InkEd
Member
If you hand to just pick one "classic" American knife what would you pick?
Favorite "Classic American" Knife
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ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Vast Variance
The variance between a bowie or Ka-Bar and the Buck 102 (Woodsman) is unusually wide.
The 102 is a little, lightweight 4-inch hunter, being compared to knives with thick, heavy 6-in and 7-in blades. (The Buck 119 Special or 120 General would be a more suitable comparison to my thinking.
I'm a little curious to understand the spread you offered.
The variance between a bowie or Ka-Bar and the Buck 102 (Woodsman) is unusually wide.
The 102 is a little, lightweight 4-inch hunter, being compared to knives with thick, heavy 6-in and 7-in blades. (The Buck 119 Special or 120 General would be a more suitable comparison to my thinking.
I'm a little curious to understand the spread you offered.
Carl Levitian
member
Classic American knife, I have to go with the John Russell company barlow.
I saw in an old knife book, that between 1850 and 1870, more of these barlow's were shipped west than any other pattern of knife. Used by eveyone from sodbusters to cowboys. It was a popular working mans knife right up through the mid 20th century.
Carl.
I saw in an old knife book, that between 1850 and 1870, more of these barlow's were shipped west than any other pattern of knife. Used by eveyone from sodbusters to cowboys. It was a popular working mans knife right up through the mid 20th century.
Carl.
451 Detonics
Member
The classic stockman pattern slipjoint, probably carried by more cowboys than any other knife and still a favorite patten today...
Since there are a lot of different knife shapes that can be called a "Bowie", I'm not sure how any of the half dozen Bowie knife shapes qualifies as a single knife type. We'll need a more specific description.
Since the USN Mkll is a modified Marbles Ideal, which was widely copied by almost every knife manufacturer in the world, I don't think the "KaBar" deserves a place over the Ideal.
More classic American are the Stockman and Trapper pattern folders carried by more Americans than any combination of "Bowies". The Marbles Ideal, more widely copied and carried than just about any fixed blade. The clip point "bowie" with or without much height or belly makes the third most recognizable American knife pattern.
Since the USN Mkll is a modified Marbles Ideal, which was widely copied by almost every knife manufacturer in the world, I don't think the "KaBar" deserves a place over the Ideal.
More classic American are the Stockman and Trapper pattern folders carried by more Americans than any combination of "Bowies". The Marbles Ideal, more widely copied and carried than just about any fixed blade. The clip point "bowie" with or without much height or belly makes the third most recognizable American knife pattern.
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InkEd
Member
They're just "iconic" knives. No real fair comparisions being made.
A "traditional" old fashion Bowie Knife. The kind the average person thinks of when you say "Bowie Knife."
You say "Ka-Bar" people know what you are talking about usually. You say "modified
Ideal ........" and people say "Huh?" to you.
A "traditional" old fashion Bowie Knife. The kind the average person thinks of when you say "Bowie Knife."
You say "Ka-Bar" people know what you are talking about usually. You say "modified
Ideal ........" and people say "Huh?" to you.
NMPOPS
Member
I agree with 451. My daily carry khife is a Case large stockman. A CLASSIC!
CoastieShep
Member
Picked the Buck, because I'm just not a big fan of big, thick knives. Then I saw the "other" option. Maybe I should go put my contacts in now. 
What's that mean, though? You have an image in your mind, but another 2 people might have some other image (big bellied Western or the Case or ...) . That's the problem with Bowie knives.
451 Detonics
Member
I do like the trapper pattern as well, it is another classic American folder. This is a GEC done in oiled rams horn...
abureels4me
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I have always had a Buck 119 with me on every trip.
T.R.
Member
Typically this pattern is known as The Folding Hunter. This large folder is 5.25 inches in closed position. They've been built by every major cutlery maker at one time or another.
In my opinion, this is a Classic American design.
I agree that The Trapper is probably the most carried and collected by American knife enthusiasts.
TR
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sm
member
Other
I definitely vote other...
I definitely vote other...
Phydeaux642
Member
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I bet the word 'Peanut' is somewhere in there.
Favorite "Classic American" Knife ....well that would have to be the Randall Model #1 "All Purpose Fighting Knife". Some American service men have carried it in every war and conflicts all over the globe since World War 2.
Click on image to enlarge.
Click on image to enlarge.
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ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
So Many
Hard to pick just one. There are so many.
My favorite "rare" knife is a Holley Wharncliffe Whittler. I owned one when I was young. Gift from grandparents. Lost it in England. I would be happy with a Case Classic version of that knife if I could find one, and happier still if it was in original CV steel.
Barlow? I have some. One of them pretty good. Somehow never really been able to warm to the pattern like I do some others.
