When did custom slipjoints come into vogue?

[mikeymoto]

Looking around it seems pretty hard to come by good specimens of production slipjoints from the late 19/ early 20th century, but we have a lot of good information on what the patterns and materials were, and the quality of work.

Are there examples of custom slipjoints from the same period, and what level of worksmanship or materials set them apart from the production knives of the day? I'm thinking more along the lines of custom makers, not limited runs from production companies.

If not, when did we really start to find more custom slipjoints in knife collecting circles?

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I know that custom slipjoints have been around for a long time. Scagel made them and I'm sure others did as well. I'm not sure when they became really popular, but I don't think it was until the later half of the twentieth century.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Aside from Scagel and possibly a few others. In the Custom and Handmade world, slipjoints started showing up in the 1970s' and 80s' but really started taking off in the 90s'. In the last few years custom slipjoints have really become Hot.

 

[Lorien]

no doubt the liberal bleeding hearts who apparently want to take all our knives away are providing some impetus for the cutlery industry to adapt and start marketing and manufacturing knives as tools, collectibles and art as opposed to weapons. Of course, there are plenty of manufacturers who already do that, so maybe we'll, (hopefully) see a resurgence and growth in the American manufacture of these things.

I always thought custom knives were at the cutting edge of the cutlery industry, and the thread re; AG Russell's recent endeavour shows how savvy that man is, and how the interest in slipjoints might be reaching new heights sometime soon.

Just to qualify my statements; I am going on hunches. I don't know anybody who knows anything about this stuff who's said anything to me about it. I also have limited exposure to the 'scene', (except for here) So, could be I'm just talking out of my ass. Wouldn't be the first time