What Make/Model is the oldest in continuous production?

R

RedLynx

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Hi guys,

I know the iconic Buck 110 is turning 50 this year. This had me wondering, does anyone know what make/model of knife has been in continuous production the longest? I know certain patterns have been around a very long time (stockman, sodbuster, etc) but I was wondering more about a specific knife from a company that has been in production since it was introduced. Of course the Opinel has been in production about 125 years now, but I bet there are even older models still in production today, wondering if anyone can share. Thanks guys.

Edit: Just to further clarify, I know there are very old knife companies still going strong today, (like Victorinox or Opinel) but I'm trying to find out if anyone knows what is the oldest continuous model that any company has produced (for example it could be an Opinel knife or a particular SAK knife, etc).
 
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Finally a truly good question.

My guess is it's going to be a European brand. Opinel? Douk? Mercator?
 
Is the Soldier Victorinox's first SAK knife ever? So many SAKs,I have no idea which was first.
 
Would be pretty hard to nail it down to an exact model etc and date it...

Some models have been around for a VERY long time dating back 1,000's of years...
 
Ankerson said:
Would be pretty hard to nail it down to an exact model etc and date it...

Some models have been around for a VERY long time dating back 1,000's of years...
Click to expand...

Yeah, that gets iffy there. A knife is a very simple thing. Good designs reappear over and over, but not produced continuously. The svord peasant knife is a close copy of roman clasp knives, so 2300 years there? Opinel is a pattern in use for a very long time (about 500 years), but "Opinel" has only been making their knives since 1890.
 
I've also been told that Nontron has been making the same knives in the same workshop for 500 years continuously.
 
Yalius said:
I've also been told that Nontron has been making the same knives in the same workshop for 500 years continuously.
Click to expand...

Correct.

The knives are made in the village of Nontron, in the Dordogne region of France. They have been made there since the 15th century. I would not be surprised if there were third and forth generation cutlers working there on the same knives their grandfathers made.

Next oldest is the Opinel, made since 1890, and it is still a family owned operation. The CEO is the great grandson of the founder. The models made today are the same ones since the beginning for numbers up to 5. In 1955, the locking ring was invented for numbers 6 and up. Bu the basic pattern of the Opinel friction folder is way older. That pattern of knife was like the Nontron, a simple peasants knife made for hundreds of years in the rural parts of France, like the Taramundi in Northern Spain. The basic Taramundi goes back hundreds of years as well.

Victorinox was founded in 1890 as well, but there has been many models and changes since Charles founded the company. So not really in the running.
 
jackknife said:
Correct.

The knives are made in the village of Nontron, in the Dordogne region of France. They have been made there since the 15th century. I would not be surprised if there were third and forth generation cutlers working there on the same knives their grandfathers made.

Next oldest is the Opinel, made since 1890, and it is still a family owned operation. The CEO is the great grandson of the founder. The models made today are the same ones since the beginning for numbers up to 5. In 1955, the locking ring was invented for numbers 6 and up. Bu the basic pattern of the Opinel friction folder is way older. That pattern of knife was like the Nontron, a simple peasants knife made for hundreds of years in the rural parts of France, like the Taramundi in Northern Spain. The basic Taramundi goes back hundreds of years as well.
Click to expand...

I believe there are similar areas of Spain where certain styles of knives have been produced for a very long time. Toledo and Toledo steel....wonder how far back it goes.
 
EChoil said:
I believe there are similar areas of Spain where certain styles of knives have been produced for a very long time. Toledo and Toledo steel....wonder how far back it goes.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately my knowledge of Spanish knives is not comprehensive but I wouldn't be surprised by this.

The "ring locking" knife from Africa that Cold Steel based their Kudu on is a simple design that has been around a really long time as well and sells there year after year.
 
Wow, great question! If you are talking about one model made by the same company in continuous production, I'd guess opinel. If you are talking style.... ummm, maybe the little Japanese utility knives? I think they are called kiridashi? I think maybe some google-fu and an intensive knife history lesson are in order for me.
 
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