditional knife. Something changed when they got snap on/off scales and lost the traditional bail.

Removing the SAK from consideration, I would bet that the single blade lock back is up there near the top of the list. More than the stockman? I'd wager so.

I'd agree with you about some kind of a lockback.

But Alox SAKS certainly do qualify as Traditionals in my book: Equal End, completely sunk-joints, useful...
 
Here, judging from the confiscation bins at airports, at least 95% of knives carried would be SAKs. But that's by people who carry knives when they go to the airport, some of whom may not be regular knife carriers (otherwise they'd presumably know they couldn't take them on the plane). When I was a kid, the humble penknife reigned supreme. The Lambsfoot pattern was popular too, and other folks carried 2-blade Jacks, or sometimes clasp knives (though rarely for EDC). I don't see knives produced that often here these days, but when I do it's usually a middle-aged gent with a penknife.
 
buck 110 or similar type schrade, etc.? seems like: .1 SAK, .2 trapper, .3 buck 110-etc. maybe:D, sorta? not to be iffy.
 
If you asked me what traditional pattern I have the most of? It's penknives hands down, I'd say at least 20% of my traditional patterns are some form of pen knife. Now I understand to definition of a pen knife is varied and wide in fact it seems like the only real criteria for a pen knife is that it must have a pen blade.

Just a few of my favorite pen knives.

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That bein' said I'd say the Stockman is the most popular followed by the Trapper with the Barlow neck and neck. Pen knives were and are still given out as premiums by many retailers and suppliers. The practice seems to be more prominent in the maintenance, warehouse and housekeeping sectors. Zep must have had a 25 year contract with Imperial and had them make millions of their trick/magic pen knife. At one point I must've had about 20 of them from various vendors over the years.

Imperial-Mystery-Trick-Knife.jpg


My favorite was an undecorated plain Jane stainless cover one with no advertising :) .
 
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