This hobby is addictive!!

A great primer and reminder, Brian. Thanks for taking the time to post that.
 
Actually I believe Sod Buster and Sod Buster, Jr are in fact registered names belonging to Case. I often see the names listed with the ® symbol beside the name.

I notice that other US manufacturers calls theirs something else, like Queen's "Country Cousin" or GEC's "Bull Nose".


(Verified - both "Sod Buster" and "Sod Buster Jr" are registered trademarks of CaseMark, Inc. since 1977 and still active).
 
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Brian.Evans said:
I think maybe a step back is needed. A primer on basic terms, if you will.

The traditional knife world is not like the modern knife world.

No one (basically) owns a pattern. Barlows, cattle knives, stockman, teardrop jack, peanut, dogleg jack, eureka jack, sodbuster, and so on.

Take the sodbuster. GEC makes one, as does Case, Kissing Crane, and several others. Lots of custom makers too, notably Kerry Hampton who calls his version a KnutBuster. I know for a fact it is almost identical to a Case Sodbuster.

Barlow is another pattern. Great Eastern Cutlery makes one, Kabar did, Russell, Case did, Imperial made a whole bunch. A Barlow is a long bolster, swell end jack frame. Certain sizes are larger and are called Granddaddy Barlows. GEC's version is made on their #15 frame, which is a swell end jack frame. They make one with a short bolster and call it a boy's knife. The boy's knife is technically just a swell end jack.


No one has a patent or trademark on an overall design. I speak generally, I'm sure there are some somewhere.
This would be akin to Kershaw making a Leek, but also CRKT, Case, TOPS, etc. But, Kershaw is the only one able to make a Leek because it is their design.

Certain words mean certain things. Jack usually means two blades on one end/pivot. Pen usually means one on either end, two pivots, and sometimes sharing a spring. Stockman is a three blade knife on a serpentine frame, within a larger category of cattle knives, which are usually three blades on an equal end frame. Serpentine frames are in a very slight s shape, dog legs are like them but one end is bigger than the other.

Barehead refers to one bolster at the pivot end with none at the butt. Capped can refer to a bolster at both ends. Shadow pattern is the use of no bolsters at all. When it has a bigger looking pivot than the rest of the pins, it is called a bird's eye, and can sometimes be a different colored pivot pin than the surrounding washer, making it look like an eye.

The materials that are scales on a fixed blade are called covers on a traditional knife. The thin brass/nickel silver/stainless or nonstainless steel pieces next to the blade and spring are often called liners, but more correctly called scales. Bolsters are the big chunks of metal at the ends.

Then there are specialized patterns. Electrician knives for example. Sometimes they are called TL-29s, after the military destination of the pattern. They are actually a swell end jack with a locking screwdriver secondary. Congress patterns have four blades, two on either end of the frame.

Go to Case's website and peruse the patterns there. Then read a bunch here. You'll figure it out, it just takes time.
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Nice.
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Peregrin, we are allowed to say things like "Go to knife shows, flea markets, antique stores, yard sales, and such for used knives which are often of great quality." are we not?
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Steve-in-kville, that's how I keep from spending too much, which I did at first.

BTW it's a great sub-forum, we all get admonished occasionally. Think of one of those movies from the 1940's with the old Irish cop keeping the nice neighborhood nice.
 
Brian gave a fine primer, useful even for Old Sweats.:thumbup:

Fact is, this hobby is NOT addictive...:D I mean I could get by with one knife yeah, or even give them all up tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...I mean the fact that I have a couple of hundred and still thirst for more means er...nothing, I'm in control, I don't stash knives in queer places all over the house, well I do but that's normal...I'm just testing my will-power, I mean look....er....you saying we're knife-sick here or what???? I could stop right now...just one more and I'm done (in) One Flew Over the Cutler's Nest...Reason & logic that's what sets me apart from.......Way of Life!:D
 
jc57 said:
Actually I believe Sod Buster and Sod Buster, Jr are in fact registered names belonging to Case. I often see the names listed with the ® symbol beside the name.

I notice that other US manufacturers calls theirs something else, like Queen's "Country Cousin" or GEC's "Bull Nose".


(Verified - both "Sod Buster" and "Sod Buster Jr" are registered trademarks of CaseMark, Inc. since 1977 and still active).
Click to expand...

Well played sir. Thank you for not making me go look that up. Lol. I wondered about that after I posted. It does illustrate another point though. Lots of companies make a knife very similar to a Sodbuster®, but they call them something different. The name itself is registered, not the pattern. Even more confusing. Lol
 
davek14 said:
Nice.
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Peregrin, we are allowed to say things like "Go to knife shows, flea markets, antique stores, yard sales, and such for used knives which are often of great quality." are we not?
**********************
Steve-in-kville, that's how I keep from spending too much, which I did at first.

BTW it's a great sub-forum, we all get admonished occasionally. Think of one of those movies from the 1940's with the old Irish cop keeping the nice neighborhood nice.
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I love seeing what you guys find at knife shows, flea markets, antique stores and yard sales. A good place to look.
An old Irish cop is like one of the nicest things I've ever been compared to. Thanks Dave!
 
Peregrin said:
I love seeing what you guys find at knife shows, flea markets, antique stores and yard sales. A good place to look.
An old Irish cop is like one of the nicest things I've ever been compared to. Thanks Dave!
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Hey, what about old Scottish cops! ;)
 
Yep, but either one of them will rap you on the head with their billy club if you get out of line and haul you into the hoosegow.
 
Thank you to Brian.Evans! I screenshotted your post. I've been looking for a succinct terms overview.
 
Stay out of "what are you totin. anything with picture or got on order" threads and it might ease the pain on your wallet. lol
Dave
 
ALLHSS said:
Thank you to Brian.Evans! I screenshotted your post. I've been looking for a succinct terms overview.
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Well, all of you are welcome, but as far as succinct goes, that post isn't even close to complete. It's got a lot in it, but it is missing a lot. But I'm glad it has been so well received. Maybe we should have a post in the stickies similar to that one, but more encompassing, to which we could refer newbies to traditional knives. Might save a lot of questions, or maybe bring up new questions. Lol
 
Brian.Evans said:
Well, all of you are welcome, but as far as succinct goes, that post isn't even close to complete. It's got a lot in it, but it is missing a lot. But I'm glad it has been so well received. Maybe we should have a post in the stickies similar to that one, but more encompassing, to which we could refer newbies to traditional knives. Might save a lot of questions, or maybe bring up new questions. Lol
Click to expand...

The Traditional Blade Forums Anthology of terms, phrases and descriptions.

Great idea Brian :)
 
pmew said:
The Traditional Blade Forums Anthology of terms, phrases and descriptions.

Great idea Brian :)
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Just for the record, I wasn't volunteering to edit said anthology! Lol. I might contribute to it though. It would be a good idea though. Basic terms and such.
 
Brian.Evans said:
Well, all of you are welcome, but as far as succinct goes, that post isn't even close to complete. It's got a lot in it, but it is missing a lot. But I'm glad it has been so well received. Maybe we should have a post in the stickies similar to that one, but more encompassing, to which we could refer newbies to traditional knives. Might save a lot of questions, or maybe bring up new questions. Lol
Click to expand...

I also think that's an inspired idea, Brian! I sure would have appreciated it about a year ago, and would probably still appreciate it today. :D

- GT
 
My opinion as a forum member is that there are already many good on line references without us needing to create one here on this forum.

One that springs to mind is the Knife Glossary on the AG Russell web site (a BF dealer member.) Lots of information there.
http://www.agrussell.com/Glossary/a/101/
 
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