Top 5 Slip Joints (Traditional Pattern) Pocket Knives 

I absolutely love my Congress Pattern knives the most. There's just something about those four blades folded in the handle! I just wish I could find a 6 blade Congress knife, that would be a dream come true!! Thank you, Tobias. 🤗❤️👍👋🇬🇧🇺🇸

Gene my friend I just received my Sod blustering the mail. It is perfect in everyway. Thank you for making a knife of superb craftsmanship. Thanks again my friend.

Great vid. And by far, a most useful Top Five approach compared to the generic “top five frenzy” out there. Thx for sharing! 👌🏻

This is an interesting video half of which is about your NOT top 5 knives, which I enjoyed very much anyway. Thank you.

Great top 5 list Tobias, and that is exactly why I don't do videos especially top 5 lists, they will constantly change and I'll feel foolish making up some excuse for making that change. LOL . But over time (many years) a person like me gets to use and choose and stick with their favorite traditional's: 1. Canoe; 2. Stockman; 3. Any large single-blade utility knife eg Large Toothpick or XLarge Sodbuster; 4. Scout Knife; and the newest pick on the list, 5. Mini Trappers...I love them all. For each of these knives I have several categorized as for EDC function such as: 1) everyday around the house or neighborhood; 2) outdoors or camping; 3) briefcase/office carry; 4) Sunday-go-to-Meeting or dress up; 5) Special functions like weddings, divorce parties, muzzleloader meets, etc. though sometimes I don't pay attention to any of that.

Thanks Tobias, for taking the time to share your knowledge with the rest of us!!!👍👍🔪🔪🔪🔪

I’m not a collector, but I discovered when cleaning out a junk drawer that I seem to have a thing for pocket knives. Thanks for the overview. My latest acquisition is a Buck Canoe, your number five, which is my current fave. I also am fond of my genuine BSA scout knife, which shows every bit of its 70 years in my possession. I also like my Schrade Old Timer, a clone of the Stockman. I also have a few “tactical “ styles that I carry sometimes, but they don’t charm me the way older patterns do.

All great choices. I like Canoes and I think you know how I feel about scout/camp knives and SAks! I also like Copperheads. Thanks for showing some more of your very diverse collection.

Also not a trapper guy. I’m more of a medium stockman guy myself. It seems to do whatever I need to do. Case medium stockman with a pen blade in place of the Spey blade. Not arguing with your choices. Just stating my choice. Nice video.

Back when we owned the Norman Way Life School, we bought hundreds of Victorinox Pioneers as or main school knife, we had spoken to a couple of companies about making a USA made scout version, with s30v steel, but I got sick, and we had to close the school, so that never got to happen, but I buy nearly every scout pattern I find at a reasonable price,

Last comment: my top-three (😃 ) highlights from your vid, are (a) the terminology of all kinds of pocket knives presented, (b) time mark 11’23” and (c ) time mark 14’18”. 👌🏻

the Barlow is my # 2 favorite, second only to the 4 blade scout style, I have around 100 Barlow knives in my collection and around 130 scout knives of some variant, I just love the hand fit of both knives,

No canoe collection can be legitimate without the "Case Amber Jig Bone Canoe" (the one you displayed) with the Indian rowing a canoe etch on the main blade! I'm thinking about getting another one!...Just what I need...Ha Ha Ha

I’m about to take delivery of my first traditional blade since childhood. GP Knives put out a limited edition GEC “ram’s foot” pattern in black micarta with a silver bolster. I’m abnormally excited to get it.

Nice line up! I would have to put the slimline Trapper in there someplace, the yellow Case version. Slips in the pocket nicely and feels good in the hand!

You have a great collection and your videos are very informative, it's nice to see that you can talk a little history about the knives. Just subbed and now i have to watch all your videos. Thank you sir you are probably the best reviewer on knives that i've seen on YT.

Of your top 5, I like the canoe best and would rate it #1.

I agree about the scout Knife. The Canoe would be my second. Great Video thanks

I think Sam's are in a class of their own! ATB Sam Adler

Good choices! I love Barlows, Canoes, Sodbusters and the equal-end pen.

Just got my first canoe pattern (3.5"closed ), and I really like it for pocket carry, it doesn't bulge out my pocket like 3 blade knives (stockman's and other 3 blade knifes) especially the ones with 3 spacers and back springs , even my small 3.5" stockman is really noticeable in my pock as far as "feel" is concerned. I'm not really trapper guy either, but I do own one.

Like you, the Scout/Camp pattern is my favorite. I always included the SAKs in this category, though they have become so iconic and diverse that they do require their own listing. I can only come up with a top 3 (Scout, Barlow, and Stockman) though I again see where the Stockman would also require it's own category; a tough list to make! Thanks for another great video!

Just found your video and enjoyed a look at your favorites, Mine are about the same except I am from Texas so I am fond of the Mini Trapper ( My Grandpa always carried a Case Trapper) I do love the Canoe and Medium sized Stockmans, The Barlow is one of my favorites because that was one of the easiest knives and cheapest when I was a kid. I do love the higher grade Barlows now that I can afford them in the Clip/ Pen blade variant. Thanks for the nice video on your Traditional knife choices.

