What is a "Traditional" Fixed Blade

[ferider]

Serious question. It comes up every so often, but not really clear, to me at least, given my OCD and all ...

For example, which of the following 4 fixed blades of mine is traditional, and which not, and why not ?

Roland.

 

[Jack Black]

Rules on traditional fixed blades are fairly relaxed here I think. I don't think you'd have any problems with any of those here

 

[ferider]

Rules on traditional fixed blades are fairly relaxed here I think. I don't think you'd have any problems with any of those here

Thanks ! Can you give me an example of a non-traditional fixed blade, please ?

 

[JJ_Colt45]

I agree to define a traditional fixed blade is difficult for me. All of the knives you posted could fit in my eyes. The only examples that stick out to me (and I may be off even with these) would be a karambit or tanto and I only think that because they weren't seen in past history such as something like a bowie.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks ! Can you give me an example of a non-traditional fixed blade, please ?

I have a TOPS model someone bought me, it has a slot/open fuller in the blade, and a heavy black coating. It's not a knife I'd post here, but then I've never carried it, and haven't photographed it either. Also, off-hand, a Gerber Patriot, with a Zytel handle and sheath, and a coated-blade. I was sent that one for review 30 years ago. I've posted pics of my Bradford Guardian 3 here several times though, I'd have rather had it with a plain blade, but 'blueing' of one form or another has been around a long time

 

[ferider]

I have a TOPS model someone bought me, it has a slot/open fuller in the blade, and a heavy black coating. It's not a knife I'd post here, but then I've never carried it, and haven't photographed it either. Also, off-hand, a Gerber Patriot, with a Zytel handle and sheath, and a coated-blade. I was sent that one for review 30 years ago. I've posted pics of my Bradford Guardian 3 here several times though, I'd have rather had it with a plain blade, but 'blueing' of one form or another has been around a long time

Think I got it. Nice knife, BTW, in M390 no less. Good that I don't like coating (with a couple of exceptions).

 

[afishhunter]

Serious question. It comes up every so often, but not really clear, to me at least, given my OCD and all ...

For example, which of the following 4 fixed blades of mine is traditional, and which not, and why not ?

Roland.

To me, the Buck on the left end is more "traditional" than the other three.
Excuse: The grips. Also, a "Bowie" usually has a guard and pommel cap, even when it has a full visible tang.
(traitional fixed blades like a Puukko, and a few others, such as the Russell Green River and Old Hickory "Buffalo Skinner" and "Sheath Knife" patterns lack a guard. So a guard and pommel cap do not a "traditional" make.)

I don't consider the Buck 877 I have to be a "traditional" fixed blade, due to the shape of the handle and whatever the heck this blade profile is called. (Mods: Shown for illistraitive purposes only.) View attachment 1645620

Nice set of knives you have there.

 

[ferider]

To me, the Buck on the left end is more "traditional" than the other three.
Excuse: The grips. Also, a "Bowie" usually has a guard and pommel cap, even when it has a full visible tang.
(traitional fixed blades like a Puukko, and a few others, such as the Russell Green River and Old Hickory "Buffalo Skinner" ana "Sheath Knife" patterns lack a guard. So a guard and pommel cap do not a "traditional" make.)

Nice set of knives you have there.

Thank you

So how about this one ? For all practical purposes a Puukko, but Ti guard and CF handle.

 

[kamagong]

Thanks ! Can you give me an example of a non-traditional fixed blade, please ?

I don't have one, so I can't post an image, but google Boker Rampage. That thing is not traditional, it would look right at home in an episode of Star Trek.

 

[Nature Boy]

From the traditional guidelines, post #2:

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

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...

www.bladeforums.com

Specifically, see:
“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.”

 

[afishhunter]

Thank you

So how about this one ? For all practical purposes a Puukko, but Ti guard and CF handle.

IHMO (which is worth far, far less than nothing) that is a lot more traditional than the Buck 877 I posted.

Fantastic M2 you have there. Back in the 1970's when I did hobby photography, a Leica M or R camera was a grail, along with that Mamiya C330 120 film TLR. that had interchangeable lenses (with shutter in the lower lenses)

 

[Jack Black]

Think I got it. Nice knife, BTW, in M390 no less. Good that I don't like coating (with a couple of exceptions).

Thanks, limited options in Europe, at the time of purchasing, unfortunately. The following week, they got the new models of course!

Thank you

So how about this one ? For all practical purposes a Puukko, but Ti guard and CF handle.

I think that looks really nice, great pic too

 

[OtisCampbell]

When I think traditional fixed blade the forged high carbon steels come to mind but I guess the blade profile is part of it too.

 

[Jack Black]

I have a lot of fixed blades, and have just thought of a couple of very untraditional ones - I'm certainly not going to post pics!

Here's something more traditional, which is what this forum is about after all

 

[ferider]

^^ Thanks.

Not pushing for a super rigid definition, just trying to get confidence in what to post or not, going forward.

So I have a heavily coated Busse, and a modern fighting Seax (pic in another thread) these are probably too modern.

(2 pictures deleted)

This one should be GTG:

Correct ?

Roland.

 

[Jack Black]

^^ Thanks.

Not pushing for a super rigid definition, just trying to get confidence in what to post or not, going forward.

So these ones are probably too modern (heavy coating in the first and shape of the second - feels like a modern fighting knife for me, not sure if I'll keep it):

This one should be GTG:

Roland.

I'd say you're pushing it with those Roland, particularly the middle one. All sorts of FBs get posted here, and for the most part they pass unnoticed, but posting a thread where you draw attention to knives which are potentially non-traditional is arguably not in the spirit of tolerance here

 

[ferider]

I'd say you're pushing it with those Roland, particularly the middle one. All sorts of FBs get posted here, and for the most part they pass unnoticed, but posting a thread where you draw attention to knives which are potentially non-traditional is arguably not in the spirit of tolerance here

Got it, JB. Deleted the pics. Thanks.

 

[Jack Black]

Got it, JB. Deleted the pics. Thanks.

No need to do that on my account, but you get my drift

 

[hollywoodhefner]

I think BHK makes some great ones and they use O1 tool steel.

 

[ferider]

IHMO (which is worth far, far less than nothing) that is a lot more traditional than the Buck 877 I posted.

Fantastic M2 you have there. Back in the 1970's when I did hobby photography, a Leica M or R camera was a grail, along with that Minolta 120 film TLR. that had interchangeable lenses (with shutter in the lower lense)

Thank you ! There used to be a time when I had more Leicas than fixed blades