Guidelines For The "Traditional Folders & Fixed Blades" Sub-Forum

[Blues]

Welcome to to the Traditional Forum!
The goal of the Traditional Forum is to provide a place where friends can talk about their traditional knives and share information about them in a relaxed friendly atmosphere.
Folks have asked for detailed guidelines of what is allowed in the Traditional Forum, and those are given below. But in short, there are three basic guidelines, which should be enough to get you going:
►Post about traditional knives.
►Use family friendly language.
►Post Friendly.
Enjoy!

Guidelines Regarding eBay, "Exchange" Listings, Commercial / Vendor Links & Knife Valuation Requests


If after reading these guidelines you still have questions, please contact the moderators via email or PM.


Based upon prior forum history, commentary and decisions from "Service & Support" we have determined the following:

It's okay to link to a live eBay auction as long as you're not the seller or shilling for the seller AND the reason for your link is solely that you wish to discuss the authenticity or some particular aspect of the knife portrayed in the auction.

"Auction spotting,", a post for the purpose of informing and directing members to a knife or other item up for auction on eBay or other auction site is not allowed.

If you're still uncertain...just wait until the auction has ended in which case nobody can accuse you of shilling or acting from self interest.


Please do not post links or refer to active listings in the "Exchange" area of the forums within our threads. (However, feel free to send a link via email or PM to someone you know may be seeking an item which is listed there.) Additionally, do not use the Traditional Forum to hype or promote interest in a knife which you intend to list for sale in the "Exchange".


In order to avoid Terms Of Service (TOS) violations, please omit links or referrals to vendors within the forum. ("Deal Spotting" is a violation of the TOS.)
We want the forum to focus upon the discussion of traditional knives...not the purchasing process, prices nor vendors and their websites.

The exception to the rule above is that you may refer other members to vendors who support bladeforums.com via a "Dealer" membership.

Otherwise, if someone inquires where you made a purchase, please take a moment to provide them with the requested information via email or PM.
Do not publish prices or links within the threads as this may be construed as shilling for a particular vendor and violate the TOS.

In line with this, please post threads concerning your experience with vendors (both good and bad) in the "Feedback" section of the website.

(If you are seeking stock images and/or information about a particular knife for your post, the manufacturer's or custom maker's website is often a very useful resource without resorting to using dealer listings. If you do decide to use images from a vendor website, please crop the image to avoid identifying the vendor and raising potential issues with the TOS.)

Per the rules of the exchange and in furtherance of curtailing potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only. Even with that caveat, the Traditional forum is probably not the proper venue for such questions and such threads may be moved to a more appropriate area of the site.

Following these guidelines will go a long way toward keeping the forum free of these issues.

Thanks for your cooperation. :thumbup:

 

[Blues]

General Guidelines


Relevant Subject Matter & Decorum:

The "Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades" sub-forum is defined as follows:

Discussion of classic Hunters, Trappers, Lockbacks, Slipjoints, Skinners and other classic "traditional" designs...

...In other words, this is a non-commercial knife discussion forum with the focus centered squarely on traditional knives and patterns such as you'll find in this reference:

A bit more detail:
If a regular knife user of the mid 1960's would find nothing out of the ordinary about the design, then it's traditional.

That means large Buck 110-ish lockbacks are in.

SAKs date to the late 1800's. If they are not one hand opening, they are in. (See comments on materials of construction.)

Modern locking mechanisms such as Walker liner locks, pocket clips, holes / studs to allow one hand opening are all out. (Traditional liner locks, such as the lock on a TL29, are in.) Add a clip to a stockman, and it needs to be posted elsewhere. By the same token, if it is traditional except for a clip and you remove the clip, feel free to post it here.

We tend to have some tolerance when it comes to fixed blades. But, new designs with features such as glass breakers, are not included in this forum.

We give leeway on materials of construction. So if you have a nice stockman with G10 covers, it's traditional enough for us. After all, plastics have been used on knife handles since the 1800's. Stainless steel has been used in cutlery since the 1920's, so stainless is considered traditional. And even though PM alloys are new developments, that fella in the mid-1960's would never know the difference if he were looking at the knife, so they are OK, too.

Posts and/or threads that are a better fit elsewhere on bladeforums.com (as well as redundant/duplicate threads) will be moved to the appropriate sub-forum or merged with a pre-existing thread. (Normally a link to the thread will be left behind temporarily.)

(Bladeforums is set up into several sub-forums for the purpose of making it easier for members to find threads that are germane to a certain topic whether that is sharpening, wilderness skills, etc.
Having a thread moved to a more appropriate sub-forum is not a punishment, it is an administrative decision made by the moderators. Please don't harangue the moderators and administrators of the site if you choose not to participate in those other sub-forums. If off-topic threads are allowed for some then there will be no basis for excluding others and that is a precedent we do not wish to start.)

