Knife Pattern Collectors

All over the world knife patterns. Different types, size, styles…

We will talk about old traditional and new knife patterns. If you know pattern which nobody really knows, please give world to know!

A-Z index of Knife Pattern Discussions

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  • Jim Child

    Thanks Ivars: Maybe you could teach your Grandad to sharpen his knives using a stone -- the diamond hones these days are really fast-working -- he probably just likes all the sparks! LOL

    Re that Wostenholm -- yeah, me too, 699.00 (assuming US$?) is way outside my comfort limit. For the time being I'm mostly researching the currently available "hoof" knives.
    How did you know the "HORSEMANS GROOMS FARRIERS HOOF KNIFE TOOL COMB PICK" was made in Pakistan? I've looked all over mine and cannot find any markings. And yes, VERY HARD to open most of the blades. I almost tore off a fingernail. I bought a "knife opener" from Case a few months ago and use that with this knife.
  • Jim Child

    Ivars had said:
    On the back of the catalog was company adress: city country: Pakistan.  And on knife was a sticker (made in pakistan). Thats why I think it is made in pakistan. I don't know maybe my hoof is a clone of some US made hoof?

    No, you're probably correct. I read an article about the cutlery industry in Pakistan -- apparently quite active and accomplished. It's a shame that they're not pround enough of their work to want to sign it by stamping their tangs.

    BTW: I wonder if there's some fix for a too-hard-to-open knife other than taking it apart and filing some metal away. I oiled mine and that helpd a bit.


  • In Memoriam

    D ale

    @ Jim .. use with caution .. head to the local auto-parts store & pick up some valve lapping compound .. it often comes packaged in 2 grits .. fine & finer .. introduce a small bit of the "finer" into the slipjoint .. work the slipjoint a bunch of times .. you'll know when to stop.

     

    Now .. the fun difficult critical part .. remove all the abrasive valve lapping compound. Brake cleaner has been suggested .. beware the scales !! 

     

    Note: If the abrasive is not fully removed .. it will continue abrading !!!

     

    Jim said:

    BTW: I wonder if there's some fix for a too-hard-to-open knife other than taking it apart and filing some metal away. I oiled mine and that helpd a bit.

  • Jim Child

    D ale said:

    Now .. the fun difficult critical part .. remove all the abrasive valve lapping compound. Brake cleaner has been suggested .. beware the scales !! 

    Yeah, I bet brake cleaner could play havoc with plastics and wood finishes. I'd maybe try that, introducing it with a syringe right into the joint, and then, once most of the lapping compound was flushed out and/or "put into solution", use good old soap and water in large quantity and pressure.

    I'm just now seeing that this Palistani horseman's knife is replaceable for just US$9.00 so there's not much to lose.

    @ Ivars: I didn't have have a match -- I quit smoking 11 years ago -- but inserted a small piece of "business card" and it did work like you say.

    Note: I'd only class the short punch blade as non-openable. I'm wondering if that has something to do with the fact that it shares a backspring with the sharpened hoof pick at the other end. It might just be a little easier to open the punch when the hook is already opened.


  • In Memoriam

    D ale

    @ Jim .. soap, H2O, & pressurized air wk great .. but require additional patience. In absence of patience .. use pressurized solvent.

    I used valve lapping compound to loosen this knife up .. been EDC 'ing it since. It was originally "break a nail" stiff .

     


  • KnifeMaker

    M. Carpenter

    This is a traditional Ettrick shaped knife the pattern is thought to originate in the village of Ettrick in Scotland. They are still made in Sheffield and you can see variations and other traditional blade types on sheffield-gb.com


  • KnifeMaker

    M. Carpenter

    A gentleman’s multi bladed pocket knife. The side plates on both sides are silver and hallmarked. The silver parts are hallmarked Q for 1899 with a Chester hallmark - not Sheffield Desormeaux Saunders & James Francis Hollings - Frank Shepherd. Chester, UK silver hallmarks on http://www.sheffield-gb.com


  • KnifeMaker

    M. Carpenter

    One looks like a small cigar cutter, the spike might be to clean out your pipe. Very hard to hard to find these folding multi-blade knives. One essential book still in print is the Sheffield Assay Office Register which deals with silver hallmarks in Sheffield. http://www.sheffield-gb.com You can still find fruit knives but not many multi-blade pocket knives older than 1900 are around.