Sod buster. Yeah, that's a knife for which I have a real fondness. Simple, robust, versatile, easy to carry and maintain. A true classic. Sodbusters rock.
Stockman. Another classic. Also versatile, easy to carry and maintain. Touch of class, suitable for "gentry" carry. Love my Case John Deere in green bone.
Folding hunter. I really like the pattern. Mine is a little large for EDC. I prefer the pattern, marginally, over the Buck 110. Ironically, the Buck 110 gets carried more often.
Muskrat. I have exactly one of these. Now, mine has a "toothpick clip" blade and a full-length spey blade. That makes it essentially the equivalent of the trapper, but with the blades mounted at opposite ends, rather than side-by-side, so the Muskrat is thinner (one spring as opposed to two). I've become quite fond of my Buck Muskrat. Carry it a lot.
Scout knife. How can you not love a scout knife? That's the pattern my dad gave to me on my twelfth birthday. I still have it. I still use it now and then.
I have an assortment of classic fixed blades (Buck 119, 102, etc.) but I don't really get an opportunity to use them much. I suppose if I lived a bigger part of my life outdoors with more camping (okay, any camping) then one of those would be up for consideration. But not at this time.
Favorite?
Well, of the American classics, I think I'd have to say stockman, particularly the Case and Schrade Uncle Henry patterns (both have the slender toothpick-style main blade). Based on my tendency to favor the stockman when choosing daily carry pieces, I'd say that's about right.
Hard to pick just one. There are so many.
My favorite "rare" knife is a Holley Wharncliffe Whittler. I owned one when I was young. Gift from grandparents. Lost it in England. I would be happy with a Case Classic version of that knife if I could find one, and happier still if it was in original CV steel.
Barlow? I have some. One of them pretty good. Somehow never really been able to warm to the pattern like I do some others.
Sod buster. Yeah, that's a knife for which I have a real fondness. Simple, robust, versatile, easy to carry and maintain. A true classic. Sodbusters rock.
Stockman. Another classic. Also versatile, easy to carry and maintain. Touch of class, suitable for "gentry" carry. Love my Case John Deere in green bone.
Folding hunter. I really like the pattern. Mine is a little large for EDC. I prefer the pattern, marginally, over the Buck 110. Ironically, the Buck 110 gets carried more often.
Muskrat. I have exactly one of these. Now, mine has a "toothpick clip" blade and a full-length spey blade. That makes it essentially the equivalent of the trapper, but with the blades mounted at opposite ends, rather than side-by-side, so the Muskrat is thinner (one spring as opposed to two). I've become quite fond of my Buck Muskrat. Carry it a lot.
Scout knife. How can you not love a scout knife? That's the pattern my dad gave to me on my twelfth birthday. I still have it. I still use it now and then.
I have an assortment of classic fixed blades (Buck 119, 102, etc.) but I don't really get an opportunity to use them much. I suppose if I lived a bigger part of my life outdoors with more camping (okay, any camping) then one of those would be up for consideration. But not at this time.
Favorite?
Well, of the American classics, I think I'd have to say stockman, particularly the Case and Schrade Uncle Henry patterns (both have the slender toothpick-style main blade). Based on my tendency to favor the stockman when choosing daily carry pieces, I'd say that's about right.
Tom Hudson
Member
Has to be the Case Trapper in Stag
LensWork
Member
I would have to go with the Buck Model 110 Folding Hunter, a true American classic in my mind.
451 Detonics
Member
Me...never has a Buck sullied my pocket...the Case Sharktooth on the other hand....what a knife!
451 Detonics
Member
Actually when it came out in the early seventies I priced the Case and the Buck and bought the Case because it was cheaper. It is also round instead of square and fits my hand better for long cutting chores.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Pretty!
Hey, I'll take one of each, please.
Oh, wait, I already have a fistful of 110s and 112s. And a 111 or two.
Now I have to go look at my Case XX-Changer and see how closely it models the Sharktooth.
Hmm. The Changer and Hammerhead are flatter with more squared off edges. They also don't have the choil that the earlier Sharktooth has. And the Sharktooth has a sleeker blade profile -- almost a toothpick, but not quite.
I guess I'll have to locate a Sharktooth.
Thanks. Thanks a whole lot. I believe that constitutes wallet assault.
Hey, I'll take one of each, please.
Oh, wait, I already have a fistful of 110s and 112s. And a 111 or two.
Now I have to go look at my Case XX-Changer and see how closely it models the Sharktooth.
Hmm. The Changer and Hammerhead are flatter with more squared off edges. They also don't have the choil that the earlier Sharktooth has. And the Sharktooth has a sleeker blade profile -- almost a toothpick, but not quite.
I guess I'll have to locate a Sharktooth.
Thanks. Thanks a whole lot. I believe that constitutes wallet assault.
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