Your list of top 5 "must-own" traditionals?

Small knife =Peanut (case or cattaragus)
Medium=Congess or half congress (old hen rooster,german eye,northfield)
large=stockman or cattleman (case 6375, bulldog cattle king)
Then your spares a sodbuster(german eye)
folding hunter(Case ,German eye or Kabar
 
knarfeng said:
It is said that when it came to counting, primitive man only had words for: one, two, and many.

Honestly speaking, I don't think there are any "5 must have knives". You either have one knife, because that's all you really need, or you have many, because there are so many variations on the theme.
Click to expand...
Very true. Or after you count to 2, you lose track like me!:D
 
willgoy said:
Kris, those are some choice knives! Very impressed by that Pruner in particular:thumbup:
Click to expand...
I was ecstatic when I found that knife- great manufacture, different features from other knives I had, and only $15! I haven't sharpened her up yet, but will! I have this forum to blame for waking in me a love for these types of knives beyond novelty!

Gevonovich said:
Kris, who is the maker of the last one in your picture?
Click to expand...
John Lloyd, basically all of my custom slipjoints are from him!
 
Assuming you mean folding, traditional slipjoints:

Case Peanut (or GEC Pemberton): Small, unobtrusive and disappears until you need it. I have 3, my Damascus in stag is by far my favorite and the best on fibrous materials like rope, twine, etc. CV is also a great, inexpensive choice.

Sodbuster: German Eye Brand is thinnest (both the handle and blade thickness) so it is the best slicer and hides the best in your pocket. F&F is not top shelf, so you will need higher-grit sandpaper to smooth corners and backspring/liners/handle--once you do these are amazing. It's 1095. The GEC Bullnose has fat, thick handles for all-day comfort if your work demands it. It's 01. Personally, if I could have only one, I would choose the Queen Micarta to get Micarta, a pointier blade, and get it in their awesome D2.

Single-blade medium-sized knife: GEC #15 Boy's Knife (Clippoint or Spearpoint) or #55 Houndstooth (Wharnecliff!) in 1095. I like the barehead versions because they are lighter weight and you get to see more of GEC's lovely handle material. YMMV. This is a "handle-anything tough" knife, but thin enough to pass muster in a pinch and be worn in slacks. Oh, the Canal Street Cutlery Half-moon Trapper in D2 or 14CrMo is also simply amazing. I love mine. It's 3.75" vs. the above 3.5" GECs.

SAK Alox Cadet--blade, bottle opener, can opener, fingernail file, couple of screwdrivers. Great for travel and around home.

I'll leave one blank choice for you to choose based on your lifestyle and clothes. A large stockman if you wear workclothes, a Senator, Pen or GEC #33 Conductor if you wear dress slacks and need a dedicated gents knife with rounded bolsters. A Case Swayback Jack in CV if you are in between. Or just choose something in Queen's D2 if you want more of their awesome blade goodness.
 
knarfeng said:
Honestly speaking, I don't think there are any "5 must have knives". You either have one knife, because that's all you really need, or you have many, because there are so many variations on the theme.
Click to expand...

Truer words never spoken.

However, my five are patterns, you decide size and exact details.

1. Stockman/cattle knife
2. Sodbuster
3. Barlow
4. Friction folder, Opinels are good
5. Peanut
6. Trapper

Ok, apparently I can't count. Knives are like kids. After two they all kinda run together.
IMG_71330192557149.jpeg
 
jackknife said:
For me, it's a matter of history.

Stockman. Too much cutting packed into a pocket size package to ignore.

Barlow. Where would Huck and Tom be without one?

Scout. When I was growing up, it was a boys first 'real' knife.

Sodbuster. Lot;s od old time history in that one. Both here and in eastern Europe.

Peanut. Do I have to go there?:D
Click to expand...

That pretty much covers it in my mind as well for what we usually think of as traditionals.

I would add a SAK of some kind as sort of "must have," in perhaps a sidebar sort of fashion. Or you could just make it a scout/camp/SAK in place of the Scout spot, but I'd leave it as is and put the SAK as a sort of "need to really complete, but not really part of the list. The shadow walker. ;)

WAIT!!! There was no trapper/mini-trapper on the list. Gotta have that. Toss the Scout knife and make it a Trapper or a Mini-Trapper. I gotta have trappers.
 