  • Jan Carter

    OK, I am looking for some information on the gunstock.  Obviously it got it's name by the shape but when did it begin?  Anyone know who designed it?

  • Ken Spielvogel

    Jan, not sure about your Q's, but the Gunstock is one of my favorite patterns.

  • Jan Carter

    Well Ken, I did what I would do for anyone if I couldnt answer it.  LOL, I asked!  No record of when the first was produced but this G.SAVAGE & SONS is from around 1840 so we at least know the pattern dates back that far

  • Ken Spielvogel

    WOW that is one old Gunstock.- Did you get that at the Dalton Show, wonder where it was made.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Heck I forgot about this group. Lots of pattern collectors out there.


  • In Memoriam

    Robert Burris

    Miss Jan, you have this site looking good. Where's them Pattern lovers.

  • Jan Carter

    We are getting there Robert.  When I have everything moved over I will do an alphabetical listing with links like I did in the Box

    *****Thank you*****

  • Tobias Gibson

    Okay, folks!  This group has been dormant for too long!  Lets help Ivars kick-start this group!  Let's everybody take a few minutes and invite five or ten of our friends to this group.   Most people either collect by pattern or brand.  It's crazy that a group devoted to pattern collecting only has 30 members!  I can think of at least 50 patterns within my collection alone!  This group needs more members!

    As for the fifty patterns:

    1. Automatics
    2. Balisong
    3. Barlow
    4. Bartender
    5. Bowie
    6. Camp
    7. Canoe
    8. Canittler
    9. Caping
    10. Cheetah
    11. Clasp knife
    12. Coke Bottle
    13. Congress
    14. Copperhead
    15. Cotton Samplers
    16. Doctor
    17. Douk Douk
    18. Easy Open
    19. Elephant Toenail
    20. Farrier
    21. Farmer’s Work Knife (Sodbusters)
    22. Fillet
    23. Fish Knife
    24. Folding Hunter
    25. Grafting
    26. Hawkbills
    27. Hobos
    28. Hunters
    29. Jack Knives
    30. Karambits
    31. Kukris
    32. Linesman
    33. Machete
    34. Marlin Spike
    35. Moose
    36. Mushroom
    37. Muskrats
    38. Navaja Cuchillo
    39. Out the Front
    40. Peanut
    41. Penknives
    42. Picnics
    43. Rope Knives
    44. Stockmans
    45. Sunfish
    46. Toothpicks/Ticklers
    47. Toothpicks –fixed blades
    48. Skinners
    49. Ulu
    50. Whittlers

    And that doesn't even include the variations within the patterns!

  • Lars Ray

    Way to motivate Tobias...and I agree. So I became a Bowie Buddy....I just don't go around declaring that in public. Sort of looses something in translation outside of iKC. 

    Thanks for the rally talk. We needed that!

    I like what you did here in naming the the fifty patterns within your collections. I need this kind of visual. So to remove a sense of semantics, I have created a hierarchy to help me make sure we don't double up on "patterns". This is for a visual assistance only, not intended for a debate:

    Here is the Knives according to Lars Hierarchy:

    Knife

      Fixed Blade / Brand

         Type of Fixed Blade - design intent (Combat, Hunting, Skinning, Butcher/Chef, Dagger, Bowie, etc) Broad categories

             Sub-type of Fixed Blade - frame style (Mini, Extreme, Nessmuk, Sub-Hilt, etc.) Defined categories

                   Feature set (type of steel, type of handle material, blade type, features, etc.) Specific categories

    Knife

      Folder / Brand

          Type of Folder - design intent (Multipurpose, fishing, hunting, etc.) Broad categories

                 Sub-type of Folder - frame style (Automatics, Barlow, Congress, Coke Bottle, etc.) Defined categories

                         Feature set (type of steel, type of handle material, blade type, number of blades, features, etc.) Specific categories

    Under each of these we add Variations. Now we have taken your 50 patterns and tripled the amount of possibilities...if not more!

  • jeff

    here are a few that have a special spot in my collection..the humpback whittlers.i was able to pick up the queen tool steel the other day and the stag is gorgeous..wish the pics were better, but. i try.

  • jeff

    thankyou steve... i have always loved whittlers.. and these little guys are one of my favorite whittler patterns. I dont know why.. something about the shape. just like the look of them.

