A fellow Barlow Bearcat recently gave me a beautiful handmade leather pocket notebook cover. Carrying it has made me consider the integral connection between leather goods, knives, and EDC in general.
Any knife enthusiast knows that leather is the classic material for fixed blade sheaths. Sure, thermo-plastics (ie Kydex) and other modern materials have their benefits, but there’s something so natural (pun intended) about a traditional leather sheath for a fixed blade.
Knife slips, such as are often used for traditional pocket knives, are also most commonly made of leather. While I took a while to be converted to using pocket slips, I now greatly appreciate the utility and beauty of handcrafted slips like those from Lynch Leather and Sage Grouse Leather.
Of course, there’s also the EDC item that most people (even those who’ve never heard the term Every Day Carry) keep on them; a wallet. I haven’t done a survey, but I’d bet the majority of wallets carried in America are still leather or faux leather. I often use a waxed canvas pouch from a maker called Katahdin Packs as a wallet, but I also enjoy leather wallets for their classic style.
Leather goods seem to work their way into all facets of every day carry. Without turning this into a historical inquiry, I’d imagine it’s because it is a durable but pliable material that has been available for millennia. How do you incorporate leather goods into your EDC?
Sage Grouse Leather Barlow Bearcat Club Slip, Lynch Leather Wallet, Frank S. Notebook Cover, & GEC H10 Sheath
5 Cent Knives from Amazon Haul Video Review; Win+ & WarSpear
I remember when orange was the cool color in the EDC community. Everything came in various shades of orange, and people posted matching carries with knife, flashlight, pen, pouch, and trinkets all in orange. Not to say orange has exited the zeitgeist of EDC entirely, but the community seems to have in some ways moved on. Not me! I still enjoy throwing a bunch of orange stuff in my pockets often, and have been carrying some this week. Namely:
Hinderer XM-18 3.5 Skinny Slicer
Everyday Kara’s Basik 004 All Hallows Eve
Katahdin Packs Small Accessory Pouch
Now, while I have carried my orange GEC #71 Bullnose a bit, I’ve mostly carried two traditional knives gifted to me by fellow Barlow Bearcats. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying both the Great Eastern Cutlery Gunstock Jack SFO #25 Watch Pocket Barlow (thanks Austin!) and GEC made Waynorth Bison Belly (thanks Charlie!); they’re not orange, but they sure are classics! I also don’t have an orange flashlight currently and, truth be told, don’t carry one that often.
Do you coordinate what tools you carry? If so, how?
I carried my ProTech Godfather leading up to and some of this past week. It’s a long and mean looking out the side automatic. It has a classic design that just looks stellar, with a coffin-esque handle and a dagger style blade. The action is incredible; it thwacks out with authority. That’s all said, it has a relatively thickly ground blade and a needle point tip. I got it as a gift to myself for hitting a big personal milestone, so it also holds sentimental value for me. It might not be the most utilitarian knife in my collection, but it sure is one of the coolest.
Jack Wolf Knives Timber Jack Review
It’s exciting to see custom knife makers like Tracy LaRock working with Jack Wolf Knives. As the largest slipjoint from JWK so far, the Timber Jack comes with a hefty blade and a sturdy spring. No surprise, being a Jack Wolf Knife, it is made superbly. Check out my review video below.
Barn and Brook Feather Knife Review
You can’t beat a handmade in the USA fixed blade with a unique design for ~$75. Is it the most practical knife out there? No, but sometimes practicality isn’t the point. Check out my video on the Barn and Brook Feather Knife below.
Civivi Sendy Slippy & Sencut Sylor Review
The Sendy Slippy is an interesting take on a modern slipjoint. I like the design, but it could use a stronger spring for sure. The Sylor is another high value per dollar knife from Sencut. Check out my video on them below.
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Traditional knives and fountain pens have seen a resurgence in recent years, both among collectors and everyday users. At first glance, that resurgence is hard to explain. These tools are slower, more demanding, and less convenient than the modern alternatives designed to replace them. Traditional knives usually require two hands to open, are frequently made from maintenance heavy carbon steel, and often don’t include a locking mechanism. Fountain pens require frequent cleaning, prefer certain kinds of paper, and demand more technique to write well.
Why Choose Traditional Knives and Fountain Pens?
Given all of that, why do I and many others still use, collect, and enjoy them? Because both traditional knives and fountain pens place an emphasis on intentionality that modern tools tend to lack.
Modern vs Traditional
How do Traditional Knives and Fountain Pens Emphasize Intentionality?
