What knives would you include on an all-time landmark/watershed knife list?

Solomonson · Nov 17, 2020

What knives would you include on an all-time landmark/watershed knife list? Knives along the lines of:

KA-BAR USMC Combat Knife
Buck 110 Folder
JRM Barlow Knife
Case Trapper
Opinel
Svord Peasant Knife
Spyderco Paramlitary

Thanks much.

earlthegoat2 · Nov 17, 2020

Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife and the better derivatives such as the Applegate version.

Khukri.

Among others.

SharpDog · Nov 17, 2020

Grohmann #1 D.H. Russell Canadian Belt Knife:

https://www.chuckhawks.com/grohmann...zechoslovakia every year to buy pocket knives.

rust collector · Nov 18, 2020

Western W49/Case V49 bowie, Hattori sub-hilt fighter, Nessmuk belt knife, Smatchet, Ontario latin machete, Roman gladius, TM Dowel drop-point hunter, and Foster Bros hog splitter.

kBob · Nov 18, 2020

plus 1 on the F-S knife.

one of the crappy little Airborne daggers with Aluminium cast handles in good shape

Yes, a USMC KBar.

Don't laugh, but also an Aircrew Survival Knife, complete with steel back sheath and crappy sharpening stone in pouch.

TL-59 lineman's kit

Demo kit knife (and don't start the whining about me calling them that, there was one in an Infantry Platoon Demo kit and they gave us each one as a graduation present at Demo school)

some sort of Randall

Buck 112 and 110 with pouches (112 actually more common late VN era then 110 later I think just because the PX carried the 112)

M3 fighting knife and bayonets M-4 through M-7

seeing a theme for me here?

-kBob

Fiv3r · Nov 18, 2020

I don't think a list is complete without a Chris Reeve Sebenza of some flavor.

Also, a Mora of some type.

Old Dog · Nov 18, 2020

The original Emerson Viper and then the CQC series.

The Spyderco Endura line, which spawned a lot of its other knives.

The AFSK, for sure.

The U.S. Navy Mk 3.

K-Bar

Buck 110

I have to admit, I've never understood the Opinel love. I just plain don't get it. The blade is okay, but it's flimsy and looks, feels cheap. Not a Mora fan either.

red rick · Nov 18, 2020

Barlow
Case Stockman
Buck 106
Buck 110
KBar
Normark 7 1/2” fillet knife

Armored farmer · Nov 18, 2020

I gotta have a SAK and/or a leatherman.
A buck 103 skinner.
A Victorinox carving set
A green river patch knife
And a Marttiini fillet knife

Starter52 · Nov 18, 2020

The classic Boy Scout knife (mine was made by Camillus IIRC) that was the first knife for a million baby boomers .

unclenunzie · Nov 18, 2020

I am going to say traditional Italian Stiletto and automatic varieties (shown with higher quality friend).

DDDWho · Nov 18, 2020

USMC fighting knife, I have a Case - Buck 119 and 110 - and yes the Ontario pilots knife - Old Hickory 7” butcher knife - Gurkha Kukri

Boattale · Nov 18, 2020

Good lists above. Got to add a large Dexter Russell filet knife.

Sistema1927 · Nov 18, 2020

Older Gerbers.

The Mark I, Mark II, Guardian.

hso · Nov 18, 2020

Solomonson said:

all-time landmark/watershed knife list

Click to expand...

That list should be pretty short.

Marbles Ideal - Arguably (not really) the knife that a whole generation of sheath knives were based on, including the USN Mk1, USMC Fighting Utility and just about any fullered military knife.

The good old Sodbuster, Barlow, & Scout folders

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife - What more can you say.

Whoever came up with the lock-back mechanism 500 or so years ago and then Al Buck that made it a practical manufactured knife revolution with the Buck 110.

Cattaraugus liner lock/Michael Walker "liner lock" - Yep, the liner lock has been around 1906, but it saw little beyond a couple of "electrician's" knives until Michael Walker refined it to make for one hand opening.

Bob Terzuola modern "Tactical" folders - BobT is credited with the whole "Tactical Knife" genre. The start of which is the ATCF. Many new knife enthusiasts will look at an ATCF and think, "Yeah, so? Looks like a lot of other knives.", but in reality a lot of other knives look like the ACTF that inspired makers.

