Blade Shapes

[dsutton24]

A pattern variation between manufacturers is one thing, but the name of a blade shape comes with a definition.
If it strays from the general parameters set by the definition then it should not be considered said blade shape.
They're called traditional knives for a reason and if we let changes creep in it could get out of hand.

I believe there are some very black and white parameters for blade shapes, it either is or it isn't a particular blade shape.
I just don't think we should accept that distorted creation the modern manufacturers call a sheeps foot being called a sheeps foot when it's not one, it undermines one of the most basic parameters which is the straight edge.


Things can be taken little by little till the next generation thinks a spyderco delica with a bolster is a Barlow.

Where are these parameters recorded, and what enforcement mechanism is there to deal with deviations? Who is the governing body? A bunch of collectors howling about The Way Things Ought To Be isn't going to make a difference.

To quote a very wise man, it just doesn't matter.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Where are these parameters recorded, and what enforcement mechanism is there to deal with deviations? Who is the governing body? A bunch of collectors howling about The Way Things Ought To Be isn't going to make a difference.

To quote a very wise man, it just doesn't matter.

The parameters are in the definition description and history of a blade shape.
I think it does matter and we aren't helpless either.

Education goes a long way, and YouTube is a big influencer.
If enough " knife experts" onYoutube find themselves being reminded till they question what to call this " modified sheeps foot " or " sheeps foot style " blade , maybe a new name will sprout sprout up and spread around.
I'm pretty sure the term EDC wasn't a big term before YouTube.


Do enough people care and could it really happen ?
I don't know but I sure like to think traditional knives can be spared an unwanted amalgamation.

 

[rishma]

I am sure I’ve messed this up a few times. I remember being corrected with two blade Congress (I called it half-Congress, oh the humanity). Though I never thought I could be offending people with my ignorance! Glad this thread took a turn to the light hearted side. Happy new year all.

 

[Old Engineer]

While we're at it, I think we should muster some end-of-the-year mob outrage over using "clip" when "magazine" is the correct term.

In 1958 I put a CLIP in my M1 , not a magazine .

Harry

 

[Hickory n steel]

So ... the way I look at it, language changes. What’s a “Soda” today, is not what the word Soda originally meant. My 2 cents

And that is my fear.
Traditional knives are already a small segment of the knife market which is in itself a small segment of the worIf we let ( not try to prevent it somehow , theres obviously no authority anywhere ) the language change then traditional knives could become unrecognizable to future generations.

I don't know exactly how it would happen, but were already seeing carbon fiber titanium and screws and case already makes a modern folder based on one of their trappers.
If a wharncliffe or sheeps foot blade can't be held to tradition what can.

If the average knife person thinks anything two handed or non locking is traditional things can only regress from there.

 

[mrknife]

How about the "covers" vs. "scales" debate? We haven't done that one in a while!

No debate... they are "handle slabs".

Did you really haft to go there…

Was that at an Oregon Show?

Much worse is "half-whit . . . . .ler"

folding in some excellent knife jokes!

 

[Jack Black]

Yep, that's where I've gotten all my Lambsfoot information. I hesitated to tag Jack Black into this thread, as it's been hashed out more than once.

Don't worry Rachel, I don't like to use the 'ignore' function, but it acts as a good filter for the persistently obtuse, and spares my blood pressure

I will always treasure the memory of being chastised by the man himself, for using the erroneous term "Half Congress"

It's something I often think of too Rachel, lucky you got away without Chiclets!

Ha Ha!!
Happy New Year, Ed and Jack!!

Thanks Charlie, the same to you my friend

Hopefully, the Wharncliffe KNIFE is not entirely forgotten, though it often gets called other things here, largely because of manufacturers. It's the knife pattern rather than the blade, which was given the Wharncliffe name. The blade itself is the same as an Ettrick blade, or the blade used on Rodgers' Norfolk Knife. As most of us could probably guess though, Lord (the Earls, one of whom I've met, came later) Wharncliffe, who helped secure Joseph Rodgers Royal Warrant, didn't actually invent the knife, in fact I have some early Joseph Rodgers advertising, which lists the inventor of the pattern. In Sidney Oldall Addy's historic treatise on Sheffield dialect words, he gives 'Corbo' or 'Corbow' as alternative names for a Wharncliffe Knife, though I've never heard these words in use.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year

 

[rhino]

I dunno, my M1 came with clips.

Which is not an example of when magazine is the correct term, but we can still work with it if we can get some mob rage rolling!

 

[rhino]

In 1958 I put a CLIP in my M1 , not a magazine .

Harry

Which is an example of when clip, not magazine, is the correct term. Work with me, people!

 

[Just Tom.]

Which is not an example of when magazine is the correct term, but we can still work with it if we can get some mob rage rolling!

 

[kamagong]

In Sidney Oldall Addy's historic treatise on Sheffield dialect words, he gives 'Corbo' or 'Corbow' as alternative names for a Wharncliffe Knife, though I've never heard these words in use.

