Larger Traditional Knife

Josh K

Josh K

Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
10,394
I'm looking for a larger traditional knife, around a 4" blade. A bit under or over wouldn't hurt either.

Problem is I've been having trouble finding anything, perhaps I'm not looking correctly?

Best I found was a Case Center Swell Jack, which while it fits the pattern I'm looking for (single blade, double bolstered) I would like to see if I can find the exact same thing with a long pull and different scales.
 
Case has 3 different swell center jacks, a granddaddy barlow, the folding hunter, and the large saddlehorn.

GEC has their model #23 Pioneer. Queen ans Schatt & Morgan have several choices as well.
 
Try Queen, they have more than a few larger knives in recent past production and current production. Right now Queen makes a Dan Burke designed barlow with a 4" D2 blade and bone handles. IIRC it has a long pull. Still available is a 4" toothpick in ATS34 in their Schatt and Morgan brand. Case makes a fine 4" toothpick that is still readily available.

If you want a more expensive option, the Case Bose Collaboration from two years ago, the Arkansas Hunter is about 3 1/2 inches and is still available. Also the 2000 Case Bose knife, the Yukon Jack, is a monster 4" and wide. It pops up for sale regularly on the resale market.
 
A daddy barlow sounds like it would meet your criteria. I've been pretty happy with the Queen Dan Burke that brownshoe mentioned.
 
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popedandy said:
A daddy barlow sounds like it would meet your criteria.
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I was looking at that as well.

Actually I found a really wonderful pattern page that is making it a bit easier. Most of the time they list by handle material, but I'm less interested in getting second cut stag vs. jigged bone and more interested in finding a pattern that "fits" me well.
 
Have a look at any of the folding hunters. I believe all the various manufacturers make them or have made them recently. Also the Pioneer #23 models from GEC.
 
That's a tough size. I can't think of many knives that have a 4" blade. The Queen Dan Burke barlow is an excellent suggestion. You can probably find a Laguiole with a blade that long.

Here's one with a 4" blade. A.G. Russell doesn't sell this knife anymore, but if you look around you can find one on the secondary market. That's how I got this one.

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What's your budget? If you have the coin you can get custom made to your specs. This Don Morrow trapper also has a 4" blade.

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- Christian
 
kamagong said:
That's a tough size. I can't think of many knives that have a 4" blade. The Queen Dan Burke barlow is an excellent suggestion. You can probably find a Laguiole with a blade that long.

Here's one with a 4" blade. A.G. Russell doesn't sell this knife anymore, but if you look around you can find one on the secondary market. That's how I got this one.

agrusselltexasrangertoo.jpg


What's your budget? If you have the coin you can get custom made to your specs. This Don Morrow trapper also has a 4" blade.

donmorrowtrapper.jpg


- Christian
Click to expand...

Budget isn't custom yet, though ideally that is where it will end up.

I think I'm going to go for the Case Swell Center Jack. :) I would love to know if any other patterns in this size can be found though.
 
As Christian noted, a 4" blade is hard to find and damn big on a pocket knife:D

You might like to check Queen Cutlery's English Jack, this has large bolsters and is 4.5" closed so the blade must be near your size requirement. It is a 2 bladed knife though but very nice looking with longpull.
 
There are a lot of good knives that fit that general criteria....

End capped narrows the field quite a bit; single blade even further, but the long pull really cuts the choices down. I believe the Moore Maker has a single bladed brother; but the S&M Saddlehorn is the only one I can think of that matches all criteria. Might be a Winchester, but I can't think of one.

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Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net
 
How about the largest sodbusters?

Kissing krane makes a large one, as does Eye-Brand. I think the larger Eye-Brand is about 5 inches closed, and that should give you a 4 inch blade with no problem.

Okapi makes an old time lockblade in the Navaja style, with the ring lock.

Of course, there's the number 12 Opinel. Good coat pocket knife.

All very very traditional in some parts of the world.

Carl.
 
Looks like I'm in the same situation, trying to find a nice larger single blade. Folding hunters are a little too big maybe so I've been looking at Grandaddy Barlows too.

The Queen Dan Burke is pretty tempting, but I'm a little hesistant because of all the talk on the forum about how Queen leaves the edges thick and dull. Not liking the idea of reprofiling D-2 for days. But if it comes to it I must.
 
This one is in one of Mike's pics above as well. It has a 4 1/2 inch blade and ATS 31 steel.

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Besides the the already mentioned patterns you may try also some older European, specifically some Hungarian patterns too:

The knives of the late Imre Polyák (now made in the workshop of his son) are frequently big, many of those with large blades.
Google "Polyak knives" and you will find that the "Classic", the "Vlad" and the large "Surgeon" pattern all have a 4" blade.
These are all single blade jack knives, with very strong backsprings.
 
If you want a large knife you can always get a 'toenail.
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I'm sure Mr. Bose can give you the specs on this beauty.
 
Case/Bose Arkansas Hunter. I do not know of a better large factory slipjoint.

You can get one for a tad over $200 if patient, and its one of the best buys on a large folder IMO.
 
Some people don't like the origin of this one but it is a big sucker with long pulls and great build quality.
AG Russell Texas Ranger 2009.

What fits. Traditional, long pull, >4", end-capped, sharp
What might not fit. Scale material (micarta), too big, China-made, lockback?.

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Most 5" Texas toothpicks fit your bill, except the long pull.
 
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