Slipjoint terminology

[Dr van Nostrom]

Can someone please define jack knife for me? Is it a pattern or a generic name for all slipjoints?

 

[bob bowie]

It's used more like a generic term now, It use to mean a simple plain jane sturdy folder, with the blade(s) located at one end. There are a few that have blades on opposite ends, Though.



HTH.

 

[Dr van Nostrom]

Thanks Bob

 

[knifeaholic]

T build on what Bob said, American knife manufacturers adopted the convention that a "jack" is a one or two blade folder with (in the case of two blades), both blades pivoting at one end. A "pen" by contrast is a smaller two-blade with one blade at each end.

Sometimes a larger huskier knife with a blade at each end was called a "double-end jack" or "double-end knife". This was to differentiate from "pen" knives, which were typically smaller lighter patterns.

I think that American pocket knife manufacturers adopted these conventions to simplify cataloging, sales, and communications.

 

[rev_jch]

A jack usually has two blades, or one, located on one end. Barlows have also been reffered to as a jack knifes.