What makes a traditional fixed blade to you?

Thalestin

Thalestin

Joined
Jul 20, 2006
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Hey guys, I am quite familiar with folding traditional knives but wanted to ask what you guys think makes a fixed blade traditional. Some of my key traits would include the use of a carbon steel, organic handle (eg stag, wood, bone etc). And likely have a hidden tang and perhaps a finger guard. Obviously, knives such as the pukko would fit the bill but I was thinking more along the fixed blades used in the US and Canada.

Also what brands today still make some traditional fixed blades as I would love to get a small pocketable fixed blade :)

Thanks for any input and pictures are welcome :D
 
To me a traditional fixed blade has a carbon steel blade, trailing point and leather disc handle.
 
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Even though I'm in the land of the Puukko, I like other belt knives too.

Thalestin, if you are after a pocket or smaller pack sized knife then do check Hess Knifeworks of Michigan, I'm a huge fan of their Caper knife in Burl (comes in micarta and stag too I think) Nor are they expensive, a real find.

Thanks, Will
 
Would the Blind Horse patch knives count? Mine is made from O1 and micarta, but I believe they are based on a traditional pattern.
 
Natural handle materials does it for me, or a pattern that's been around a long time.

And likely have a hidden tang and perhaps a finger guard. Obviously, knives such as the pukko would fit the bill but I was thinking more along the fixed blades used in the US and Canada.
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Full-tang construction has been around a long time. :)

Also what brands today still make some traditional fixed blades as I would love to get a small pocketable fixed blade
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Queen, Bark River, AG Russell, Grohmann (from Canada), Northwoods (if you can find them), Case, Buck, Blackjack,
A back pocket sheath for an Old Hickory would be really cool for the woods.

Here's one from Northwoods, their small Bird and Trout pattern.

Northwoodsbirdandtrout.jpg


AG Russell Woodswalker, shown with pocket sheath:

AGPRS.jpg
 
Thalestin said:
What makes a traditional fixed blade to you?
Hey guys, I am quite familiar with folding traditional knives but wanted to ask what you guys think makes a fixed blade traditional. Some of my key traits would include the use of a carbon steel, organic handle (eg stag, wood, bone etc). And likely have a hidden tang and perhaps a finger guard. Obviously, knives such as the pukko would fit the bill but I was thinking more along the fixed blades used in the US and Canada.

Also what brands today still make some traditional fixed blades as I would love to get a small pocketable fixed blade :)

Thanks for any input and pictures are welcome :D
Click to expand...

Weeeelllll, from the viewpoint of a moderator who is responsible to winnow out non-traditional posts, "Traditional Fixed Blade" is a bit more nebulous to me than "Traditional folder". The best I can say is that I am less concerned about materials of construction than I am the overall features. After all, plastics have been around for over a hundred years. Stainless steel has been around for about 90 years.

It's easier for me to spot features that are not traditional than to say what features are traditional:
  • Uber survival knives with extra thick blades are out. In olden days we carried hatchets if we wanted to chop wood.
  • Glass breaker features are out. No one worried about that in olden days either.
  • Wild unwieldy fantasy shapes are pretty much out, as well.

That still leaves a lot of gray area. I calls 'em like I sees 'em.
 
Thanks for sharing guys, the pictures always get the juices flowing. Stacked leather handles sure look great especially aged :)
 
Thalestin said:
Thanks for sharing guys, the pictures always get the juices flowing. Stacked leather handles sure look great especially aged :)
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Stacked leather, a classic material that is still abundant today.

Blackjack from Effingham, Illinois:
Blackjack.jpg


Marbles, from Michigan:
MarblesExpert.jpg


Unmarked vintage knife that I've been told is a Kinfolks.
UnkHunter.jpg
 
I know Bob Loveless designs vary from ultra traditional to much more modern shapes. Does the Classic Drop Point make the traditional cut?

I know A. G. Russell and Bob Dozier do their renditions, and every custom maker has done something similar. Is the drop point blade shape just too modern? To me, even in something like ATS-34, the design just says "Hunting Knife." What's your take on this? See also "Beretta Drop Point Hunter" in a search.


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Daniel Dorn said:
I know Bob Loveless designs vary from ultra traditional to much more modern shapes. Does the Classic Drop Point make the traditional cut?

I know A. G. Russell and Bob Dozier do their renditions, and every custom maker has done something similar. Is the drop point blade shape just too modern? To me, even in something like ATS-34, the design just says "Hunting Knife." What's your take on this? See also "Beretta Drop Point Hunter" in a search.


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It's my opinion that most drop point, hunting style knives, fit into the traditional category. As Frank mentioned earlier it's more about materials and function.

I have many drop point knives with wood or stag handles and stainless steel blades that I would consider traditional. That includes the Loveless design "Baretta drop point hunter". I believe that knife was in AUS-8 with various wood handles.
 
Given that fixed blades seem to be more prevalent in other parts of the world the question of what makes a traditional fixed blade is a difficult one due to the great numbers of types out there. I guess at its most basic, a fixed blade has to be part of a tradition somewhere.

Here are three that I am quite fond of, from various points around the globe. Different, but no one can dispute that they are all traditional.

him43.jpg


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- Christian
 
Darn it I have no pics. But a traditional fixed blade to me is a stag handle and either Puma or Schmidt & Ziegler on the tang :thumbup:


Also what brands today still make some traditional fixed blades as I would love to get a small pocketable fixed blade :)
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I've been looking at the Bark River Little Creek/Caper models. Both are 5.5"-6.0" OAL. They may meet your pocketable desire.
 
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Appearance, grinds, materials and heritage of the maker...Old hickory make great knives IMO, I see a frontiersman or fur harvester carrying an old style butchers knife that could have been modded which is where the inspiration came for my old hick mod. :)
 
I agree with Christian... too many cultures used too many blade shapes and handle materials - which were available in their country.

Speaking of a german traditional fixed blade - I think the droppoint blade with stag handles is one of the most traditional around.

Here´s a pic of my Otter Halfintegral Droppoint fixed blade with 440C blade

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The stag handles are - typical german - extremely thick...
 
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