Clasp Knives

mckgreg

mckgreg

Joined
Nov 18, 2001
Messages
3,758
Here's another pattern we don't seem to talk much about. Some folks use and collect these by the bucket full. Nice big, hefty knives.
Greg

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This is one of the first patterns that really caught my attention when I first started developing an interest in traditional knives. I still don't have one. For a while I was pretty intent on picking up a nice Case Blue Scroll (1977) Clasp and then I kind of moved on to other things. Maybe I should look into that again.

Nice Cripple Creek!
 
Here's a Schrade clasp from the NKCA museum set:
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Eric
 
I can imagine that the origins are spanish.
They're really similar to the spanish navajas, clip blades, curved handle.

surfer
 
I don't have any clasp knives, but I hope to someday. My problem is finding a user. So many I've seen have been more collectors than users. I really like the two blade folding hunter design and the clasp knife reminds me of that. I wish Queen would make a user in amber bone with a D2 blade.
Bob
 
Beautiful folders! Something I would enjoy owning, too, but not quite by the bucketful. I have heard the name mentioned (though mostly in print) for many years, but maybe a definition is in order here, a definition that might help explain the origin of the name. It's a name I would expect to find in one of Mark Twain's books maybe. Does anyone know enough to elaborate?
 
rdg said:
I don't have any clasp knives, but I hope to someday. My problem is finding a user. So many I've seen have been more collectors than users. I really like the two blade folding hunter design and the clasp knife reminds me of that. I wish Queen would make a user in amber bone with a D2 blade.
Bob
Click to expand...

For a user, look no further than a Rough Rider Deer Slayer. Same pattern. Inexpensive. Useable. Personally, I'd convex the edge, but they're usually decent out of the box.
 
longbeachguy said:
This is one of the first patterns that really caught my attention when I first started developing an interest in traditional knives. I still don't have one. For a while I was pretty intent on picking up a nice Case Blue Scroll (1977) Clasp and then I kind of moved on to other things. Maybe I should look into that again.

Nice Cripple Creek!
Click to expand...

Perfectly said LBG, that is exactly what happened to me...They caught my attention and I got interested in collecting Traditional knives but I still don't have one yet...:mad:

That Schrade & Cripple Creek are killer...:thumbup: :) Send them my way if they get lonely...

Sunburst
 
Shecky, Thanks for the tip! I think I'll give one of those Deer Slayers a try.
Bob
 
Here is my one and only Clasp knife, Schrade model 275, 125th Anniversary of the Village of Walden NY.

Rusty1

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Are these clasp-knives lockback? They look like they need to be, given the size.
Fantastic scales on the first picture:thumbup:
 
I've not seen a locking Clasp knife, although that does not mean there maybe some out there. most of the latter made ones are not lockback.

Rusty1
 
Rusty1,
That's a beaut! I've been trying to snag one of those for a while but the few I've seen went for more than I had the nerve to spend. I'll have to get one eventually since it's the only Walden fire company I don't have a commem. for.
These (at least the Schrades) would be a challenge to EDC because of their large size: 5 1/2" long by almost 2" wide closed, plus they weigh over half a pound. You'd definitely have to find a sheathmaker! That Cripple Creek seems like a more useful size.

Eric
 
This thread is not good medicine for my wallet. I had my eye on this one for a while and was barely able to resist:



That Cripple Creek tops it though imo.
 
Eric, what other walden commemoratives do you have? start another thread if need be. or move it over to The Schrade forum. Thanks

Rusty1
 
Rusty1, I'll have it up there by tonight (gotta get the camera out:) )

Eric
 
Dr. Mudd said:
Beautiful folders! Something I would enjoy owning, too, but not quite by the bucketful. I have heard the name mentioned (though mostly in print) for many years, but maybe a definition is in order here, a definition that might help explain the origin of the name. It's a name I would expect to find in one of Mark Twain's books maybe. Does anyone know enough to elaborate?
Click to expand...


I've seen the term used in Alexandre Dumas, Herman Melville, and Charles Dickens literature. It's a term that seems to be from the 1600-early 1800's, to describe any large folding knife with no regard for any particular style. In Great Expectations, Pip's benifactor, the convict he helped escape many years before, pulls out a large clasp knife when there is a knock at the door of an unexpected visitor at Pip's room. In The Count Of Monte Cristo, Dumas has a killing done with a clasp knife. So there seems to be connotations of weapon status attached to it.
 
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