Modern vs traditional

J

jth250

Joined
Jun 27, 2011
Messages
220
Do you prefer a modern knife or a traditional and why. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each. Thanks
 
Best thing is to search this topic and get years worth of answers. It would be hard for someone who has a lot of experience with both to explain it in a short post.
 
Personally, I can appreciate either one. I suppose I do lean more towards traditional design styles though. If the overall design is executed correctly, I don't really see any advantages/disadvantages of one over the other.

To me, "modern" can mean many things. The use of phenolics, highly refined steels, etc. These are things I can appreciate. What I don't care for, in particular, with regards to modern knives are the design "trends" I see everywhere. For instance, blade coatings and overly thick steel stock. Neither were used for generations of knife use and IMO are not necessary today.
 
It depends. For design, I like both, but find plenty to love about traditional. When you think of a product that's been around as long as knives, it's hard for us to improve design that much, if at all. I have come to appreciate modern materials though for real use. Even very basic and relatively old materials such as simple carbon steel and micarta really shine in use due to technology in fabrication, machining, and treatment, like heat treat. A good example may be an ESEE Junglas. It's just a big basic knife in design. Modern technology though makes it perform wonderfully as a chooper, a cleaver, and a pretty decent machete. All this in a bomb-proof, easy to carry package. The coating even makes corrosion a limited concern in most parts. I wouldn't have felt comfortable chopping wood with a knife like this 200 years ago, and I assume most who carried such didn't chop wood with it. Modern production has made it possible and even practical to do with a blade this size. Consistency also scores big here for me. I know I can buy a ESEE, BKT, Busse, CS, etc. and will get a defect free product the VAST majority of the time. Problems are rare and often simple, such as a lose handle screw. When it comes to a tool which will be used hard and may be the difference between an enjoyable day afield or a miserable waste of time, or worse, I'll take that strength and consistency all day long and twice on Sunday. Take care.
 
Last edited:
I use both. This may sound odd, but I would go with a "modern" for a defensive knife over a traditional unless the traditional is a fixed blade. But I assume we are talking about folders here. However, I don't think of any knife I own as being utilized for defensive purposes. I find the Spydie blades well made and they along with the gravity or assisted openers define "modern" to me. I went through a phase of buying a limited number of assisted openers and these were all made by SOG. I also like the gravity knives or the ones you could flick open easily with one hand. "Easily" is the operable word on this as I don't consider most Spydies as "easy" to open one hand unless you practice a lot.

Now I am more interested in traditionals. I started out using traditionals as a kid and loved my Case Barlow of the time. I gravitate back to traditionals and my SAK is probably the best example of one of my favorites and most used knives. It comes with the realization that I am not prepared to use a knife in a defensive situation unless I just have to and I have no intention of "training" to learn such a use. Just not interested. I am getting the new BF traditional knife this year and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. It has the potential of being one of my EDC knives which at the present time is a SAK and Spydie Delica. But I keep larger knives in my field bag for use if I need them.
 
I like both about the same, and carry both at the same time. I like the clip and easy one hand opening of modern designs, and like how tradionals look and cut.
 
I prefer modern knives. I haven't carried a traditional slipjoint knife in nearly 40 years. I switched to lockbacks by Gerber, SOG and Cold Steel right after that. Then between 15 and 20 years ago I discovered pocket clips and thumbstuds and liner locks. I switched to knives with those features and I've never looked back.
 
Most days I carry a slipjoint and a modern one handed folder. I tend to favor spyderco for modern folders. Today I have my lefty military in my back pocket and a Queen mini trapper in my front pocket. I love the D2 steel and amber bone scales on the mini trapper. It's small, weighs very little, and it slices an apple better than my modern folders. I imagine I could get by with just my mini trapper but I like having a larger knife for the random task that comes up where it is a more appropriate tool than a slipjoint.
 
I use both. I always have a small traditional folder in my pocket. While at work I use a knife a lot and I need a little bigger blade. Years ago I started carrying a knife clipped to my front pocket also. Now I have the best of both worlds.
 
