Because You Hated the Last One... Traditional Pocket Knives Part 2 

RIP, Austin

I think it's great that the guys from Blade HQ are up front and honest about the fact that they don't know everything. Nobody likes a know-it-all. It's cool to watch them learn about traditional knives, and provide a starting point for other beginners who don't know much about traditionals.

I absolutely love traditional pocket knives. Love those classics.

I just want to throw a little appreciation your way for taking your own lack of knowledge, owning up to it, and using it as an opportunity to also teach others and spread some info.

Lets hate on this so they will make another one

If you are a true knife enthusiast you find beauty and appreciation for all types of knives.

Grew up around traditional folders and used or saw them used on a daily basis, for nearly anything you might imagine a knife could be used for on a farm/ranch/homestead. They're lightweight, comfortable to carry in a front pocket and excellent slicers due to thin blades. Even saw surgical procedures done in the fields with these sorts of knives. My personal favorites are the stockmans, muskrats and trappers. Thanks for the videos.

I just don't understand why so many "knife guys" ignore the Swiss Army knives. The Tinker, for example. It's small, lightweight, never rusts, holds an edge, and has done amazing things for me since before you guys were born. I've driven and released screws, opened cans and bottles, pried open paint cans, pulled slivers out of my fingers, cleaned out my pipe, and got spinach out of my teeth with my Tinker. I've owned Cases, Bucks, Old Timers and a bunch of others. Nothing has done so much for me over the years than a Tinker. To me it's not just a knife; it's a tool. Can't you guys at least talk about it?

I am so happy Blade HQ filmed a second (and better) version of the traditional knife video. This video goes into greater depth, and does not sound condescending toward people who carry traditional knives. Thank you for reading the comments, and listening to the viewers.

just realized the guy with glasses has a cat shirt on

My first knife/ or one that I was allowed to keep it in my room and use was when I was around ten ( 13 now) was a case stockman from my grandfather ( I have 7 knives now, so over three years I got a lot of knives)

Just got my first pocket knife for Christmas. It’s a case medium stockman. I love it.

This is a great video! The nuances of traditionals can make your head hurt when you're just getting into them. Very nicely explained.

I carry a Swiss army knife in my coat pocket everywhere I go. It's the Victorinox Spartan, which is small enough to be comfortable to use and disappear into a pocket, but has enough different blades and tools to be useful in many situations. Also doesn't have a locking blade, which would make it illegal to carry in public in my country.

The Sodbuster pattern has its origins in Germany. Carl Schlieper and Otter knives from Solingen produced this type of knife and they still do.

After my uncle passed away I got a few of his knives from my aunt. A Victorinox multitool. An old hammer knife combo. And a folding Barlow. The Barlow was rusted and I did a pretty decent restoration on it.

My buck 110 from 1973 that my grandfather gave me is my favorite i carry it 4 days out of the week and it is still going strong

Another traditional video that leaves out Laguiole - probably the traditional knife with the most storied and mythological traditional history. Also my favorite. They are a work of art and a tool.

Thanks for the video. I can attest, Jared Oeser makes magic in his little shop. Having visited. He is the person who got me into traditional, before he even started making them. Great that you were able to visit him, and get an inside view of the magic. I first met him through collecting Busse knives, before he was making fixed blades or traditional slip joints, or modern folders. Thanks for bringing Esnyx (Evan) on. His progress has been amazing as well. That cattle k off stockman he was handling in the video was his too (with the rag micarta and steer head shield). His checkering is super too! All in all, a fun video. Thanks for taking the time!

I remember my first pocket knife was the old Cub Scout knife that I got at 8 years old. I loved it, because not only was a good knife but was cool looking as well with its Cub Scout logo and color. This was replaced later when I was 9 or 10 and my dad gave me his old grandad knife. I

Hi Blade HQ, have been watching your channel for a while. The first traditional knife video was the first Blade HQ video I watched and I’ve been a fan ever since. So cool to see that a company like yours listens to consumer feedback. Love the channel. RIP Austin! Carry a Victorinox Pioneer

I love traditional pocket knives because of the history and variety of them. I've carried a Buck 301 Medium Stockman with rosewood Dymondwood handle for years and it's been a great tool for me. I also use a Case Hawksbill Pruner in my garden with the yellow Delrin handle. They are fun and functional. Modern knives are great too though, and I'm just entering that realm myself. It's cool to see the guys at Blade HQ not being snobbish about knives and learning something new - yet old. We don't get to modern knives without this evolutionary step of traditional pocket knives first.

