The defining US pocket knife

[Lesknife]

I’m a big fan of the Buck 110 and I agree that the standard 110 at 7.8 oz is more of a belt/sheath knife even though I have carried one in pocket but only occasionally. The new 110 sport and the LT models are much lighter and with a pocket clip they are an excellent pocket knife. I have other modern models like the Vantage pro that are my main edc for work along with a 303 cadet but I always have a 110 in my pickup for when I need more blade and handle. It’s more of a work horse for heavier work. So as for me I think the 110 qualifies as a defining USA pocket knife.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Glad to see this is still going

It appears that like with most everything else this subject, when it comes to America, is a hodgepodge, a melding of all sorts

 

[Just Tom.]

I’m a big fan of the Buck 110 and I agree that the standard 110 at 7.8 oz is more of a belt/sheath knife even though I have carried one in pocket but only occasionally. The new 110 sport and the LT models are much lighter and with a pocket clip they are an excellent pocket knife. I have other modern models like the Vantage pro that are my main edc for work along with a 303 cadet but I always have a 110 in my pickup for when I need more blade and handle. It’s more of a work horse for heavier work. So as for me I think the 110 qualifies as a defining USA pocket knife.

Except the Buck 110 wasn’t introduced until 1964 - that’s just a couple of years before I was born, so very recently, and no way is it old enough to be considered a classic, right? RIGHT??!!

 

[eveled]

Ya know
I didn't consider the buck 110

Not sure why... and it certainly has been accepted as traditional round these parts since before I got here

Lol except due to weight I am not remotely interested in picking one up. Might have to look at some of the light weight versions they got out there nowadays

This is what kept me from being a fan of the knife. I carried one for a short time, a very short time, before I asked myself what the heck I was dong? It was as heavy and many fixed blades, was still a folder, and was, like most knives, a one trick pony. A cutting tool only. It just seemed silly to me to have one thin blade supported by a huge amount of brass. I sold mine off to an incoming trope and just went back to carrying the Camillus demo knife. I never really understood the popularity of the Buck 110.

Exactly how I felt the first time I've handled a 110. It was a problem, I thought I was the only one who didn't like it.
Thanks for this post, i feel better now.

Dan.

Henry, if you re-read the post you quoted, you'll see that it referred to "plain Jane Russell", who I suspect is not the Jane Russell whose Barlow was revving your engine.


That Case yellow penknife is an incredibly useful and pleasant knife, and I think that you're correct that a huge number of pen knives have been owned by Americans, but I doubt if it would qualify as a uniquely American knife.


Basic 2-blade jacks of various patterns are probably what I saw the most growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. But I don't know if my experience generalizes to the entire nation across its entire history, nor do I know whether 2-blade jacks originated in, say, England and aren't uniquely American knives (I don't know exactly what "defining US pocket knife" means, and may be wrong in thinking it's equivalent to "uniquely American" or "originated in US").



I can certainly agree that the Buck 110 is an iconic and influential knife, and is probably a good answer to the original question, except for the pocket knife part. But FWIW, I agree with those who are not fans of the Buck 110 because of its weight, and I also think it's a really ugly knife - I especially don't like that clip point blade shape.

- GT

As a life long daily 110 carrier and user, you all miss the point.

The 110’s size and weight are its greatest feature.

Don’t underestimate the smashing ability of 110’s pommel.


To the question in the OP.

My first thought was a Bowie knife as an iconic American blade. But not a pocket knife.

Second thought was the 110 (basically a folding Bowie.). Still not really a pocket knife.

Third thought was the stockman or whitler. Definitely pocket friendly. With its clip point, still a folding Bowie.

I noticed a lot of the choices have clip points. I believe it is because we Americans love Bowie knives.

 

[afishhunter]

nek 'n nek too close to call after all the votes counted thrice election twixt the iconic and venerable
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and the venerable and iconic TL-29, I think. Both are serving generations of young'uns and oldsters.
I suppose the older classic venerable iconic 3 and 4 blade Cub Scout/Boy Scout/Girl Scout knife could be added to the confusion.