Is the CRK&T Bear Claw a rip-off of Emerson's La Griffe?

Oh please...

I guess every maker and/or company that produces a folding tanto should be paying royalties to Lynn Thompson for first popularizing the idea? Or ALL current producers of chisel-edge geotantos must cease and desist or else pay Emerson? How 'bout all the Japanese sword "knockoffs?" Heheh... Who will get the royalties there? Or the Buck 110 lockback design? How many makers basically just rip that off with better materials and craftsmanship?

Is the Griffe, or the concept of a finger hole in a fixed blade a patented design? No? Tough tiddy then. CYA baby, C. Y. A.

The point is that there are only so may ways to grind steel into a usable tool. The two pieces are similar, yes, but then so are every tanto, bowie, "drop point hunter" and all the rest. Just buy the one that you like most, and that will settle it in the marketplace.

Peace.
 
James Mattis, these hands are not old but have "travelled". I do recall at a New England show some years back where I handled a small fixed blade of similar construction. Don' t recall if it was a neck or belt carry but it definitely had a hawksbill blade with a pinned wooden handle that resembled the old BM Kume Zuma push knife. And it did have a finger hole! BTW, never did see a sheath for it.

L8r,
Nakano

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"To earn a million is easy, a real friend is not."
 
Is the CRKT Bear Claw a rip-off of Emerson's La Griffe?
It's an interesting question. What is the rip-off? In my opinion it's a copy knife which utilizes the same or very similar visual appearance to use the reputation of brand-named knife. I saw a lot of Far East made rip-offs of Perrin's-Emerson's La-Griffe - all they are very similar to original visually.
On the other hand, visual appearance of CRKT Bear Claw is pretty different and must to say by far more advanced. Handle and sheath design is much more user friendly, quality/price relation is unbeatable, like all CRKT knives at least.

What is shared? Both knives are utilizing the same two ideas:
* claw-like blade shape to improve small blade cutting abilities
* finger hole to improve grip on small handle
OK, both options were known and used long time before not only Mr. Perrin's or Mr. Emerson's birth but even before Mr. Jesus Christ's birth!
In ancient Asia knives with recurved edge which imitates claw were very popular. Ancient Cretans used knives with finger holes already in Bronze Age.
I think if someone has copyrights on these options - only God or Mother Nature, as you wish.

Some words about copyrights. We are living in curious times - people are producing much more things and goods than they really need and are able to consume. In this situation someone can think - it's not the worst idea to make money fighting for compensation of his or her broken copyrights instead of hard working. No matter is it real break or imagined only.
I don't know what is the problem to communicate with CRKT, I have replay each time call them.


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Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 01-18-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 01-18-2000).]
 
Has the blade shape itself been with us for a long time? Yes. Has it been with us in a knife with that guard, handle and blade shape? Not that I have seen. Look at the shape of the two knives overall. Gee sure look the same to me. Is it not interesting that one comes to market on the heels of the other? If anyone can show me a knife that looks just like those two that predates Mr. Perrin's design I would like to see it. I also find it interesting that no one wants to talk to Fred about the matter. I wonder why.


Regards,

Tom Carey
 
I totally agree with tom carrey. I am tired of design infringement.
mad.gif


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Hey! Lay off my Hosey COW!!!
 
Tom Carey summed up my thoughts on the subject also.

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Dennis Bible
 
I think that CRKT has been really great about collaborating with custom makers, such as Hammond, Carson, Halligan.... I`m not sure why people would assume that CRKT would suddenly start ripping off maker`s designs. I think that they have show a high degree of integrity in their business practices and would hate to have someone see a thread like this and make the assumption that CRKT is in the business of ripping off knife makers. A little homework would have shown that Russ Kommer's name has been associated with the Bear Claw from the start.

The question between Russ Kommer and Fred Perrin has nothing to do with CRKT, and is for Russ, Fred and whatever copyright lawyers to unravel. Everything else is pure opinion and conjecture. I`d hate to see CRKT "guilty by association" of copying other maker`s designs.



[This message has been edited by Steve B. (edited 01-18-2000).]
 
Originally posted by James Mattis:
I think I remember seeing little claw knives with finger-rings at knife shows several years ago, but I can't prove it. I think the concept may be older than either the Kommer or Perin models. Do any "old hands" remember?
Click to expand...

Here's a R.E. Lattimer Bear Claw that the owner says is over 20-30 years old.
View

I understand from the owner that Lattimer made a line of "claw" knives similar to this.

BTW, I am NOT trying to suggest that anyone copied Lattimer's design. I'd be willing to bet that there are even older models out there.



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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
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