Awesome video! So many terrific and very useful traditionals. Great work!

Loved this video. I’ve been wanting to pick up a traditional folder for a while but had no idea where to begin as it’s almost a totally different world than modern style knives. Now I know I’m looking for a Trapper or Barlow. Thanks guys!

Evan Esnyx is a legend. I have a few of his mods and they are some of the best knifes I have. What a craftsman and artist. He makes whatever he works on BETTER. Hat's off to Evan. We're not worthy. Keep up the fabulous work. Thanks for all you do to improve the knife world.

Recently found my grandpas old camellias stockman knife, looked for a video on it to see what it was used for. Your video came up first, thank you

my go to traditional knives are the Buck 110 and a whittler.

My favorite traditional pocket knife is a Case Stockman Sowbelly with yellow Delrin handle. Excellent rancher knife also good for anything else. Extremely comfortable in the hand even during very heavy use.

Good to see that excellent Florida bladesmith, Evan S. Nicolaides, maker of great slip-joint folders on your traditional knives program.

I love a old Case XX 5308/6383 60’s-70’s split back whittler but I actually appreciate anything made really great that has been kept like new!

ALL OF THAT WORK JUST TO FIND THE WORDS THANK YOU

I love this series so much

I just ordered a Case Medium Stockman in Caribbean blue. Thing is gorgeous. Can't wait to get it in hand

Second time watching, can we take a moment to appreciate that cat shirt

Thanks for making this video. I learned a ton about traditional knives and even just purchased one. :)

Taylor's eye witness, Sheffield, slipjoint, the budget one, I really love it! It came dull, I put an edge to it and in all honesty it's one of my favorite folders. I have some old school Sandvik and lionsteel folders that are awesome, and better as far as keeping it sharp,but i really love the angle of the taylors handle to blade, it cuts apples and ropes in the same fashion, maby mine is special? (Doubt it) -it's a tool that don't need much more than being functional ♡♡♡

Favourite all of the above depending on the day of the week , great video folks I know which question to ask now to learn ..very informative 🇦🇺👍

Well done, New Traditionalists! Great to see ya Austin.

My favorite pattern: The "BeerLow"

Very educational ! I have been carrying a folding knife since I was about 5 years old (close to 60 years) but never knew the terminology for the different types. As a kid (in Canada), people called all folding knives "jack knives" except if they were switchblades. All my folding knives are of the traditional sort because the blade shapes and sizes are more suited to what I use a knife for every day than those on the more modern pattern knives. I usually have no need for a combat or survival style blade and when I do want to carry a sturdier knife in the field I prefer non-folding knives of a Bowie or Finnish pattern in a sheath. I choose the pocket knife I carry on a given occasion based on expected use. Swiss army for travel and casual indoor use, Laguiole for eating, Opinel for garden or rough work, Buck 110 style for campfires (bacon roasts etc). To each his own :-) Thanks for this very interesting and informative overview ! :-)

My favorite traditional pattern is the copperhead. But I find the most useful traditional pattern to be a large stockmen. The three different blade shapes make it very versatile for any type of cutting you may need to do.

Great job guys.

My two favorites at this moment are Barlow (Bear & Son) and Railsplitter (Queen Cutlery). Both are great knifes. I have not carried any other modern knife since 2012.

hey guys, interesting video! just for you info, a few things here. the stockman knife was the first knife made exclusively for sale in the u.s.a., after the civil war, the demand for the big bowie knives from Sheffield England was slowing down, they needed to replace the demand and since the united states was exporting beef and they knew most of America was agriculture was its main business , they developed a knife known as the cattle knife, it was a large two bladed knife and sold moderately , so from there they developed the stockman, a tree bladed knife that could be used for a variety of uses, it has been an favorite of millions! so its true , each pattern had its start as a tool, and aren't we lucky to be learning about them all!!! have fun, and don't cut yourselves!

The traditional friction folder pocket knife is an American tradition. Dad has his favorite knife and one day you know it will be yours. Along the way, you learn how to sharpen and care for it. Also, a non-locking folder with a blade no longer than the palm of your hand is the legal knife in NYS. I have a cool tactical knife that would get me a car ride against my will, so friction folders are the way to go. My EDC knife is a Higo No Kami. It's a design from the 1890's (like Opinel). It's handmade laminated Japanese steel blade w/ a brass frame and one rivet. It's a minimalist dream. Why I like it is the feeling of history in my hands. My feeling is that the same is still being used after 120 years, that's a good blade. I want to develop some patina and scratches ao when I hand mine down there will be the "record" of work" handed down with it.

