Knife Terminology

Bernie Levine worked for many years to get the pattern definitions down, so I like using his book, LG4 as a reference. He states that a Texas jack is named so, because of its size, so 3 7/8" or larger gets that moniker. A shorter knife such as the one compared to the Texas jack from my previous post here in this picture, would be called a Premium Jack. It's based on a Premium Stock also.
Confused yet?? He says that early last century, my two blade above would have been called a Premium Stockman (just like I want to call it!), but that name disappeared in favor of Texas Jack!
SchradeSerp2Blades.jpg

Just to confirm, we have a Pemium Jack ( a subcategory of double end jack) sitting above a Texas Jack, sometimes called a Moose!
Now I'm totally confused!!
 
This is something that I find somewhat discouraging with pattern naming. In the 14th Edition of the Price Guide to Collector Knives, this old Winchester, pattern #2982, is listed as a Texas Jack.

winchestertexasjack1.jpg
 
This is something that I find somewhat discouraging with pattern naming. In the 14th Edition of the Price Guide to Collector Knives, this old Winchester, pattern #2982, is listed as a Texas Jack

I think they are wrong Kerry.
 
Nice collection JiveD! It seems a Texas Jack can be a single end or a double end!
So Blues, the double end can also be called a Moose if the second blade is a spey, according to Dick? Or would you say Moose IS the correct name??
 
They are wrong or this knife has blades in it from another pattern :mad:
 
This is something that I find somewhat discouraging with pattern naming. In the 14th Edition of the Price Guide to Collector Knives, this old Winchester, pattern #2982, is listed as a Texas Jack.

winchestertexasjack1.jpg

Just curious, Kerry, how long is that Winchester??
 
Nice collection JiveD! It seems a Texas Jack can be a single end or a double end!
So Blues, the double end can also be called a Moose if the second blade is a spey, according to Dick? Or would you say Moose IS the correct name??

Charlie, I have split the difference between BRL and Steve Dick.
I ordinarily consider the Moose pattern to be the the one with a spey; the Texas Jack to be the one with the spear point.

I find that personally convenient because this way we don't use two different names for the same exact knife.

The ones I consider as fitting these patterns have blades of essentially equal length, one emanating from each end of the knife as opposed to a standard jackknife.

All that said, I feel that I'm in no position to argue with either BRL or Steve Dick both of whom have forgotten way more than I'll ever know.

(And I've never considered the image presented above by Kerry, or Case's version of the Texas Jack as actually being a Texas Jack. I'd call Case's version a Premium Jack.)

So, is it all clear as mud now? :rolleyes: :D
 
Charlie, I have split the difference between BRL and Steve Dick.
I ordinarily consider the Moose pattern to be the the one with a spey; the Texas Jack to be the one with the spear point.

I find that personally convenient because this way we don't use two different names for the same exact knife.

The ones I consider as fitting these patterns have blades of essentially equal length, one emanating from each end of the knife as opposed to a standard jackknife.

All that said, I feel that I'm in no position to argue with either BRL or Steve Dick both of whom have forgotten way more than I'll ever know.

(And I've never considered the image presented above by Kerry, or Case's version of the Texas Jack as actually being a Texas Jack. I'd call Case's version a Premium Jack.)

So, is it all clear as mud now? :rolleyes: :D
YES, clear as MUD!
 
...

(And I've never considered the image presented above by Kerry, or Case's version of the Texas Jack as actually being a Texas Jack. I'd call Case's version a Premium Jack.)

So, is it all clear as mud now? :rolleyes: :D

Me neither. Actually I would call it a Regular Jack.

Charlie, do you have an image of a Winchester #2982?
 
Moose
orig.jpg





Sowbelly Moose, AKA Sowbelly Texas Jack according to BRL:
orig.jpg
 
Me neither. Actually I would call it a Regular Jack.

Charlie, do you have an image of a Winchester #2982?

Kerry, I meant "Premium Jack" for the Case version, not the one you presented. I'd be fine with "regular jack" or "swell end jack" for your Winchester. :thumbup:
 
And just to confuse things more, this knife would not be a Moose or Texas Jack as it does not have the clip as the master.

This is referred to by BRL as a Swell Center Balloon which is a gussied up derivative of the cattle pattern.

orig.jpg
 
Why is the Case version called a "Premium Jack" or in a 3 blade version, a "Premium Stockman", is it the shape of the handle, or the blade configuration??
 
Why is the Case version called a "Premium Jack" or in a 3 blade version, a "Premium Stockman", is it the shape of the handle, or the blade configuration??

It's based on the handle pattern. The "premium" is a serpentine pattern. It was a step up from the equal-end or cattle pattern.
 
Actually, I like your approach, Elliot. It does clarify things. Are we developing the info for the definitive pattern guide or what!!??
Image for your knife coming up after my dinner, Kerry!
 
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