Thanks for the great video. Very helpful.

You are a fountain of knowledge, thank you. Subscribed

A 2-for vid. Top 5 knives and a top 7 list of knives not in the top 5. As always, great video.

Excellent

I just ordered my dad a Case canoe pattern in cv steel for Father's Day. I can't wait to give him it. You have some great choices. I have two knives that I carry: I have the Camilus US military knife from the 90's and a medium Case stockman pattern in cv steel. Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed watching. :)

Mine would be 1 sleeve board single blade 2 canoe 3 cigar 4 barlow single blade 5 equal end pen knife If i had to pick between a trapper and a butter knife i'd take the butter knife any day. I'd like to see your sleeve boards Tobias if you get a chance. Great video

Your reasoning follows my own thinking very closely. No complaints at all. Boy Scout/camp knives are my favourite EDC (even if we skip SAK's for now), but I'm looking for a new, quality, classic, natural covered camp knife. Boker maybe? Edit :- A sabre ground, spearpoint main blade would be a bonus ( over the more common flat ground). In my dreams ! Great video !

Made in USA Schrade model 89OT "Blazer" stockman pocketknife w/serrated sheepfoot blade was the best pocket knife I ever owned for around 26 yrs til gifting it to my Army brother. It saved my life twice. -Next to that one, I've carried and prefered the Schrade Old Timer Dog Leg pocket knife, Case medium four blade congress, case sod buster jr and victorianox swiss army camper as top five. Recently wife gave me a schrade old timer Pal that I've begun carrying daily. It's becoming my new favorite go-to folder.

Great video, and look forward to seeing a top 5 SAK.

I liked this video the minute I heard "rumble in the Bronx".

Wonderful video! As with you ,my top five would include the sowbelly and the peanut, thanks for putting in the time to share your lots, its appreciated

I really liked your top 5 review. My # 1 is the canoe.

I just bought 6 of the Rough Ryder Kamp King knives just for nostalgia sake.

I agree with you on trapper pattern knives, not a trapper fan based on blade selection. I am, however a stockman fan, and a Case medium trapper with a pen blade routinely rides in the watch pocket of my jeans and I find it meets most of my needs. I also like multi blade knives and do not understand why anyone would carry a single bladed knife when a multi blade knife is available. I can’t find much to disagree with except, based on my thoughts about single blade knives, I’m not toothpick fan. I enjoyed the video. We obviously don’t have to agree on all of the choices. Thanks for the video.,

Copperhead, barlow and canoe are my favorite traditional slip joints

My top 5 traditional slipjoint pocket knife patterns (in no particular order) :Barlow , scout , stockman , i have to say ,,,, my sodbuster jr and small trapper have a lot of miles on them ! Thats probably my EDC list for 90% of the time .

Cool

Outstanding video!! For me, the Canoe would be #1,2,3,4 and the Baby Butterbean would be #5.

It is interesting hobby to collect the folding knives just due to variety of historical pattern. It the last few weeks of travelling I have picked up a couple of extra knives including the my very first " scout knife " in an antique shop with English white 1960s cellulose scales and Also a Boker ( C / copy ) trapper pattern from a fishing shop . I have added a couple of Buck' s from 300 series and as they are now apparently totally discontinued lines - prefer the older USA models - which may add value in time. I also enjoy the traditional and unique ' Case ' brand USA knives in those jigged bone scales - however quoted prices seem a fair bit above my budget ! In Australia the Buck brand is super popular - yet very expensive at present - with stockmans at around 150 plus new and 75 just second hand in shops ; although online gives better value to collectors IMOO ; such as EBay sellers etc.

I like the Moose pattern and who doesn’t love a Scout knife (Victorinox Pioneer and Farmer) are my modern versions. I also liked your other 4 choices.

Like your Choices with the exception of the five inch Toothpick, I would prefer a medium or small Toothpick. For me a five inch knife would have to be in a belt pouch and I would carry a Buck 110 in that case. I have only carried three of these patterns, the Barlow, the two blade pen and a small toothpick and they carry very well in the pocket. I carry single blade knives or SAKS mostly. The Barlow and the two blade pen which are both Sabre's from Japan would be 1 and 2 with the small Winchester Toothpick 3" being number three. I have Trappers and Stockmen but I collect them and do not carry them. Great video Thanks :-)

Do you have a video on how you store your knives?

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you. I agree all the way on the SAKs and the rest. I would though swap the toothpick with a stockman. I do unfortunately not own a 'real' scout knife, so my Vic Tinker gets a lot of pocket time.

I'm not a fan of double bladed trappers. But single blade trappers are great and very slim to carry.

very good choices. i learn so much from your videos. What's a California clip vs. bowie vs. regular clip point?

I like the beautiful pen knife.The Victorinox Excelsior is a nice and cheap pen knife.Even in Belgium it only costs around 15 dollars.The canoe is my number1 and the Sod Buster Jr my nr2

I just subscribed...I was sure I subscribed last week but apparently not ... This could have been titled the knives that didn't make my top 5 lol ... Very Interesting video... BTW I pulled the trigger on the SAK Explorer... Like I need another SAK ... BTW I love Barlows.