Blackie Collins L.S.T. - Blackie was the first to introduce the now ubiquitous polymer handle to the knife world. He was designing for Pete Gerber and had to convince Pete that polymer would make a suitable handle material and would reduce cost in both materials and labor by molding the handle. Pete was skeptical, but Blackie could be very convincing. Pete gave Blackie a Corvette (and a nice check) when the little L.S.T. proved Blackie correct and forever (maybe) changing mass produced knives.

Tim Leatherman/Leatherman - I suppose some would argue that the Leathermin multi-pliers shouldn't be considered a knife, but it would hard to argue that a Blade Hall of Fame inductee isn't responsible for a fundamental contribution to knife design any less than the scout or SAK knives.

Ken Onion Speedsafe - While Blackie Collins' "Strut N Cut" is the first AO, Ken's was the first practical AO.

Microtech CFO - This knife changed OTF knives from dodgy rikity novelties to serious knives and spawned a whole new genre of knives.

Florida Black/SEAL Knife - Another knife that created a genre. The Ron Miller/Charlie Ochs coil spring driven machined body auto folder spawned a new generation of swing open autos.

Sebenza - Chris Reeves' Ti alloy frame lock precisely machined and fitted to an exotic steel blade began this whole generation of utilitarian high tech folders.

Bowie - The legendary American knife. There is more myth than fact about Jim Bowie's knife, but that myth has influenced knife design since the first published account of the Sandbar Fight. We can't even agree on what a "Bowie knife" looks like, but what it represents is something that most can agree upon, toughness, undefeatable spirit, and deadly purpose.

Fiv3r · Nov 18, 2020

I never thought of Microtech as a game changer, but that makes sense. I typically carry a Combat Troodon most days, and it is an incredibly well designed and high quality machine. I never thought I would edc a $500 knife, but im a huge fan of the utility and ease of deployment and quality of the build.

Meeks36 · Nov 18, 2020

Starter52 said:
The classic Boy Scout knife (mine was made by Camillus IIRC) that was the first knife for a million baby boomers .

I would trade my truck for my boy scout knife. It went missing a few years back. Stepdad past away and we cleaned that house top to bottom. Its gone sadly.

Old Dog · Nov 19, 2020

Meeks36 said:
I would trade my truck for my boy scout knife. It went missing a few years back.

I dunno if I'd go that far, but mine (gift from Dad in about 1968) disappeared sometime in the 80s when I was on a deployment ... yeah, I miss mine, too.

HSO's list is pretty fair, for sure. I actually visited Marble's as a boy. Memories.

At least Bark River keeps up the Yooper knife-making tradition. Below (not mine, but it was my first real "hunting knife" as we called them back in the day).

Dibbs · Nov 19, 2020

The KA-BAR by Camillus
The Victorinox Lockblade, with the tweezers, great for splinters
Leatherman Surge

entropy · Nov 19, 2020

A Michael Tinker Pearce made Seax, similar to his personal Seax. My bucket list knife.

Knives I've owned or own that I consider 'must haves' or 'must at least have had' are:
Gerber LST
Gerber paraframe, all sizes. My son has them all now.
Buck 110. I've had 3, almost bought the plastic sided one.
Normark "Big Swede" folder (had at least 3 I can remember)

Odd S&W folder:

had at least 2 of them, maybe more,

A Camillus US issue folder; I came home with about a dozen, still have one.
A tanto. Mine is a cheap $10 gun show find, but I've kept it sharp over the years, and made a Kydex sheath for it:

Yes, I consider a katana a must also. That one is a Ten Ryu build-it-yourself kit, 1050 carbon steel. Someday I will find a wakizashi that doesn't break the bank and is still useable. A Nodachi (or Odachi) mostly for display, is on the bucket list, too, as is a Hanwei Tinker Viking sword, unless Michael is willing to make me one for the Hanwei's price....(hint hint...)

I had several of the Gerber knives with the big circular bearing in the middle, I think the most recent was the Remix. Again, my sons both absconded with one of those.

