Special Slijoints

[PhilL]

I should start off by saying that all of my knives are special to me, each has their own stories and memories attached to them. But, some of my most precious knives are my slipjoints. Starting with the knives that were my Dad’s. He always had a pocket knife on him. The only locking knife he ever had was an Electrician’s Knife that may have been the inspiration to Michael Walker for his Linerlock. Now, my Dad didn’t have any expensive collector knives, I doubt he knew the manufacturers or the pattern names. He did like knives for the simple fact he had so many, inexpensive users and cheap tourist type knives from his trips. He used his knives hard, he was a printer and we all know how hard paper is on steel. When he wore a knife out or he felt it wasn’t worth sharpening any more he would give them to me as a child. I was even harder on them so most of them don’t exist anymore. Probably my favorite of his is a two blade Peanut by Imperial with imitation jigbone scales. I often find myself fondling this knife when I’m troubled or when I wish he was still around to ask his counsel.

Next of my special slipjoints is one I just received as a gift recently. I had a thread about my stag collection, “What am I missing?” One of my friends here thought I needed and Elephant’s Toenail in stag, so he sent me one. I was unfamiliar with this pattern and I’m not sure if this is a style I would have bought on my own, but this is one impressive knife. It’s a Case XX with huge stag scales, the main blade is around 3” but the knife closed is 4 1/2” by 1” wide. This knife has some real weight to it and a very strong backspring. If you’re unfamiliar with this pattern check out the article in May, 2002 Blade magazine. I’ve given away far more knives than I own and to me there is no better gift, not many of them were as nice as this. Thank you Gus.

My friend Max Burnett is the stepson of a wonderful folder maker, Bob Ogg. Max had lent me a video a while back of Bob making a folder, (filmed by Max’s Mom). I loved that video, but I had to send it on for someone else to see. I had done an illustration of Max and he and his Mom liked it so much he asked if there was anything I wanted for a print that I sent them of it. I said, “I’d love a copy of Bob’s video.” Max said, “You got it.” When I got the video and open the case in with the video was a beautiful stag handled Ogg slipjoint. Needless to say I was blown away by Max’s generosity. Max told me that this wasn’t one of Bob’s knives that were for sale. He made them to give away as gifts, that they were just Quickies and not up to his usual fit and finish. I have to tell you this is an excellent knife that anyone would be proud to call their own. This knife is usually in my pocket. Thank you Max.

Probably the knife I miss the most is a single blade hunter in stag that I bought aboard ship while in the Navy. I don’t remember the brand or have I seen anything like it since. It had a clippoint blade, a front brass bolster and beautiful thick stag scales. I didn’t lose this knife, it was stolen along with the sheath I made for it while I was still in the Navy. Boy, I sure do miss that knife.

Of course my reason for posting this thread is to generate some more interest and conversation about SJ’s. I’m not an expert on slipjoints, (or anything else for that matter) but I would like to encourage all of you to think about some of your special knives and see how many of them are SJ’s and tell us about them here.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

Like most of us, the first folding knives I ever had were slipjoints. The very first knife I ever had was a little two bladed Imperial Jack knife that my father gave me when I was five. My father was in the Air Force and we were stationed in the Phillipines. My father had just been reassigned to Vietnam (this was around the Gulf of Tonkin period). After a while, he was allowed to visit us on leave and he gave me the jack knife. I think my mother took away to save my fingers, but I don't remember it after that first day but about two years later, I got another yellow Imperial Jack Knife just like the first one.

I definitely got my love knives from my father, he ways an aircraft mechanic and he always carried a pocket knife. His favorites tended to be three bladed stockman patterns, usually Camillus or Schrade. He also carried black, composite handled Camillus electrician's knives that the Air Force issued him. I still have a few of those knives around. As a young man, I had the distinct pleasure of giving my father a knife that he absolutely crazy about, a Schrade Old Timer Muskrat. That knife became my father's favorite and stopped carrying the stockmans. He eventually lost that knife and I bought him another. Eventually, we found the first one, it was behind the couch in the den. Now that he is deceased, I have both of the muskrats and they remind me of him.

My father was a pretty frugal and practical man. he liked a good knife, but wouldn't have gone for the kind of high-end customs and production knives that I collect. Still, I wish he were still here so I could have given him a nice custom slipjoint like Bailey Bradshaw, Paul Myers, or Ray Cover. After Dad had gotten over the price, I'm sure he would have enjoyed using a a fine custom.

 

[shivey]

A little off topic - but special to me just the same - a Case XX steel from the 1950's. I got it after my Dad passed (he used to be a butcher). I still remember my Dad steeling my filet knives while I cleaned Lake Erie Walleye or Perch. We'd keep two knives going: as quick as I would roll the edge on one - he'd hand me a freshly sharpened one. I've never been able to master that steel like he could.

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

Awe shucks Phil , glad you are enjoying it.

I guess we should mention that it is a Case Classic rather than a Case XX . (A real Case XX era (pre64) in mint (not ebay case xx (which could mean anything) would be worth a small fortune - at least 1500.

Of all the knives I have been lucky to acquire the most important were given to me by my dad. Of those the first one he gave me was a stockman. It will be 43 years old this June when I turn 47. I still use and carry it.

