The Most "Classic" American Knife

What's the most "American" knife?

  • Total voters
    5
Of the choices, I would say Buck 110. Bowie may have been a classic of the 19th century but now of interest mostly to collectors and/or those who appreciate its history, not so much by the general public worldwide. Another candidate; although the Ka-Bar is well known by most military knowledgeable folks, it is essentially an adapted hunting knife, not dissimilar from others of the type. OTOH, the Buck Folding Hunter is a unique design, probably it and its numerous knockoffs were once among the most popular EDC in the world. It is still in wide use and probably one of the most recognized knives anywhere. Large numbers of tradesmen and other workers carried them. If you wore pants, chances are a 110 was in pocket or on the belt. I have personally come across any number of people who had no interest in knives as such but had carried their 110s every working day or at least during hunting season. During the 70s you'd see more of them on US Army belts than Ka-Bars.
In the '80s, most all 110s were replaced by Leatherman or Gerber multitools, but that's another conversation.
 
The American Bowie Knife most definitely.

It's interesting that a universally accepted definition seems impossible, however most all of us recognize one immediately when we see it.

Here's a tongue & cheek quote from an old book that kind of drives home the importance of the bowie knife to early Americans.

"A Bowie had to be sharp enough to use as a razor, heavy enough to use as a hatchet, long enough to use as a sword and broad enough to use as a paddle".
 
I would have to pick a Randall or Scagel perhaps as the 'classic' American knives.

STR
 
In my opinion it would have to be the original P Sebenzas.

What other knife has such a rabid following among knife enthusiasts, has had it's style and lock ripped off, was designed by an immigrant, is made entirely in the US, and had an influence on the proliferation of powder steels?

Maybe it isn't as popular (due to the price point) as other knives, but, then, I define "Americanness" not as popularity, but as cultural influence.
 
I voted Buck 110 seriously you would be hard pressed to go your entire life without seeing at least one.
 
My first "real" knife was a 110. Got it when I was 15. Had my first Harley at 18, and that black leather sheath dangled off my belt over that broken white line for the next twenty or so years, through 10 or 12 different bikes and a good 200,000 miles. The sheath gave out somewhere between Vegas and Sturgis one year, and I spent all of that rally feelin' nekkid as a jay bird.

I don't remember how I came across it, but I did replace it with one that the markings say was made between '74 and '80. Snapped that one up and still have it, and though it gets almost no use anymore, I'll never sell it. Every knife family has to have at least one Buck 110 Folding Hunter in the house........don't they?

I picked the 110 in the poll. :D

Blues
 
I'd say the Sebenza. Been around for a quarter of a decade now and everyone has ripped off the Reeve Integral Lock. I have never owned a Buck knife or any bowie.
 
I think Bowie is the best answer, so I voted Something Else.

I have always thought of the Buck 110 in the same vein as the Winchester Model 12. A classic to be sure, but to me, clubby and unwieldy. If I had to use it, I'd take a Remington Bullet knife or a Browning Auto-5 over the other two, hands down.
 
I know a LOT of people that have a 110. I got a Schrade(USA) LB7 instead just to be different. If you don't know the model, it looks almost the same as a 110. Not sure which is better as I never had a 110, but I carried it a lot and still have it.
 
I voted Buck 110 because everyone who has use for a pocket knife in the USA owns or at least owned a Buck 110. Every time I think of a classic American knife I think of that. The Ka-Bar USMC and Bowie knife aren't far behind though.
 
It's gotta be the Bowie. The Buck may be the classic folder, and the Kabar may be the classic military knife, but you cannot get more American than a big Bowie knife.
 
Bowie. Agreed, Ka-Bar is a modified Bowie, IMO, so a vote for Ka-Bar is a vote for Bowie :)

BTW, a 'Kamp King' was my first knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top