So my swayback knife is more accurately termed as a wharncliffe knife? Huh, who knew? I think I'll just avoid the confusion altogether and start calling it a corbo.

 

[Hickory n steel]

It's already confusing enough when you really start digging, but they're currently at a point where theres a general consensus on what to call them and I just don't want that consensus to change by adding modern amalgamated blade shapes into the mix.


I'm being overly dramatic about how the whole knife world will be turned upside down, but I just wasn't in a very good mood the last couple of days.

It's a new year and hopefully that brings me a new better mood to be in, getting myself a new knife aught to help.

Happy new year everyone, and hopefully my nonsensical rants in this thread didn't spoil things too much.

 

[r8shell]

So my swayback knife is more accurately termed as a wharncliffe knife? Huh, who knew? I think I'll just avoid the confusion altogether and start calling it a corbo.

A Wharncliffe knife is closer to what Case calls a Seahorse Whittler.


I think.

 

[kamagong]

Oh. I had one of those, which is now in Charlie's good hands.

 

[Peregrin]

Don't worry Rachel, I don't like to use the 'ignore' function, but it acts as a good filter for the persistently obtuse, and spares my blood pressure

It's something I often think of too Rachel, lucky you got away without Chiclets!

Thanks Charlie, the same to you my friend

Hopefully, the Wharncliffe KNIFE is not entirely forgotten, though it often gets called other things here, largely because of manufacturers. It's the knife pattern rather than the blade, which was given the Wharncliffe name. The blade itself is the same as an Ettrick blade, or the blade used on Rodgers' Norfolk Knife. As most of us could probably guess though, Lord (the Earls, one of whom I've met, came later) Wharncliffe, who helped secure Joseph Rodgers Royal Warrant, didn't actually invent the knife, in fact I have some early Joseph Rodgers advertising, which lists the inventor of the pattern. In Sidney Oldall Addy's historic treatise on Sheffield dialect words, he gives 'Corbo' or 'Corbow' as alternative names for a Wharncliffe Knife, though I've never heard these words in use.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year

Well said, Jack! Oh, and I wish I had the luxury of using the ignore function!

 

[Just Tom.]

In Sidney Oldall Addy's historic treatise on Sheffield dialect words, he gives 'Corbo' or 'Corbow' as alternative names for a Wharncliffe Knife, though I've never heard these words in use.

“Corbeau” is French for crow. Probably just a coincidence that a crow’s beak looks a little like a Wharncliffe blade, but somebody on the internet is bound to read this and claim that’s where the name came from…

(not my picture)

 

[pholder]

So two Sheepfoot blades in a Congress knife are not referred to by saying, ‘ this knife comes complete with Sheepfeet?? A flock of Canada Geese aren’t Canadian Geese anymore? There are many language conflictions (yeah, that‘s my word, just invented it, but I’ll put it into public use), I try to be precise but as pointed out there isn’t consensus on many of the terms of usage. I hear them Canadians flying over right now! OH

Confliction NOT Conflictions

 

[5K Qs]

So my swayback knife is more accurately termed as a wharncliffe knife? Huh, who knew? I think I'll just avoid the confusion altogether and start calling it a corbo.

A Wharncliffe knife is closer to what Case calls a Seahorse Whittler.


I think.

I was going to say that the shape of the frame of the Wharncliffe Knife pattern reminds me of a "serpentine sleeveboard with rounded bolsters", but I like Rachel's analogy to a Case Seahorse whittler better.

“Corbeau” is French for crow. Probably just a coincidence that a crow’s beak looks a little like a Wharncliffe blade, but somebody on the internet is bound to read this and claim that’s where the name came from…

(not my picture)

But a very creative coincidence!!

- GT

 

[tongueriver]

I am about as anal as anyone regarding these terms, but I don't mind some ignorance, I guess. Stupidity is another manner. LOL. Oddly, I fidget more when I see the ubiquitous apostrophe used almost universally inappropriately in the forums, and, of course, the to/too thingie, than the mis-use of the blade lingo. Some time back I read that the old-timers called the sheet metal outer liners on a folder scales and the slab handles on a fixie also scales, but ne'er the twain should meet. Now, then: the bails. Bails are on pails. Milk pails, lard buckets, etc. And, as a verb, to get water out of your boat before it sinks. On knives, from time immemorial they were called shackles, just as in larger applications, such as in sailing ship gear and construction work with steel cable. I like the sound of shackle, and I use that term because it makes me feel clever. Bale! I see that one. That is how they put up cotton, hay and straw, and, back in the day, bison hides. That end-piece on the butt of a fixed blade knife is usually called a pommel, but I get a chuckle when I see 'pummel.' I think that used to be a verb indicating a certain amount of boxing about the ears, and such. Meanwhile, Happy New Year to all. Here is a knife with a shackle.View attachment 1712982

 

[waynorth]

#73.

What year please??

Happy New Year, Christian!!!