A pattern you never liked ... until you tried one --->

[Lansky1]

I never cared much for the slimline trapper. I bought one on a whim once for a deal & found out I actually really like it. Every one I have has exceptional snap - they just have a pitch or tone in that hard snap that is music to my ears & always have enough clearance so the blades don't hit the backspring when closed hard. I like the nail nick position near the tang of the blade. I really like the slimness - just right for pocket carry. Blades are fairly slim, so it's easy to crink them back to center if need be. For the little that I actually use a knife for, I've found it's all I need. So I've gone a little crazy with the slimline's as you can see --->

Any pattern you always avoided, but once you tried one, were pleasantly surprised an has become one of your fave's ??

[doglegg]

Great line up John. None have been turned into a Wharncliffe yet?

[jerryd6818]

So I've gone a little crazy with the slimline's as you can see --->

hwm.jpg

Any pattern you always avoided, but once you tried one, were pleasantly surprised an has become one of your fave's ??

You may not recognize it John because you're too close to it but that's the beginnings of an obsession. And a fine beginning it is too.

[Doc B]

The toothpick. I thought I'd just get one GEC #12...and ended up with 4. I still don't really carry them; although, they are very nice in hand. I think it is an underrated pattern.

[treefarmer]

I never cared much for the slimline trapper. I bought one on a whim once for a deal & found out I actually really like it. Every one I have has exceptional snap - they just have a pitch or tone in that hard snap that is music to my ears & always have enough clearance so the blades don't hit the backspring when closed hard. I like the nail nick position near the tang of the blade. I really like the slimness - just right for pocket carry. Blades are fairly slim, so it's easy to crink them back to center if need be. For the little that I actually use a knife for, I've found it's all I need. So I've gone a little crazy with the slimline's as you can see --->

hwm.jpg

Any pattern you always avoided, but once you tried one, were pleasantly surprised an has become one of your fave's ??

That slimline trapper was the 1st knife I remember buying with my own money and have always enjoyed them. Nowadays, I find the slimlines to have too much blade for the lighter frames to make them a real hard working knife. Still have my original Case 61048, though it has a new blade.
I seemed to avoid the hawk-billed knives as I equated them with the linoleum knives that folks used used on home construction jobs. All I remember were the fixed blade hawk-billed with the round wooden handle, so I just shied away till I realized what a great old knife a folder with the hawk-bill blade could be.
Treefarmer

[RevolverGuy]

For me it's the Russlock. People either love or hate them. When I first saw one I thought it looked interesting but also a little awkward. Eventually bought one, carried it, and loved it.

[bighomer]

SAKS.

[Colonel26]

I’ll second that. I always thought a SAK was a toy, a gimmick, not a real knife. I guess it’s from seeing all of the cheap chicom knockoffs when I was a kid. Then I got a real one and Oh MY! I don’t leave home without my Spartan and I use it a lot in the shop and around the homestead.

The other was anything Spyderco. I thought they were the ugliest looking knives I’d ever seen, until I was bombed with a delica and I fell in love. They just fit my hand like they were made for me. I carry my Military all the time now.

[Doc B]

I’ll second that. I always thought a SAK was a toy, a gimmick, not a real knife. I guess it’s from seeing all of the cheap chicom knockoffs when I was a kid. Then I got a real one and Oh MY! I don’t leave home without my Spartan and I use it a lot in the shop and around the homestead.

The other was anything Spyderco. I thought they were the ugliest looking knives I’d ever seen, until I was bombed with a delica and I fell in love. They just fit my hand like they were made for me. I carry my Military all the time now.

I'll agree with you, Wade, on the Spyderco knives! Now I have several. Some people will flick open, with the thumb. I personally like the middle finger flip. Not sure what that says about me

[bighomer]

Dang Doc what are you saying to the rest of us.

[Doc B]

Love y'all...pure plutonic love.

Dang Doc what are you saying to the rest of us.

[Lansky1]

some great thoughts and commentary !

I may have one more entry .... was never a fan of the canoe - always preferred clip blades. I tried one on another whim - for a deal of course (I see a pattern arising here) and I was amazed how thin they are. Pretty snappy too. And I found out I didn't really mind the spear blade, and REALLY like the oversized pen blade. Deals are harder to find on canoe's for whatever reason, but here's my little floatilla that get regular carry (the cotton candy colored one is actually the best one of the bunch & probably gets the most carry - snaps fantastic ... every time I bring it out around my wife, she hints that she really likes that one ) --->

[TPK]

Nice Slimlines John! Got a nice collection going there.
As someone already stated, I bet those would look good with a Wharcliffe too.

As to answering the question at hand, I'll have to come back to it at some other point in time. I thought I didn't like Slimlines & Texas Toothpicks. Too skinny, too pointy looking.

