Pocket knives used in the oil field

[Big Dave]

I was wondering if there was particular pattern favored by people who worked in the oil field. My grandfather was in this industry.
Thanks,
Dave

 

[Bob W]

The guys on the drill rig, from what I've seen, carry Gas Station Specials. And I think that I was once witness to a horrific event - one of the drillers sharpening his pocketknife on a grinding wheel.

My own knife for around the rig and mudlogging trailer is an AG Russell Hunters Scalpel. Not much hunting going on, but it works great as a utility knife with the fixed blade and locking sheath.

 

[RobbW]

You wrote worked, not work, in the oild field. So I assume you're talking about your grandfather's generation. The Wildcat Driller was a popular knife then--it's an oversized folder that was hammered with a mallet to cut through drilling rig ropes.

 

[Absintheur]

Not sure about the oil fields but mu great-grandfather, then my grandfather carried this Kutmaster in the coal mines of Kenvir, Harlan County Kentucky...

 

[Zip7]

Down here on the Gulf Coast, I suspect most old time oilfield hands carried a rusty knife, because oilfield work here will corrode one in your pocket. Sweat + saltwater + corrosive chemicals + 12 hour shifts. But really, most likely one of the larger patterns - large stockman or trapper or a large hawkbill like above. I live in oil country, and have never seen any old timer carry that wildcat driller pattern.

Having roughnecked some myself, I can tell you - the ideal knife in all ways for offshore drilling rig work is a Spyderco Endura. So back in the day, they probably used the largest slipjoint they could find. A sodbuster would have been a good choice. Buck 110 when those came out.

 

[mnblade]

I was wondering if there was particular pattern favored by people who worked in the oil field. My grandfather was in this industry.

I would think this varied from generation to generation (Lord, we knife guys are a trendy lot!). When was your grandfather working the oil fields? If you're talking pre-1950 or so, I'd bet you would have found a lot of Barlow-type two-blade folders. Remember, guys who experienced the Great Depression weren't very likely to go out and buy the newest, latest, greatest ...... they'd tote what they had, what worked.