Thread "necromancy" is frowned upon. Please do not resurrect dormant threads simply to say "nice knife" or the like.
If you have something substantive to add to the discussion then by all means do so, otherwise move on and let sleeping dogs lie.

A thread titled "Carl's Lounge" is available for discussion of off-topic subjects by forum members as well as sharing short traditional knife related vignettes.
Please keep the discussion respectful of the values this forum has come to represent.

Also, please bear in mind that email and PM's are available for contacting individuals for the purpose of chatting or private discussion that isn't relevant to, or appropriate for the content or continuity of our threads.

Do not "hijack" threads...If your intended post is unrelated to the original topic of a given thread either begin a new thread or post in an existing discussion where it would be more relevant.

Do not post "Knives Wanted" or other "Classified Ad" type posts within the forum. Post your needs and wants in the appropriate sub-forums.

This :jerkit: and other offensive emoticons or language are not welcome and do not belong in posts within the Traditional Forum.
Please treat other members with the respect you'd want for yourself or your closest relations. (Assume that youngsters may be reading your posts and act accordingly.)

Take any personal arguments or bickering offline to email or private message as such behavior will not be tolerated within the forum.

Do not use this forum for advocating means or methods of circumventing either public law or corporate policies (regardless of your personal opinion of their merit). Such activity can only serve to potentially embroil the website in unflattering commentary or unnecessary and unwanted litigation.

The Traditional Forum is not an extension of the Knife Maker's Q & A or "Maintenance" forums. Please post your technical knife making or maintenance questions in the appropriate forum (or contact the appropriate/relevant parties privately).

When makers display their knives for our viewing pleasure and enjoyment please contact them directly (off the forum) for questions regarding orders, waiting lists, prices and other commercial details.



Political, Economic & Religious Commentary; Offshore Manufacturers & Brands:

This is not the "Political" or "Current Events" sub-forum nor is it the appropriate area for the examination of religious topics, beliefs or proselytizing.
We have many nationalities, faiths and beliefs represented here so please be considerate of the feelings of the other members of our community and keep religious and nationalistic messages and statements out of forum posts.

This forum is not the venue for diatribes on economics, political policies, customs or the governments (and entities) of foreign countries which are the home to various knife manufacturers.
We are a large international community and we want our "virtual living room" to be a comfortable and rewarding place for all to visit and participate in without feeling singled out or harrassed.
Bladeforums has "Political", "Feedback" and "Current Events" sub-forums available for those discussions and any such threads will be closed or moved to the appropriate venue.

We understand that many knives and brands/marks that were once produced here in the USA are now produced overseas, whether that offshore manufacture resides in Europe, South America or Asia.
Be that as it may, the Traditional Forum exists to discuss the knives (pro and con) as opposed to hosting rants about overseas manufacture in general or specific countries in particular.
We feel it is safe to say that we all want to see the U.S. cutlery industry thrive. If for some reason you cannot countenance purchasing knives manufactured overseas then by all means "vote" with your dollars but do not use the forum for promoting any particular agenda.

Regardless of personal point of view, "China Bashing" is not welcome and will not be tolerated. Please discuss and critique the knives themselves...not the country of origin.
This applies to any "offshore" point of production.



Commerce/Trade, "Want Ads", Valuation Questions, Knife Maker Postings:

The Traditional Forum is a non-commercial venue and as such the use of advertisements and other marketing techniques by members, makers, dealers, vendors or other parties are inappropriate.
All commercial posts belong in the designated sub-forums of this website (commensurate with level of membership).

In order to avoid issues with the Terms Of Service, refrain from posting offsite vendor links and endorsements within the sub-forum...
(Feel free to share your vendor recommendations with other members privately by email or PM.)

The exception to the rule above is that you may refer other members to vendors who support bladeforums.com via a "Dealer" membership.


Do not post "Knives Wanted" or other "Classified Ad" type posts within the forum. Post your needs and wants in the appropriate sub-forums.

Members may not post links or offer their own personal knives for sale within forum threads.
Please do not post reviews or discussions within the forum solely to shill knives for sale or trade elsewhere on the site (or in immediate advance of their being listed).
We don't want to see the forum become an extension of the "Exchange". In line with this, please do not make public offers or inquire as to the availability of another member's knife which has been posted within our threads.

Contact knife makers, dealers and purveyors offline (PM, email, telephone) to inquire about the availability, pricing, waiting lists and any other commercial aspects of obtaining a knife or knives.

In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits selling on this site. Accordingly, registered and basic members may not start or post in threads with such requests whether with the intent to sell or for informational purposes only.
Even with that caveat, the Traditional forum is probably not the proper venue for such questions and such threads may be moved to a more appropriate area of the site.