Then I found a pretty Slimline at a pretty cheap price so I got it. I must say, I really do like it alot but I don't carry it because it's a bit longer than I prefer to carry.

So..., I still think I don't like Toothpicks but..., if it's like with the Slimlines (& Toothpicks are more "my size") then it's probably a love story waiting to happen but I haven't stumbled across a cheap one yet. I will some day though & I'll give em a chance. Time will tell.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Barlow’s. I don’t know why I just didn’t like the looks of them. But now I own close to 20 of them and they are one of my favorites. Here are a few of my favorites.

[garddogg56]

For me it was the modern knives.

[1967redrider]

I, too, was never wild about Barlows. Less than 3 5/8" in the traditional sense (they're usually just 3 3/8"), they just seemed too small for the job to me. But, I have changed my mind about that, very pocket friendly. Early on, I was in the mindset they were cheap quality knives too for some reason.

[Papa Bones]

For me it's the Russlock. People either love or hate them. When I first saw one I thought it looked interesting but also a little awkward. Eventually bought one, carried it, and loved it.
65303_Russlock_MAIN.jpg

I'm with you on that one Revolverguy. When the Russlocks first came out I kinda thought it was just a gimmick for aesthetics. But I eventually bought one, and now it is one of my EDCs. It took me a bit to learn to open it one handed, but now it just comes natural. I especially like the drop points.

[toomanyknives]

For me it has to be (blasphemy, I know) the SodbusterJr. I has a preconceived notion that a Sodbuster wasn't "cool".
Boy was I wrong. I picked one up one day at a show, and it just felt like it was supposed to be in my hand. Now I
feel stupid for not having carried one years ago. It's just what a great EDC should be..

[Papa Bones]

For me it has to be (blasphemy, I know) the SodbusterJr. I has a preconceived notion that a Sodbuster wasn't "cool".
Boy was I wrong. I picked one up one day at a show, and it just felt like it was supposed to be in my hand. Now I
feel stupid for not having carried one years ago. It's just what a great EDC should be..IMG_1409 (3).JPG

They are good knives. I have three different ones in my EDC rotation knives. I know a lot of people who have used these as there first knife for their sons. Which makes sense, they are easy to handle and a nice size to start teaching young ones in knife safety, handling and care. I really like that Case started doing them in bone.

[toomanyknives]

Agreed, Smitty. I went way too long without one. I love the bone ones too!

[TPK]

Barlow’s. I don’t know why I just didn’t like the looks of them. But now I own close to 20 of them and they are one of my favorites. Here are a few of my favorites.

Very Classy looking knives Mark!

[TPK]

I, too, was never wild about Barlows. Less than 3 5/8" in the traditional sense (they're usually just 3 3/8"), they just seemed too small for the job to me. But, I have changed my mind about that, very pocket friendly. Early on, I was in the mindset they were cheap quality knives too for some reason.

Nice collection John! Those top 2 appear to be pretty old!

[1967redrider]

I, too, was never wild about Barlows. Less than 3 5/8" in the traditional sense (they're usually just 3 3/8"), they just seemed too small for the job to me. But, I have changed my mind about that, very pocket friendly. Early on, I was in the mindset they were cheap quality knives too for some reason.

Nice collection John! Those top 2 appear to be pretty old!

Thanks Tom. They are old Enos and Ed Furness Barlows, from prior to 1890 to around 1905 according to Goins. The Enos Barlow still has excellent snap but the Ed has a cool blade stamp. George, Matthew and Martha Furness also carried on the business and made their own Barlows, with their unique bolsters.

[TPK]

I, too, was never wild about Barlows. Less than 3 5/8" in the traditional sense (they're usually just 3 3/8"), they just seemed too small for the job to me. But, I have changed my mind about that, very pocket friendly. Early on, I was in the mindset they were cheap quality knives too for some reason.

Nice collection John! Those top 2 appear to be pretty old!

Thanks Tom. They are old Enos and Ed Furness Barlows, from prior to 1890 to around 1905 according to Goins. The Enos Barlow still has excellent snap but the Ed has a cool blade stamp. George, Matthew and Martha Furness also carried on the business and made their own Barlows, with their unique bolsters.

Those are absolutely COOL!

[Old Hunter]

I went to the PX in the fall of 1976 with a buddy, we were both planning to buy a Buck 110 Folding Hunter. I got sidetracked when I saw the Buck 100 series and ended up with a Buck 105 Pathfinder that has served me well for over four decades now. Several times I planned to buy a Buck 110 but they felt boxy in my hands - ended up 35 years ago with a Gerber Sportsman II (which I never really bonded with). Finally ten years ago I bought a Buck 110 in a pawnshop and was thrilled with the knife - guess the feel of the knife evolved over time to my touch. I carry a Buck 110 nearly every trip to the woods or for hunting. Here are a few I have accumulated in the last decade. OH