The most American Knife

[kaotikross]

These are all great answers, but I say another contender is the Green River/ Old Hickory-style knife. I figure that through the centuries no knife has done more and perhaps fought more for this country than the plain jane two piece wood handled green river/old time butcher/old hickory style. Skin game, cut food, scalp heads, kill British,French, Spanish, Indians, and each other, rode in the belt like any other knife, but just as at home on a hearth-side cutting board. Found in a New Mexico Saloon, Beaver Trapping Camp, 1920's back alley speakeasy, and cutting meat at a Steakhouse. Used everywhere, by anyone and everyone with a kitchen,camp, or just a fire period, and still seen in most of homes today no matter who it's made by or how it's called. 7-8 inch carbon steel blade, two very plain wood handle slabs, two to three rivets. Sheath optional.

 

[marcinek]

Any reason to think otherwise ?
Just curious .

Piles of historical evidence.

 

[BladeScout]

Yet the Bowie knife wielded by Jim Bowie at the Alamo is owned by Phil Collins and being donated to a museum in Texas �� ��➡��➡��

Yep heard that on the News a few months ago.

You guys are joking right - surely you dont buy into that for a minute?

 

[ourgon]

Every geometrical tanto is in Europe typical american knife, especially when it's folder with heavy thick blade and frame lock.

The Bowie is the quintessential American blade

When you picture different cultures and countries and you ask what blade defines them the answer is simple

Italy brings to mind the Gladius

Japan the Katana

Nepal the Khukuri

If every country used a blade on their flag ....... The Bowie would fly on ours

At least I hope so

A Buck is a great knife but it does not look good on a flag

IMHO bowie shape is taken from medieval german messer. Bowie knives are mostly modern messers with shorter blade. Also spanish navajas have that clip point blade. American bowie knife is the youngest in that clip point family.

 

[JParanee]

Every geometrical tanto is in Europe typical american knife, especially when it's folder with heavy thick blade and frame lock.



IMHO bowie shape is taken from medieval german messer. Bowie knives are mostly modern messers with shorter blade. Also spanish navajas have that clip point blade. American bowie knife is the youngest in that clip point family.

Yes any Bowie student knows that the Bowie knife has a strong European influence but the Bowie is still a piece of Americana that is undeniable

 

[marcinek]

IMHO bowie shape is taken from medieval german messer. Bowie knives are mostly modern messers with shorter blade. Also spanish navajas have that clip point blade. American bowie knife is the youngest in that clip point family.

....except that the first Bowies weren't clip points....

 

[AusLoX]

Benchmade is on track for the modern day "Most American Knife" IMO. Gotta love the Crooked River.

 

[bt93]

I read a lot of people calling for the Bowie, but really it's just one of many patterns for large knives, probably copied from somewhere else. The 110 is literally an original. It's the 'Buck' knife, copied by many. And it would look great on a flag or anything else, hell it could be a flag. If one wanted to recognize our immigrant origins then the Victorinox SAK. for originality though, the Buck 110 hands down.

 

[threefeathers]

It is easy to agree with every opinion here, but having traveled the world and serving with many different folks I have to agree with the Bowie, however many soldiers I worked with consder the K Bar to be a small version of the Bowie.

 

[stabman]

Bowie it is.
So sayeth stabman.

 

[derflingerflonger]

Buck 110 or Case
Someone said Barlow but that was first in England and Ireland I believe before they came to USA. They are hard to trace so I'll stick with Buck 110 and Case

 

[JParanee]

The buck 110 is an awesome knife but so is the Red Rider BB gun ..... Wouldn't want them on my flag thou

 

[tmd_87]

Hands down the Case Trapper with the yellow handle. That's my vote.

 

[JParanee]

Hands down the Case Trapper with the yellow handle. That's my vote.

Love it

 

[Hickory n steel]

The buck 110 is an awesome knife but so is the Red Rider BB gun ..... Wouldn't want them on my flag thou

Me neither, I'd want the buck 110, a pitbull, and a Sheridan blue streak.

 

[JParanee]

Me neither, I'd want the buck 110, a pitbull, and a Sheridan blue streak.

I still have a silver streak in my garage

 

[22-rimfire]

Me too.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

And Mr. Collins can believe that as long as he wants to.

Any reason to think otherwise ?
Just curious .

Bowie or the 110.


This.

Piles of historical evidence.

You guys are joking right - surely you dont buy into that for a minute?

....except that the first Bowies weren't clip points....

Yes, Mr. Collins did "donate/give/lend/whatever term you want" to the Daughters of the Texas Republican Museum, including a Bowie style knife that he alleges was Jim Bowie's knife at the Alamo. The picture I saw of the "Collins Bowie" was a large clip-point, brass-backed Bowie with a large, brass S-guard. It looked very much like the big Bowies normally associated with the 1850s and 1860s.

In the 1850s (IIRC), a letter written by Resin Bowie, Jim's brother, the original knife was described that precludes the Collins Bowie as being THAT knife.

I believe that Mr. Collins bought an old Bowie knife from a guy who was somehow convinced of what he had and he sold Mr. Collins a story about old Bowie knife and sold him the knife.

Some folks believe Mr. Colins. I would absolutely love to sell them some of my swamp land by the beach in Arizona.

My personal belief is that the knife Jim Bowie had at the Alamo walked away stuck in the belt of one of the several thousand Mexican Army soldiers.

 

[wdh662]

Looks like the Buck 110 is the winner, ticks off a lot of the boxes.
-American made
-Relatively affordable
-Associated with USA

It would be interesting to see how some of our fellow board members from other countries view it

I am a Canuck. If I was to name a particular knife it would be a 110. Kabar would be a VERY close second.

 

[red mag]

Lile "First Blood", and it's a Bowie.