Great video. Favorite traditional - Sodbuster pattern.

I have a few traditional knives and was unaware of the history or the significance of patterns. All very cool.

I have quite a few traditional slipjoint knives in my collection, and as much as I love to look and them and admire them and play with them, I don't carry them because I just don't like the way they sit in my pocket. Knives with pocket clips are more comfortable to carry and much easier to grab, so that's what I carry. Having said all that, I'd sure like to have a Tom's Choice barlow!

My most traditional pocket knife is my dad's old Buck 110 that he gave to me last November. He got it in 2002, and replaced the blade in 2017. I kinda' love it's mixed heritage parts. Haha I honestly usually carry a few different knives... I typically carry the Buck 110 in my jacket pocket, a Buck 117 or 120 on my hip, and a serrated Kershaw Clash as my pocket clip knife. I usually feel pretty good with that setup. Lol

I love folding knives. Great episode.

Awesome vid. Very informative and interesting. Love it

I was disappointed with the lack of knowledge in the last video. I'm glad you took the time and gained the information about traditional knives.

I like the technical aspect of the Whittler, but also the smoothed when folded aspect of the Canoe.... guess I’ll have to buy one if I ever find that pattern combination.

I love the peanut and the stockman but, I'm intrigued by the sod buster and openel. I'll probably be buying one of those very soon.

Cool to see you guys taking an interest in traditional slipjoints and folders. Would have liked more commentary on the specific uses of different blades such as the spey blade. My favorite pattern is the Camper, also known as the Scout pattern. I carry the Victorinox Pioneer which is based on the Soldier previously issued as a service knife.

Honestly I just wish there were more traditional knives with better steel. I can super appreciate the thin blades, the slip joint mechanisms, the multiple blades for multiple purposes, but I just can't get behind the steels on most traditional knives. 1095 is okay I guess, but I don't want to have to worry about getting it rusty, and I don't want a crappy low end stainless steel either. If someone would just make a good traditional knife with a good mid to high end steel like 154cm or something, put on a sheepsfoot and a clip point under three inches each, then that'd probably be a perfect knife for a lot of people. Just because it's traditional doesn't mean the materials need to be stuck in the past.

Love this one, thanks guys. I like the buck 110 standard(no auto), the case mini trapper(I own one like the blue one you have on the table... Love it!), and the hawkbill(i have a camillus, it a great classic worker). Thanks again, love your vids!!!

I love the Case Copperlock and the GEC Wallstreet knives. But if I'm feeling like a non locking folder, I'll usually carry the peanut! You really can't go wrong with the Case peanut.

I CARRY A homeij skilled, the best folder currently availeble. Have it for about 10 years, before that a victorinox army, but I found I never used the tools. This is Homeij skilled is a great Edc!

Case USA dyed bone is my favorite traditional knife. California clip point and an extended tang

Awesome video!

Very informative...thanks!

As much as I love modern one-handed knives (which I carry every day), my heart belongs to traditional pocket knives...which go in my left-hand pocket to accompany the modern EDC. Each serves a purpose: hard work goes to the one-hander, while the traditional gets used in front of gentler company.

I like the stockman in general, but specifically the sowbelly stockman. I have too many sowbellys and want more. I wish GEC would make one. I'm also quite fond of the cotton sampler.

Affordable and useful, nice in the hand -- Sodbuster by Case is the one for you guys.

"please stop drilling"......."thank you" was my favorite haha

Great video guys

Well thanks, now i need to check out traditionals!

Good video and your experts were great.

Can't get enough of this here knife knowledge.

Dam that texas knife is gorgeous

What I like most about traditional knives is that they are the absolute minimum necessary requirement needed for a knife. They function just fine as an EDC without being way overbuilt for realistic daily use.

Also the Barlow is a British knife originally made in Sheffield, England but became popular in America. 🙂

My favorites, are the GEC TC Barlow, and the GEC Eureka jack, but I am saving for a custom by Evan

Enjoyed both videos! When I was about 10 my uncle gave me a pen knife and I had to give him a penny for it I think that was so I was not indebted to him. And I've collected dozens of knives and given most of them away to someone who needed one. That was the days when you could carry a knife to school and go anywhere with it. But my best knife my father gave me and it was what he called a magic knife. He would open up the single blade and close it and hand it to me closed and tell me to open it up but don't break it. I looked and there was no visible lock on it and when I tried to open it up it would not open then I remember him turning it in his hand. So turned it blade down and nothing happened he smiled and said I was on the right track then I turned it end for end and squeezed the blade like I was closing it and then I released it, it popped open and then I could see the hook at the bottom of the blade and realized how it worked and I will pass it on to keep it in the family.