I'm traditional all the way. I tried the modern, but just couldn't accept having only one single blade available in the package. From a strictly pragmatic point of view, I like having a spare blade, or even two if it's a stockman, on hand. From a more emotional point of view, I like the looks of jigged bone and stag. There's a warmth of something made from organic material that will age along with it's owner. I like the way a carbon steel blade will turn a nice gray patina with time. Most of all, I like a friendly looking traditional pocket knife that I can take out darn near anywhere to cut soothing, and not have people freakout. I read this forum very often people commenting on the knife they took out having an ad verse reaction from the people around. I haven't decided if they are naive or pushing for a reaction from what they call sheeple. But it makes a difference what kind of knife gets viewed in public, and what kind of reaction you get.

My bias toward the traditional knife is based on my wanting a working tool with multible blades. I have zero interest in using a knife for any self defense like I see expressed on this forum so often. I don't forsee any situation that I would need a knife for defense. Too many other good weapons around without the negatives. I will leave the knife fighting to Hollywood and the actors that make their living pretending to be what they are not. I just want a nice looking pocket tool toopen boxes, mail, cut cordage, and open those cursed plastic blister packages that defeat senior citizen hand strength.
 
I carry both, although my tastes do tend to lean towards the modern side. I don't think anyone can deny that things like modern powdered metals, one hand opening/closing, locking mechanisms, and pocket clips are anything but advancement in the knife world, however, those things are not always necessary, and those features alone do not always make a knife good. I carry a modern one hand clipped folder while at work because I use my knife a lot at work and it is exponentially more convenient to be able to use my knife entirely with one hand. However, when I'm on break slicing up an apple, I find a small, non threatening traditional knife is just far more appropriate. Their both good, and both have their place. It's all about picking the right tool for the job.
 
They both have their place. I use only modern knives at work for the utility and ease of use. Traditionals are nice for wood whittling and dressy occasions, as well as normal day to day edc.

For me it really depends on my mood for what i carry outside of work. Every so often I get bit by the traditional bug or the modern bug and switch off carrying one kind or the other. Right now I grew bored of modern knives, and obsessed with Great Eastern Cutlery knives.

So...carry whatever tickles your pickle.
 
I carry and use both. During the week I typically have a slip joint because I love the history, the multi blades, and the enjoyment of slowing down and using a traiditional. On the weekends I do tend to grab my sebenza because having a one hand opener while working in the garage or yard is important. I do find that in the weekends I have both in my pocket.
 
Last edited:
I like both. I prefer traditionals for aesthetic reasons (not that they can't work hard) and I carry the elegant, smaller patterns at work while wearing dress clothes.

On my own time, however, I prefer to carry more modern knives for function over form. When I look at the knives I have, the traditionals -fixed and folding - outnumber the modern.
 
MtnDude said:
To me, "modern" can mean many things. The use of phenolics, highly refined steels, etc. These are things I can appreciate. What I don't care for, in particular, with regards to modern knives are the design "trends" I see everywhere. For instance, blade coatings and overly thick steel stock. Neither were used for generations of knife use and IMO are not necessary today.
Click to expand...
That.

marcinek said:
I prefer traditionals. They have the advantage of being better than "modern" knives.
Click to expand...
(And that.)

'Traditionals' are knives that come from a time when a man needed his knife to get by day to day. I mean really needed it. Nowadays most folks don't actually need their knives. Sure, they're a convenience, and a mighty useful tool, but the prevalence of modern conveniences has left room for knives to become somewhat gimmicky. Back when a guy really depended on his knife, he did just fine without a 1/4" thick, painted, western-style tanto. Traditionals were used (and still are) because they just work better.
 
I'm a traditional guy these days. Used to love the modern knives but they do not fit well in my working environment (hospital) I just use a simple little Lockback with ebony wood (gec 72)
 
Have and like both. Mostly I like some traditional blades better than most modern designs, but sometimes I feel different.

I don't want to steal this thread here, but I wonder what are the best modern/traditional hybrids?
 
I carry one of each most of the time. Although, on the rare occasions when I am only carrying one knife, it's likely a traditional. I probably do 90% of my cutting with a traditional.

  • I like the modern one-handers because it's handy to grab and open the knife with one hand while the other hand is holding what needs to be cut.
  • I like traditionals because the blade shapes are more useful on everyday cutting jobs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top