Auto blade from Big Jake

[veedreen]

What was the automatic pocketknife John Wayne used in the beginning of Big Jake???

 

[Gizler00]

John Wayne movie knife

Can anyone tell me what brand / Mfg knife that was used by John Wayne in the opening scenes of "Big Jake" when he throws it at the leader of the lynch mob trying to hang the sheep farmer ???

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[Jeebling]

Hi, sorry to jump in late and as a newbie…I actually registered just to discuss this question. I’ve seen replies that Hubertus made the knife but that company didn’t come into being until the 1930’s. Of course all movie props are not historically accurate, I realize that. I‘m interested in what others think or what other guesses have been floated. I will be reading through the forum to learn more.
having said that…I certainly love the presentation of the Hubertus lever lock BladeHQ . I’ll probably get one no matter what.

 

[eveled]

Welcome to the forum Jeebling the consensus has always been that the knife was a Hubertus, and yes it was too new for the movie. It is also rumored that it was John Wayne’s personal property.

If you learn anything different please share. But this question comes up a lot and it’s always the same answer

I’ve always liked that movie and how it depicts the transition from old west to modern west. Fascinating time.

 

[Jeebling]

Welcome to the forum Jeebling the consensus has always been that the knife was a Hubertus, and yes it was too new for the movie. It is also rumored that it was John Wayne’s personal property.

If you learn anything different please share. But this question comes up a lot and it’s always the same answer

I’ve always liked that movie and how it depicts the transition from old west to modern west. Fascinating time.

Thanks Eveled, I like that movie also. When I was a little boy I loved Big Jake and The Cowboys. I’m still a huge John Wayne fan and I agree that Big Jake depicts a time of rapid transition for the West. I’ve read interesting notes about the cars and firearms used as well. Similarly, the lever gun John Wayne used in True Grit was not in production at the time the movie is set in but it made for an iconic and heroic prop. I noticed the Cohen brothers remained faithful to the original script and used two revolvers for the famous showdown.
Thank you for your response and I will share any new information if I come across any.

 

[tltt]

Big Jake takes place in 1909.

Technically, the Hubertus lever would've been fine example of the type of German switchblades that were around at the time, even though Hubertus wasn't technically around at the time. Here's a catalog page from 1906 by a NY firm importing that style - https://thebladeblog-ulf.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-vom-cleff-co-leverlock-drgm-73661.html (bottom of page) .

The fellow that runs that page put the development of the side lever from 1882 onward - , https://thebladeblog-ulf.blogspot.com/2011/11/german-lever-release-hunting-knife-with.html .

 

[Jeebling]

That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing that link.

 

[shawnmunns]

⁹it wasn't a Hubertus that l can tell...cld've been an older Boker or a Friedr Herder,wich are very rare to come by...prolly was a constructed movie prop...