Great video 👍

I always have a SAK on me, usually a Climber. I also sometimes carry a Stockman, and of late I've been enjoying a cheap Chinese Wharncliffe friction folder I picked up. I want to get a nice Laguiole at some point.

I tend to focus on Barlows, Sodbusters and SAKs, but I have a beautiful split back Whittler from Northwoods and a couple of Opinels.

I absolutely love my Case Kickstart. The best of both worlds.

almost every knife collector has a traditional knife that was passed down to them, myself included. They're the most sentimental knives.

I love the trapper and the canoe

I have to tell you guys but I just subscribed to your channel, live with it!

Who else is looking at Frankie's drawing next to Ben's shoulder 😁

I edc a Case Canoe knife and a Case Hobo (Trapper pattern), Lost a Sodbuster years ago and want another, also looking for a multi blade like the stockman. I live about an hour from both Case and Great Eastern Cutlery, so I'm a big fan of both

I've personally started carrying a Boker Damascus Duke as my backup knife. I decided as I started carrying my more expensive knives around more regularly that I wanted something to use when I have a task that's really going to abuse them, but I wanted a nice looking knife that was fairly small regardless. If I'm carrying something like my Benchmade 556-1701, I really don't want to pry open a stuck can with it, or if I'd like to baton, but I love carrying it as a statement piece and tend to bring that one around to nicer occasions. Additionally, I purchased a couple of Boker's 145th anniversary folders, which are almost exclusively traditional knives, and have my Grenadill Optima set aside for events where I want a larger, more sturdy knife, but still would like a "gentleman's look" to it. Having a reasonable sized collection, I often look for form over function at this point though, so a lot of this doesn't apply as much to those just looking for a good knife to use every day. There are great knives from companies like Opinel and Case that work for that purpose if you like this type of knife, want something less threatening, and/or have certain restrictions on which knives you can own or carry where you're at. However, if function is all I cared about, I'd be more than set with my Benchmade 940 for regular use, and my ZT 0562CF for rougher tasks and when I'm camping, with a backup like my Spyderco UKPK just in case I'm traveling somewhere with stricter knife laws and I'd like to be careful.

Traditional slip joint pocket knives are also great starter knives for children. They damn near last forever with a little care. It typically requires both hands to open, so they have to pay attention to what they’re doing. A good opportunity to teach them how to inspect for damage before blade failure. They’re usually smaller than most modern knives (width/depth/length), so the lethality of the blade(s) are drastically reduced compared to these contemporary blades. The steel is usually softer, requires sharpening more often; helps hammer in maintenance. The slip joint design... maybe unpopular to say... ensures respect is paid to the fact that the tool you’re using will hurt you if you are not careful. That’s a lesson learned the hard way, but rarely resulting in catastrophic injury. It provides many teachable moments between children and their parents that extent well past the surface level use of a knife. Just my two cents.

Big fan of trappers. I also recommend a pocket slip (sheath) with a clip. There is another knife website that has designed some that I've used and they work very well as a way to make a traditional as accessible in carry as a modern. The only difference then is one-hand opening but you get multiple blades as a reward.

Well done - you have redeemed yourselves! And not just because you quoted me at the end of the video. Lol

I do like traditional pocket knives. Barlow, trapper, and stockman are the ones I like.

Whoa! Those Stockman knives..

Great follow up video. Where can I learn more? I’m interested in Martinez knives.

Such a great show guys. I got this old Gerlach single-blade fold pocket knife with wooden handle from my father. Is this a good brand? Worth having it in my pocket as an EDC?

My all time favorite is the Queen 3 blade whittler with the #48 blade. Awesome knife. I miss the quality of Queen Cutlery.

I carry a case trapper large and currently love it. Id like to get a sod buster just to beat on

My favorite style are the sunfish/elephant toe knife

Hope this means more traditionals are getting added to the inventory :D

You forgot the Congress pattern, my favorites are the Stockman and Barlow though. Also if you like toothpicks check the Arkansas Toothpick 😃 (not a folder )

Wanted to watch this but the background noise was too painful.

It would have to be a sod buster Jr is my all-time favorite

Love my Granddaddy Barlows and Mercators!