What countries played a role in the history of the 'sport utility' folder?

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wutitiz

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Mar 5, 2008
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I see the modern sport utility (so-called 'tactical') folding knife as having evolved from the Italian folding stilettos. Prior to the 1980's, the Italians made the only folding knives designed for social purposes, to borrow Jeff Cooper's terminology. That general design goes back at least to the 1940's; they became popular in the U.S. when GI's returning from WWII brought them back. I am ignorant of how much further back they might go.

But until the 1980's, all other folder designs were oriented towards utility uses. Until Spyderco and other innovators came along in the 1980's, one-hand-opening folders were all but non-existent, at least in the U.S., where autos had been banned. Without one-hand-opening, you don't have a sport utility knife.

In the 1980's there was an explosion of ideas. Everything from the liner-lock to thumb studs, to flippers, all came out of the U.S. during that period. The form of the current single-bladed sport utility folder was laid down by people like Blackie Collins, Michael Walker, Pat Crawford, Bob Terzuola, Sal Glesser, Ken Onion, Kit Carson, and Ernest Emerson. Other than the balisong from Asia, other countries contributed little if anything, even though of course Japan has remained arguably at the front of the pack in blade steels.

Call me an ugly American, but it seems to me that virtually all of the new ideas surrounding folders in the past 30 years have come out of the U.S. Am I wrong?
 
Hooray for America.

We have:
-the lawful ability to carry pocket knives around
-disposable income
-great engineers and manufacturing
-a weapon-loving culture (I see this as a plus)
 
I think technology played a big role in the current crop of knives.

CNC, computer controlled cutters and mill machines in general, have changed how a knife can be manufactured for a profit. Not to mention the type of materials so used.

Look at the materials industry. It wasn't until relatively recently that many of the materials we take for granted came into existance or became inexpensive enough for production.
 
When you have to explain what a "sport utility" folder is, you already have a problem. Just call it by the already established name "tactical".
Calling them sport utility isn't going to make more people like them.
 
Hi Wutitiz,

When I first began promoting the Spyderco Clipits in Europe (circa 1986), they were referred to as: "self opening knives" and "new fashion knives". Europe was still into the stag handled folders and fixed blades. They weren't "Tactical" folding knives until; Bob Terzuola, Kit Carson, Blackie Collins and Pat Crawford began to focus on the genre. The US Custom knifemakers Guild was quite influential in that area in the mid to late 80's.

I think much of our innovation was due to our "cowboy" attitude as the Europeans referred to often.

I would have to add Blackie Collins to your list. Our patent office says that until the late 70's / early 80's, the patents on knives had been relatively dormant. The new Renaissance, according to them, began with the Collins "Bolt-Action" patent and the Glesser "Clipit" patent. (The "kids" of the 50's grew up ;))

Then the patents on knives began to increase greatly.

The American innovation in knives that has emerged in the past 30 years is surprising. (There are so many lock ideas that Spyderco is making a model that will recognize folding knife lock innovation).

Some thoughts to share to support your observation.

sal
 
Sal, thanks so much for your reply. Blackie Collins is added--I use a BC-designed Camillus Crossfire utility knife at work every day.

Rich357: they must have had to explain what a 'tactical' knife was when that term began. If they could do it, why not me? Call me hard-headed, but I refuse to apply the adjective 'tactical' to a knife when tactics, i.e. plans, reside in the brain, not the blade.
 
Spain and France had tactical folders in the 17-18hundreds . In Spain large folders carried in the small of the back replaced the small sword in the 1700,s . Sheffeild produced a lot of "folding Bowies " in the mid 1800s , mostly for the American market .

Some French traditional slip joints were used socially in both france and the colonies .

Seafares were known to use folders socially , throughout the 1800s .

Chris
 
I think it's interesting to ponder what folding knives would look like today if autos were not subject to so much regulation in the US. It seems to me the boom in one handed opening mechanisms and designs may have never come about had autos not been so restricted.
 
AfterTFD said:
Hooray for America.

We have:
-the lawful ability to carry pocket knives around
-disposable income
-great engineers and manufacturing
-a weapon-loving culture (I see this as a plus)
Click to expand...

My favourite thing about America is your guns and knives.:)
Keep the pointy innovations coming!
We have at least the top 3 things here as well(smaller community on the 4th point).
 
Cougar Allen: re 'rib-ticklers,' I am the first to admit that what I know about knife history 'before my time' could fit into a thimble. I have never heard of 'rib-ticklers.' Now that I have pontificated about the topic, maybe I will have the interest to read a few books, visit a few museums etc.(lol).

Dan & Omaha: I do not like the term 'tactical knife' at all since a) I think it could be used by the media, just as 'assault weapon' was, to promote bans; b) I consider it poor terminology, because 'tactic' carrires the connotation of 'plan.' A poster came up with the substitute term of 'sport utility knife.' See post#15 by Elkins45 here.http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=539642
 
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