  • Tobias Gibson

    We've got six new members today.  Once we hit 60 new members, I'll rummage through my collection ans see what i can cough up for a prize.  Spread the word guys and gals, Spring is in the air and I want to give away another knife!

  • Tobias Gibson

    Jeff, I just saw those whittlers.  You're making me think about collecting another pattern. It's go to be hard "Coping" with the additional anxiety!  (time to duck and cover!)

  • J.J. Smith III

    You may need to duck and cover Tobias, listing whittlers last in your list.
    (And don't start with that alphebitical stuff.) Lol, and just look at the beautiful humpback WHITTLERS that Jeff shared...
  • Tobias Gibson

    Mea Culpa, J.J.  It I listed them by the number in my collection I'm guessing whittlers would be within the top ten, possibly even the top five!  We won't say what pattern would at the bottom  but it begins with the letter "T" and it ends with  the type of music Will Smith  and J. Jazzy Jeff  won a Grammy for!  (Ducking and covering again!)

  • jeff

    lol tobias, every time is see a dogleg,humpback,cigar,or similar whittler i dont already have, i find myself crunching numbers and trying to find excuses to tell the wifey as to why i have to spend my retirement on another knife...i think we need a discussion on excuses-- reasons to tell the wife or husband to help us knife addicts with our anxiety...lol

  • Terry Pitts

     I'm glad to join this group of avid collectors. Although its hard to pick a favorite I probably have more styles of Trappers in my knife collection than any other pattern.

  • Tobias Gibson

    An interesting observation, Terry.   My most collected pattern is probably the four blade camp (Boy Scout) knife.  But that is only because they are easier to find than marlin spikes and big toothpicks!

    Sometimes are most acquired pattern isn't necessarily out favorite pattern!

  • Tobias Gibson

    Wow!  Were up to 45!  that is a 50% jump in members over the last week!  Let's keep it going.  We'll hit 60 in no time!

  • Lars Ray

    OTF's? Please explain - not sure what OTF means. But I do like those little advertising knives being shown. Here's mine from Gerlinger:

  • Ron Cooper

    OTF means Out The Front. That's how the blade is deployed...Out The Front.

  • Tobias Gibson

    From my page "A Pocket Guide to Knives"

    Out The Front:  Any number of knives with a retractable blade that is deployed point first from the front of the knife handle. The blade does not fold into the handle but is retracted and deployed by gravity, a sliding mechanism, or by spring assistance. These include Gravity Knives; Single Action or Automatic OTFs; and Double Action or Sliding OTFs.

    Single Action OTF: A spring assisted knife with a retractable blade that deploys point first from the knife's handle when some type of release such as a button r lever is pressed. The blade must then be manually retracted into the handle by pulling back on the release which follows a channel that is cut into the handle. Also called an Automatic or Auto OTF (see Gravity Knife and Double Action OTF for comparison.

    Double Action OTF: A knife with a retractable blade that deploys point first from the knife's handle. The blade is pushed forward manually using a release mechanism that follows a channel cut in the handle. The blade also manually retracted into the handle by pulling back on the release. The standard box cutter knife is an example of Double Action OTF. Also called a Slider. (see Gravity Knife and Single Action OTF for comparison.

    Gravity Knife: A type of knife where the blade slides out the front. The blade isn't pushed or assisted with a spring but falls freely out the front when pointed toward the ground and you press a release. The release is then pushed to a lock position and the blade locks in the open position. Upon unlocking the release and pointing the blade to the sky or pressing it against a surface will then return the blade to its safe position. See also: Out The Front

    Below, a Korean made copy of the German Parachutist's Gravity Knife

  • tim payne

    What about the dagger pattern?

  • Tobias Gibson

    Tim, i think I'd throw that one under "Kris"   But a Kris is specialized dagger!  Pretty awesome.  I think there is definitely room for traditional and non-traditional fixed blade discussions.  After all I collect two or three patterns after fixed blades!

  • Tobias Gibson

    We are currently at 48!  We need another dozen before I give the details on how you can win a free a knife just by being a member of this fine group!    I'm narrowing down my  decision on just what I will be giving away!    I'm not going to say which pattern as of yet but here is a hint at what I'm leaning toward!

