I know it's all the rage to have a flip out onehand opening knife that's all tactical as heck, but does anyone just carry a plain old pocket knife that our granddaddy's would recognize and be at hime with? Like a stockman, Barlow, trapper?
Have a few.
Some are Case brand. A trapper and a canoe.
One Eastern Cutlery. Its really cool because the scales glow in the dark! LMAO
One old el-cheapo Imperial Barlow.
One is Eye Brand(german). pearl handled.
I carry them occasionally.
These days my EDC knife is an El-Cheapo bright red Milwaukee from Home Depot. LOL!
I have quite a few of them, old and new. Find them at stupid resale stores the wife likes. They last forever without much care. Many have stained blades but sharpen well and are a pleasure to carry. Only thing to remember is they don't lock open.
My EDC is a Gerber that cost all of $7 at wallyworld.
I've got a wooden cigar box of very old knives that I cherish. Some belonged to my Dad and Grandad. And as said, they sharpen well. I'll pass them on at some point.
Case, Eye Brand, Old Timers, Barlows, Hen & Rooster, Buck, Swiss Army.... you name it, my dad was into old pocket knives and I have a box with 'em in it many which I bought him throughout his life.
I prefer modern Surefire, Lone Wolf D2 auto, ZT, MicroTech OTFs, Kershaw Speed Safes, Cold Steel, Spyderco, CRKT and others to old type pocket knives. My latest favorites are the DART series knives by Doug Marcaida, small compact and lighting quick with the retention ring.
I don't know if you consider Puma knives traditional, but they've been around since 1769. I know they don't have the same brand identification as the brands you listed, but I'd say they are "traditional". LOL I carry a Puma 777, button lock blade that hasn't been made for many, many years. I carried a Puma 970 lock from the 1960's prior to that. I just bought a Benchmark automatic knife but I probably won't be carrying very often. It's just to bulky to fit in my pocket and I don't like stuff hanging on my belt. I pocket carry my Kahr PM40 for the same reason. I have quite a few of the knife brands you mentioned especially older Case and Buck.
I like those one handed flip open knives, but hate trying to get into my pocket with one hanging on the side of it. I have been thinking about a new Buck lock back to carry in my pocket to change things up. Got lots of old stuff laying around, but a new one seems to appeal to me at this point.
Seriously though, the one handers that I carry are not only much more easier and faster to open, but have better steel and are safer via blade lock compared to grandpa’s folder.
Also, it seems that when I turned 50 my fingernails became paper thin and brittle. My nails are always chewed up, it would be hard for me to open up those old school folders.
Like several said, I have some of my dad's old knives. And a large folding, non-locking Old Timer I nearly cut my thumb off with.
For at least a decade I love carried a Gerber mini-paraframe. On my 8th one. Every time I fly I forget that it's in my pocket and have to throw it away.
I like that it locks and that it's small enough to readily carry, which is why I keep using it.
I have an auto these days, but rarely carry it unless I'm hunting.