Recommendation for slipjoint with a 'Nail File'

H

hotrodz

Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
27
I've always thought of a nail file as a waste of good blade space on a knife...until now. I have started teaching myself to play acoustic guitar and like the sound of fingerpicking instead of a plastic pick. Thus, I have let my nails grow a little longer than I'm used to. They tend to get nicked up really easy when I'm working, and it would be great to have a 'quick fix' in my pocket. Searches here have not brought up what I'm looking for, and searches on the big auction site bring up a bunch of crappy keychain advertising lobsters.

So, I'll lay out my list of wants and hopefully you'll steer me towards a new pocket companion.
-Traditional slipjoint in the 3.25-3.5" range closed. Barlows & Camps probably too weighty.
-I know SAK would be the obvious answer, but I'm looking for something more traditional.
-Prefer jigged bone and nickel silver bolsters.
-Prefer carbon blades, but stainless will probably work.
-Prefer clip primary for slicing my lunch apple daily.
-Would love a mini clip secondary along with the nail file (in a whittler pattern?)
-This will be an EDC 'user'. I'm looking for inexpensive quality, not a fancy collectible.
---Please let me know if there is a particular 'pattern' I should be searching for.
 
I don't know that such a knife exists. Outside of SAKs, Leatherman style multi-tools, and keychain tools, you just don't see this kind of thing anymore. If you peruse the "Old Knives" thread stickied at the top of this forum, you'll see all kinds of old pocket knives with grooming blades. Congresses, whittlers, lobsters, pens, etc. But they're all old, from cutlers that closed down decades ago.

I'm not 100% certain that such a knife doesn't exist, but I'd be surprised if it does because if it did I'd probably already own one. I've looked. A lot.
 
There are a lot of modern lobsters that are junk but there are some exceptionally well made oldies. 100 years ago, gunstock lobster whittlers were one of the most expensive and high quality patterns you could buy. The pattern is under appreciated today. But you mention pealing an apple and using the small blades would be tedious for that purpose.

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Modern, vintage and antique knives from Victorinox are/were made with horn, pear and wood covers. Some are over 100 years old but they will not be inexpensive. The modern examples with wood covers should be affordable.

Antique.
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Vintage. This particular one doesn't have a file but others do. Similar knives were made much more recently.
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Modern. Has a nail file (back is smooth).
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There are LOTS of vintage and antique knives with a manicure blade... including the whittler pattern that you ask about. This particular example has a spear main blade but there are others with clip blades.

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On the really old knives, the files were formed by hand with a chisel. This took a lot of labor.

I think some companies may have gotten the files from external sources but I haven't researched it. Schrade eventually started welding "flexible files" to tangs. I had one like in the ad below. It was a pretty well made but inexpensive knife.

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I can't think of any US knife manufacturers that make files. I suspect it's because they aren't equipped to manufacture them with modern methods. Long gone are the days of making files with a chisel.

The Victorinox Classic (previously mentioned) is a very handy knife to have on your keychain even if you carry another knife in your pocket.

That gives you a few examples to widen your searches.
 
Thanks for the responses. Nice examples. Seems like I'm always looking for things that dont exist. Two knives makes sense if I weren't trying to go the minimalist route with all the other junk I need to carry in my pockets. If I could order it up, could I have a Case 6308 or a Schrade 863 with a nail file?...yeah, wish it were that easy. Thanks again. Keep the ideas coming if anybody has any more.
 
Navy knife!

waynorth said:
There are older ones, and I have heard these WWI era knives referred to as the new knife for the Navy.*
Post yours please! Many companies made them, and they are remarkably similar brand-to-brand according to Mike Silvey (below). Camillus alone made over 150,000 of them, so they are around, although it is really hard to find them with full, squared blades. Here we see one from Case, and one from Robeson.
I guess a seaman was issued a knife to cut rope, with a manicure blade to help him pass imuster!

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*"Pocket Knives of the U.S.Military" by Mike Silvey.
Click to expand...
 
