THE NAME " SLIPJOINT " FOR A FOLDING POCKETKNIFE IS SILLY.

W

WIL TERRY

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Jan 6, 2004
Messages
264
The word itself is a misnomer as the blade does NOT slip--unless it is a real piece of crap--it rotates in an axis around an axle. Since the blade rotates on an axle it is not a joint; your shoulder and hips are true joints.
The word " pocketknife " has been in use for generations and everyone knew precisely what it meant so why in the world did we start to call them a stupid non-sequeter like " slipjoint "?
We are a pretty savvy bunch of knife lovers here and why we would bow to the changing of an apt and descriptive word, " pocketknife " to a word that doesn't mean a damned thing is beyond me.
The renaming of old and established technology by the terminally mentally lazy irritates me no end. 'bout next they'll start calling a Single Action revolver a hammer puller...
 
THANK YOU.....as someone who has always owned POCKETKNIVES and who has been collecting and appreciating antique POCKETKNIVES for 30 of my 44 years......it amazed me how quickly the stupid term "slipjoint" has taken over....it grates on me....even worse is shortening it to "slippie"....puh-leaze!!!.....we easily forget that for hundreds of years POCKETKNIVES were the predominant folding knives.....calling them "slipjoints" now relgates them to second class status.

END OF RANT
 
Sorry, guys. In fact it appears that 'slipjoint' for a non-locking folding knife has been in use for years.

According to some folks, it's been in use since the 1600s, although I'm not able to verify that at this point. However, I did find this bit of info on Don Morrow and Bill Ruple's forum over at knifeforums. From this thread.

And before anyone complains about the name "slipjoint" being some new-fangled notion -- this term has been around at least since the early 1800's in Sheffield (probably in the late 1700's as well). Actually, they would most likely have spelled it "slip-joint" (as contrasted with a "lock-joint" - which has been in use since at least the early 1800's itself in Sheffield). However, I would suspect that the term "slip-joint" was only in frequent use among cutlery manufacturers and workers.

I'm sure Esav or Gus or someone else more knowledgeable than I am will jump in at some point and offer further clarification.

James
 
The term slipjoint makes perfect sense if you think of it in terms of joinery like in carpentry instead of the joints in your body. I have no problem with them being called slipjoints. If it still bugs you then I hope their aren't any butt joints used in any of your furniture. ;)
 
I am kinda partial to "multiblades" over "slipjoints". :cool:
 
As to "joint", Websters has this to say:

2 a : a place where two things or parts are joined .... e : the junction of two or more members of a framed structure ... g : an area at which two ends, surfaces, or edges are attached
Click to expand...

Now, moving on to the terms:
Bastid said:
I am kinda partial to "multiblades" over "slipjoints". :cool:
Click to expand...

But not all "Slipjoints" are "Multiblades": keep in mind that "Slipjoint" refers to a blade that doesn't lock. So just as several single blades ARE "Slipjoints", a multi blade would not be a "Slipjoint" if it "locks". Neither is a Buck 110 or most single blade folders since they "lock".

So...
"Pocketknives" can be "Slipjoints" and "Slipjoints" can be "Pocketknives" but they are not always both.



So if you want to talk about Pocketknives, I'll gladly talk about Pocketknives, and if you want to talk about Slipjoints, I'll gladly talk about Slipjoints!

....its all good..... :D
 
WilTerry,
I think you'll find the term slipjoint refers more to how the blade and backspring work in relation to each other, not how the blade rotates on an axle. The way the backspring moves as the blade pivots and then both fall into line in the open postition is how the term for this style knife may have come about. And if you want to take it back further, the older friction knives and clasp style knives, while still fitting the overall term of pocket knife, also operate on a slightly different mechanism than a slip joint... or a lockback, or a framelock, or an axis lock, etc. ... all just descriptive nomenclature for differentiating between types of "pocket knives."
I guess it's just the Collector's way of dividing up the world of knives into categories so we can actually focus a collection, and have others know what we were talking about... ?
 
I don't mind the term slipjoint, it seems to be a accurate description of how the mechanism works. Think about it, the rounded tang slips along the backspring until it snaps into the open position. The term also allows me to differentiate between slipjoints and other types of knives that I carry as pocketknives. I've carried lockbacks, linerlocks, and framelocks in my pocket at one time or another. I don't think we should refer to all folders as pocketknives, seems a little generic. Besides, what do we call the knife I'm carrying now? Its a small G96(Jet Aer corp.) multiblade folder. One blade is a lockback, the other is a slipjoint blade. Combo-pocketknife is vauge and a bit of a mouthfull.
 
Anything but "slippie." BTW, I've seen slipjoints that are too large for a pocket. Those certainly wouldn't be "pocket knives." But if it is a pocket knife, please carry it in your pocket. Not in a belt sheath. ;)
 
Your posts in reply have made me think about the whole situation, and have been most helpful. I still think the very word SLIPJOINT is silly. I was raised by an English teacher--I told her she was a " teacher-of-English as we are all Krauts--and she taught me that words have real meaning and we don't fudge nor make up words to fit situations due to our own ignorance. This is where I am coming from in regards to the word under discussion. I have been around pocketknives for well over 50 years and never heard the word mentioned in the cutlery plants in Pennsylvania I visited way back when, nor in any of the years hence until I started visiting these internet websites pertaining to cutlery.
So, in the by 'n' by I guess I will have to learn to use the word " slipjoint " though it does grate in my craw.
Incidently, my favorite carry knives are a 4-blade stockman or congress--there's a mighty fine J.A. Henckles congress in my pocket as I write this-- plus a WAVE on my belt. For many years I carried a Boker button knife--perfectly legal here in South Dakota--on my belt but the WAVE was so much more versatile, and I never needed a knife quickly enough to warrent carrying the button knife. For things that go to hell in a hurry there is a 45 on the other side.
 
I understand what you are saying, but I have learned that every place is different. I was born in Xenia, ohio, but spent many years away, the majority being in Arkansas. You have not heard colorful english till you have lived down (deep) south. I'll be perfectly honest with you, I prefer it. As far as slip joint, I have heard it all over the country going to shows, talking to collectors for the past 20+ years. Its not bad once you get use to it, its not at all uncommon. I remember after moving back to Ohio 5 years ago, I was visiting my parents and my Dad said to me, "you better stop talking like you are ignorant". Well, I always was the "black sheep" of the family so I am not really surprised, nor does it bother :D me.
 
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