Top 5 Iconic Production Folders

zignal_zero said:
how can the Griptilian get mention, but the 710 doesn't. the Axis lock was introduced on the 710 (wasn't it?)

i'd say:

Buck 110
Benchmade 42
Benchmade 710
Spyderco Police
? i can't pick #5
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The axis lock is a bencmark and certainly the 710 is a piece of history since the axis lock was first inroduced on this model
 
  1. Victorinox Spartan
  2. Buck 110
  3. Spyderco Delica/Endura
  4. Kershaw Leek
  5. Chris Reeve Sebenza
singularity35 said:
Name your top 5 iconic production folders. Ones that have made major impacts on the production folder world. I'm really just interested since I'm new to knives.
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I think we need to add another worthy specimen here, not only for the the folder itself, but more for the the legacy it represented: the Al Mar-built S.E.R.E. Attack folder and co-designed by Col. Nick Rowe who developed and founded the US military's SERE training program.

[youtube]d_w_nbr5M5c[/youtube]

I think his story is well-known in these circles and how he was assasinated here in my country. He was killed by communist elements belonging to the notoriously feared "Sparrow Unit" hit squads back in the 80's.
 
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1.Buck 110 2.Spyderco Delica/Endura with serrations 3.Spyderco Military 4.SAK 5. CRK Sebenza
 
NeoClassic said:
Buck 110 / Sodbuster / Stockman[/B] - working-man's knives for generations (lumped together b/c similar American-style traditional knives)
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I respectfully disagree only with this much of your post: BOTH of these knives, with different mechanisms, shapes, intended uses and sizes (unless your Case choice is the Sodbuster, which comes closer to the 110, but IMO not nearly as iconic as the Trapper [Case's all time best selling pattern] or Stockman or Peanut). I'm a Case lover, and even though I hate the 110 personally, I still have to admit it deserves its own slot in the top 5.

FWIW (not much, lol), my other 3 are the Sebbie, the SAK, and any true Switchblade.

To add one, as Neo did, I'd have to say whichever mainstream mfg., be it Spydie, BM or otherwise, can truly be given credit for the first production "tactical" knife (hate the term but we all know what one looks like). Come to think of it, maybe those deserve to be broken down into two categories, bird-head looking blade tactical folders (Spyderco), and non-bird head bladed. :D
 
Buck 110
CRK sebenza
SAKs in general everybody knows them
BM 710
Spyderco Military

and following real close behind are leatherman multitools theyre pretty iconic too
 
BUCK 110,SPYDERCO ENDURA, ANY TRADITIONAL STOCKMAN, CASE SODBUSTER, and BENCHMADE AFCK--- I HAVE THEM ALL
 
fishface5 said:
I'm with wongKI on this:

Swiss Army Knife - whichever version or maker you choose, the first multi-tool and still globally pervasive

Buck 110 - the simple standard for working knives, great design

Spydero Endura - adds the spydie-hole for one-hand opening and the pocket clip (other versions came earlier but now I think the Endura is the archetype for the basic do-all workingman's folder)

Chris Reeve Sebenza - takes the 110 concept up several levels by design, blade steel and especially by creating the titanium frame-lock

BM Griptillian - incorporates the Axis-lock in what I think is now the most popular model using that lock. Also great ergos and affordable.
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im right in line with this crowd however ive got 6
each was unique, imitated extensively, revolutionary, added to the knife world in general

1 buck 110
i had one when i was a kid, changed the world of folding knives i remeber when my father changed from an unlocking folder to this knife and discussing why with me (? around 1969,70)

2 swiss army
first multi tool and will never be replaced. i imagine in my geek brain a nuclear powered mono molecular edge super swiss army knife in the year 2525
it has a gigawatt laser for starting campfires and a toothpick

3 Spiderco endura brought high quality knives and inovation to the masses
i remember when i got my first one people were talking and i was like so what then i held one :eek: i thought to my self there cant be a better folding knife
boy was i wrong, i dont even own one any more( my last one a police model was stolen) but i still look for certain aspects of these great knives in every knife i own.

