Is there a link to patterns and purpose?

MTHall720

MTHall720

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Sep 21, 2010
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I have been trying to find a good fairly comprehensive article on the major patterns and purposes for each. I have mainly focused on only three and realize that I have no clue really about the variety of patterns or designs from the past.
Thanks much in advance.
 
I'd recommend first reading Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values cover to cover. 4th Edition is recommended since it is the last edition controlled by Bernard Levine. If you're allergic to books or have a phobia of paper cuts, here's a digital version of the complete 7th edition here: www.selfdefensefund.com/wp-content/uploads/Knife-Price.pdf A pdf reader like Adobe acrobat can open the file. I think Google Chrome browser can also open the file.

There's a LOT of inaccurate information on the web. I'd skip everything else until you've finished reading Levine's Guide (Blade's Guide) cover to cover. If you finish it and still want to learn more, then you are officially an enthusiast and I recommend doing some digging in old catalogs, old journals, patents, etc.
 
As far as blade shapes go, that information is pretty widely available. Even some blade combinations just make sense by their arrangement, such as a jack or pen with one bellied blade and one straight edge.

But, the thinking behind the frame shape and size, and all of that - assuming the purpose for which isn't spelled out in the name - I'd be interested in knowing that stuff, too.

supratentorial said:
I'd recommend first reading Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values cover to cover. 4th Edition is recommended since it is the last edition controlled by Bernard Levine. If you're allergic to books or have a phobia of paper cuts, here's a digital version of the complete 7th edition here: www.selfdefensefund.com/wp-content/uploads/Knife-Price.pdf A pdf reader like Adobe acrobat can open the file. I think Google Chrome browser can also open the file.
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I downloaded this. Hefty, but I'll bet it will be enlightening...
 
Patterns are usually the handle and blades. If I understand correctly, the OP is asking about patterns, not blades. Here are some names of patterns and blades from old catalogs. Levine's Guide will have greater detail on these patterns and others not shown in the catalog scans.

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supratentorial said:
Patterns are usually the handle and blades. If I understand correctly, the OP is asking about patterns, not blades. Here are some names of patterns and blades from old catalogs. Levine's Guide will have greater detail on these patterns and others not shown in the catalog scans.

ktOkkMh.jpg


evgNWZZ.jpg
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Hey great info Supratentorial! I was looking over the different blades and I'm curious. Do you know what specifically The Eraser Blade was used for?? Well I'm pretty sure the name says it all but if you could elaborate I'd appreciate it thanks.
 
t.willy said:
Hey great info Supratentorial! I was looking over the different blades and I'm curious. Do you know what specifically The Eraser Blade was used for?? Well I'm pretty sure the name says it all but if you could elaborate I'd appreciate it thanks.
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supratentorial said:
Thanks! The blade was used to scrape ink off paper when writing.
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Also called a "pen" blade, yeah?
 
Thanks Very much everyone. I'm excited to read all of these sources. Will start looking for Levine's book.
 
MTHall720 said:
Thanks Very much everyone. I'm excited to read all of these sources. Will start looking for Levine's book.
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I suggest checking your local library. I just checked with our library system and found that they have the 4th edition available, so I'm going to borrow it and give it a read.
 
MTHall720 said:
I have been trying to find a good fairly comprehensive article on the major patterns and purposes for each. I have mainly focused on only three and realize that I have no clue really about the variety of patterns or designs from the past.
Thanks much in advance.
Click to expand...

A lot of good information has been provided in this thread, but as you read those sources, I'd advise taking the stated "purposes" with a grain of salt. Some of the stated purposes were originally just advertising ploys to get more people to buy a knife.

Back in the day, people got used to carrying a certain type of knife, no matter what they were going to use it for.
 
I agree. Most patterns were just an attempt to make something different than what the competition was making and sell knives. Any stories about some old trapper, hunter, rancher, farmer, sailor coming in with a new design that his trade couldn't live without was just marketing hype. I would make an exception for things like the boy scout knife.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I could read about this stuff all day lol.
 
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People bought and used what was available that suited their budget and preferences. For example, a lot of folks who never worked around cattle bought cattle knives and stock knives. Even some of the old ads for cattle knives targeted other folks. In fact, it was common in old ads to market knives with sheepfoot blades as good for carpentry. See the text in this old 1910 catalog.

VbH4JlS.jpg


A lot of companies used numbers to describe their patterns. Some companies made over a thousand patterns and a unique name for each would not have been practical. Although there was certainly advertising involved with names, there were some pattern names that were terms of art. These names were widely used by many companies. If you compare the scan from my post above to the scans below, you will see examples from 3 companies that show there was some standardization. Levine's Guide is mindful of these terms of art and also defines some collector terms. Some of the collector terms have become so popular that they have become standards in the present day knife industry.

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Blade names were much more standardized.... though there were sometimes minor differences.

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The purpose of Traditionals is to have numerous aesthetic patterns to lust after...It's a great success:D:cool:
 
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