Why do most traditional folders have more than one blade?

I couldn't imagine my grandfather doing that. He was a Right tool for the job guy, as well as clean, sharpen and oil the knife or tool before putting it away for the night kind of guy. I still have his tools. Some are a century old and can do the job now as well as when new.

Your grandfather was a wise man - my kinda guy. :thumbup::)
 
The GEC #15 spear point single blade knives are outstanding examples of what you might be interested in. I believe that the ebony-handled knife in Kamagong's photo that you liked is one of those.

I'm pretty sure that is a schatt & morgan but a single blade GEC #15 would also be an excellent choice. :)
 
I honestly haven't been totally converted to multiple blades, but I'm on my way. I suggest trying a gec farm and field knife Bullnose. I think it's worth the extra 10-15 $'s.
 
Several of my dozen traditonals are single blade. I like how slim they are in the pocket. But I also like my 2-bladed jacks like the 92 Eureka Jack, 48 Trapper, Pemberton, Peanut, etc. One blade is usually kept just for food and the other is for everything else like opening mail, packages, and just whatever comes along that I might now want my food prep/dinner knife to be doing.

You'll get used to it, give it a try and you'll "see why". I would suggest you look at Case knives such as the Texas Jack (2-blade), Mini-Trapper (2-blade) or Stockman (3-blade) can be had for $30-40'ish range if you look around. They're good quality knives and will give you a piece of Americana in your hand every time you reach into your pocket. :)
 
I'm positive its part of the Schatt & Morgan Heritage series in Ebony
IMG_1435.jpg
 
Trand is right, it's a S&M Heritage Jack with ebony covers. It can still be found with some searching.

- Christian
 
...Been browsing the pics on this forum and noticed that most knives here have 2, 3 or even 4 blades as compared to a modern folder which usually has only one. Is there a specific reason for this? ...

Back then the different blades were for different jobs. This one tool fits all is pretty recent. ...

Mastiff gave the correct answer to your specific question.

edited to add:
And it is why I prefer traditional knives over modern designs. Traditionals work better for me because I have several blades, each for a specific type of cutting chore.
 
Last edited:
Case 31048 Slimline Trapper with yellow delrin and either CV or Tru-Sharp steel can be had for about $30. If that's too much to pay or too slim, Boker makes a Plus Lockback, in black or yellow, for under $15. Rough Rider also has several singles that can be had for around $10. Opinel has already been mentioned and is the best bang for your bucks available anywhere. Welcome and Good Hunting. :)
 
Please pardon the newbie question. Been browsing the pics on this forum and noticed that most knives here have 2, 3 or even 4 blades as compared to a modern folder which usually has only one. Is there a specific reason for this?
The reason I'm asking is that even though I carry a knife everyday, I hardly use it much so one blade is plenty. Was looking for a single blade traditional but they seem rather rare.

They are a joy to carry and use.

I have a particular liking for the congress pattern, I don't really know why but I do. I like them with two blades such as a half congress...



...or in a jack configuration...



...or the conventional four bladed versions too...



...they simply please me, and I can always find a use for the blades, even if I don't need to. :)

Paul
 
Some good reasons have been pointed out by other members.
To add something, and help you get a bigger picture, your statement is mainly true for Sheffield (later "imported" by US cutlery) patterns, but it's not a universal fact. For example, most (if not all) traditional folders from southern Europe are single bladed knives, same for balisongs and other patterns. :)
The "one tool fits all" is way older than we think ;)

Fausto
:cool:

I have to agree with Fausto on this, most of the knives I've seen in the workingman's hands in my travels, have all been a single blade knife. France has the Opinel's, Douk-Douks, and Laguiole's, Germany has the Mercator and Herders sodbusters, Spain has the taramundi and navaja, and Sardinia has the resolza. Going into eastern Europe, single blade hawkbills seem to be common. I think in the 1800's the Sheffield influence was strong in the knives imported to America, and we just got used to the multi blade pocket knives. I grew up with the typical American slip joint with the choice of blades and/or tools. My very first knife was a boy scout knife with the knife blade, screw driver/bottle opener, can opener, and awl. For the next 50 years I was a die hard multi blade man. Things change.

The last few years, with the war on arthritis being lost by me, I used the European style friction folders more and more. They of course were single blades. Much to my surprise, I got along just fine, and discovered a weird freedom in the simple easy to use knives. One single blade, and if it got dull, it got stropped on the bottom of the nearest coffee mug or car window.

Now I'm torn. I still have half my heart in the knives I grew up with and saw the men around me use. Stockmen, jacks of all types. But I do appreciate the simple single blade knife that much of the rest of the world seems to get by with out of choice. They seem to work well at their intended task, which is to cut.

But I do feel, that the multi blade things an American trait, where the European market seems more into the single blade knife.
 
The last few years, with the war on arthritis being lost by me, I used the European style friction folders more and more. They of course were single blades. Much to my surprise, I got along just fine, and discovered a weird freedom in the simple easy to use knives. One single blade, and if it got dull, it got stropped on the bottom of the nearest coffee mug or car window.

Another lesson from Ötzi. He was a single blade man too. ;)

- Christian
 
Another lesson from Ötzi. He was a single blade man too. ;)

- Christian

No, Otzi was "The Man!"

We'll never know just who he was, that's lost in time forever. But we do know that he was one tough son-of-a…and my admiration of him is huge. Anyone who can fight off multiple assailants, take an arrow in the back, and still outrun his attackers has got my hat off.
 
Back
Top