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

 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.

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!

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!

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

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

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

What about the dagger pattern?

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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?

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. 

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

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

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

*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.

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

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

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!

Ok, I joined (I think). I NEVER win anything, but you can't win if you don't join, so here I am! How many do you need now?

Holy Cow!  We just hit 60!  I'm verklempt!  Give me a day to compose myself and I'll announce the rules to the contest and what you need to do to enter!  Those who have participated in past contest run by me know it is really easy to enter a contest.  The hard part is over!  You joined the group!

Someone is going to be winning this knife real soon!

Add me in, too.  I just read the latest post, the explanation of the "stockman" pattern by Tobias, and now I want to be part of this group.  I collect old pocketknives and, to be honest, the stockman is my least favorite pattern.  Probably because I have so many of them that I've gotten jaded.  It seems that it was a very popular pattern in older times.  Now, the popular pattern is anything that wears the word "tactical".  I do have a couple "leather punch" stockmans that I like.  But I've never understood the reason for the sheepfoot blade, or how the spay blade could possibly be useful.  But then, I've never attempted the procedure...

   Any explanation on the sheepfoot?  ---Bryan O

That would be a very nice set for camping with the Boy Scouts, plus blue is my favorite color.

Spey blades were specifically designed to neuter farm animals, hence they were included in the three-bladed knives that became known for the person(s) who favored them; ie, a "stock man". The sheepsfoot blade, as included on 3-bladed stockman knives, was used by that same "stock man" to cut rope. The clip blade was included for it's point, therefore the Stockman 3-bladed knife became a must have all-around tool for ranchers, thereby earning it's name. My favorite frame though is a trapper, but currently my favorite EDC is a 4 1/2", so called "cheap" Miller Bros Re-Issue (probably Frost in origin), Stockman, (really quite a nice knife, I really like it......sorry to the USA-only purists, but it has a "cool factor" going for it...hang where it was made; cool IS cool!). Can't decide if I officially collect specific frames, I like ALL slip joints, & have several I purchased 40+ years ago, so if it's a cool knife (in my mind), then I just have to "collect" it. My goal at this point is to eventually have at least one of each frame. Question: do you consider the Case Russlock as a separate frame? (Another current fave EDC for me....got me a Raspberry Bone Drop Point recently, and a "Rough Black" version too).

The main purpose of a sheepsfoot blade is for cutting and slicing while minimizing the chances of anything accidentally being pierced by the point.

The sheepfoot is also a good blade for scraping and cleaning hoofs -- not to mention cutting of a big "chaw" of tobacco.  Of course you may want to cut the chaw before cleaning the hoof!   LOL.  And as Syd mentioned it has always bee a good rope / strap cutter and a good blade for whittling. You get a long straight cutting surface on a relatively small blade.  Some times this is all you need and some times the last thing you need is a cutting device that is also pointy!

The spay; as been said is used for castrating farm animals but it is also useful in skinning and scraping and you want to reduce the chance of puncturing the skin.

Syd, i will need to ponder on your Russ-lock question for a while. I've always considered it a unique knife but I now i will need to delve deeper.  Who knows it may be a variation on a theme.  I do have more than one  liner-lock knife that uses a top mounted flange to rotate the blade to open. and that flange is  common among non-locking peasant knives.  The difference is the Russ is a slip joint liner-locking flange opening knife and I'm not aware of another knife with all three devices.   Some so called "tacticals" use a flange on the cutting edge and a torsion spring to flick open the liner locking blade.  Similar principle but built bass-ackward.   All in all a good question!

I commend you on this, it is nice to see that there are still people out there that will do this. Living and working in a rural area and helping a lot of boys and girls go through the scouting programs that can't afford things it a wonderful thing. My family is a scouting family. I am currently still a Den Leader for Webelos I and Committee Chair for our troop. My son is an Eagle Scout and now my oldest grandson is working on his Eagle project. 

Folks, make no mistake!  As other will attest, I show one knife that you are sure to get.  It will go in a If it fits is ships box from the U.S. Post Office!  And seeing how there is more room in the box than just one knife other items will often tag along for the ride!

Tobias doesn't like packing peanuts.  LOL

Another Sid you are correct!  Miller Brothers is indeed another  old cutlery name  recently resurrected by Frost. Mr Frost has done the same with E. C. Simmons, an old Hardware Store.

Welcome everyone to Knife Pattern Collectors.  The contest is now open and runs through Sunday, April 19, 2015.  To enter please go to:

a href="http://iknifecollector.com/group/knifepatterns/forum/topics/answer-four-questions-win-this-knife" target="_self">http://iknifecollector.com/group/knifepatterns/forum/topics/answer-... >, and answer four simple questions. It is that simple, especially considering there are no right or wrong answers! The hardest part is reading/following the instructions!

JJ said:

Comment by J.J. Smith III 1 hour ago

Tobias doesn't like packing peanuts.  LOL

No, but I've been known to use Peanuts for packing!

Some nice packing there, Tobias!

Thanks for pondering Tobias. The Russlock does have a liner lock, and it also has an "assisted opening" device, (so to speak), but because it has features of many frames perhaps it cold be considered a frame by itself. One thing I'll say is that I haven't seen any other manufacturer putting out any kind of copy or counterfeit version yet, that sets it apart in my mind.BTW: here is a photo of one of mine, sorry for the low quality photo(s). 100_9324.JPG

Thanks, when I saw the drop point on that one I just had to have it. I also have one with their standard "modified" clip, (see photo), but that drop point definitely spoke to me & has the "cool" factor going. Hope Case makes more of those, so far I've only seen with the drop point is the Raspberry Bone. Here's a photo of the Rough Black version.100_9336.JPG

The drop point Russlocks are scarce.  Definitely nicer than the long clip.

Well dang you Max, I really DIDN'T need another source for pocket knives, (I suffer from "too many pocket knives" syndrome, as well as Ebayitis; both seemingly incurable afflictions). Now I'm drooling over Shepard Hills Cutlery's website: http://shephills.com/. Oh well, bye bye monthly budget, hello Shepard Hills! Now I just gotta get one of each Case Russlock, just when I was starting to think about getting a Cheetah, (or a Trapper Lock, or a Saddlehorn, or ????), but now I seem to feel that I need more Russlocks. (Thanks for the info Max!).