  • Tobias Gibson

    Okay we need 12 more members.  Once that happens I'll post the rules on how some lucky iKC member can win a knife.   What knife you ask?  Well maybe you didn't ask but you should've!   I'll be giving away an Ocoee River Vagabond in Jigged Blue Bone!   The knife is pretty much new in the box with the nylon sheath.  The normal price ranges from $20-$25.     I'll probably toss in a couple other knives from my collection just to thin the herd a bit but I'm not sure what else will be included!   But first we need to hit the magic number of 60 (Sixty) members in Knife Pattern Collectors.  So If you're not a member come join.  If you are a member then invite a friend!  

    Here's are some pics of the knife up for grabs!

  • Max McGruder

    Nice color and a handy dandy knife!
  • Tobias Gibson

    It will be a hard knife to part with but it is for a good cause!

  • Tobias Gibson

    Jan, can you take a look at the way some of the discussions are showing up in the A-Z list?  I'm just seeing who commented but not what was said.

  • Jan Carter

    Tobias in the A-Z index if I click any of the topics it takes me there.  Is there a specific one your not seeing?

  • Tobias Gibson

    I see something similar to image below at the beginning of Fish Knives and Barlows.   Maybe some other pages as well.  I can't see away to display the content in the entry.

  • Jan Carter

    OH ok, those discussions were moved from outside the group to within the group.  The only way to move them is to physically copy and paste.  Sometimes it will show that way but if you refresh your screen it should bring up the actual conversation

  • Michael Squier

    hi, just added my name so you get to your quota and can have the knife givaway. Besides I needed a place to chat about small bowies.

  • Tobias Gibson

    Great to have you aboard, Michael.  I'm betting there will be a lot of debate on what constitutes a Small Bowie!  I want to be part of that discussion!   When I here the word Bowie, I always imagine the Classic Western Bowie.   I think between you and I we just might be able to define some other classes of Bowies!

    And before anyone takes offense -- like many folks, when it comes to fixed blades, I try to fit a name to the various styles so that I can classify them in my mind. My classifications are for my sanity not to challenge another persons classification system!

    As such, when it comes to Bowie Knives I think it needs a full cross guard, even better is it an s shaped quillion.  But in reality, we don't even know if Jim Bowie's knife had such a cross guard!

    I think we could talk for hours on what makes a Bowie a Bowie!  But in the end, what makes a Bowie Knife a Bowie Knife is someone, anyone, has decided to call a particular knife a Bowie Knife

    For instance I call the he knife below my Appalachian Bowie.  It has a 7 1/2 inch blade with an over all length of nearly 13 inches. It also has a full cross guard.  I'd consider that a small bowie knife.  What say you Michael?

  • Michael Squier

    Tobias, thanks for starting things off, it may be best if we had a separate thread for small Bowie discussion but ill let someone whos been here longer start that. So far we are in agreement, but there will always be some exception. My oringinal thinking for small bowie is the turn of the century sheffield style bowies with around 7" blades. By that time the classic clip point had become what most people think of as a Bowie with a full cross guard so in my thinking a small Bowie knife is under 8" blade, clip point with cross guard and not too odd a grip. Your small Bowie fits the simple definition to me, nice knife. I almost added slab style scales but the full stag grip like yours was seen on the big Bowies way back too. 

    To me this knife says small Bowie. 

  • Tobias Gibson

    Easy enough, Michael.  I just started it using your description of a small bowie!

  • Jans Test file

    Tobias,

    Here I am on my members view file.  Sure enough in your view you cannot see those comments and if I refresh they show up but drop back off before they can be read.  I will try to fix that tomorrow

    Jan

  • Tobias Gibson

    Thanks Jan.  I'm primarily worried about entering the same thing twice!  Nine more members is all we need!

  • tim payne

    *Keen Edge Cutlery Co. 3-1/2" 2-bld Serpentine Jack. Smooth Brown Bone. Long Pull. Both blades tang stamped "Keen Edge Cutl. Co.", Nickel Silver Shield. Nickel Silver bolsters/brass liners/pins.

  • Tobias Gibson

    That's a nice looker, Tim.  Looks like it has a long history!

  • tim payne

    thank you much tobias.  like em all, old ones & new ones.

  • Tobias Gibson

    guys and gals we're stuck on 55!   We just need to five more!  We can do this!  If oyu haven't invited a friend, please do so.  It shouldn't be that hard to give a knife away!