I have a Cold Steel FInnBear that is one of my truck knives, as well as 3 machetes in the truck, A Gerber Gator Jr., a Gator, and a cheap camping machete I bought at a garage sale, IIRC. I got the cheap one and the Gator Jr. back from my older son by giving him a Cold Steel bearded axe just like mine:

I like the cherry finish I put on the hafts of both of them. My son used his Sunday to clear shooting lanes. I have lopped branches in the yard with mine.

In the kitchen, I have two Chicago Cutlery knives I got when the gun shop I was working at 28 years ago was closing out a bunch of knives. I was allowed to price the whole bin, so many were a dollar, some 5, I priced the presentation Silver scaled Buck (which I bought for a best man gift) at $25. Even at the low prices, I still spent about $75 on knives. They just wanted them gone, most were demos.

I have my Leatherman Charge Ti, which was given to me, and a drawer full of Ozark Trail multi tools and knives, because my oldest son goes through them, usually losing them, or lending them and never getting them back. (he's even worse than I am with that.....)

My deer hunting knife is a Glock Field Knife, with the sawback.( Model 81.) It has gutted a half dozen deer at least, and one moose. (my Dad's) My Dad gave it to me for my BD one year, he had to spend his clothing allowance. (cop) I have since given one to each of my sons, the older hasn't lost that one yet, or the Buck Kalinga my Dad gave him.

Almost forgot the Gerber MKII I got when I got to Ft. Ord. Made a lot of high speed low drag types jealous. I sold that one at a gun show after I got out for way more than I paid for it.

Solomonson · Nov 19, 2020

hso said:
That list should be pretty short.

Marbles Ideal - Arguably (not really) the knife that a whole generation of sheath knives were based on, including the USN Mk1, USMC Fighting Utility and just about any fullered military knife.
View attachment 956458

The good old Sodbuster, Barlow, & Scout folders
View attachment 956459
View attachment 956460
View attachment 956461

Victorinox Swiss Army Knife - What more can you say.
View attachment 956462 View attachment 956463

Whoever came up with the lock-back mechanism 500 or so years ago and then Al Buck that made it a practical manufactured knife revolution with the Buck 110.
View attachment 956516

Cattaraugus liner lock/Michael Walker "liner lock" - Yep, the liner lock has been around 1906, but it saw little beyond a couple of "electrician's" knives until Michael Walker refined it to make for one hand opening.
View attachment 956512 View attachment 956513

Bob Terzuola modern "Tactical" folders - BobT is credited with the whole "Tactical Knife" genre. The start of which is the ATCF. Many new knife enthusiasts will look at an ATCF and think, "Yeah, so? Looks like a lot of other knives.", but in reality a lot of other knives look like the ACTF that inspired makers.
View attachment 956467

Blackie Collins L.S.T. - Blackie was the first to introduce the now ubiquitous polymer handle to the knife world. He was designing for Pete Gerber and had to convince Pete that polymer would make a suitable handle material and would reduce cost in both materials and labor by molding the handle. Pete was skeptical, but Blackie could be very convincing. Pete gave Blackie a Corvette (and a nice check) when the little L.S.T. proved Blackie correct and forever (maybe) changing mass produced knives.
View attachment 956508

Tim Leatherman/Leatherman - I suppose some would argue that the Leathermin multi-pliers shouldn't be considered a knife, but it would hard to argue that a Blade Hall of Fame inductee isn't responsible for a fundamental contribution to knife design any less than the scout or SAK knives.
View attachment 956515

Ken Onion Speedsafe - While Blackie Collins' "Strut N Cut" is the first AO, Ken's was the first practical AO.
View attachment 956509

Microtech CFO - This knife changed OTF knives from dodgy rikity novelties to serious knives and spawned a whole new genre of knives.
View attachment 956464

Florida Black/SEAL Knife - Another knife that created a genre. The Ron Miller/Charlie Ochs coil spring driven machined body auto folder spawned a new generation of swing open autos.
View attachment 956465

Sebenza - Chris Reeves' Ti alloy frame lock precisely machined and fitted to an exotic steel blade began this whole generation of utilitarian high tech folders.

