Anyone Want to Talk Traditional Fixed Blades?

[KBA]

How old is a tapered tang? I have a Dexter with a 12" blade and a tapered tang. Did this start for balance in kitchen/ butcher knives and move to hunters later? Was it Loveless that made that transition?

That is an intereting question and one I'd love to hear the answer to as well.

Cutchu - I look forward to the pics! Most of the forged knives I have seen have been thicker than Barkies. Of course, I have only had the Mini- Canadian and the Psk. The Humphrey above is about the same size as a PSK but almost twice as thick.

OH - That is encouraging and great to learn that the current Buck knives are still worth looking into. Thanks buddy.

Afishhunter - That,is a knife I have looked into. Honestly, I'm not sure where the line is for traditional fixed blades. Maybe someone can pm a link or post it here for us.

EricV - GEC also does the work, though I can not remember what that work entails, for Hess knives as well. I hope GEC and Hess keep up their fixed blade.

 

[SAK Guy]

Marbles have great steel, esp the Gladstone Fieldcraft on the bottom (52-100B). Classic leather handles.

The Fieldcraft ready for it's closeup....rode on my belt for years. Got a bit of patina started.

These are our hunters...Western W36's. The one on the bottom was my Dad's.

These old knives are still solid as a rock and take an amazing edge!!!! :thumbup:

 

[Peregrin]

Not sure if they qualify for this discussion, if not, mods, please delete this post. As far as I know, they are a traditional fixed blade.

Back when I was young, I had an Army/Navy Surplus Ontario 499 "Jet Pilot Survival Knife". Not sure what happened to it. Maybe I'll get another, and the 498 "Marine fighting knife".

I don't think we have a problem with these.

 

[swaybacksteve]

KBA, Looks like you are off to a great start - and that you mostly favor short drop points. Among the many brands and styles I like in a fixed blade the Buck 100 series is my hands down favorites. I like the variety of blade choices coupled with the "family look" - the Buck 118 is the best deer hunters knife I have ever used, my hands down favorite. OH

Ps Go over to the Buck Forum here at Blade sometime and check it out - nice folks there, just like here on the Traditional Forum. Always lot of discussion on the age, variations, and steel types used by Buck over the years.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/701-Buck-Knives

Old Hunter thanks for putting up all the Bucks together...much easier to compare the sizes. All I have right now is the 102C...from the early 90's and it is a solid FB knife, but I would like something a tad larger and the 118 looks to be right on. That 103 skinner looks like it can get the job done, with that thicker phenolic handle...certainly would make a good camp knife and a real bargain too.
I ama lefty but when it comes to FFBn I 've learned to be ambidextrious.

 

[Sonnemann]

This thread contains so many of the grail knives for me that I have drooled over for years...the Laconic gaucho...the Patton green micarta...woof.

I have had a ton of fixed blades that fall under the traditional label. I've dabbled in puukkot, bowies, skinners and hunters, daggers, you name it.

These days I have divided them into a few categories of use. If I'm out camping, hiking, whatever I have 2 Moras, the really cheap utility knife version, in my backpack. At just a few ounces you can carry more than 1 without trouble. Makes for a great backup or loaner knife: worry-free, hard users. I also like the small GEC H20 (basically a sodbuster fixed blade) that does everything the Moras don't do so well (slice and dice.)

The other category is the fighting knife, something for which I have absolutely no practical use but which I enjoy collecting as a matter of interest in military history and knife history. I have never owned a Randall simply because the older Blackjacks (and the current ones) are just too good, though I imagine I will get one eventually. I also like the old Gerbers and have been trying to find a Mk II in L6 for the longest time.

Honestly I just wish I had an excuse to use fixed blades more often

 

[screened porch]

My latest. This has a 12" blade and a five" handle. Over 3/16" thick just forward of the integral bolster and distally tapered. Flat ground.
It isn't going into the kitchen.
It can't be a Searles type Bowie, because those are straight-backed, as I recall them. It can't be a gaucho knife, because those are narrower, for sticking hamstrung cattle under the ear. It can be a Mediterranean dagger, except I'm a man of peace and wouldn't use the word dagger. It will be a Mediterranean Hudson's Bay camp leukku.
I'm even going to sand the plating and pitting off this one: I could lose a lot of it and still have a big knife. And make a wood-lined sheath.

 

[KBA]

I've noticed a few Blackjacks being posted. I was talking to a member the other day and he recommended the older "original" Blackjacks. I did not get a chance to ask him what he meant by original he may have meant the classic line.