I liked your video a lot. So many things are in it that I feel about the same way: - I also have a manual Stiletto like that one - (Italian made though, was happy I could still snag one) total swagger knives, display the handmade aspect very well, but boy so impractical. - Feeling the same about SAKs: great value, great functionality; certainly great for drawing people into knife carrying habits, but their industrial built and boring scales take so much of the fun away again. - I wanted to love the TL-29, too. Great history and all, but for me I've found them too heavy chunky, and (often) too roughly finished. - Liking me a good Stockman, but I'm also annoyed that the sizes diverge so much. A large Stock from Case would be a standard or medium at other companies; GEC is also not helping with this by just adding more names onto existing types. - I'm bringing out a Schrade Stock today, one of those faux ivory ones that they've made so many off (most were scrimshaw-ed with hunting motives) - In Europe they call these small, metal cover, pen knives 'Toledo knives', whilst internationally a Toledo is not the same at all. -How do you feel about the locking knives that Case has on offer, the copperlock, triballock, russlock, cheetah, trapperlock, etc?

Appalachian samurai is here.

👍 Very good list of knives. Thank you for sharing. I still have my Cub Scout knife from the 1950s. We agree on the Trapper, I much prefer the Moose if I carried a large 2-bladed knife.

Marlin knife, slice and dice, poke and prod.

I am super interested in finding out two knives from you. The best deal on a scout knife. The best scout knife. Thanks

I really like single blade knives best, trying to get a Toothpick medium size can't find one except had the chance of very expensive GEC, I find more than one blade uncomfortable to use, each to his own.

I also like the Canoe its my favorite pattern however, I never was one for multi blade knives its just difficult to find a single blade canoe

I don’t have any traditional slip joints. I have a few swiss army knives, but even those rarely get carried. The knives I have on my side 99% of the time are a Buck 124 Frontiersman, which is a fixed blade, and a Leatherman Wave+, which has a liner-lock system for all its blades. All that having been said, I absolutely love watching your videos on all these slipjoint knives. I’ve watched many dozens of hours of your videos on them, and it’s always interesting.

Dude great vid lmao at the trapper hate lol! Although with what I like to use daily it probably would be my number 2. I know don't kick me from the knife chat haha.take care bud hope your holidays were nice.my list 1.also the large toothpick.2 large or small trappers.3.canoe.4stockman. 5 peanut

Funny how the bottom knives look like the ones you carry the most and your favorites look unblemished except the Barlow.

For me the Stock Man if I could only have one knife - a Large one Than there is the Barlow

Thoughts!!

Spay blades just disturb me! 🔪 🍒

1) 5" Toothpick, 2) Elephant's Toe, 3) Trapper, 4) Peanut, 5) Barlow, Honorable Mention) everything else

Do you have the one you showed in the pic? The demo us

Top 5 Slip Joints…I Will watch ! (the STD top 5 was a FLOP !) hoping this better (LOL)

I noticed several of the knives have blades in really crappy condition .

Where can I buy a electrician knife like that without breaking the bank?

For me: 5. Barlow 4. Coke Bottle 3. Gunstock Jack 2. Swayback 1. Muskrat

Probably my favorite is really the stockman and I do have many of those including a 2 blade stockman . My second is the Trapper, Sod Buster, Canoe and for many reasons the Fish knife which I am not sure anyone makes them anymore

Great video! The Canoe and Pen were a surprise....I fully expected the Barlow, toothpick, and scout patterns, having watched your excellent reviews I had an inkling of your preferences. My favs are 5.) Scout, 4.) 3" Stockman, 3.) 4" Trapper, 2.) 5" Barlow, 1.) 3" Barlow. Best wishes to you and your family for a Wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

A top 5 list can be difficult. To those not making the cut, it's like slighting a friend?. But when not carrying a SAK it's a peanut, Buck Lancer Companion or junior Stockman, and last but not least is the first present from my son, an Old Timer Minuteman.

👍👍🤠🤠🎯🎯

4:14 of what you DON'T like. I give up.

I much prefer single blade knives, but maybe I should not limit myself. I once heard that single blade knives hold their resale value better than multi-blade models when the time comes to sell off a collection.

Stockman Congress Trapper Canoe Whittler

1. Stockman 2 Congress 3. Canoe 4. Whittler 5. Barlow

No accounting for taste. You picked a toothpick ahead of a stockman? Stockman is very versatile and utilitarian. But, this is Your list. Like I said, no accounting for taste. I happen to agree with you on the trapper and most would disagree with both of us. Nice video. Thanks.

Maybe a traditional on steroids

You lost me right at the beginning. Going to make a top 5 traditional slip joint list abut not going to include the stockman pattern. Seems you overthought this and came to an asinine conclusion.

you have a pathological and irrational antagonism towards the trapper.

Seven minutes in and I’m still listening to your list of knives that are NOT in your top five knives. Get to the point man. .