Tri-fold knife??

[Ernie1980]

My brother knows that I am an avid knife collector, and gave me this today because he said he had never seen anything like it and thought I would find it interesting:



I have never seen anything like this either, and I think of myself as a very well rounded knife hound!

Is this knife modeled after a custom of some sort, and did it have a specific purpose? I know that some very well known knife makers (Pat Crawford comes to mind with these at the bottom of the page: http://www.crawfordknives.com/KNIVES PAGE.htm) make unique sharp tools but I couldn't find anything simliar while poking around the Internet after dinner.

Any information would be great! Thanks and merry Christmas!

 

[Bob W]

It's sometimes called a "funny folder." AG Russell used to sell one, and I've seen vintage promotional/advertising knives of the same design.

Here's what I think of when someone says Tri-Fold, from Case:

 

[Ernie1980]

When did case make those?

 

[creekside]

I bought one of the Case Tri Folds around 1997 or so. I don't know how long they sold them nor do I really remember what happened to the one I had.
I didn't really like it so it probably was given away or thrown in a drawer or tool box.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Cold Steel made a couple of models like the Case, one tanto, one dagger. Bigger, and aluminum handles.

The funny folder has been around a long time. A.G.'s models were neat sort of gentleman's knives.

 

[tltt]

When did case make those?

Early 90's. Case, United, Explorer, Fury, and a couple of other Japanese brands made them. Fred Perrin makes/made a deluxe version, Cold Steel made a double edged dagger, and a single edged tanto as the Triple Action line, which Esav mentioned. These were nice, but the soft aluminum handle get beat up, especially at the opening. Marble's also makes one in their safety fish knife, supposedly using old blades and new handles.

These were sometimes called Jacob's Ladder knives too, they are a bit popular with butterfly guys.

Ted Dowell and A.G. were the nicest funny folders, Smith and Wesson also made a nice similar knife in the early 80's.