Slipjoint forum - why ever not?

I think TF nailed it pretty well.

Some background. Last I heard in an article about 4 years old slipjoints or multiblades as they are also known are still the most collected style of knives with the Trapper pattern leading the way.

Here is a pic of some Case Classic Whittlers and a 3 bladed sowbelly. All of these have high carbon blades rather than stainless steel.
 

Attachments

  • pearlcc.jpg
    pearlcc.jpg
    80.2 KB · Views: 432
And some factory Doctor patterns (except for the Shadley at the lower left)
The top left is a Catteragus that is around 100 years old. There is also a Keen Cutter from the 40's and a couple of older Robesons in there too.
 

Attachments

  • 0011docs.jpg
    0011docs.jpg
    91.2 KB · Views: 691
Originally posted by Qvar
Well I suppose if there was a slipjoint forum I could go there and find out what a slipjoint is because as it stands right now I haven't got a clue. :rolleyes: Anyone want to tell me?
Click to expand...
Qvar,
You've probably figured it out by now, but a slipjoint is a folding knife that doesn't lock ... as others have described it, " A real pocket knife."
~Dan
 
Great explanation Dan!
Let's get into it a little more.

Taking some of the above knives as an example you will notice 3 pins going through the handle material. Note that the pin in the middle of the knife is located close to the bottom. That middle pin close to the bottom passes all the way through the knife securing the "back-spring(s) so that the ends of the springs will apply tension to the tang of each blade as it is opened and closed.

The quality of that tension and tang fit to the spring is known as the knife's "walk and talk". Ideally the blade snaps to an open or closed position so the "walk" is the distance that the blade seemingly travels on its own to the open, closed or half-stop (in some cases) position and the talk is the sound or thunk of the blade when it reaches one of those points.

Aside from the regular fit and finish (pins, handle material to frame and bolsters an additional art of the "slipjoint" or multiblade is the the tension of the back-spring against the geometry of the tang. When done right the blade snaps to it's intended position for a significant part of it's travel distance with a distinct sound.

In other words you can open the knife 3/4's of the way and the blade will travel the rest of the way on it's own due to the tension of the spring and the angle of contact of the spring on the tang of the blade. It is a very subtle thing to appreciate, but be careful if this type of thing is something you could get into, slipjoints are addicting :D. (Of course what knife is not to most of us.)

Not all slip joints have back-springs, but they all have springs. Some are internal leaf springs as in some models of Swiss Army Knives and other types that are known as barrel and lobster patterns where the leaf springs are internal and hidden by the handle material.

I know there are others who hang around here (makers and collectors as well as Bernard) that can expand or clarify but we have a start as far as a definition. Some of the more knowledgable folks on slipjoints in the world hang around here. (Bernard Levine and Bruce Voyles). Other well known "knife nuts" who have a tremendous amount of knowledge in this area and others are James Parker and Jim Sargent.
 
Originally posted by Bastid
Great explanation Dan!
Click to expand...
I'm not a smart man, Bastid, but I know sarcasm when I see it! :D

I was afraid that Qvar's question had gotten lost in the flurry of SLIPJOINT posts, so I just naturally took the opportunity to teach him everything I know. :o

Thanks for that intro to slipjoints, I learned from it, too.
 
Dan, sorry I really did not mean sarcasim. Seriously it was a good short explaination. Mine is kinda long and boring. - Gus
 
Bastid ... I know you meant it, but you're tooooo kind! (and I thought it was funny).

Seriously, I've heard Buzzbait and others refer to the "walk and talk" of the slipjoints, and didn't really know what the hell he was talking and walking about. It sounded cool, though, and I should have asked about it then, so .... thanks, seriously! Not boring at all. :)
Dan
 
who makes the nicest production slipjoints? queen? case tony bose?

I would love to have a small custom slipjoint

I know about Shadley, Rogers, Bradshaw etc....

Who makes a moderately priced one of good quality?
 
My modern favorites seem to be made by Queen (Queen, Winchester, Case Classics and Schatt & Morgan). I have heard a lot of good things about Mooremaker here. I have some Eye-brand and even a Henkels or two that are well done. I like the Case Bose a lot and have one of each, but they can be kinda pricey at first glance. Taking a look at how they are put together can change your mind, but they are pricey in that I think I would rather have a custom than two of them if it came down to it.

Overall quality for the production buck - I would go with Queen from what I have handled, but there are rumors others are about to step up (again :). It might get interesting.

Added later some of the Remington repros (if not most) that I have messed with are well done too. Camilus still makes em pretty well.
 
I would have to agree w/ Terrapin Flyer on the traffic issue. There appear to be several other forums w/ very limited use, yet they are still "Up". Give it a try, if we have moderators interested etc..., go with a trial run. Others started that way. If no sustained traffic after a period of time, than you were right, and it could be terminated. C'mon what do you say?
 
I'm very interested in a slipjoint forum.
That's most of my collection!
Maybe we could call it "Traditional Style Knives",
and include the old lockbacks also.

-RSC
 
Welcome, Rebus777.
Glad you found a reason to join the fray! I think I read that you like the copperheads and smaller hunters.(?) Could you give me an example of a good small hunter to look at (current production), or are you talking about customs? (I'm a rookie.)
Dan
 
I am interested, I just posted on the camillus board for informations on what looks like a new series of slipjoints. Just some thing different from the Mad Maxx or Fisk bowie, I guess.
 
. . . .don't give us a SJ forum. Call it a "Traditional Knife" forum. Include old-style hunters, lock-backs, stilettos, etc. It would take some of the sting out of not getting the "Red Headed, One Armed, Half Blind Stepchild Knife Forum" that I had so hoped for :rolleyes: . BTW, the "other" guy's SJ forum took off like crazy. Over 100 posts the first day and going strong.

GronK
 
I think you guys are whipping a dead horse with this thread. Spark didn't say, "No you can't have a SJ Forum." What he said was, "Show me there's enough interest!" What you need to do is to start some interesting threads here in the General Forum going, and don't tell him there's an interest, but show him.
:rolleyes:

Slipjoints are of particular interest to me, but I don't see that many threads for me to post to. I don't have the indepth knowledge to start the threads that will draw interest, but some of you should. The first knives I owned were all SJ's and I'm most interested in buying custom SJ's now for my collection. When I go to a show it's the makers of SJ's I find myself going back to over and over again. PJ Tomes is a buddy of mine and #1 on Wish List for SJ's, there's a half dozen other makers whose work I really admire.

Folks if you want a new forum, start some interesting threads and show Spark it's worth it.
 
I cannot say that if Spark opens a SJ forum,I will participate. That is just me,though.
The other night in chat,we asked Spark about Chris Carraci's forum. He told us that before he opened it,he asked if it would be closed in a few months. He opened it because he was told it would remain open. It didn't.

If you ask me,Spark seems to be getting tired of opening new forums,and then having to close them a short time later due to lack of interest.

Edited to add:
No the Carraci forum was not closed due to lack of interest. It was a mutual decision between two parties.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top