4 The Walker Linerlock this knife told the knife world that a lock back was not the ultimate locking system and lets make knives better. this is the lock i have the most expirence with and when i got my AFCK in the 90's i thought the liner lock was the best locking mechanism possible. Was i wrong?

5 Chris Reeve Sebenza Integral Lock the first frame lock version of a liner lock, beautiful design and strongggg

6 McHenery and Williams Axis Lock Bench made Model 710, The first production knife to incorporate the AXIS Lock, havent owned an axis lock yet but ive held and operated one at a shop and its sweeeet

what will happen to knives next? i dont know but wow. people like those in this forum drive the knife world to innovate and improve
please note that the locks i mentioned are in order of time invented and i am not making a judgement as to wich one is the best i just know they are all better than a lock back and all have been ripped off by other knife makers
 
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In no order

Buck 110
Something from Case (probably sodbuster)
Swiss Army (maybe even classic)
Something from Spyderco (thanks for the clip)
Sebenza
 
Opinel ... first locking folder I believe.

SAK ... one of the first multi tools?

Scout pattern slipjoints ... I don't know the first but generations have survived using them.

Buck 110 ... it's the 110!!!!!

Sebenza ... frame lock.

Benchmade 710 ... gotta love the Axis!

... and I'm surprised the Spyderco C15 hasn't been mentioned ... first Spydie collaboration, first production liner lock, first prod. thumb opener, first prod. pocket clip, first prod. use of G-10 on a folder, and first production use of a highend stainless (ATS-34) ..... all on the same knife. Terzuola!!!!!! Think I'm correct on all of those features ...
 
To be iconic I think a product has to have been around for quite a while in something close to it's original form and it has to have done a lot of sales for that long while. For me there aren't many. Here's my top 5

1. Case stockman or trapper
2. Kabar USMC Knife
3. Buck 110
4. Spyderco Delica/Endura
5. Cold Steel tanto

All of these have been stellar sellers for more than 20 years - some of them for a lot more than 20 years. There are more of course, but I think these 5 are the most important ones from my perspective.
 
Knife Outlet said:
To be iconic I think a product has to have been around for quite a while in something close to it's original form and it has to have done a lot of sales for that long while. For me there aren't many. Here's my top 5

1. Case stockman or trapper
2. Kabar USMC Knife
3. Buck 110
4. Spyderco Delica/Endura
5. Cold Steel tanto

All of these have been stellar sellers for more than 20 years - some of them for a lot more than 20 years. There are more of course, but I think these 5 are the most important ones from my perspective.
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wikepedia states an icon is a name, face, picture, edifice or even a person readily recognized as having some well-known significance or embodying certain qualities
so sales dosent have to be the top reason
some things become iconic because of what they represent
as an example the Kabar and buck 110 and spiderco were all constantly copied so why were they copied? because there shape represented qualities that people identified as something they wanted in a knife

i can agree with kabar and tanto being iconic but their fixed
this is "Top 5 Iconic Production Folders"
 
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Knife Outlet said:
You have my apologies for my opinion and my inclusion of non folders.
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#1 no apologies will ever be needed for opinions to me

#2 i know you missed the folder part and i didnt intend to sound like an ass

#3 no one wit damn near 3000 posts need to even reply to a post #7 member unless the 3000 poster really messed up (i didnt consider it that way)

#4 ok so i think iconic means something different or feel that sales isnt the deciding factor, no need to retract, ill bet your not the only one who feels sales is important to this list so screw me. wikipedia is not the encyclopedia britanica:jerkit:

im just tryin to get in the mix here
i really just joined to find and buy a specific knife but started enjoying reading and responding
no offense was meant
 
1. Buck 110
2. Benchmade Griptilian
3. Victorinox Swiss Army Knives
4. Spyderco Endura or Delica
5. Kershaw Leek
 
SEBENZA
Buck 110
BM42
spyderco Police
SAK
AL-MAR sere 2000
BM 710
stiletto auto
 
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