Knife Terminology

[Blues]

Thanks, Charlie. Nicely done.

 

[malextwo]

Clear this up for me... If it's a "swell-end" jack with a "curvy" side, (waynorth post #111) isn't that a "teardrop" jack?

Mike

 

[waynorth]

It is confusing. I have just gotten it straight myself. The consensus seems to be;
If it's got straight sides and a squared off top bolster, and gets wider at the bottom, it's a REGULAR jack. If it gets wider at the bottom in a CURVY fashion, it's a swell-end or a teardrop. The terms, it seems are interchangeable. I thought there was a difference between swell end and teardrop, but those who have studied and written way more than I have say not.
MaleX all this stuff is arguable IMO! The Winchester Catalog called Kerry's regular jack a "swell-end"!!! So you can point to those words in print and say that's proof I am wrong.
But I think Winchester thought the term "regular jack" wouldn't sell as many knives! Historical HYPE if you ask me!
I think I've said the opposite in past posts over the years, about swell-end versus teardrop. Heck, I even spell them a couple of different ways, I was noticing! For my inconsistencies, I apologize.
It all boils down to us agreeing on the language, so we can move on to bigger an better things.
So have I cleared anything up, or made it worse??

 

[KnifeHead]

I agree with Charlie on the swell end/teardrop nomenclature. Possibly "teardrop" came later to define the description better than "swell end". "Regular" and "swell end" and "sleeve board" all seem to be fairly ambiguous descriptions to me but "teardrop" invokes an image in my mind that matches up with the shape of what we call a Teardrop Jack.

Since we are discussing confusing issues, what do you call a regular jack with extra long bolsters? A BARLOW!

 

[waynorth]

To illustrate the Regular Jack-Barlow relationship, here's a pair; one of each!

Now to clarify the term "sleeveboard" and help to make it less ambiguous, here are some examples;
SLEEVEBOARDS

NOW, to throw us back into a little confusion <G>, what do you get when you put long bolsters on a sleeveboard??
We are back to a Barlow!!!
Here are some to see, along with sleeveboards for comparison;

I've never heard anyone refer to a "sleeveboard barlow", but I guess you can stretch this terminology, if you really want to. . . .too confusing for me;-)!

 

[KnifeHead]

NICE! I see you tried to trick us with that one with the blades on the big end. You sly dog! Nice array of kneyeves BTW.

 

[waynorth]

A sleeveboard is a small ironing board used for ironing shirtsleeves. I remember my Mom had an ironing board that folded out of the wall, and a sleeveboard would fold down on top of it, if needed.
If anyone has a picture of one of those sleeveboards, please post it, and it will be obvious where the name comes from.
As you see from my examples the blades can pivot from either end, the wider, or the narrower end.

 

[waynorth]

I like your spelling of kn-eye-ves, Kerry! You got me for a while there!!

 

[Blues]

A sleeveboard is a small ironing board used for ironing shirtsleeves. I remember my Mom had an ironing board that folded out of the wall, and a sleeveboard would fold down on top of it, if needed.
If anyone has a picture of one of those sleeveboards, please post it, and it will be obvious where the name comes from.

 

[SHEBOP]

There's a wealth of cool info here! I Learn something new every visit! Your posts are anticipated & very much appreciated!
Again, thanks for sharing!

 

[waynorth]

So, I hope everyone saw the actual sleeveboard that Blues posted, sitting on top of the ironing board.
Wrapping up the simpler handle patterns, this next one goes back a long way. Ancient examples of folding knives have been found with this simple general shape. And it is very UN-ambiguous in name;

The Equal End Jack!

These are pre-WWII, with the most often seen Spear main blades, and pen secondaries.

At 3 1/4" and 4 1/4" these represent large and small examples. A more usual size would be in the 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 inch range.

 

[Peregrin]

This is a great thread waynorth. I'd like to thank you and all the others who contribute to our greater knowledge of the slip joint folder.

 

[VCM3]

From top to bottom:

Joseph Allen and Sons
Robeson Shuredge
Cattaraugus
Miller Brothers

Charlie,can you please identify the types of jacknives these are,for everyone,I'm not sure what they are correctly called,Thanks,
-Vince

 

[VCM3]

Top to bottom :

Hibbard , Spencer, Bartlett

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett - OVB

Empire

Kutmaster

Charlie,can you please identify the types of jacknives these are,for everyone,I'm not sure what they are correctly called,Thanks,
-Vince

 

[VCM3]

Top to bottom :

Cattaraugus
Henry Sears and Son
Napanoch
New York Knife Co.

This is a Challenge Cutlery Co.

English Jacks ?

 

[waynorth]

From top to bottom:

Joseph Allen and Sons
Robeson Shuredge
Cattaraugus
Miller Brothers

Charlie,can you please identify the types of jacknives these are,for everyone,I'm not sure what they are correctly called,Thanks,
-Vince

The black background obscures the profile of these nice old knives a bit, but I'll give it a shot. It's like a surprise quiz my math teacher, Mr. Kessler used to torture us with!!
Assuming less than 4" in length;
The Joseph Allen looks like a Slim Jack, the Robey is a Regular Jack, the Catt is an Equal End, and that very cool Miller Bros, is (drum roll please!) a Curved Regular Jack. As opposed to a swayback, which, I'm sure you know Vince, would curve the other way!!
How'd I do??

 

[waynorth]

Top to bottom :

Hibbard , Spencer, Bartlett

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett - OVB

Empire

Kutmaster

Charlie,can you please identify the types of jacknives these are,for everyone,I'm not sure what they are correctly called,Thanks,
-Vince

In order, these are; Equal End, Regular, Equal End, and Eureka Jacks!
I love that name, Eureka! That's a sweet knife!!

 

[waynorth]

Top to bottom :

Cattaraugus
Henry Sears and Son
Napanoch
New York Knife Co.

This is a Challenge Cutlery Co.

English Jacks ?

Next four;
A Regular (bolster is too square to call it a sleeveboard) Jack,
A Swell End (or Teardrop) Jack,
An Equal End Jack,
Fourth, a Balloon Jack.
The next picture is definitely a swell end, but if it's 4" or more, I guess we should call it an English Jack.
That sure is a nice collection Vince! With that black background, it looks like more knives from your "mystery" source?? Wish they were mine!!

 

[smiling-knife]

Those are real beauties VCM3. Please tell us more about Eureka jacks waynorth. Thanks.

 

[VCM3]

Charlie,Thanks & I knew you could EASILY pull it off.
I would be happy with just one of them.
-Vince