Is the era of multiple blades knife over?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
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Back in the good old days, so to speak, there was, for a time, a fascination among collectors for knives with multiple blades.

These days I notice these models are far and few in between.

I can understand the practicality of having a single blade or the functionality of a blade with combo edges (plain/serrated).

Are we seeing the twilight of such knives? Or was the multiple-blade knife just a passing fad?
 
Not while I live it isn't. Give me whittler, stockman and congress pattern with bone scales and carbon blades over these stainless, linerlock, high tech plastic jobs any day. Ever try to whittle a chain or ball in cage one of those? It does not work as good as the classics. Sure they are better for some things, but not all. Having a couple different blades on the same knife covers a lot more bases. Versatility is the key in my book. My two cents.
 
I like multibladed knives. I only have one, but that's because I can't find one that I want to buy. They still get my attention though. If I had more time to "whittle", I'd definately have one or two.

Chris
 
I have seen an steady increase in the interest since the early to mid 90's.

Evidence:
Established slipjoint makers who specialize in multi-blades have healthy waiting lists and they have been getting longer every year for at least 5 years. Even with new makers entering the field if the quality is there the knives sell.

For the last two years in a row the Best of Show and Best Folder at the Blade show (biggest show in the knife industry) have been awarded to Multi-blade slip joints. (both knives made by Richard Rogers).

Success of the Schatt & Morgan, Case Classic, and Winchester Series.
The knives have a degree of quality to them that has not been seen in traditional folders in decades.
 
I find it interesting that you would consider that multi-blade knives might be a fad. They have been around for centuries, not many fads last that long.

As far as I am concerned, I am seeing more slipjoints and even multi-blade locking knives than I have seen in years. There are many companies and tons of makers that are producing these knives. What we are seeing today are the best quality knives of this type that have ever been produced. Makers like Tony Bose produce knives that I lust after.

SAKs are among the most popular knives in the world and that is unlikely to change in the near future.

Do I think we are seeing the twilight of the multi-blade knife? Not by a long shot.
 
Gosh, I sure hope not!! The multipule blade knife's history is both long
and well recorded. The newer tactical knives are fairly new kid on the block
and I'd say that the re-newed intrest in multiple blade knives is a return to
the roots of folding knives. Given the choice between carrying just one knife
with one blade or a knife with multilple blades you can bet I'll carry (and do )
the multiple blade every time. So, no I don't think multiple blades are on the way
out. If anything they are where they have been forever in many, many pockets
doing the millions of jobs that folk's do everyday.
 
Gus and I are in complete agreement.
I must have 200 multi blade folders.LOVE THEM.CARRY THEM(not all at the same time);) ;) ;)
 
No. In fact, if anything, I believe they are going to be more popular in the next five years because people are getting saturated with "tactical" folding knives. At least, I know I am looking for a nice two bladed traditional myself.
 
Knives like many things in life are greatly influenced by fashion. Fashions change all the time. They move in different directions. Currently the fashion is for high tech locking knives more so than traditional pocket knives. That is not to say traditionals aren't popular (I prefer them myself) they are just currently less popular than locking high tech folders. who knows what the future will bring. It could come around in the other direction in several years. Twilight wouldn't describe the market position of traditionals in the least, though. Don't spend any time worrying about it. Just buy what you like. Take care.
 
Originally posted by Gus Kalanzis

For the last two years in a row the Best of Show and Best Folder at the Blade show (biggest show in the knife industry) have been awarded to Multi-blade slip joints. (both knives made by Richard Rogers).
Click to expand...

In addition to what Gus said, PJ Tomes has won Most Innovative Folder at Blade Show the last two years running and not with some Hi-Tech Tactical folder.

As for me, when I have the money there's a couple of fixed blades I want, but after that I'm going to be buying slipjoints and multi-blades. I've found when I go to shows that's what I find myself looking at most.

A Fad? I don't think so.
 
