- Joined
- Jan 27, 2007
- Messages
- 6,518
I was reading through PocketEdge's thread (One Blade, Two Blade...) this morning, and I got to thinking about the question he raised. In my way of thinking, this went from the quantity of blades for a particular knife, to the blade shapes & styles. From there, I realized that for me, it comes down to an issue of handle shape as much as anything, and I realized that I preferred the serpentine handle shape almost always. To me this seems odd: depending on which blade you're using on the standard serpentine Stockman pattern, the handle looks and feels awkward, but it seems to work, no matter what I'm doing. My only complaint has been that sometimes one blade sits high, like the sheepfoot, but other than that, it's always worked for me - and obviously has for generations of other knife users as well.
I have no idea why I like this pattern so much, other than plain ol' sentimentality. I'm obsessive-compulsive (mild-to-moderate, diagnosed), so I like things neat, clean and symmetrical. Seriously - I'll arrange things by their size, shape, type, style, color, etc. My wife loves the way I put silverware away, but can't stand the fact that I sort screws and nails. Drives her nuts, makes me happy.
So, one would think that the equal-end patterns would be what I'd like, and I certainly do, but I own very few of them. What I have the most of, hands down, is the serpentine handle pattern Stockman. I don't really dislike any other handle shapes on traditional folders, but if I have my preference, it's serpentine. I like other patterns and design elements, too, like sunk joints, and the raised bolsters of the Canoe pattern, and my favorite large pattern handle is on the Case two-blade hunter; it works perfectly for my hands.
Back in the late 80's, my dad worked at a sheltered workshop, where people with special needs worked; dad ran a little printing and screening shop. Local people would donate unwanted items, much like donating to Goodwill, and one day someone donated a box full of tools. In it was an aluminum-handled Robeson Stockman, which a co-worker gave to my dad, and he in turn gave to me later. Even then, I wondered at the shape of the handle. I'd seen many of Stockman pattern growing up in North Carolina, and I knew the use of each blade, but I'd always wondered about the shape of that handle.
Fast-forward twenty years, I join up here, and between here and reading Levine's Guide IV, I've figured out the history of the handle shape, and the serpentine Stockman pattern. However, I still wonder why I like the serpentine handle shape so much. Square bolster or round . . . two or three spring . . . I just like the overall shape.
I got out my Stockman patterns and other three-blade types and looked them over. Since we own a house now, and I need to update insurance, it's time for new pictures, so here's a few of my collection.
My serpentine Stockmans:
Other three-blade traditional knives I've bought or traded for,
but hardly carry (except for the Buck 301):
An old equal-end three-blade jack, so ugly it's kinda purty. I
bought this when I was trying to expand my collection be-
yond my serpentine obsession.
Two of my favorites, and old Remington and an old John
Primble. I bought both for their bone scales, and, of
course, because they're serpentine.
A few two-blade serpentine patterns. I tell you, that handle
shape talks fancy to me. I get confused. I can't resist . . .
I really like Whitllers too, but I only have three or four of them:
So, in light of my thoughts on this, I'd like to hear other folks' thoughts here, on what their favorites are, and why. Pics would be cool, too. (We can never have enough picture threads, especially in the Traditionals forum.
Gotta log off for now. Somewhere a pile of screws needs sorting.
~Chris
I have no idea why I like this pattern so much, other than plain ol' sentimentality. I'm obsessive-compulsive (mild-to-moderate, diagnosed), so I like things neat, clean and symmetrical. Seriously - I'll arrange things by their size, shape, type, style, color, etc. My wife loves the way I put silverware away, but can't stand the fact that I sort screws and nails. Drives her nuts, makes me happy.
So, one would think that the equal-end patterns would be what I'd like, and I certainly do, but I own very few of them. What I have the most of, hands down, is the serpentine handle pattern Stockman. I don't really dislike any other handle shapes on traditional folders, but if I have my preference, it's serpentine. I like other patterns and design elements, too, like sunk joints, and the raised bolsters of the Canoe pattern, and my favorite large pattern handle is on the Case two-blade hunter; it works perfectly for my hands.
Back in the late 80's, my dad worked at a sheltered workshop, where people with special needs worked; dad ran a little printing and screening shop. Local people would donate unwanted items, much like donating to Goodwill, and one day someone donated a box full of tools. In it was an aluminum-handled Robeson Stockman, which a co-worker gave to my dad, and he in turn gave to me later. Even then, I wondered at the shape of the handle. I'd seen many of Stockman pattern growing up in North Carolina, and I knew the use of each blade, but I'd always wondered about the shape of that handle.
Fast-forward twenty years, I join up here, and between here and reading Levine's Guide IV, I've figured out the history of the handle shape, and the serpentine Stockman pattern. However, I still wonder why I like the serpentine handle shape so much. Square bolster or round . . . two or three spring . . . I just like the overall shape.
I got out my Stockman patterns and other three-blade types and looked them over. Since we own a house now, and I need to update insurance, it's time for new pictures, so here's a few of my collection.
My serpentine Stockmans:
Other three-blade traditional knives I've bought or traded for,
but hardly carry (except for the Buck 301):
An old equal-end three-blade jack, so ugly it's kinda purty. I
bought this when I was trying to expand my collection be-
yond my serpentine obsession.
Two of my favorites, and old Remington and an old John
Primble. I bought both for their bone scales, and, of
course, because they're serpentine.
A few two-blade serpentine patterns. I tell you, that handle
shape talks fancy to me. I get confused. I can't resist . . .
I really like Whitllers too, but I only have three or four of them:
So, in light of my thoughts on this, I'd like to hear other folks' thoughts here, on what their favorites are, and why. Pics would be cool, too. (We can never have enough picture threads, especially in the Traditionals forum.
Gotta log off for now. Somewhere a pile of screws needs sorting.
~Chris
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