If you had to name one folder that revolutionized the knife industry?

shootist16

shootist16

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If you had to name one folder that revolutionized the knife industry?

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Dennis Bible
 
Buck 110. The first heavy duty, quality, US factory made lockback. Before the 110 there was virtually no market for a premium folder in this category.
 
Nah....they were evolutionary developments.
The invention of the slipjoint with a backspring was much more important.
And there were , probably, more important leaps ...the history of folders is a lot older than the 1960s and 80s.....
wink.gif


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BrianWE

[This message has been edited by brian w edginton (edited 02-27-2000).]
 
I would say it would have to be the first liner lock one-handed opening and closing folder although I don't know whose it was.

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Dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
 
I'd suggest one which made it an industry. Opinel comes to mind, but I'll have to admit I don't know history well enough to know if they were one of the first.

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Urban Fredriksson
www.canit.se/%7Egriffon/
Latest udates WM1 neck sheath, Moki Blossom and Fällkniven S1

I hear the South Park movie is R-17 in the USA. Due to the language used. Here it's got a 7 year old limit, and wouldn't have even that if it wasn't for the violence.
 
I'd have to say, the Gerber Bolt-action series from the 1980's. They were the first commercially successful line which incorporated both a non-Buck 110 shape, or locking mechanism. Revolutionary lock design. In fact, Benchmade's axis lock looks/works awfully similarily to the older Gerber design. HMM...Makes ya stop and think...

My 2nd choice would be the Pacific Cutlery All stainless "Bali-Song" The first QUALITY version of this old design.

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"Blessed is the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle..." excerpted from Psalms 144.
 
I would have to agree with the first slipjoint. If you want a more modern achievement, I would say the first REKAT rolling lock knife. I think it is primarily responsible for the "next big things in locks" trend we are still seeing today.

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Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
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I know it was not the first, but personally, the most revolutionary knife is the Spyderco Delica. I have been collecting non-stop ever since!
smile.gif
 
I've got two sleeper entries - and don't laugh until you hear me out. First is my old Cub Scout knife. Blue faux-bone handle, shackle, can opener, awl, etc. But, the knife blade locked open with a protruding half-moon brass tab that blocked the blade from closing until you pushed it aside. With no offense to M. Walker, it is clear that this simple mechanism is the father of the "revolutionary" liner locks of the 90's.
Second - the "007". Wood handles, metal liners, and lanyard included ! Going to Catholic schools, size and portability (read:hideability) were paramount to me, so I actually had the smaller "707". Since in an age of Pakistani Buck 110 knockoffs, these lockbacks were clearly designed for one-handed, flick openings - I daresay they were the first "Tactical one-hand openers". I still have the Scout knife, wish I hadn't sold the 707 so many years ago...
 
Ernie Emerson CQC6; it started the tactical knife trend, or at least, gave it a giant boost. Chisel grind, tanto tip, Ti bolsters, micarta scales, ATS-34 steel. The definitive 'tactical' knife. Still a four year wait from the factory.

Walt
 
Despite what Brian said, I figure the "knife industry" in question, is the late 20th century premium folding knife industry. The current trends in fancy folders are pretty far removed from roots back in the 19th century. For at least a half century the US folding knife industry produced very little in the way of a robust or 'tactical' folding knife. The Buck 110 changed that.

If I were to look to an earlier era, the most prolific serious folder design would have to be the Spanish Navaja. These were commonly as big as folding pruning saws with lock backs. I believe they date back to the 1700's. They remained common for over a century. They used a secondary lever to pull back the lockback since it was very strong. The navajas commonly had multiple locking teeth.
 
Still having problems with the opinions from members who seem to be ignoring SEVERAL HUNDRED years of development.
Emerson ? Walker ? et al ?
Good stuff.....but NOT major contributors to the overall development of knives. (or knife engineering, for that matter)
They are DESIGNERS....not inventors

If you can only remember back to the advent of the linerlock or the Spyder edge....or any of the Emerson "innovations", your experience is a bit narrow. Fine.....express an opinion. But post it as an OPINION limited by lack of experience.

Ah, well........



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BrianWE
 
Jeff C

you might be right
but, then, it would be a pretty narrow view on history if you could boil it down to your own lifetime..
Like, everything that happened before I was born was irrelevant. ??

So, WHY do you figure the knife industry is based in the late 20th century ?



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BrianWE
 
Didn't the romans invent the folder?
Not sure about the pocket clip, though.
Did the romans have pockets?
wink.gif

Ebbtide out.
 
The lockbacks have been around a long time - I couldn't guess - Buck's 110 was an 'adaptation' of something that already was - check out how long a Case 6111 1/2 L preceeded it - same basic mechanism and I'll be the Case had a predicessor... now for making the concept popular - Buck's 110 and 112 have to get the nod - back in the mid 60's about every third guy had a short black leather sheath on his/her belt. Definitely the Bucks made lockbacks reputation. NOT that they are now the last word or were the originators. It's still a "good" knife but there are lots of others as good or better!

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Even though I don't own a REAL one
I would have to say Ken Onion's knives
really set some thoughts in motion!
I have the Kershaw Random Task and it's
a beaut! The torsion bar assist was a
stroke, no pun intended, of genius on his part! Wish I could afford one of his REAL ones.

The other would be the Butterfly knife.
A lot of controversy over WHO came up with
the design, some feel it is Philippine in
origin while others insist that a serviceman
brought the design over to there. But a knife
that completely closes over the blade makes
a unique knife and fits in this post?

G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks
 
I would have to say the Buck 110. I know it is the first knife I owned that changed the way I look at knives.

Fast forward a "few" years and I would have to say the Sebenza. Although I have never owned one it seems to have had the greatest impact that I have seen, esp here on the forums. Esp where fit, finish, lock strength/reliability and customer service are concerned.
 
Two knives immediately stand out. The Buck 110 and the Spyderco Worker for the reasons James Mattis stated above.

phantom4

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who dares, wins


 
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