Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions

Traditional Knives

more_vert
search
"Everything old is new again"
Alright, lets just start by getting this out of the way, traditional knives are not for everyone. They are often most thought of as the knives our grandfathers carried. Older knives that often take two hands to open and are rarely made out of steels outside of 1095 carbon steel, unlabeled stainless (usually in the 420-440 range) and other more 'budget steels' such as Case's crome vanadium used on its more 'premium' versions.
Often, instead of the modern 'wonder materials' such as g10's, carbon fibers, and titanium, their handles are made of bone, old woods, brass, and nickle silver. Instead of modern frame, piston, triad, or even liner locks, they rely on good ol' spring tension to keep the knife in place. In almost every way, these knives are, to put it bluntly, relics of the old ways.
But like many 'old things' they don't stay old forever. Not just in materials such as brass making a comeback but older crafts, brewing your own beer (craft beer craze comes to mind), as well as the desire for a more charming simpler time. Things that remind us to slow down, but don't slow us down in our day to day lives.
Things like these old knives have been making a comeback. In the edc communities, many are starting to re-evaluate and appreciate some of the older knives. While they will never be a good choice for a defensive or tactical knife, for an everyday tool knife, you may find yourself hard pressed to find a more eager companion. Often with multiple blades, specialized for specific tasks, these pocket tools always manage to find a creative use in the right hands.

And these blades aren't just stuck in the past. Case has been making knives pretty much non stop since the great wars, but more recent companies have sprung up, Great Eastern Cutlery, Northwoods, all taking classic designs and making them new again. Some even use modern materials in their construction, not only in synthetics, even g10 and micarta for scales, but even with blade steels. Case themselves are even offering blades in 154cm steel.

search

I suppose what I am getting at is, are there any interests here in such old style knives? If so perhaps maybe we could try to organize a drop or two. I know I myself have started carrying one as a second blade in my front pocket, and find myself going to it more than my modern folders. For art, I use them to sharpen my pencils, I cut apples with them, and they never once merit a frightened glance in public, if anything they start pleasant conversations. Unlike say my 'murdery' ZT 0450cf, these knives have a simple elegance only an unassuming tool has. That alone makes them well worth working into my daily carry system. That and I find the variety of blades has given me more control in many day to day cutting tasks.
search
21
27
remove_red_eye
1.8K
Karalyn
81

search
close
Countryboy37
0
Feb 28, 2019
Well i rather carry this type of knives they are just smaller and dont add any extra weight to your pocket most of all my knives are either Boker , or Shrade or Case xxx and they range from 1960s and up , some are worth alot and some are worth nust a little , but i right now have a collection of over 1800 pocket knives and just recently started making my own tatical knives qnd pocket knives , i do all the heating the steel and shaping it , so i have sone pretty nice oddly looking knives but they are all made of 100 percent steel and hold a excellent edge , some are as sharp as a new bought razor blade , and all are made in USA ,
onojoe
0
Oct 1, 2018
Great Idea I would love a traditional knife with modern steel and handle
fhood
715
Oct 1, 2018
onojoeOff the top of my head, Lionsteel and Benchmade already offer them.
jayhingle
6
Feb 26, 2018
I love carrying 2 knives. I carry a large tactical blade for a quick box cut or easy task. Also, I carry a slipjoint for using my knife in an office setting so I dont trigger anyone. You’d be surprised how often people are so scared these days of a non threatening modern folder. Also, sometimes you need a pocket scalpel and that’s what traditional knives are, it’s simply a more refined cutting tool for Apple slicing or delicate cuts. I’d love it if there was a mass drop collaboration on a modern Traditional. Maybe red linen micarta and brass bolstered Barlow? I love Barlow patterns
swallace
93
Feb 22, 2018
This is a good discussion. It's ironic as I recently went through my father's knives that he has stashed in his man jewelry box in his bedroom (right next to his Viagra...which I wish I didn't see). We had gotten on the topic of knives due to my new love for them and I asked to see his. I remembered he carried a large folding Buck on his belt loop for years when I was a kid. He now only has a small swiss army in his pocket that is completely worn down (he would sharpen it on the bottom of his coffe mug every few days, so it was pretty scratched up). I thought I was going to find a golden cache of treasure when he opened that box, but it wasn't anything special. He had about 6 knives and all were either Buck, swiss army, or...non-branded. They were all gouged, scratched and beaten. Some of the blades were even worse than the handles, and some weren't. Although, there was one exception, he had a Case knife that he had gotten from his father years ago. It was pretty well perfect and it had a very nice wood handle and tarnished brass surrounding it. I asked him why he doesn't carry it because it was still very sharp and I loved the handle. He said that he had borrowed it from his dad years ago when he helped him with a large wood-working project. They were building memory boxes for his 4 grand daughters (2 of whom were mine), so the project meant a lot to both of them. He had forgotten to return it to him right away, and since they hardly spoke to each other because they were both that old school man who hated talking on the phone or going to visit each other for no reason, my grandfather never got it back. He passed away a few months later and my father never had the heart to use it for fear it would get damaged. It was the only real item he had from his father that mattered to him. My grandfather was poor and didn't have much money in his pockets let alone a nice knife. So, my father always felt he robbed him of one of his very few nice things he had. Of course, I reminded him that my grandfather would have asked for it back if he had really wanted it. I sometimes think he may have known his time was close to being up and that he wanted my dad to keep one of his nicest possessions. Hopefully someday, my dad will pass that knife on to me.
Axeguy
1372
Feb 28, 2018
swallaceThanks for that. We always wonder what our dads have in their locked trunks, etc. And our sons will feel that way about the things we keep as mementos. I inherited my father’s and his father’s swords: Masons and military service. These are mementos that mean something and bind me to them, as we all shared military service and combat experience in command of platoon- to battalion-sized units. I wished we had actually talked more with each other about our service...but picking up their arms, I can imagine, ‘same s***, different decade’, lol! :)
Fourday
131
Feb 21, 2018
I also have a great fondness for vintage and old-school items. I love carbon steel and anything handmade. My pitfall with folding knives happens to be the pocket clip. IMHO the pocket clip has been the single best thing to happen to folding knives with exception to the pivot.
dcardenal
28
Jan 9, 2018
I'd love to see a trapper or similar knife in S30V, maybe with linen micarta scales, but keeping brass bolsters.
jayhingle
6
Feb 26, 2018
dcardenalIt’s not quite a trapper but if you haven’t seen the benchmade proper it’s a solid modern traditional.
Bigirontom
1
Jan 6, 2018
I love the classics patterns and would be in for one.
BrainFlush
6860
Sep 27, 2017
Great posts and discussion. I am envious of your collections. All of you. Not an EDC knife guy. Too much of a risk for me being me. But I wouldn't mind having one on my desk that just says VBMF. :D
Mandoman
1
Sep 22, 2017
Love the classic folder patterns, mostly the M/L Stockmans...I'd be in for one of them.
Rebuswind
228
Sep 20, 2017
search

search

search

search

search
I always have a traditional on me since I find a lot people freak out when they see a one hand opening knife.... GEC and northwoods is my go to choice
Showing 13 of 27
keyboard_arrow_up
Newest
27 OF 27 POSTS
keyboard_arrow_down
Oldest
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in More Community Picks