“Old fashioned” pocketknives

[The Kid]

In several threads I've noticed a propensity for posters here to carry "modern" pocketknives, ala Benchmade, Spyderco, etc with much mention of autos and assisted openers.

Do any of you guys ever carry a plain old jack knife or spring back?

I don't have anything against autos or more modern blades but as many as I've tried I've determined that at heart I'm just a jumbo trapper kind of guy. I carried a SS Camillus for a long time, a friend bought 10 when they were discontinued in the late 70's and gave me a NIB example as a wedding gift.
It's easy to get and keep shaving sharp and large enough for serious work. I've dressed, skinned, and quartered stuff from squirrels literally to moose with it to include deer, elk, pigs, brown and black bears, caribou, pheasants, waterfowl, turkeys and much more.
Alas, I lost it and though I was able to recover it I deemed it too precious to risk losing again and semi retired it. It just so happened that the very week I decided to retire it GEC was releasing a run of jumbos almost the exact same size. I had a GEC Cody lock back my wife had gifted me so I was familiar with their high quality and craftsmanship. An order was placed for a top of the line UNX-LD with burnt autumn bone scales.
It is a great piece of equipment, very good carbon steel blades. Of course I promptly lost it and they were by that time sold out. So I settled for a cheaper version with linen micarta scales of the same pattern. As soon as it arrived I found the first one! So now I have a backup.
Someday I think I'd like an old style German springer but they're hard to come by with the restrictions on shipping due to C19.

If you enjoy old style knives post them up.

 

[Justin T]

A good medium-sized stockman is a favorite for me! This is my Western 742. Favorite of favorites. Wicked sharp, and love the matchstick pull.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

You got me!
Carrying a Kershaw Leek right now.
But here a couple of my favorites.
Made by NM Knife maker Cody Wescott (RIP).

 

[k22fan]

[...] spring back? [...] springer [...]

I prefer to call them slip joints, and yes, they are what I usually carry. Having multiple blade shapes is more useful to me than one handed quick opening.

I've only bought GEC knives when they offered shapes, sizes or a selection of blades not readily available from other manufacturers. Camillus made 4 1/2" closed jumbo trappers branded Remington are common on ebay. You could buy one for a lot less than your GEC jumbo trappers cost. Most of the Camillus Remingtons have 440A stainless blades the same as your Camillus but Camillus also made them with their standard 1095 carbon steel. I guessed that your Camillus is stainless.

The pattern I've carried the most is a large stockman.

 

[Loyaljeeper]

I have no use for a non locking blade; I've had too many close calls. I have some Case knives, and a few others, but they never see use.

 

[The Kid]

My Camillus is indeed stainless, wished that GEC had offered it because of how hard I use them plus the heat around here in the summer and working outside tends to get them sweaty and rusty. I'll have to keep an eye out for one of the Remingtons.

By Springer I was referring to the style of switchblade made by Hubertus, just couldn't think of the name of the company at the time. They are a classic looking knife usually with stag scales. The only issue besides the shipping I have with them is that relatively few of their offerings have a blade shape that I like. I prefer a drop point but a spear is okay too. Seems that most of their models have a clip point.

I have a very good friend who is a master engraver and the plan for this year's Christmas for my dad, uncles, and Grandad is a matching assortment of nice Barlows with engraved bolsters featuring their ranch logo. I had planned it for this past year but couldn't round up enough matching Case XX Barlows in time. I'll likely have an extra done up to put away for my son.

 

[The Kid]

I have no use for a non locking blade; I've had too many close calls. I have some Case knives, and a few others, but they never see use.

Are the two in the end photos Buck 110s? I've never seen a 110 with a thumb stud. Very nice knives, one of my uncles found a 110 in a railroad car at my Grandad's old grain elevator and carried it hunting for years. I would bet it broke down at least 2 dozen elk before he finally lost it up on the mountain about 10 years ago.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The knives I carry pretty much every day are a couple of slip joints and a locking friction folder. Alox Electrician, Okapi Biltong, and an Opinel No.6.

I have a few Benchmades, Kershaws, Bucks, Laconico and other modern one-handed openers, but I don't really carry them that often. For one thing, I am not supposed to carry a knife at all on my school bus, and the pocket clips are a sure giveaway. The modern knives are typically bigger than I really need and not particularly comfortable in the pocket.

I There are also quite a few traditional slipjoints on my shelf, from Case, GEC, Schrade, Rough Rider, Henckels, Buck and Maserin. From time to time, I will sub one of those for one of my regular carries.

A locking blade is not really a necessity for me. I use a number of friction folders which I have used without injury. Never been hurt by a slip joint folding up on me either. I think injury is more likely where a locking blade gives a false sense of security and can fail in use.

 

[dasnake]

For me.

Swiss army for me and junior.

 

[sheppard]

A Barlow is residing in my jeans pocket. Stopped using my knives with locking blades.

 

[30-30remchester]

I made a mistake a few years back concerning my addiction to collecting knives. I had my wife list them in the computer, as to when purchased, where, how much , age , ect. Collecting only American made knives, my main focus is folders and military. Knives built after 1960 do little for me. I have most of my collection in the late 1890's to 1940, known as the golden age of folders. My "mistake" was having the wife catalog them. A few years back I acquired a bone handled Roberson tickler made in the 1930's. My wife cataloged it and said I needed an intervention as she had just cataloged my 500th blade. She seemed to think it was time to slow down. I think not and to demonstrate my position as alpha male, I acquired a 1950's Schrade premium stockman with butter and molasses handles. I also to her out to a nice steak dinner that night.

 

[Maddog 521]

I still carry a Case Trapper or a Case Mini Trapper. Either of them do the job and do it well.

 

[Golphin]

I have a few.

 

[rickflst]

I carry a Barlow that I bought back in the 80's. Still gets the job done.

 

[jbtrucker]

I have a few and carry either a Camillus , Bear & Sons top right or Imperial top left .

 

[Babysitr]

I carry a Case 6292 when hunting that I bought in the early 80's,and a Schrade Lockback for Deer....but lately I've had a Buck APEX on my beltloop. kind of strange looking,but handy

 

[Inusuit]

Are the two in the end photos Buck 110s? I've never seen a 110 with a thumb stud. .

The thumb stud is an aftermarket unit that attaches to the blade with a Allen screw.

 

[retrieverhunter]

I carried a Case trapper many years ago and still have it, but when I discovered Benchmades with pocket clips, I made the switch. I really like the idea of a real "pocket" knife, but I really like the convenience of the pocket clip and am currently carrying a ZT 0561.

Given the OP propensity to lose pocket knives, a knife with a pocket clip might be a good idea. In 25+/- years of carrying a clip knife, I've never lost one.
My daily carry...

 

[mikerjf]

Schrade Girl Scout.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The thumb stud is an aftermarket unit that attaches to the blade with a Allen screw.

There are also some lightweight variants of the 110 that come with a thumb stud, and sometimes even a pocket clip.