Last edited:
1. Smallish barehead jack (like a GEC #15) Barlows fill this spot just fine but it doesn't need to have a long bolster
2. Peanut
3.traditional lock back of some type copperlock, 110,queen mountain man, GEC farmerlock. Etc
4. Some kind of opinel
5. 3"-4" sleeve board half whittler. ( this is purely my preference but I do love them )
 
In no particular order if your looking for everyday users:

(Stockman) Substitute a good Canadian fixed blade style belt knife for the Stockman or a good Buck fb
Trapper
Whittler
Large Jack
Camper/Scout/SAK

Now if your looking for rare collectible patterns that's a whole 'nother list... :);)
 
Last edited:
kamagong said:
You'll want a chopper. I like khukuris personally.



Now you'll need a smaller knife. A puukko pairs well with a big knife.

dsc1788o.jpg


Do you want a folder? I like the balisong for its strong lock. They're fun too.

dsc1775i.jpg


Enough with the foreign stuff. How about a good ol' American bowie and tomahawk?

dsc0921p.jpg


Oh my...did you mean slipjoints? Should've said so. :D
Click to expand...

What's that ebony jack below the balisong, please?
 
I'll dare answer for Christian, but I think it's a Queen Cutlery Heritage with Spear master. I have the Ebony Clip version and Spear in Coco, very pretty knives.

Regards, Will
 
It's only twelve days since I opened this post but I've learned quite a bit from you guys in that time. I'll answer my own question with my personal wish list, focusing on slip joints since that is what I originally had in mind when I asked the question (but was too new at this to know how to word):

Top five "must-have" slip joints:
- Case Peanut (already own it)
- Some kind of Harnass Jack (I now own a GEC #57, technically not an HJ but serves the slot well)
- GEC #72 Scout (being delivered today!)
- Case Stockman (everyone has to have a Stockman, this will be next on my buy list)
- Some kind of Barlow (I'm trying to decide between a TC Charlow or Northwoods Madison Barlow)

Gee, I can only pick five? Who made that rule? I'm just getting started!
 
You do have some nice toys Christian! :) :thumbup:
 
@medicevans: those are the real "must-haves"!! Great picture.



Must have is a tricky thing. I actually think, "must do" is more important than "must have". The more I do, the more I learn about my unique needs, which may be different from somebody else's needs. The more I do, the more I understand what works for me and what doesn't.

For me, about the only traditional I consider a true "must have" in my life is the Opinel N9. It just fits my needs on so many different levels.

EDC Pair by Pinnah, on Flickr

Once upon a time, I thought the camper/scout pattern was the best "must have" for me, but the above combo works so much better in every respect for me.

I'm primarily a user. But, I get the collecting bug. For me, collecting traditionals is about the history, both of the manufacturer and the design. Some are more interesting to me than others. Describing that is like describing tastes in beer though. Very personal. I like Schrades and knives made in the Northeast US. I also am gaining an interest in knives that become cultural icons.
 
Thanks Jack. I'm determined to be the uncle with the cool stuff.

- Christian
 
addylo said:
It's only twelve days since I opened this post but I've learned quite a bit from you guys in that time. I'll answer my own question with my personal wish list, focusing on slip joints since that is what I originally had in mind when I asked the question (but was too new at this to know how to word):

Top five "must-have" slip joints:
- Case Peanut (already own it)
- Some kind of Harnass Jack (I now own a GEC #57, technically not an HJ but serves the slot well)
- GEC #72 Scout (being delivered today!)
- Case Stockman (everyone has to have a Stockman, this will be next on my buy list)
- Some kind of Barlow (I'm trying to decide between a TC Charlow or Northwoods Madison Barlow)

Gee, I can only pick five? Who made that rule? I'm just getting started!
Click to expand...

Totally ignoring the beautiful European patterns ... :(
Sorry fellows, I tried, I really did ... :grumpy:
:p
;)
 
Nal0n said:
Totally ignoring the beautiful European patterns ... :(
Sorry fellows, I tried, I really did ... :grumpy:
:p
;)
Click to expand...
LOL! Wish I had better access to them. I see a few German slip joints now and then but don't know much about them.

But I will get there. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top