Question about shield orientation

[AlwaysTomboy]

Here's a silly question that I've been wanting to ask but couldn't find an appropriate place to do so.

Why are shields on traditionals oriented the way they are? The shield is right side up when the knife is resting on the spring, but that means that when the knife is open and in use, the shield is upside down. I'd rather have the shield right side up when I'm using it but I'm thinking there's gotta be a reason it's that way.

I know y'all know what I mean, but photos make every thread better and the question popped into my head again while using this one for lunch prep earlier.

 

[afishhunter]

Don't know ...
Tradition, maybe? Does not make a lot of sense to me, either.

 

[fishcakes]

Im not sure. My guess would be for when the knives are in a display case maybe? Knives are almost always in a case springs down or on their sides blades closed

 

[Railsplitter]

Im not sure. My guess would be for when the knives are in a display case maybe? Knives are almost always in a case springs down or on their sides blades closed

I was thinking the same thing but then I wondered "Are the shields placed as they are because of the way the knives are displayed or are the knives displayed that way because of the shield orientation"?

Personally, I'm so accustomed to the common orientation of shields that a shield turned the other way would look awkward to me.

 

[fishcakes]

I was thinking the same thing but then I wondered "Are the shields placed as they are because of the way the knives are displayed or are the knives displayed that way because of the shield orientation"?

Personally, I'm so accustomed to the common orientation of shields that a shield turned the other way would look awkward to me.

Honestly im not sure. But thats the only reason i can think of. It allows stores to display knives in a way that customers can easily see the maker/ pattern name without the knives having to be open, which would take up more shelf space.

Im sure theres another reason, but i just cant think what it could be. Most likely somebody in heres got the real answer and will be able to educate us all

 

[Macchina]

I always thought it was for the way they were displayed too, but looking at old catalog pages (the way many knives were bought), they're displayed edge down:

 

[Zuchus]

The shield fell out of my Case delrin peanut a number of years ago. I glued it back in, but without paying much attention, I put it in "upside down" as that seemed the natural way, with "Case" right side up when I was using it. It was only later I noticed, when compared to all my other knives that this one was "upside down". But I like it better this way. Of course, I'm not going to pry the shields out of all my other knives and flip them, but it does seem odd to me that the traditional way is truly "upside down"!

 

[Buzzbait]

Older scout knives, from before WW2, usually have the shield upside down in comparison to knives made today.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

Okay, I feel better about not knowing the answer myself, now.

The shield fell out of my Case delrin peanut a number of years ago. I glued it back in, but without paying much attention, I put it in "upside down" as that seemed the natural way, with "Case" right side up when I was using it. It was only later I noticed, when compared to all my other knives that this one was "upside down". But I like it better this way. Of course, I'm not going to pry the shields out of all my other knives and flip them, but it does seem odd to me that the traditional way is truly "upside down"!

I would totally do the same. Then again, I installed the chair rail in my kitchen upside down compared to how most folks do because I thought it looked better my way.

Older scout knives, from before WW2, usually have the shield upside down in comparison to knives made today.

Does the switch from pre-WWI right side up for the user shields to post-WWII upside down to user shields coincide with folks being more likely to buy from brick and mortar stores rather than catalogs, maybe? Shields right side up for the user when predominately sold from catalogs, and then switched to right side up for display when predominately sold in stores. I have no idea. Just wild guessing.

Thanks for the replies, all. It's quite the (admittedly very trivial) mystery.

 

[Bartleby]

I always imagined it was so they were right side up in the glass box at the hardware store. Strangely, most Asian makers seem to invert them.

 

[AndreLinoge]

Heres another wrench for your gears: sheilds are only upside down when they have writing, and then only some writing. What way is 'up' on a case diamond shaped shield with "XX" on it?