All of the extra work these “archaic” tools require forces the user to be more present in their use. A modern knife, with its pocket clip, lock, and one hand operation can be pulled out, opened, used, and closed almost without a thought. A traditional knife asks more of you. You have to find it in your pocket, maybe remove it from a slip, use both hands to open it, cut with care so it doesn’t close on you, clean it, and then usually use two hands to close it again.
The same contrast exists with pens. Many modern pens are clipped, clickable, and instantly ready to write, using forgiving ballpoint tips and easily replaceable refills. Fountain pens usually require a cap to be removed, must be held at the correct angle and orientation, often involve a more laborious filling process, and need regular cleaning.
Each step slows the process just enough to pull your attention into it, bringing focus to the act itself in a way not unlike a mindfulness practice. Choosing traditional knives and fountain pens turns simple use into active participation.
Jinhao 9016, Cooper Cutlery NYKC Barlow, & Side Notes Notebook Cover
Why Take Intentionality Over Practicality?
The truth is that most of us do not actually need a knife or a pen on our person at all times. For many of us, carrying these tools is already a choice driven less by necessity and more by enjoyment. Once that is acknowledged, the question shifts. If we are already choosing not strictly for utility, why not choose tools that invite deeper engagement?
Traditional knives and fountain pens introduce friction into actions that modern tools have worked hard to eliminate. That friction is not efficient, but it is meaningful. It asks us to slow down, to pay attention, and to participate in the act rather than merely “get it out of the way”.
In a world optimized for speed, convenience, and disposability, choosing tools that require care to use and maintain can be a subtle but intentional detour from the mundane. Tools that foster intentionality do not just perform a function, they create a moment. Over time, those moments add texture to daily life, turning routine actions into small rituals instead of forgettable tasks.
Traditional knives and fountain pens remind us that not every action needs to be optimized; some are worth experiencing fully.
Even with modern materials or construction, traditional knives and fountain pens maintain class
Pen Ponderings Youtube Playlist
If you enjoy content on knives or pens, you should check out my YouTube channel. I recently created a playlist specifically for videos on pens, which I’ve called “Pen Ponderings”, linked below.
Two well used tools that belonged to my Grandfather
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Jack Wolf Knives has made a major impact on the knife community since they hit the market in 2022. Their exemplary construction, stellar design, and unique branding have taken the knife enthusiast world by storm. As their motto “Modern Interpretation, Timeless Design” suggests, they started with non locking modern interpretations of classic pocket knife patterns. Since the launch of Jack Wolf Knives they’ve expanded into several different “series” of knives. In this article I’ll tell you what you need to know about all of the Jack Wolf Knives series released so far.
Premium Series
The premium series is Jack Wolf Knives’ flagship line. The knives all include high end materials and hand fit and finished construction. The premium line employs titanium liners and bolsters, as well as S90V super steel for the blades. Within the Premium Series there are a few distinct types of knives offered.
Slipjoint
Jack Wolf Knives started by offering modern takes on classic non locking traditional patterns. Ben Belkin, owner of JWK, has applied his unique twist to many of the most well loved traditional patterns such as: Barlow, Trapper, Boy’s Knife, Sowbelly, Doctor’s Knife, Teardrop, Dogleg, Swayback, and more. These knives are made to a level of fit and finish that, in my opinion, is almost unmatched in today’s slipjoint market.
Premium Series Slipjoints from Jack Wolf Knives
Modern
The premium series also includes some modern knives. Locking blades, one hand opening, and pocket clip carry are attributes that designate these knives as modern. The modern premium knives have, so far, have been larger versions of slipjoint models JWK has offered. The modern models from Jack Wolf Knives have a long pull, allowing for many opening methods (thumb roll, middle finger flick, and the ol’ reliable two finger pinch). They also have a front flipper, for quick and satisfying opening. Speaking of quick opening, the pivots are supplied with ball bearing washers that make them supremely smooth. All of these features come together to make for extremely practical modern knives that retain the classic design styling of the slipjoints.
Modern Knives from the Premium Series
Fixed
The premium series also includes Jack Wolf Knives’ in house fixed blade designs, dubbed “FixEDC” models. These are small every day carry intended fixed blades. Like the modern knives, they take design cues from JWK’s slipjoint patterns. The FixEDC knives come with high quality leather sheaths, including clips for pocket (or belt or in waistband) carry. The FixEDC models keep the same high quality fit and finish of the other premium series knives in a compact but capable package.
FixEDC Knives from the Premium Series
Steel Series
The steel series offers a middle ground of price and materials, without sacrificing build quality. These knives feature steel bolsters and liners and, so far, they have had 14c28n or 154cm steel. These materials are high quality, but not as exotic as the titanium and s90v of the premium series. In my experience, these steels perform more than well enough and can be hard to distinguish from “super steels” in real world use. The steel series retains the same type of detailed fine finishing of the premium series. In my opinion, the steel bolsters also can give a slightly more traditional look (though they still have screw construction). The steel series provides a great place to get Jack Wolf Knives’ superb quality at a lower price point.
