Shake a (Dog) Leg!

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Jan 5, 2011
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I've been thinking about the dogleg pattern recently, and have a few questions that some of you may be able to answer...

Are there or have there ever been any distinguishing differences between a 'dogleg' and 'serpentine' pattern or are the terms synonymous? I'm thinking that a dogleg has two different sized bolsters whereas a sepentine has equal sized ends. Am I on point or out to lunch? Do you think the wavy handle inception came about to better seat a secondary blade on jacks? Better ergos? Design flair? Which pattern emerged first?

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GEC #56: Dogleg?

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Case Small Texas Jack: Serpentine?

If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, or maybe just want to chat about the good ol' dogleg pattern and/or share some pics, please post up!

Thanks for reading! :)

-Brett
 
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I really like my #56 dogleg jack. I assumed that the bolsters being different sizes was a requirement of being a dogleg but I don't know that for sure. So your question is of interest to to me. I look forward to reading the responses.
How do you like the Frontier Bone? I am always impressed at how it changes shades when looked at from different angels.

Jim
 
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I really like my #56 dogleg jack. I assumed that the bolsters being different sizes was a requirement of being a dogleg but I don't know that for sure. So your question is of interest to to me. I look forward to reading the responses.
How do you like the Frontier Bone? I am always impressed at how it changes shades when looked at from different angels.

Jim

I dig the Frontier Bone, Jim. The entire design makes for a stout little knife, and partnered with the Frontier Bone covers, it makes me think of a bulldog for some reason. I reckon that makes it my little bulldog leg jack... :D The blade-to-handle angle is simply fantastic for utility cutting/slicing, imo. Very comfortable.

-Brett
 
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Schrade called this little fella a Dogleg jack. Folks on this forum would probably call it a Peanut. :confused: Could it be that a Peanut is also a Dogleg?

Jim
 
I think Peanuts are technically doglegs; a very small example of a dogleg.

I'm similarly interested in the distinction between serpentines and doglegs. I agree that doglegs are distinguished by not being even-ends, but I'm not sure serpentines are necessarily even-ends. Maybe it's a "square is a rectangle but a rectangle is not a square" situation? Someone on this forum more knowledgeable than I is bound to know.
 
You're on the right track, different size bolsters, with the head bolster being larger than the pivot bolster. Also note that the shape of the S curve is mirror image in the two that you show. The dogleg has the head end curving away from the blade.
 
That's a good point about the opposite curves; it's got me wondering whether a dogleg would be more comfortable/ergonomic in hand than the serpentine I tend to favor.
 
You're on the right track, different size bolsters, with the head bolster being larger than the pivot bolster. Also note that the shape of the S curve is mirror image in the two that you show. The dogleg has the head end curving away from the blade.

Good observation on the curve direction on the handle!

Interesting how the GEC #57 Geppetto Whittler uses an identical frame to the #56 but, with the master blade on the opposite end, the curve direction is reversed. A reversed dogleg inverted version? This could get confusing... :D

-Brett
 
Looks like Whittlers can go either way.

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Serpentine: Boker Tree Brand 'Beer Barrel' Whittler

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Weird hybrid dogleg (?): Queen #47 Humpback Whittler

Looking through my collection, I realize that I have but four folders that I'd now consider serpentine: the Boker above, two Case Stockmen, and a Case Texas Jack. Hadn't really paid attention until now.

-Brett
 
I've always thought the main difference was the direction of the curves. The serpentine trapper/peanut frame has a convex spine at the butt of the knife, making it more comfortable to hold blade down/away for push cutting. The dogleg has a concave spine, like a congress or swayback, so more comfortable for draw cuts, like cuttin' a plug o' 'baccy.
 
I've always thought the main difference was the direction of the curves. The serpentine trapper/peanut frame has a convex spine at the butt of the knife, making it more comfortable to hold blade down/away for push cutting. The dogleg has a concave spine, like a congress or swayback, so more comfortable for draw cuts, like cuttin' a plug o' 'baccy.

Except I've seen trappers described as doglegs! :confused:

I always thought doglegs were doglegs because, well, they look like doglegs: a burly shoulder curving and tapering to a skinny foreleg.
 
I always thought doglegs were doglegs because, well, they look like doglegs: a burly shoulder curving and tapering to a skinny foreleg.

This has always been my understanding. Whereas a serpentine pattern should be more sinuous and, well, serpentine in shape.
 
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I know that blade-shape, configuration and handle all play an important role in classifying a traditional knife, but do you think blade-trumps-handle in most cases? :confused:

The term "Jack" is pretty generic and often means two blades or more, pinned on the same end--regardless if the handle is a dogleg, sleeveboard, coke bottle/swell center, equal end/cigar, etc. But a Jack with equal sized blades is often referred to as a "Trapper" (although most I've seen have been doglegs.) And a "Trapper" pinned at opposite ends might be called a "Muskrat" (must a Muskrat have two identical blades? Is something like a GEC #76 clip-and-spey a "Muskrat" or a "Moose"?) A "Stockman" also seems to be identified by the blade configuration. Maybe same with a "Whittler"? :distrust:

On the other side of the coin, there are patterns that are almost entirely classified by handle: Canoe, Congress, Sunfish/Elephant Toe... even Sway Back handles seem to get top billing over blade configuration.

I think I'm over-analyzing things and, admittedly, I'm not altogether sure where I'm going with all this... :o. Thanks for all the input and patience with my curious questions! :thumbup::)

-Brett
 
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