True American Pattern?

[FarmKid]

I know that a lot of American knife makers back when this country first started, used English, German, or French patterns. Does anybody know what the first American pattern was?

[brownshoe]

Tony Bose Tribal Spear

[black mamba]

I know Tony is the Old Dog, but come on, not THAT old!

[markpmc]

I vote for the congress. Think it's from down south in the 1800's.

Waiting patiently to be corrected

[jackknife]

I know Tony is the Old Dog, but come on, not THAT old!

I don't know, but I heard a story once. This fella named Bowie was lookin to get a knife made, and he talked to a young knife maker named Tony. Tony told Bowie he only makes folders, and directed him to some fella down in Arkansas.


Carl.

[Peter Parker]

The oldest on the most popular of patterns in a folding knife; I would think it would be a barlow! I would be interested in knowing that myself!

[willgoy]

I vote for the congress. Think it's from down south in the 1800's.

Waiting patiently to be corrected

I think this might be so, particularly the Half-Congress.

However, American cutlers would've initially (early c19th) followed European cutler trends. The rapidly expanding population made the US a key market for English, German&French makers but this ensured the growth of American makers and dominance. Hence it's difficult to identify the origins or authenticity of patterns, even the 'proper' naming of them. I've seen Stockman knives under another name (can't recall it!) in an English catalogue. American makers and users certainly popularized the well-known patterns that we have with us today. Particularly, larger multi bladed work knives. Europeans tended to favour single blades or multi blade smaller gents' patterns. I think...

thanks, Will

[Curtis_Lowe]

The oldest on the most popular of patterns in a folding knife; I would think it would be a barlow! I would be interested in knowing that myself!

Barlows originated in Sheffield, England. Just saw a topic about them in the BRL forum. LINK

What about a Stockman? Kind of the original cowboy knife, right?

[lutejones]

I've seen Stockman knives under another name (can't recall it!)

I think this could be Premium Stock Knife or maybe with the same blade configuration but cigar frame I've seen them called cattle knives
Regards,
Mateo

[FarmKid]

What lil research I've done I think the muskrat was first. Not sure tho

[jackknife]

I think this could be Premium Stock Knife or maybe with the same blade configuration but cigar frame I've seen them called cattle knives
Regards,
Mateo

Yeah, hard to get more American that the iconic cowboy. I think that the stockman may be one of the American originals.

Carl.

[Cyo]

I don't know how the stockman wouldn't be the true American pattern.

[ranchmanben]

Cyo, I agree. I think the American west popularize the stockman pattern but it seems to me like it may have roots somewhere else. I'd like to think the modern two blade trapper is an American original but I'm sure someone else had been using it for a while before it came here.

Ben

[ranchmanben]

Farmkid, check your visitor messages.

[johnny twoshoes]

The Buck 110 has always stood out as, "The American" knife. For me anyhow.

A lot of the other patterns have an English, German, or French history.
Even the Sodbuster started from German Crafters.

[slight]

I always associated the trapper with clip and spey blades with American traditional knives. But I honestly think that the design has some roots with Canadian fur trappers?