What is your favorite traditional fixed blade pattern?

In my opinion, and just in the aesthetic department, the drop point really draws my attention... but clip point being right up there too... again, imo :-)

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Jack Black said:
You'll struggle to get hold of one I'm afraid. That's my Jack Black Knives U1. Made from Sheffield SF-77 steel vacuum-hardened to RC57, with a two stage gaseous nitrogen cryogenic treatment. Looks pretty ordinary these days, but it was hot stuff in its day (early 1990's). There were only 20 ever made. Main cutler was Stuart Mitchell Snr, heat treatment done by Torvak of Sheffield, sheath (also of my design) was made by Spencraft Leather.
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JACK....Thats a great looking knife (Apart from the slotted screws)...very cool.............................FES
 
Jack Black said:
You'll struggle to get hold of one I'm afraid. That's my Jack Black Knives U1. Made from Sheffield SF-77 steel vacuum-hardened to RC57, with a two stage gaseous nitrogen cryogenic treatment. Looks pretty ordinary these days, but it was hot stuff in its day (early 1990's). There were only 20 ever made. Main cutler was Stuart Mitchell Snr, heat treatment done by Torvak of Sheffield, sheath (also of my design) was made by Spencraft Leather.
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Good stuff ,Jack. Thanks for the info.

It looks like the good ol' drop point is winning by a large margin.
 
festerfromnzed said:
JACK....Thats a great looking knife (Apart from the slotted screws)...very cool.............................FES
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flatblackcapo said:
Good stuff ,Jack. Thanks for the info.

It looks like the good ol' drop point is winning by a large margin.
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Thanks fellers, took up about 2 years of my life that project. I keep meaning to take some decent pics.
 
I've been giving this question/thread some thought. As a hunter who choses fixed blade knives based on their deer skinning and cutting ability, I have found myself firmly in the drop point camp for quite awhile. I also think that a blade length of 3-1/2" is just about perfect for Whitetail. It's the handle that give me pause to ponder - it has to be full enough to grip, ergonomic in design to not tire the hand, and not too long as to be in the way in tight spots. I have bought a lot of them to try over the years. My favorite for the past ten years has been this Marble's reproduction from about ten years ago (made by Camillus I think). It has all the right features; plenty of belly for ease while removing the hide, but not too much when cutting meat around the butt. All of these are deer skinning knives, the two on the left were built for me by two different cutlers (don't own the Sutton stag handled custom any longer), the Marbles is the leather handled knife next to the Randall drop point (at 4" just a tad too long for my tastes) - you can see how much belly curve the Marble's has by comparison. Of course an individuals hand size will effect whether or not a particular grip is the right size - in this skinning shot you can see the size of the Marble's in my hand. OH

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Lets not forget the mighty Sharpfinger..a lot of knife in a small package and most capable...I have lent mine to a good friend and hes most hesitant about returning it..He is an ex government deer culler,so that speaks volumes as to its usefulness to me...........................FES
 
Just as facial tissues are routinely called kleenex, even if another brand, my favorite pattern of fixed blade is called a woodcraft, even if not from Marbles. I have many different makes, but they are all about 8½" OAL with a 4" blade. Throughout the 1950s, '60s and even into the '70s it was the most popular fixed blade going.

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My favorite, and the most true to the Marbles pattern, is this Western W88 from the early 1970s.

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I even had a custom commissioned by BluntCut with some of his proprietary heat-treated CTS-XHP steel in a similar pattern. Shown here with my folding caper.

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bladesmith3 said:
The Loveless drop point is my favorite style.
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I only own a Loveless inspired knife made by Ichiro Hattori in Japan but the Loveless drop point is about the most attractive pattern to come out of the 20th century.
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I think my favorite may be the ubiquitous clip point Bird & trout because I have 3 or 4 examples, but I'd definitely say the small Loveless drop point if I could ever afford one.

As an American I have to love the ubiquitous Bowie but I most appreciate knives that are practical to carry and use daily .
 
Hudson Bay camp knife is my favorite pattern, followed by a gaucho knife, then a small bird and trout, much like Dave Ferry’s Sonoran belt knife.

Edit: An honorable mention is my Nessmuk by Mike Mann of Idaho Knife Works.
 
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Although I do have a number of Fixed Blades , I am quite sure that I do not use them as much or like many of you do . I am not even sure that I have a Favorite Pattern .
I have a few small fixed blades from Arno Bernard that all have Warthog Ivory Tusk covers and I really like them but none of them have ever been used . They do however make me feel good when I take them out to CF & CE them .
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Last year my wife bought me this Puuko of my choice for my birthday and immediately said it was Too Pretty for me to use . But I did really like the blade on it . Sharp , Pointed , Stout , and Carbon .
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So then I wanted another Puukko and ordered another one from the same company with a Birch Bark handle . I have often carried it as a Neck Knife because I never know when I need to cut or dig something out in my yard . This may very well be my Favorite Pattern .
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Harry
 
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