As much as I love tacticals and one handers in general, there is nothing like a traditional style multiblade knife or a traditional style slipjoint or lockback. The great thing is that there are truly multiblades of quality in every price range from $15 - $1500 made by both factories and custom makers. Personally, I like quality factory knives like Queen and inexpensive custom multiblades by makers like Gary Crowder. If I could swing it, I would pick up that gunstock by Tony Huffman in the exchange section. The one down side of multiblades is that they really seem slow after one gets used to one handers. I often carry both a traditional and a one hander because I hate to do without the convenience, however, sometimes I just carry traditional because I hate to feel dependent on anything. I guess I should stop rambling, the bottom line is that I love multiblades.
 
Multi-blades rock! Trappers, stockmen, peanuts, folding hunters, SAKs... Overall the most usefull of knives. Few jobs they can't handle. Stockmen and trappers are my favorite style knives.

Steve
 
I have noticed a decline in the number of folks I meet who carry a multi-blade pocket-knife (except Swiss Army knives and multi-tools).

I love old fashion folders and I own quite a few stockmans, trappers, and congresses, but the truth is I don't carry them much because the SAK I carry is so much more useful.
I tried to carry a Buck 303 stockman but everytime I found a loose screw, or whenever I wanted to tinker with some thing I wished I had a SAK or multi-tool with me instead of the stockman.
Maybe I would carry the stockman if I did more wood-work.


Good luck,
Allen.
 
The popularity of the Kershaw Double Cross indicates to me that the market is there for good quality and design at a reasonable price. I sure love mine and it is one of my EDC's.:D :D
 
I really doubt you should be concerned about the future for multi-blades: I know I've always got one in my left pocket. In fact, we are fortunate to be living in the greatest era ever of tools, in general; and slip-joints are just one of the mainstays. Hard to imagine doing w/o the cordless drill-driver and multitool, both just recently available.
 
I think the slipjoint has fallen by the wayside as the best choice for work, and was never great for defense. My first knife was an SAK in the left pocket. I added a one-hander clipped to the right soon after. I now carry a one-hander and replaced the SAK with a multi-tool. I see in the other posts an appreciation for multi-blades, but for beauty and tradition, not as a preferred choice for work. That said, my dad has carried a 3 blade Old Timer for as long as I remember (My first SAK was actually supposed to be for him, he NEVER carried it!), and I know few people who have worked as hard as him for 5 decades.
 
Love my tacticals, love my multi-blades. And I love my Dyad, the best of both worlds!
 
If by "Multi-blade" knife you mean something kinda like a Trapper, then yes, I think it's over - mostly because multi-blade knives take away options... for one thing it's hard to have a liner lock or frame lock multiblade... you are basically restricted to slipjoints and lockbacks

If by "multi-blade" knife you mean something along the lines of a multi-tool, then no, it's not over.

Victorinox is still selling a zillion SAKs, I still like my Leatherman Wave and am seriously considering one of those new locking Leatherman Supertool 200s, and the Gerbers seem to be doing well also - though i've never cared for 'em myself.
 
Multi-blade slip joints are here to stay. My wife bought me
a Buck 301 stockman many, many years ago. I have always carried
it. I would hate to tell my wife that I have never been completely
happy with the knife. The edge holding leaves a lot to be desired,
but I always had a sharp blade to use. And this is the beauty of
the three blade slip-joint.
Two years ago, I ordered a custom three blade stockman from Al Crenshaw. CPM 440V, mamoth ivory scales, and beautiful file work. I
love this knife! I carry it every day. I make a few sheath knives, but it's hard to carry them all the time. I just hope that we can
continue to carry the slip joints.We, as knife lovers, face tougher times.
 
Its been said somewhere on these forums before that slip joints are here to stay. The thing is, here on the forums you might think nobody talks about them, or maybe many people dont buy them from the big internet dealers. However, I think in the big picture that slip joints far out sell the typical "tac folder". Between wal-mart, hardware stores and similar places, they probably sell more slip joints in a month than many net dealers sell tac folders in a year. Remember, we are a very small fraction of knife buyers in the overall scheme of things. I would be willing to bet that Case and Schrade (both of whos main lines are slip joints) outsell all the specialty type companies (Spyderco, Sog and Benchmade) combined.

Slip joints may not be all the rage here, but overall sales figures probably leave the beloved tac jobs in the dust.
 
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