"KNIFEMAKER" Members:

We encourage and invite "knifemaker" members wishing to display their craft, however, we do ask the following consideration within the forum:

Only post images of work which has already been sold or promised to a buyer so as to avoid any potential conflict with the non-commercial format of this sub-forum.
Do not link to or post information regarding dealers selling your knives.
Images of knives which knifemaker members will be offering at upcoming shows (such as the Blade Show or Knifemaker's Guild Show) which are not currently available for purchase may be displayed.
(Please take the extra moment to indicate within your post or thread that the work is already "sold" or otherwise "not available for purchase".


Thanks to all for your cooperation. If you have any questions or issues please email or PM the moderators directly to avoid disrupting ongoing threads.

 

[Bastid]

Since we have a member here who does not get it and is insisting on a sticky to remind him that he must act with respect in this forum.

Let me make it perfectly clear.

Trolling is not acceptable on this forum to any degree at all; neither are posts that would attract trollers and attention seekers. I am not about to post a list of subjects and what constitutes trolling. The list would be endless and impossible to include everything; Blues and I have been doing this for a long time, almost a decade, most of it as a team and we know trolling when we see it. We have trust between us, a common thread of agreement with many members here on what we enjoy and a relationship as friends also. (You'll just have to take our word on that despite our teasing.) .

The members who contribute with regularity here, Blues and I all strive to maintain a casual atmosphere in this forum. That atmosphere has a simple basis of respect. That does not mean that subjects which challenge or hard questions as long as they are related to the knives we love are not welcome. It means that they in fact are welcomed and will be treated with respect since those types of conversations can be the most fruitful ones that come up on a forum. If we all think the same way, we are not going to learn much here. .

If a person does not see that, understand that, and keep to that they are not welcome at all and will be escorted out. They also need to understand that they will not be treated with respect by me if they have shown behavior that is out of line in this forum. I strongly suggest that they not test to see how far they can push things since I do not allow much leeway in this particular forum at all.

Neither Blues nor I will sit back and let anyone degrade the atmosphere on this forum to even the smallest degree and we reserve the right to make those decisions although the input from our members is also very important to us and we will listen.

There are plenty of places where attention seeking and trolling is acceptable on this site. This particular forum is not one of them and never has been from the beginning. If that is not acceptable to someone, they will be much better off not participating in this particular sub-forum.

I am sorry to post the obvious to those who enjoy this place and it's atmosphere, but idiots abound and some have to have things spelled out to them since they do not have the ability to conduct themselves in a way in which they take responsibility for what they post and feel that it is OK for them to come in here acting like fools with no chance of being warned unless there is a sticky that spells it out for them. I just hope this general rule regarding behavior is sufficient and clearly creates an understanding that trolling, and attention seeking based on inflammatory posts will not be tolerated.

I hate making rules when the atmosphere that some things can be out of line is is more than obvious to people with reasonable deductive skills.

For some reason we went for years here without posting rules.

Now we have trolls unable to see the obvious and unable to take responsibility for what they post insisting on "rules". At this point all I can do is feel sorry for them and chase them out of here with hopes that they obtain the maturity some day to understand the atmosphere which I firmly believe is cherished by most who participate here.

There are those who have the attitude, "who cares it is only the internet." That is very sad based on my experience. It means they can not see that there is a live community here bound by friendship from one degree to another and a passion for the knives we enjoy. When I have to deal with behavior that exhibits that myopic attitude, I (normally known as a very laid back Bastid) get pretty mad.


With nothing but respect and warmth to those who have made and those who join and continue to make this forum a great place and nothing but total disdain for those who attempt to degrade it or use it with the intention to inflame rather than discuss insisting they have done no wrong,

Gus Kalanzis

Now that the above is out of the way. Come on in, put your feet up, get comfortable and joins us. A new friend may be made and more knowledge and good stories are there to enjoy at the least.

 

[Bastid]

I wanted to emphasise this from Blues' post since there seems to be a lot of confusion and both of us are serious about keeping this place centered on discussion and learning.

This sub-forum is intended to be non-commercial in nature and we intend to keep it that way for the benefit of the community. To this end, while we invite knifemakers to share their work with us on the forum, we ask that they post images of work that has already been sold or otherwise committed to a purchaser so as to avoid any potential conflict.



We want all makers to be successful and comfortable here so that we can see their work and learn from each other and encourage members to contact makers behind the scenes (offline via PM or email) if they want to order.
If knives are going to shows and there is no intention to sell them here they are also welcome along with the knives already spoken for.

 

[Blues]

Copying & Pasting

I've been asked by some of our members recently to request the following:

Please edit your posts and replies so that you don't have to unnecessarily copy images and quotes over and over in a thread ad infinitum. You can excise the images and portion of a previous post that are not relevant in making your point which will enhance the reading experience for your fellow forumites. Thanks for taking the time and care to do so.