I've been looking at the SAK's today. While they are cool knives and very useful, they just don't speak to me visually like an old traditional. It did lead me to an interesting idea though. What if I were to take my current Case 6308 and somehow cut some type of file pattern into the 'back spine' of one of the secondaries? Using it with the blade in the closed position would seem to work...after all, I am just touching up a jagged nail, not reshaping all ten. Not sure what I would use to cut such a fine file pattern and not sure I am brave enough to modify a perfectly good knife...but that would be the best of both worlds for me. I dont think I would like the pocket feel if I were to modify the spine of the main blade, but since the secondaries are recessed lower, that shouldn't be a tactile problem. What are your thoughts?

Pictures are from SAKWiki
Multipurpose Hook
hook.jpg
(since 1991) multipurpose hook
(since 1998) multipurpose hook with file *

Discontinued long nail file
show_image.php
 
Good point about the hardening. An oldie is what I prefer, just cant find the proper size, configuration, etc. that I listed originally. Love the look of the Navy knife, but it "might" be too large for front pocket carry (for me) along with the other items I carry. What is the closed length on those and pretty comparable to Barlow size/weight maybe? Would love to have a third small blade, but I guess beggars cant be choosers...
 
I don't know the size off hand but the ones in the photo are large. A whittler will be smaller and have a third small blade. With the secondary market it does take a lot of searching and patience to find something particular in good condition. And you need to know when to jump on something or you'll get "sniped" by another bidder. Levine's Guide / Blades Guide is a good reference on oldies. 4th Edition is preferred since was the last edition by Levine. If you search, you can even find a download of a later edition after Levine stopped working on it and it was renamed Blade's Guide.
 
ScottK said:
A Victorinox executive is a bit larger option than the classic and it has a nice nail file.

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Agreed, this knife in Alox is a great piece and very functional. ETA the orange peeler screwdriver is one of the best I've ever used.

oldtymer said:
Get a SAK Cadet, you will not be disappointed.
Click to expand...

Also one I have and another great option if you cant find an old traditional knife like you've described.

Keep lookin' for an older Lobster with the nail file on the backside. I find them all the time and usually for $10-$25 you can find an up to 50 y/o old English or German made manicure knife which generally don't get abused and press it into service for another 50 years.

This Schrade Cut comin from Walden was a pearl model Equal End Jack where the scales were all cracked and broken and the manicure blade was broke. 25-45 mins. Later and I had this and all for under $5.

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Here's another one, an LF&C Lobster I found for about $5, all it needed was a cleanup and sharpening.

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Or maybe you'll get lucky and find an old Gentleman's knife like this sleeveboard handmade around the mid 1800s by a Hungarian bladesmith. It's got gorgeous pearl with silver hardware and German Silver/Nickle Silver fittings, this was/is a beautiful piece made for a man of means. I got it for $10 out of a box lot at an estate auction some woman had bought for the linen napkins and lace doilies in the box.

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I think the point we're all makin' is that there's plenty of older knives out there and IIRC, Case made/makes a peanut sized knife with a bail, blade, scissors and a nail file. Schrade also made/makes something similar, along those same lines I'd see if Rough Rider has something similar too.

My best suggestion would be to scope out the flea markets and the auction sites for an older discontinued traditional model. (just my nickel's worth, your cost along with mileage may vary ;) )
 
Just try typing in “vintage pocket knife with file”, or “whittler with file”, “whittler file”, etc. on everyone’s favorite auction site. Also post in the wtb section of the exchange. Some of the silver SAKs with engine-turned covers are quite handsome. Heck, get a Cadet and have it re-covered with the scales of your heart’s desire. Lots of choices out there. Good luck!
Thanks, Neal
 
Thanks to all for the good suggestions. I will be patient and continue to search out the unique oldies. The SAK's are a viable option as well.
Erdelyi, that sweet LF&C pictured with the dice really speaks to me, although the Schrade is probably just about right if not too small.
Tiguy7, those jigged Italians are great...so unusual.
Supratentorial, several very nice options.
I love seeing everyone's pictures, so please keep them coming.
 
Just curious, is there an item on your keys that you could stick a piece of skateboard grip tape to without hindering it ?
This may not be a traditional and classy or elegant solution, but you would have a way to file your nails with zero noticeable change to your carry.
 
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