Not sure if this of any use but it may be interesting to some.

http://apg2k.hegewisch.net/wow-6.html#b

"Brand -Blackjack (USA) Owner/TM Knifeware Inc.
Country, Place of Manufacture: USA
Product notes: Blackjack knives has a storied past. The current Trademark owner is Knifeware Inc. Before that it was owned by SMKW(Blue Ridge) who bought it from Knifeware Inc. USA made Blackjacks are made by Ken Warner and his team at Knifeware. Even when the TM was owned by SMKW, Warner was making the USA produced knives. The are made in limited numbers and are sought by collectors.

Brand Blackjack, International Owner/TM Knifeware Inc.
Country, Place of Manufacture: China, Pakistan
Product notes: Blackjack International knives are most likely contracted through SMKW global factories. The quality will be similar to other globally produced SMKW brands such as Marbles, Colt, and BW Custom. . Price and value will be signifigantly less than Blackjack knives made in the USA."

Not sure how old that info is but I am sure there are few threads out there on them. I just haven't had the time to look today.

The Class Model 125 sure does look great and I like that they have a convex edge.

 

[KBA]

Forgive my ignorance, but can someone tell me what model Buck is on the bottom right of OH's pic? I cant seem to zoom in on my laptop.

Thanks

 

[LostViking]

Bottom right black handle looks to be a 119

 

[leghog]

Personalized. Which was precisely why I bought it.

 

[Sonnemann]

Blackjack Classics, the Randall-esque models, have been Mike Stewart knives all along. They have been made in Effingham, Ill., West Virginia, and currently made by Bark River. Some of the different designs (Mamba, etc?) were made in Seki. There is a different line of Blackjack knives made elsewhere overseas but are easily identified as being basically gas-station quality modern folders.

Keep it Blackjack Classic in carbon steel and you're good to go

 

[black mamba]

For users, I settled on this pair for deer hunting. The bocote handled Bark River on top is in A2, the Kalahari Hunter. A2 is extremely tough, and will work well for splitting bone and general camp chores, with its convex edge. The G10 handled straight hunter is from Big Chris here on the forums, and is CPM-S90V @ 61 HRc. This high vanadium stainless steel will hold an edge for a loooooooooong time, and has a super thin edge for slicing and a great point for piercing. These two will cover just about anything. Of course I always carry a traditional stockman in my top pocket for easy access in the stand.

 

[SAK Guy]

The other category is the fighting knife, something for which I have absolutely no practical use but which I enjoy collecting as a matter of interest in military history and knife history. I have never owned a Randall simply because the older Blackjacks (and the current ones) are just too good, though I imagine I will get one eventually. I also like the old Gerbers and have been trying to find a Mk II in L6 for the longest time.

Honestly I just wish I had an excuse to use fixed blades more often

Nice Blackjack collection!!! :thumbup: :thumbup: No A.W.A.C?

 

[Sonnemann]

The AWAC has one of the most comfortable-looking handles I have seen. Been tempted to try one out! If I am not mistaken, those are actually stainless steel (hence all weather, all conditions)?

My Blackjack holy grail continues to be the 1-7 subhilt fighter...hard to come by.

 

[cutchu]

Here are a couple pics of some Fiddlebacks and a couple Barkies. I will take some size comparison shots later. Some of the shots are of when they were newer, but now have a little time and wear on them.

 

[daizee]

That Montgomery is beautiful.
Personally, I don't like anything remotely like those long skinny Bucks with the leg-shaped handle, or anything with a double guard except a bona fide fighter.

A good puuko is absolutely stunning, and I'm itching to make a few.

Here's my first take on a recognizable true traditional pattern. Alas, I don't have the time to do leather too.:

 

[LostViking]

Following the Marbles theme,

 

[Markesharp]

Here are five that I am making in 1095 with 56 Rc hardness. Cocobolo w/red liners, Natural canvas and O.D. Green canvas micarta. Rough grind finished on two blades, three to go.......not enough hours in the day

 

[SAK Guy]

The AWAC has one of the most comfortable-looking handles I have seen. Been tempted to try one out! If I am not mistaken, those are actually stainless steel (hence all weather, all conditions)?

My Blackjack holy grail continues to be the 1-7 subhilt fighter...hard to come by.

Extraordinarily comfortable (to my arthritic hand), combined with (according to collectors/sites) Sandvik 12c27 steel make for a great field knife in my opinion (others too)


You have mail as well...

 

[SAK Guy]

Very nice LostViking!!! :thumbup: