Most Iconic American Fixed Blades

[abbydaddy]

Growing up with Schrade knives in my pocket I've always drawn to them. As a kid the fixed blade I wanted was always the Uncle Henry Golden Spike. Though it's made in China now under Taylor Brand, it's still a fine American knife to me.

I felt so proud when I bought my Golden Spike with my birthday money as a kid. I was so proud of that knife. I still think it is a gorgeous knife, though I don't remember anymore what happened to mine. I don't think of the Golden Spike as an iconic American knife in general, but I know that for me personally it is certainly an iconic knife.

 

[Bugdoc]

edbeau, nice collection of fixies. If I may ask, what is the model in the Western photo, second from the right? Thanks.

Second that edbeau. Amazing how the Bowie dwarfs what many would consider 'big' knives. What's the blade on that one measure?

 

[MT Damascus]

To me, the most iconic fixed blades were of the handmade variety from William Wales "Bill" Scagel, Bo Randall, and R.W. Loveless.

 

[Gevonovich]

Thanks Kris! I got a kick reading about William Wales "Bill" Scagel. I found lots of info on him but enjoyed this one the most...still reading but thought I would share.

http://americansocietyofarmscollect...s-Life-and-times-of-W-W-Scagel-B069_Lucie.pdf

 

[MT Damascus]

Very welcome Gev, thanks for the link, good stuff. Bill was Bo's inspiration to start making knives, and Bo was the reason Bob started to make knives, because Bob could not afford a Randall.

Kris

 

[onojoe]

Buck 119, at least for a kid growing up in the 70's

 

[r redden]

I don't know how I missed this thread but it's a great one. For me when I think of an iconic American fixed blade the Buck 119 always comes to mind.

 

[Cheesybrains]

A couple of my favorite fixed blades. USA made Schrade golden spike next to new production buck 119.


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[edbeau]

Bugdoc, sorry it too so long but the bowie is 14 7/8" overall and blade length of 9 1/2". The knife is high carbon steel.

 

[John A. Larsen]

Reference the photo of Burroughs holding the bowie, looks like it might be a Ruana, what do you think? John

 

[fergy]

A couple of my favorite fixed blades. USA made Schrade golden spike next to new production buck 119.


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I agree, two of my all time favorites. I always wanted a big knife, after Dundee's "real knife" version but couldn't afford to buy anything but the junk knock off. Once I started building knives from kits I built my own version but strayed a bunch from the traditional bowie. It is one handfull of a knife and fun to look at. But I still love the golden spike. I found one not long ago that was trashed, probably spent its life in a tool box or something and am trying to bring it back to life. Very fond of it.

 

[black mamba]

I would put the Bowie first because of its legendary status.


Second place to me is the Marbles Woodcraft style hunter. From its inception well through the 1980s every US knife manufacturer made one.

Third most iconic fixed is the Sharpfinger. Thousands made and copied, and the best small game knife I ever used.

 

[Modoc ED]

I think the Buck 119 Special falls into the most iconic american made fixed blade category. It's been said that the Buck 119 was the most carried knife next to the issued K-Bar in Viet Nam.