Traditional lockblades: 1970's And Prior

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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Okay, I know I'm a good bit older than a lot of you, so maybe the old memory cells ain't as sharp as they used to be. But now that I'm searching for easy opening knives, and leaning to small fixed blades and traditional lockers, I don't recall seeing that many locking blade knives in my youth.

There were a few floating around before the 1963 explosion of the Buck 110, and the knife world changing foorever.

I recall seeing a wood handle sodbuster style of knife in the late 60's maybe early 70's. It had a nice dark rosewood type handle and the brand stamp was a ace and F. Herder name. It was easy to open, and had a nice old timey look to it.

In the late 70's I saw a few nice trim Robert Klass lockblades around. Pretty nice redish brown jigged bone handles, slim 2 3/4 to 3 inch spear point blade, carbon steel of course. The front bolsters had anice little down curve that formed a little bit of a guard, no rear bolsters. Bearhead style.

Aside from them, the only locking blades I recall seeing was the Italian stilleto style of sticker. Somehow I just can't see me carrying one of those, even if they are pretty traditional in 'some' places. I don't think the James Dean thing will work for me at this age.

There was some knives called Weidmanshiel or something like that.

So help me out here guys; what's some old time lockblades?
 
To clarify, are you specifically looking for lockbacks from the 1970's and earlier only?

(Or are you looking at any and all lockbacks of a traditional pattern?)


1976 Case (4 Dot):

orig.jpg


orig.jpg
 
Remington 1306 Bullet seems traditional enough (and anyway, prior to 1963 I think).
One of the most appealing patterns, at least for me.
Regards.
 
Weidmannsheil are indeed nice knives. If you find one, snap it up! (pun intended...)
 
Well,

This knife is not American traditional but it has been around for a very long time. Very easy to open.
swede-88-oak.jpg


Eye Brand makes the locking Sodbuster.
Here is the locking sodbuster that you were looking for. There are dealers that sell these.
EB-99DSL.jpg


Another close relative.
EB-99JRDSL.jpg


God Bless
 
The Weidmannsheils I have tend to be largish lockbacks in stag. They did/do make a 3" pocket lockback in bone or coral(gave one away in a giveaway)very nice compact size, easy opening like all lockbacks,carbon spear blade. Not easy to find now but a sure pocket friendly knife.

Schrade's 3 OT is another small 3" lockback that comes to mind, the Buck 55 of course as the micro version of the 110 behemoth. Lockbacks have been around for over a century-see some in the recent Old Knives thread- but they seem to be large models. Böker do a very small but practical lockback in stag & stainless,no nail nick needed it's a pinch opener. CASE's Mini Copperlock is a nice compact slim lockback, no carbon though.
 
When did the Mercator K55 come out? I tend to think of them as traditional. The Opinel, Okapi & Nontron are all very old designs. Maybe a swing guard?

I have an EKA88 like kidwholaughs posted, only in bubinga instead of oak. I haven't carried it in a long time. Email me your address & I'll send it to you. Think of it was my way of saying thank you for all the stories you've posted.

SilverFoxKnows at Yahoo dot com

Frank
 
I wisch I could make you a single blade locking peanut with 1095 and shadow stag handle.
But I have the thumb in the middle of my hand.
I also like this thread as My sons needs folders and I think their firs real use folders shoulde be lockbacks and I want those to be beautiful tools.

Bosse
 
jackknife said:
Okay, I know I'm a good bit older than a lot of you, so maybe the old memory cells ain't as sharp as they used to be. But now that I'm searching for easy opening knives, and leaning to small fixed blades and traditional lockers ... So help me out here guys; what's some old time lockblades?
Click to expand...

Said it before, and I'll say it again, Case's Mini Copperlock line looks pretty sweet, especially the amber bone version.
 
I posted this in your "changes" thread, but what about one of the smaller Buck lockbacks, like the Buck 55?

376920138.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Blues said:
To clarify, are you specifically looking for lockbacks from the 1970's and earlier only?

(Or are you looking at any and all lockbacks of a traditional pattern?)
Click to expand...

Fair question, I should have been more clear in my post. I'm on the hunt for the old ones if I can find one in good shape. I want the old carbon steel and natural handle materials they used in thse days. But most of all, carbon steel is the sticking point. I like a knife that ages with me. Kind of like the old number 8 Opinel I have.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jackknife said:
Fair question, I should have been more clear in my post. I'm on the hunt for the old ones if I can find one in good shape. I want the old carbon steel and natural handle materials they used in those days. But most of all, carbon steel is the sticking point. I like a knife that ages with me. Kind of like the old number 8 Opinel I have.
Click to expand...

That will narrow things down a bit. Also, I think that given the limitations discussed in your other thread, many of the lockbacks displayed here will be more difficult to operate than you'd like. Some of those locks require a good amount of pressure to disengage.

(I took the liberty of editing the thread title so as to limit the replies to older examples.)
 
Buck makes a small lockback called The Knight (Slimline series #505) that is the peanut of the lockback world. 2 3/4" closed, 1 3/4" 420HC blade. Great little knife that's easy to open and disappears in the pocket.
 
Blues said:
That will narrow things down a bit. Also, I think that given the limitations discussed in your other thread, many of the lockbacks displayed here will be more difficult to operate than you'd like. Some of those locks require a good amount of pressure to disengage.

(I took the liberty of editing the thread title so as to limit the replies to older examples.)
Click to expand...

Thank you for the editing, you're ever heplful and I promise not to believe any of those things they say about you!:D
 
jackknife said:
Thank you for the editing, you're ever helplful and I promise not to believe any of those things they say about you!:D
Click to expand...

Oh, you should believe 'em, I'm sorry to say. :eek::p

Happy to be of service, JK. :thumbup:
 
Since mercators date back to the early 20th century they seem pretty traditional:

mercator.JPG


or course its a rather large knife, though it carries easily because its so slim.

Peter
 
It seems a little incredable to me that they are still making the old 'cat knife'. They were in the Army-Navy surplus stores in the 50's usually going for .99 cents. I think all us kids had one at one time or another. They were a little crude, but I do remember the thin carbon blade cutting well. They were in the bin right next to the TL-29's for .75 cents.

I can only wonder what percent inflation they are selling for now. But then my first new car, a 1963 Ford Falcon cost 1,900 dollars. :D
 
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