View attachment 956510

Bowie - The legendary American knife. There is more myth than fact about Jim Bowie's knife, but that myth has influenced knife design since the first published account of the Sandbar Fight. We can't even agree on what a "Bowie knife" looks like, but what it represents is something that most can agree upon, toughness, undefeatable spirit, and deadly purpose.
View attachment 956466

"That list should be pretty short."

Not really...

dh1633pm · Nov 19, 2020

Will everyone just stop. I can't afford to order all these knives. Just ordered a Svord. And now you got me looking at a bunch of others since I noticed that I have few if any of the knives mentioned.

hso · Nov 19, 2020

Solomonson said:
"That list should be pretty short."

Not really...

Depends upon what's considered "short" and landmark vs. derivative.

The Rollox was a brilliant design, but didn't make a real impact on knife design. I love clever designs and collect them, but most don't spawn changes so I didn't consider them important to point to (except to me and folks like me).

Butterfly knives really didn't spawn big design changes, but because they spread like wildfire once Les deAsis modernized their manufacture they impacted the industry.

Then the old electrician liner locks themselves were interesting if not significant, but it took Michael Walker altering the design to change knife making and what we thought about locks.

The list is as long as people want to make it, but the list of fundamental pivotal changes isn't very long from my perspective.

theotherwaldo · Nov 19, 2020

-I'd probably have to include knives made of stone, wood, horn, bone, copper, bronze, bog-iron, mined iron, and a number of other materials before I'd settle on modern examples made by known innovators.
They stood on the shoulders of giants.

Fiv3r · Nov 19, 2020

hso said:
Depends upon what's considered "short" and landmark vs. derivative.

The Rollox was a brilliant design, but didn't make a real impact on knife design. I love clever designs and collect them, but most don't spawn changes so I didn't consider them important to point to (except to me and folks like me).

Butterfly knives really didn't spawn big design changes, but because they spread like wildfire once Les deAsis modernized their manufacture they impacted the industry.

Then the old electrician liner locks themselves were interesting if not significant, but it took Michael Walker altering the design to change knife making and what we thought about locks.

The list is as long as people want to make it, but the list of fundamental pivotal changes isn't very long from my perspective.

I agree with this too. I have had a hard time separating knives and designs that were iconic due to innovation and knives that are currently popular. Think about movie stars today, or even 40 years ago. It seems unfathomable that they won't be well known, popular, nor talked about 100 years in the future. I mean, they are STARS! But history has shown that the collective importance of a design or purpose or even person is fickle.

So while I personally find the Nepali Khukuri to be a fundamental and crucial tool in my toolbox, since I can't point to one maker or designer or even a manufacturing firm that ushered the knife along to greater heights, I can't really say it is a watershed knife. I guess if I let my bias show, Himalayan Imports could be seen as that brand, but even Bill Martino knew that he was just helping to promote and market to Americans what had been made for generations on the dirt floors of villages in Nepal.

Looking at innovative and profound designs, I will still say Chris Reeve comes to the top of my mind. The frame lock is a wonderful edc lock, and the fit and finish of the CRK has to be handled to appreciate fully.
I would say that Spyderco in general could be seen as a generic stepping stone for so many when you consider the pocket clip and the spydie hole that has been be "borrowed" for a generation. Sal is a national treasure both in terms of innovation and just as a human being.
I would give the USMC Kabar a nod. Not because it is all that great. It's just a proven design that was not only robust enough to do real work but could be manufactured and mass produced by many companies. A real utility/fighting knife that could be put in the hands of soldiers in a hurry. I would include it over the F/S Commando dagger simply because although it is also iconic, it didn't see the use that the Kabars did nor did it really change up much. Europeans had been stabbing each other in the neck and heart with pointy daggers for hundreds of years.
I would say on the more recent end, I would say that any of the early Kershaw Ken Onion Speed Safe designs were of huge impact. I think that they helped put our foot in the door to get rid of silly automatic knife laws. A pocket knife that used stored energy to open but wasn't "technically" an automatic and could be purchased at Walmart? They were both faster than many side loaded automatics and locked more securely. The Speed Safe design influenced not only the current flipper trend but helped usher in changes to knife laws so that I can carry a DA OTF Microtech without commiting a crime.

What knives would you include on an all-time landmark/watershed knife list?

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