Teardrop History and Current Trends

Dornblaser

Dornblaser

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I like the treardrop pattern and have one on order with a custom maker. With the interest in that pattern in the '11 forum knife thread I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to give a brief history of that pattern and how modern interpretations vary, if at all, from their historical roots.

Thanks,
David
 
I know that the pattern has been around for a while, and I like it a lot. Here is a page from the 1886 HSB catalog showing one made by Ulster
HSB1886710.jpg


And there are a couple here on this page from the 1902 Worthington catalog (one is a nice harness jack)
1902-1068.jpg


And here is an 1888 Maher & Grosh ad where you could get one with a political etch, your choice depending on which presidential candidate you liked
MG4.jpg


I have a modern version made by Queen, and I really like the pattern
QCCC002.jpg
 
lambertiana said:
And there are a couple here on this page from the 1902 Worthington catalog (one is a nice harness jack)
1902-1068.jpg

[/IMG]
Click to expand...

It's always interesting to see these old ads. I never knew that they made knives with a gouge instead of a blade. Even though I don't have any, I have to admit that the teardrop shape is very appealing.
 
lambertiana said:
I know that the pattern has been around for a while, and I like it a lot. Here is a page from the 1886 HSB catalog showing one made by Ulster
HSB1886710.jpg
Click to expand...

gee, i sure do like the second and third in that catalog. they don't make'm like that now, do they?
 
Lambertiana. That Queen looks wery nice. Not one of the standard pattens? Ebony and is it carbon steel also? Extreamly nice i must say.

Bosse
 
Wow,that 2808 is hot! And $12.50 per dozen.:thumbup:Of course wages were $1.00 a day.
 
I have one of those ebony QCCC Queens too. It's a very nice pattern. The spring on the pen blade is a real nailbreaker, but other than that, it's awesome. I also have an ebony & carbon Schatt & Morgan teardrop harness jack. It is quite nice as well- though a serious nailbuster.

Edit: Looking at the S&M, I guess it's more of a sleeveboard than a true teardrop, but it's close.
 
For several years, Queen was the only company making a Teardrop pattern, in modern times. Does anyone know of another company making one in the last few decades??
Here are some older Case teardrops;
CaseHJs6228P-1.jpg
 
waynorth said:
For several years, Queen was the only company making a Teardrop pattern, in modern times. Does anyone know of another company making one in the last few decades??
Here are some older Case teardrops;
Click to expand...

Teardrops of beauty!
 
As far as history and recent trends, the biggest difference I see is placement of the nail nicks (my pet peeve!). In all the old catalog repros as well as most of the photos that Waynorth and others have posted, the secondary blade is positioned on the mark side so that both nicks can be on the mark side for right-handed use. This only makes sense, in that the usual secondary blade is either a pen or punch, therefore small enough not to cover the nick on the master spear or clip.

Most modern two-blade jacks, not just teardrops, have the secondary blade on the pile side with the nick positioned so that you must open the blade left-handed or upside down! This has prevented me from obtaining quite a few newer jacks which are otherwise quite desireable (please take note, GEC).

Anyone else share this disappointment, wishing a return to the older standard? After all, the teardrop is one of the most elegant and useable of all jack patterns.
 
Recent production Queen in amber carved stag bone and D2. Slipjoint w/liner lock:

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


orig.jpg
 
Nice TD Elliott! I like that the linerlock tab is minimized. They certainly don't need to be as big as a lot of them are.
The CSB is great also - nice and gnarly!!
 
waynorth said:
Nice TD Elliott! I like that the linerlock tab is minimized. They certainly don't need to be as big as a lot of them are.
The CSB is great also - nice and gnarly!!
Click to expand...

Yeah the tab lock is okay but I have some like that and actually that tab can be dang uncomfortable at times sticking up like it does. The one shown may be different but the one I have is not one I carry much just because of that tab.

I like the Tear Drop a lot. Its probably my favorite pattern with the EO (easy open) slick black jack being my favorite. I have several of those in buffalo horn from Marbles circa 2001-02 in the two blade EO Tear Drop pattern and really like them. I bought some in jigged bone as well just because I like the pattern so much. For me as a youth being that I chewed my nails down so much all the time the EO was the ticket and once I found that it became my constant companion for most of my school years among others like the SOD Buster pattern which is usually easy enough to open without the need for a finger nail. I tended to zero in on patterns that allowed the main blade to be pulled out pretty easy and the Tear Drop was a great one for this.

I commissioned Ken Coats a few years ago to make me up one made to order and later bought another similar to it in jigged bone. I don't know the history much of the tear drop pattern or the EO addition but I bet that the guy that did it was a nail biter! :D

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=116928&d=1229792703

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=116465&d=1229376725

STR
 
I wish GEC would make a nice teardrop with the deep swedgecut spearpoint blades like in those old catalogs.
 
STR,

What is the middle blade in the orange knife in the first picture? I looks like a gut hook, but it is the most evil gut hook I have seen. The saw makes an interesting trio of blades, would you mind telling us how they go together? Thanks.

Oh, yeah, the Coats is beautiful. ;)

- David
 
Dornblaser said:
STR,

What is the middle blade in the orange knife in the first picture? I looks like a gut hook, but it is the most evil gut hook I have seen. The saw makes an interesting trio of blades, would you mind telling us how they go together? Thanks.

Oh, yeah, the Coats is beautiful. ;)

- David
Click to expand...

That is a CASE orange G10 Hunter/Trapper model 06226. Its Tru-Sharp steel and a great knife and that is a gut hook you are seeing. A bit heavy for a pocket but lots of worker there. It and the Coats Jack are two of my favorite slippies and that was why they were photographed together. My other favorite among my users is this great knife here by Marbles mentioned earlier. These were made by MSA for Marbles back when Mike Stewart ran the operation at Marbles. This one is from 2001.

Oh and here is the other Coats model I had Ken make for me. I wish I still owned it. A moment of weakness equals a life time of pain. :(
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=141736&d=1250871103
STR
 

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That EO Shadow is what we should have as the 2011 knife. ;)

Thanks for the info on the case, I am going to pick one up if I can find one or wait until they, hopefully, re-release them.

- David
 
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