Close behind the knives dad gave me are some knives made by some folks I consider friends to one degree or another now. I am a better person for getting to know Gene Shadley, Richard and Sally Rogers, and Bailey Bradshaw so the knives they have made for me are very special.

Some folks may never understand this and that is cool, but I feel sorry for anyone who would dispute this. Those "knives" are much more than "knives" to me. I can pull them out and start thinking about a person and to varrying degrees those people have had a good influence on me.

 

[Perry M]

Hi guys...the The Case Toenail is a really cool pattern. Even though the one you have is a Classic (made by Queen) it's still worth quite a bit of money. Case hasn't made this pattern in Stag since before the 1920's and if you had a mint one it would be worth between 5000.00 and 6000.00. They've been making them with bone handles since about 1900, in the seventies they dropped the bone handles and started using wood. They stopped making them as a regular production item in 1980. Just a bit of triva.

Perry (Knifekid)

 

[Keith Montgomery]

My first three knives were slipjoints and they all had a special meaning to me. That is because they all came from my Grandfather.

The first was a Roy Rogers Penknife when I was eight, the second a Camillus Scout knife with about five blades when I was about eleven, and the last a Case Whittler with stag scales when I was twelve.

Everytime I see a slipjoint it brings back memories of my Grandfather and that is a good thing. He was an exceptional human being.

 

[The Magician]

I own slipjoints from my Great grandfather, grandfather and father in law. My dad refuses to part with his....yet. My grandfather was a knife knut and had many knives. He used to give me a knife to carry now and then. Usually A schrade or imperial. Slipjoints are geat. I get woried about handing a linerlock to "normal" people. Even grandma can manage opening and closing a slipjoint. Right this minute I am carrying a blue bone Case Baby Butterbean. I like it.

 

[DAFOX]

I too started with slip-joints. My first was a PAL scout knife dad bought at a local store. Lost while fishing in record time. But the blades never opened smooth. So I saved my paper route money and bought a SAK Huntsman, over 25 years ago.My mother now uses it for yard work. I now also have some of my dads knives, and it is a nice warm and pleasant reminder of times past(AHH herritage). There is just something about that stockman, scout, or trapper that is passed down that just cant equal a tactical knife.

 

[PhilL]

Originally posted by DAFOX
There is just something about that stockman, scout, or trapper that is passed down that just cant equal a tactical knife.

That's exactly the reason I started this thread. Now maybe if my Dad or my uncles had used different knives my feelings would be different, but they didn't. SJ's will always be special to me. Maybe my current interest in custom slipjoints is just a way of trying to recapture a feeling that I lost, or to remember a time that is long gone. I sure don't know. What I do know is that the majority of the knives I've carried over the years and the knives that mean the most to me are slipjoints.

 

[Dr van Nostrom]

My EDC knife is a Kissing Crane 3 blade stockman its a beaut' to use and pretty too. No long history to it, only got it this past Xmas but I had it in my pocket the day my daughter was born and it is special to me. One day maybe I will pass it onto her. can't imagine passing on a tactical folder and it having the same impact!!!

 

[db]

I am really enjoying all of these slip joint threads. They are my favorite type of knife and have been for ever. I sure wish I had some of my old ones but over the years they have gone. How ever I still get a different feeling with even a new slip joint, they just have some kind of hold on me.

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

About 6 or 7 years ago when I was dealing in higher end factory knives at shows in my area I met a guy who did very nice filework. It was his first show. (It was the Atlanta Flint River Knife Club show and at that time they held it at the Atl. Farmers Market). My boss at the time came by (Those were the days having a boss who was a knife collector. Getting time off for shows was a cinch ) and I left my table in the good hands of a friend to walk the show with him.

I had already spoken with Tom Stratton and told him that if I was a crook I would just buy up his whole table and send him home. He had about 10 or 12 beautifully fileworked knives and was selling them for about 5 or 10 bucks more than they would cost at the show un-worked.

Tom and I hit it off pretty well and I would always call him and offer him a corner of my table to put knives out on or would order some knives for him at wholesale since I was a dealer at the time. (Sounds generous huh. Not so fast - one, I had the company of a good friend at the shows and two, his knives would draw people to my table. )) Anyway a few years later Tom offered to work a knife for me and rehandle it in Pearl. I guess as a favor for "lending a hand" (Yeah right) .

Here is what he did. Nice job on a split backspring Case Classic.
This knife to me is invaluable. Our friendship has grown over the years and this man took the time out to dress-up a knife for me. I hope to pass it on to my niece or a friend's son or daughter some day.

Tom does not mess around too much on the computer, but Thanks Tom!

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

This was the first time he tried on a split backspring knife.
Came out pretty darn good. Tom has done work for one or two forumites that I know of as well as work for a few factories and custom makers.

 

[Gus Kalanzis]

The inside is file-worked (or chased) too, but you get the idea by now .

 

[Tightwad]

My goodness, such a beautiful knife!! We need more slipjoints to
drool over and want.

And they say tacticals are so darn great...........

Tacticals won't leave good memories for our kids and grandkids they are so
soulless in nature. Sorry for the sour grapes it's just that I'm so darn tired of
reading about all the one hand wonders being the only kind of knife to buy
or enjoy. Slipjoints have always offered more to see , marvel at, and in general
enjoy the craftmanship it took to make them.

 

[darkman]

GREAT POST!