The Traditional Tactical

Eleven Mike · Mar 20, 2007

I really like the style of old-fashioned knives like this one:

But I really like, no I demand, the larger size and greater convenience of knives like this one:

So, does anyone make a knife with the looks of the first and the nifty features of the second? If not, why? I'd like to have a locking, spear-point pocket knife that looks like the Canoe, but with a clip and thumbstud, and a blade about four inches in length. Or 3.5 inches, if that would be legal for more people to carry. It seems to me a clip could be attached to the bolster or the scale. The thumbstud is so easy, I could add a clamp-on type myself. So it wouldn't seem terribly expensive to make up some of those knives and see what kind of market exists for them.

So, has anyone done that?

nwilliams · Mar 20, 2007

I'm sure if nobody here can think of one, maybe posting this question on swordforum.com will turn up some good suggestions. Maybe you can find a bladesmith on there that will make one for you

Sounds like a neat idea but I've never seen anything that meets everything youre looking for.

Fosbery · Mar 20, 2007

Spyderco Kiwi comes to mind.

carpediem · Mar 20, 2007

a locking, spear-point pocket knife that looks like the Canoe, but with a clip and thumbstud, and a blade about four inches in length. Or 3.5 inches, if that would be legal for more people to carry

I'm most familiar w/ Spydercos, so here goes:

There's the current production Volpe

The smaller and pricy Kopa (handle materials differ)

And the oddly shaped Kiwi (handle materials differ) EDIT - Fosbery beat me to it

I know this place http://www.santafestoneworks.com/ makes various custom handles for production knives (Spyderco, Kershaw, perahps some others)....

carpediem · Mar 20, 2007

Here are some more aftermarket customized Spydercos:

http://paulberetta.com/blanchard.htm

Eleven Mike · Mar 20, 2007

Thanks, folks.

Unfortunately, the hole & hump look really keeps them from having the classic lines I was talking aobut. And the handles really don't have that look, ethier. Besides, the holes don't work for me that well. When I used to have an Endura, I had to put a thumb stud on it. And those examples are just extremely ugly.

But thanks again for the suggestions.

LanEvo` · Mar 20, 2007

What about something from Chris Reeve? The Mnandi seems like a good match:

LanEvo` · Mar 20, 2007

Here are a couple of larger pics:

Eleven Mike · Mar 20, 2007

OK, but where's the tradition? I'm not talking about knives that have pretty scales, I'm talking about knives that look like something my Grandpa would have carried, but have the modern conveniences added on.

sixgunner455 · Mar 20, 2007

Mike, check out Queen's Large Teardrop. It's not as large as you want, but it is a liner lock, spearpoint blade, in D2. I just ordered one with carved bone handles. They are currently making them with amber jigged bone.

As far as the pocket clip, I don't like them, but I'm sure you could have that added, and as you said, the thumb stud shouldn't be hard to add, either.

I prefer traditional knives myself. I'm really tempted to pick up a nice Canoe or Butterbean right now, and then there's the old Doctor's knife, and then...

TMM · Mar 20, 2007

Not sure of the model, but Benchmade probably makes one.

~tmm

lesjones · Mar 20, 2007

What about Case?

They have some traditional-looking lockbacks with thumbstuds. Some even have carry clips.

Case 6.5 BoneStag Mid-Folding Hunter

Case G-10 Mid Folding Hunter same as above with different handle material for half the price

JTW Jr. · Mar 20, 2007

Kershaw Double Duty

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7431

dual blades , appearance of a slippie but with thumbstuds and is a liner lock.

Eleven Mike · Mar 20, 2007

I got some add-on thumbstuds a while back that attached with a screw. Does anyone know if those are still available and where?

floridaboy · Mar 20, 2007

HAve a look at the A G Russell Featherlite with general purpose blade. Inexpensive, handy, light, and I've had mine for abour 15 years. Like my American Express, I never leave home without it.

lesjones · Mar 20, 2007

Here's another: Kershaw Double Duty. Woodens scales, two blades, both lock and at least one has a thumb stud.

Edited: Whoops, JTW beat me to it.

hso · Mar 20, 2007

11M,

You can get the "One Armed Bandit" that you mentioned here for ~$5- http://eknifeworks.com/webapp/eComm...rchText=bandit&Search.x=0&Search.y=0&Search=1

You can also install thumb studs on any knife if you've got the equipment to drill the hole for these from knifekits.com.

Or you can get one of the Boker DoubleTree knives from AG (http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...er_doubletree_copperliner_genuine_stag.html)-

Or the TrapperLiner

Who's yur buddy?

LanEvo` · Mar 20, 2007

Eleven Mike said:
OK, but where's the tradition? I'm not talking about knives that have pretty scales, I'm talking about knives that look like something my Grandpa would have carried, but have the modern conveniences added on.

I guess we all have different definitions of "traditional knives." I don't see a night-and-day difference between the Chris Reeve Mnandi and a Case Trapper or Texas Toothpick. It's a pretty conventional clip-blade folder.

Not every "traditional knife" has to be dual-blade Canoe, does it? BTW, if you want a modern version of a Canoe, try to find a SWAT MRT-1 auto or Spyderco Dyad.

rbmcmjr · Mar 20, 2007

What about something like this: http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/knives/detail.asp?value=035G&cat_id=322&type_id=579

Bailey Bradshaw (designer of the Browning I linked above) and Scott Sawby make self-locking knives that fit your description, even coming with thumbstuds if you want them. But you will pay a serious price for them. Here is one of Scott's, albeit with a nail nick: http://www.rehobothcustomknives.com/KSSB010.htm

JTW Jr. · Mar 21, 2007

i am not clicking on any thread HSO replies to ..... off to check out those Bokers...thanks bud !

Eleven Mike · Mar 22, 2007

Ah, so I'm not crazy. Those knives are out there. I'm just too poor to afford an appreciation of the finer things, like old-school knives with new features. And I'm too hung up on big, drop-point blades.

Thanks all.

JShirley · Mar 22, 2007

Well, we can't vouch for your sanity, but knives with the features you want do exist.

Eleven Mike · Mar 22, 2007

No, J, I'm not sure they do exist. Some of these knives have some of the features I want, but I don't think any of them are quite what I outlined. See below. I should also mention that I'd be perfectly happy with a "tacticalized" Canoe that lacks the second blade.

I'd like to have a locking, spear-point pocket knife that looks like the Canoe, but with a clip and thumbstud, and a blade about four inches in length. Or 3.5 inches, if that would be legal for more people to carry. It seems to me a clip could be attached to the bolster or the scale.

sixgunner455 · Mar 22, 2007

Quote:
I'd like to have a locking, spear-point pocket knife that looks like the Canoe, but with a clip and thumbstud, and a blade about four inches in length. Or 3.5 inches, if that would be legal for more people to carry. It seems to me a clip could be attached to the bolster or the scale.

Locking, spear point, single blade. No clip, no thumbstud.

Queen Large Teardrop. Thumbstud -- you don't really need it to open a knife one handed, but it can be useful, and they are easily added. And a clip could be easily added, as you say.

This one is 1/4" longer closed than a traditional Canoe. I don't have mine yet, so I can't say that it is definitely easy to open one handed, or give you a measurement of the blade length.

Eleven Mike · Mar 22, 2007

I meant that it would be easy for a manufacturer to attach a clip and thumb stud. Unless I suddenly become a machinist, I don't know how I'm going to add my own clip.

The Traditional Tactical

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