... friction folders !
At the yearly custom knife show in Gembloux, Belgium (which attracts people and custom makers from several countries) I saw the previous 2 years already a growing number of friction folders, and today (date of the current show) it was obvious that next to various kinds fixed blades, a LOT of people had made friction folders. I don't think that this is simply because they are the easiest folders to make, rather partly a reaction to ever more stringent legislation but also (and not least) because of the inherent charm of these simple designs.
Some of these knives did look very traditional, yet some featured a clean high tech design, such as THIS ONE from Filip Decoene.
I bought these two friction folders, one almost medieval in style, the other clean and modern:
The very traditional one at the top features a handle in buffalo horn and a blade made from a kind of armored steel used for safes. The blacksmith creator told me that indeed this steel took him quite a bit of effort.
I think it's very charming, a conversation piece that is actually shaving sharp.
The one at the bottom is -finally- my first knife by Eric Parmentier. I think he's little known in the USA, yet he enjoys a stellar reputation in Europe, and especially in France. Indeed, despite very bad weather delaying some arrivals, he sold out in something like 30 minutes. I was happy to pick up this very clean, well finished and timeless friction folder with a handle in red micarta.
At the yearly custom knife show in Gembloux, Belgium (which attracts people and custom makers from several countries) I saw the previous 2 years already a growing number of friction folders, and today (date of the current show) it was obvious that next to various kinds fixed blades, a LOT of people had made friction folders. I don't think that this is simply because they are the easiest folders to make, rather partly a reaction to ever more stringent legislation but also (and not least) because of the inherent charm of these simple designs.
Some of these knives did look very traditional, yet some featured a clean high tech design, such as THIS ONE from Filip Decoene.
I bought these two friction folders, one almost medieval in style, the other clean and modern:
The very traditional one at the top features a handle in buffalo horn and a blade made from a kind of armored steel used for safes. The blacksmith creator told me that indeed this steel took him quite a bit of effort.
I think it's very charming, a conversation piece that is actually shaving sharp.
The one at the bottom is -finally- my first knife by Eric Parmentier. I think he's little known in the USA, yet he enjoys a stellar reputation in Europe, and especially in France. Indeed, despite very bad weather delaying some arrivals, he sold out in something like 30 minutes. I was happy to pick up this very clean, well finished and timeless friction folder with a handle in red micarta.