Steel Series K9 Jack
Ultralight Series
The ultralight series brings “shadow”, or bolsterless, construction to Jack Wolf Knives. Rather than having steel or titanium liners and bolsters, the ultralight series has G10 liners and full handle length covers. So far, the covers have been synthetic composites like G10 and Micarta. This all comes together to cut down the weight by a good amount. For example, the K9 Jack weighs 3.32 oz in the Steel Series, 2.5 oz in Premium, and just 1.76 oz in Ultralight. Also, at least with its first (and only as of this writing) release, the ultralight series is slightly lower priced than the steel series. The ultralight series is tailored to those who want an unobtrusive slipjoint perfectly suited for carry.
I don’t have a knife from the Ultralight Series, so here’s two somewhat unique JWKs (modified Bionic Jack and unreleased Lil Bro Jack)
Gateway Series
The Gateway Series, though only one knife in as of this writing, took the community by storm. As the name suggests, it offers an entry level price point for those more budget conscious. The first knife in the Gateway Series was a Barlow that came in at $70. The finish on these Gateway Series knives is certainly different than on the other series, with less crisp edges and transitions, but still impressive for the price point. Speaking of value, they have 14c28n steel, which certainly holds its own in my use, and even have exotic handle materials like carbon fiber and abalone. I think the savings come primarily in the finish style, which is more of a machine finish as compared to the hand fitted and finished other series. One important note for traditional knife enthusiasts is that, so far, the Gateway Series is the only slipjoint from JWK that has had pinned (rather than screwed) construction and a shield. The next iteration of the Gateway Series is highly anticipated by me and many other Jack Wolf Knives fans.
Gateway Series Barlow in Abalone
JWKollab Series
The Kollab Series is a place for designs by friends of Jack Wolf Knives that don’t fit into the normal lineup. So far Cerberus Knives and Jakeb Creates have contributed the Tango and Collusion, respectively. The Tango being a smaller more modern one hand opening and locking knife, and the Collusion being a slightly larger fixed blade (than the FixEDC knives). Ben’s designs within the core series are all imbued with his recognizable design language, so the Kollab series bringing in differing styles adds to Jack Wolf Knives’ breadth in meaningful ways. The Kollab series keeps the same high level of quality, but introduces unique design flavors.
JWKollab Series knives, including the upcoming (as of writing) Scuffle
USA Made Series
Last but not least, Jack Wolf Knives offers some knives made in the USA. So far these have been fixed blades; first the Prickly Pear designed by Taylor Cortes and made by Misfits Machining and second the Vampire Hunter made by L.T. Wright. Both came with USA-made leather sheaths from Taylored by Cortes. The USA made series has come in smaller batches, but I believe Ben is working to make more available. For some knife enthusiasts the country of manufacture is a huge factor, so the USA Made Series offers a good option for those who prefer domestic production.
USA Made Jack Wolf Knives
Conclusion & Thanks
Jack Wolf Knives offers an incredible array of knives across their different series. From fixed blades to modern folders, Jack Wolf Knives now has something for nearly every type of knife enthusiast. There are also options at a wide range of price brackets, from under $100 to over $300. All of the knives are backed by one of the best in the business, Benjamin Belkin. There are numerous stories online of him going above and beyond to ensure the owners of Jack Wolf Knives have a good experience with the knives and the brand. He has helped to continue the resurgence of traditional slipjoint patterns. Ben has also been a long time friend and supporter of me and Knife Thoughts, and I am always glad to help get the word out about Jack Wolf Knives.
Where to Buy Jack Wolf Knives
Jack Wolf Knives are typically sold through their dealers. You can find their dealer list at this link. Some knives, like the USA made series, and accessories have also been sold direct from JackWolfKnives.com. I suggest buying your JWK knives from Austin at Traditional Pocket Knives (affiliate link). I also suggest joining the Facebook group, Jack Wolf Knives Worldwide. You can interact with other Jack Wolf Knives fans there, and there’s also a weekly BST (Buy/Sell/Trade) where you can find past releases offered that you likely won’t find at dealers. I hope you find the Jack Wolf Knife you’re looking for, and don’t forget to go out and do good!
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I sincerely thank you for your time, support, and interest! Don’t forget to tell your friends about KnifeThoughts.com, subscribe via email, and share this article on social media. You can find Knife Thoughts on YouTube where I have hundreds of knife videos, as well as on Instagram and Facebook!
