American work knife

I agree on stockman and barlow patterns - they were the first that came to my mind, and that is what I remember virtually every farmer and outdoorsman man carrying when I was growing up. I guess a trapper would be number three.

If we're talking fixed blades, then what I think of is a small clip point with a stacked leather handle.
 
Given that the America's are still youthful, culturally speaking (and I'm in now way trying to ignore our native populations, just referring to knife production), then I think we could get away a more youthful definition of the American production knife.

My guesses would be:
Kabar
Buck 110
Buck 119

The kabar and buck119 are classic bowie style knives and are widely recognized as 'American made'. As others have said, the 110, became an instant classic and widely copied.

Doc- we can still be a bit different and throw out the Grohman, the classic CDN belt knife.
 
Foilist said:
If we're talking fixed blades, then what I think of is a small clip point with a stacked leather handle.
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little fin - my favorite sheath knife
Western_01.JPG

This one is a Western BSA Model No. 1381 4" blade 7.75" overall

Peter
 
Stockman, I gotta ask. Is that how you always wear your blue jeans? Do you ever get girls whispering - 'look at the rack on that guy' :D :D :D
 
Based on all of the great knives I've had and have and use, I'd have to say that the great American work knife would have to be a plain Stanley razor knife-box cutter. I can't think of any other knife type thing that I have more miles on than one of those, regardless of any other knife that I may have in my pocket at the same time.

PS ...sorry for the blasphemy
 
kgd said:
Stockman, I gotta ask. Is that how you always wear your blue jeans? Do you ever get girls whispering - 'look at the rack on that guy' :D :D :D
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:DI should have seen that coming:D :thumbup::thumbup:
I guess a man has to live with that:p

Peter
 
No one has mentioned a Texas Jack, so I'll throw that out. I saw a lot of them where I grew up. The T-Jack has two blades attached at one end of a serpentine, square-bolstered handle. The two blades are a long clip and a short pen or spear point. Has everything you need in a pocket knife and nothing more. Might really be a regional knife though, as the name implies.
 
Growing up in England, the Bowie was considered the classic American knife
The Marine Fighting knife (Kabar) was a sub-set of the bowie

Hanging out in the Trad forum, it seems to be a Stockman or a Trapper
 
id say a barlow and a bowie make a good american combo. in alot of old books ive read, i hear the mention of a barlow more often than a stockamn.
 
Ironically enough despite the popularity of the classic barlow pattern, it's alot harder to find a decent carbon steel barlow thatn it is a stockman... I think only Boker makes them
 
RescueRiley said:
Ironically enough despite the popularity of the classic barlow pattern, it's alot harder to find a decent carbon steel barlow thatn it is a stockman... I think only Boker makes them
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russel has one that i have been eying, but i like my stockmans so much that i havnt bought it yet.
 
The classic old time knife would probably be the various patterns of Green River knives. Utilitarian, often kitchen-styled knives were very common and about as inexpensive as they come. Butchers, skinners, dadleys, etc are still available todaybut have largely fallen out of fashion with more modern innovations.

In more modern times, the folding Buck 110 was a highly regarded and ubiquitous pattern that was widely carried and copied. The Stanley utility knife with replaceable blades has to be the most common of all as an actual work knife.

While bowies are a classic American pattern, I don't think they ever were really much of a "work knife".
 
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