Most iconic American folders

[baxtrom]

Hi,
Which are the most iconic traditional American folders still in production? Barlows, canoes, stockmans, what have you. Any special brands, models stand out?

 

[Rich S]

Russell barlow; now any barlow.

 

[baxtrom]

Russell barlow; now any barlow.

thanks, will have to read up on Russel barrows. I assume they are not in business now?

edit, guess it’s these guys Russel knives

Found this post btw All about pocket knives

 

[Lesknife]

Buck 110

 

[baxtrom]

Buck 110

Yes! I got one of those

 

[Rich S]

No, not AG Russell. The Original Russell Knives. Out of pocket knife business for a long time. Company bought by Dexter years ago. Still make kitchen and a few hunting under the Dexter-Russell name.

 

[afishhunter]

Barlow, stockman, and trapper.

 

[JohnDF]

I'll agree with my fellow Porchers... has to be the Barlow, Stockman, and Trapper.
Case knives are also an American Tradition. You can still get these well made knives at fair prices(Barlows are getting scarce though)

 

[Henry Beige]

Stockman, trapper, Barlow and sodbuster

 

[baxtrom]

Stockman, trapper, Barlow and sodbuster

I find the sodbuster very attractive for some reason, I have the pocket worn whiskey.

 

[JohnDF]

and sodbuster

I was going to include the Sodbuster, it's certainly well represented in American tradition.
In the end I didn't include because I think of it more as a European design, but I guess the Barlow was too.

 

[afishhunter]

Barlows are getting scarce though

Maybe if Case took them "out of the vault" and returned them to regular production ...

Of course the collectors wouldn't like that, so it'll never happen.

 

[JohnDF]

Maybe if Case took them "out of the vault" and returned them to regular production

I completely agree.

 

[dantzk8]

Stockman, Trapper and the underrated Congress.

Dan.

 

[redsparrow]

All the above plus Cattle Knife, Jacks and Pen knife.

 

[rhino]

Buck 110 and 112
Stockman
Trapper

 

[Henry Beige]

I was going to include the Sodbuster, it's certainly well represented in American tradition.
In the end I didn't include because I think of it more as a European design, but I guess the Barlow was too.

I think its diverse European heritage is part of what makes it iconic. Almost every country has its Hippekniep or work knife. Even the Buck 110 takes its basic lines from the sodbuster. When I bought my first adult knife in 1970, a Löwen Messer Hippekniep, I had no idea what I was buying; I just needed a knife. Nevertheless, its lines had a rightness and familiarity to them. I do not remember a lot of detail from those days, but I do recall thinking that the knife was a classic on some level.

 

[baxtrom]

So I ordered a couple of inexpensive folders today, a stockman and a trapper from Rough Rider. Surely made in China but since I intend to use them without worrying to much about scratches I went for these instead of Case et al

 

[black mamba]

I believe the Case #54 pattern trapper has outsold all others in American cutlery. Barlows would probably be second. While the stockman is iconic and my personal favorite, I doubt they've sold as many as some others. As a "johnny-come-lately" the Buck 110 for sure.

 

[afishhunter]

baxtrom
The RR are indeed made in China. However, they are "inexpensive" not "cheap".
There is a difference.
They do have a fairly good reputation here on the porch. You might fnd this thread ineresting.
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/rough-rider-related-slipjoints

Thanks to the greed of Photobucket and the resulting fiasco a couple years ago, a lot of the pictures in the first 100 ~ 125 pages are no more. However, you can still read the comments.

The concensus is the are a cut or two above their price point.