Recommendation? American Icons, cont.

Tyson A Wright · Jul 10, 2022

Arathol said:
The first US military spec for the TL-29 was issued in May 1919.
There was also a smaller version, the Radio or Signal Corps knife that was issued in WW1. The difference between the two is apparently the Radio knife has only a locking screwdriver, where the Signal Corps Knife is made on the same frame with a screwdriver and a blade, neither of which lock. Some of these also carried the designation TL-29.

Great collection! I especially love the locking screwdriver only. I think

waynorth has one of those, plus a modern custom-made one. Very cool! I don't know why but I love those things.

I knew that the TL-29 is from 1919 (well, I would have said 1920 but I was close!) but I was under the impression that there were electrician's knives along the same general pattern starting from 1900 or 1902 or so. I may be wrong about that, but that is my fuzzy recollection of things.

Just Tom. · Jul 10, 2022

Tyson A Wright said:
Great collection! I especially love the locking screwdriver only. I think waynorth has one of those, plus a modern custom-made one. Very cool! I don't know why but I love those things.

I knew that the TL-29 is from 1919 (well, I would have said 1920 but I was close!) but I was under the impression that there were electrician's knives along the same general pattern starting from 1900 or 1902 or so. I may be wrong about that, but that is my fuzzy recollection of things.

Here is a knife with a punch and screwdriver from the 1910 catalog I posted the link to earlier:

waynorth · Jul 10, 2022

Arathol said:
The first US military spec for the TL-29 was issued in May 1919.
There was also a smaller version, the Radio or Signal Corps knife that was issued in WW1. The difference between the two is apparently the Radio knife has only a locking screwdriver, where the Signal Corps Knife is made on the same frame with a screwdriver and a blade, neither of which lock. Some of these also carried the designation TL-29.

Nice collection!!

Here are a few different brands;

JohnDF · Jul 10, 2022

Old Engineer said:

Fantastic Barlow Collection, Harry.

Old Engineer · Jul 10, 2022

JohnDF said:
Fantastic Barlow Collection, Harry.

Thank you very much John . Those photos were taken in 2019 and some have gone to other homes and there are a couple newer ones that are not there .
Take care my friend .

Harry

baxtrom · Jul 11, 2022

Bloodloss said:
I don't know where it originated, but I would call the muskrat pretty darn American. Maybe not as popular as some other patterns mentioned, there seems to be a ton of them out there. I gotta admit, the muskrat is kind of winning me over lately as I seem to use the large main blades of a slip joint the most largely ignoring the others.

So, muskrat…

Here is a mr Gibson (a forum member perhaps?) talking about the Muskrat pattern, how it started out as a single back spring design and subsequently was improved by means of double back springs, that it has a sibling with a sheepsfoot blade et c

And, here’s a clip on how to actually skin a muskrat, alas not using a “muskrat”.

Just Tom. · Jul 11, 2022

baxtrom said:
So, muskrat…

Here is a mr Gibson (a forum member perhaps?) talking about the Muskrat pattern, how it started out as a single back spring design and subsequently was improved by means of double back springs, that it has a sibling with a sheepsfoot blade et c

And, here’s a clip on how to actually skin a muskrat, alas not using a “muskrat”.

Here is a picture of a live muskrat I took a few weeks ago:

CVamberbonehead · Jul 11, 2022

I vote Muskrat too, just because I think they are cool. Oh yeah, Muskrat knives are nice too I guess.

lol

Bloodloss · Jul 11, 2022

baxtrom said:
So, muskrat…

Sweet! I didn't know there's an improved muskrat.

Phil in Alabama · Jul 13, 2022

The three most commonly seen around here, north Alabama, were the Schrade 34OT stockman, the Case yellow delrin 54 trapper and the Buck 110 or a copy of a 110. I cannot recall ever seeing anyone with a Barlow in my entire life (I'm 56). Pattern popularity must be regional. I've never traveled out of Alabama much to be able to observe outside of my home area.

urbantrapper · Jul 13, 2022

Honorable mentions: large coke bottle with clip and the Remington bullet trapper. Maybe not as iconic but certainly both ubiquitous imo!

Tyson A Wright · Jul 13, 2022

urbantrapper said:
Honorable mentions: large coke bottle with clip and the Remington bullet trapper. Maybe not as iconic but certainly both ubiquitous imo!

I don't know if it counts as iconic or not, but large coke bottle with clip blade is my favorite (GEC 97 in my case). Such a great pattern.

Bloodloss · Jul 13, 2022

Can't stop surfing for muskrats! Ha!
Has this thread sparked an interest in an American icon for anyone else???

baxtrom · Jul 14, 2022

Bloodloss said:
Can't stop surfing for muskrats! Ha!
Has this thread sparked an interest in an American icon for anyone else???

Consider yourself lucky you live in the US, I find the muskrat choice a little limited here in Europe! Basically, the 2nd hand market is non existing, shipping from the US plus taxes makes my eyes water, and buying a new muskrat basically boils down to one or two case models if one wants made in the US

Bloodloss · Jul 14, 2022

Yes, very blessed my friend.
You're right, there are fewer muskrats out there. I was surprised to see such a small selection in the bay. Nothing wrong with a Case though, if I were to pay a tax to get my hands on one, it would be my first choice.

joeradza · Jul 14, 2022

baxtrom i saw you have some Rough Riders so if you’re looking for an inexpensive Barlow that’s where I would go. BTW, an early Happy Birthday.

baxtrom · Jul 14, 2022

joeradza said:
baxtrom i saw you have some Rough Riders so if you’re looking for an inexpensive Barlow that’s where I would go. BTW, an early Happy Birthday.

thanks! It’s actually very early, my birthday is in June

Yes, RRs are definitely an option, but I started thinking I should by fewer China-made knives and more US knives. Basically I can get one Case for the price of 2.5 RRs or thereabouts. Another option is a new Schrade which is also made in China of course. We will see…

joeradza · Jul 14, 2022

baxtrom said:
thanks! It’s actually very early, my birthday is in June
Yes, RRs are definitely an option, but I started thinking I should by fewer China-made knives and more US knives. Basically I can get one Case for the price of 2.5 RRs or thereabouts. Another option is a new Schrade which is also made in China of course. We will see…

I got confused thinking it’s June and not July. No wonder the doctor keeps ordering tests. I’m not a Barlow guy but I did have 2 Rough Ryders a few years back and was quite impressed by them.

Markeologist · Jul 14, 2022

IMHO, the Buck 110 is the knife that changed forever the concept on what constitutes a “pocket knife.” Without the 110 and its strong lock system and fairly large size, I don’t think we would have the proliferation of the modern (non-traditional) locking knives we see today. The 110 is the bridge between the traditional and the modern “pocket knife” and is thus a landmark in the world of knives.

A Buck 110 and its second cousin, twice removed, the Rigid Apache which took the concept of the 110 to an extreme back in the day (1970s and 1980s).

Markeologist · Jul 14, 2022

Now for purely traditional, the Boys Knife with cap lifter is an American classic.