Here is another essay of commentary and musings for Blade Magazine from May 2013 for a future article tentatively titled, “Knives that Transcend the Trends.”
These knives have that special something – sometimes identifiable and sometimes just well – unexplainable. No matter, we still love them.
Each has left their own unique indelible mark on the knife using populace at large. In broad categories, here they are.
Buck 110 – The founding father of locking bladed folders. This knife blazed a fundamental trail for others to follow and expand upon. The locking single bladed folding knife is today’s quintessential EDC. Its re-invention by Al Buck in 1963, created a shockwave in the cutlery industry that is still being felt today (and one of the underlying factors contributing to the demise of many old line springback pocketknife makers, Schrade & Camillus).
The overwhelming popularity of this category has revolutionized, revitalized, and forever changed folding knives that are carried daily in the US. Despite the overwhelming skepticism of the entire industry when first introduced, the 110 became a cultural icon and every biker’s and outdoorsman’s status symbol. It gravely supplanted fixed blade hunting knives and tradition springback pocketknife.
Swiss Army Knife – this handy little piece of history is a virtual portable toolbox you can carry in your pocket. Arguably the #1 most popular and most recognized knife design in the world. “A work of art that really works.” ™
Essentially unchanged in design and intent for over 100 years, these Swiss mega-manufactures dominate the non-locking pocketknife business worldwide with their synonymous Swiss quality and craftsmanship. Although most consumers only know them as “Swiss Army”, not Victorinox or Wenger, these Co-Swiss Army knifemakers have successfully defended their ‘Swiss Army’ trademark in a landmark US court case, thus defeating their almost generic status.
Survival Knife – In near hibernation for decades but it took a custom maker to reinvent the concept into a new design and then it took the power of Hollywood to make it a blockbuster. At its frenzied peak, some cutlery stores stocked in excess of 43 different variations of the hollow handled survival knife.
Virtually gone from the marketplace and justifiably so goes another fad!
Ultralight Folder – this groundbreaking paradigm popularized by Blackie Collins’ design of the Gerber LST challenged us to rethink our definition of the EDC lockback folder. At first, the concept was deemed radical – too light to feel like a proper knife should. In time, the folklore behind convention gave way to the wisdom of sound design and the lightweight, injection molded handle became a permanent part of the fabric of our future.
Supposedly invented by Blackie in twenty minutes for which he received a brand-new Corvette from Pete Gerber, although A.G.Russell claims to have invented the ultra light concept first. Another in a long line of cutlery inventions sought to economize manufacturing in this case the use of a relatively new material DuPont Rynite®, then Zytel Rynite®. The LST was copied by everyone, but still being made by a few, including Gerber!
Assisted Openers – invented by Ken Onion, enjoyed meteoric mainstream success with the Onion/Kershaw alliance. Who doesn’t own at least one of these?
The latest revolution in one-hand opening knives, Ken Onion’s patented assisted opening folders made by Kai/Kershaw have been the most successful custom collaboration in history. Since its introduction in 1999, Kai/Kershaw has become an industry leader and major US manufacturer, which has fostered multiple designs utilizing numerous handle materials and steels (Sandvik, Crucible CPM, and Hitachi ZDP-189). This unique idea has generated a new category imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Tanto – the Americanized version rose to become the archetype across the broadest possible range of work – from custom to production to knockoffs – fixed to folder. This redesign was such a monolithic success that this Americanized icon eclipsed the western memory of the classic Japanese tanto shape so profoundly so that many of us don’t even realize the roots of the authentic tanto shape – with no chisel point!
This style cannot be discussed without first mentioning the late Bob Lum. Has anyone ever nominated Bob as the inventor of the “American Tanto” blade style? It was his innovation that started an international trend and built Cold Steel through the promotion of Lynn Thompson? I have thought that Bob has long gone unrecognized perhaps even anonymous by the cutlery industry for his creation. An industry that has certainly made a lot of money and established many tactical lines centered on a “tanto” design.
Linerlock™ –Designed by Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer Michael Walker, the Linerlock mechanism revolutionized the folding knife industry. Not only did both custom and then factory makers of all stripes adopt it, it is basically the framework lock for all the folding knife trends that followed, including the assisted opener, tactical folder, frame-lock folder and flipper folder. Though not a knife in and of itself but rather a mechanism, it, along with the term “lockback,” is used by many to refer to the knife in question that has it for a lock.
Reinventing the wheel is never an easy thing, but Michael Walkers linerlock®, the modern reinterpretation of Watson and Chadwick’s 1906 patent, has become the most popular and numerous lock in folding knives today, supplanting the historic lockback.
Spyderco – Creative, bold and unconventional facades paired with a brilliant design sensibility underneath. In a nutshell, this is Spyderco. This truism about Spyderco has been proven over and over again. The Endura and Delica designs are both testaments. Sal has a virtual sixth sense about knife design. He intuitively understands how to shape the perimeter of a knife and how to sculpt the secondary and tertiary contours while keeping this in concert with the ergonomic architecture behind cutting power and control.
Since their inception in 1990, the Endura /Delica duo have continued to evolve with many subtle and major improvements, including an ambidextrous pocket clip, David Boye dent, and four different steels. Spyderco’s philosophy of uncompromising quality with maximum affordability has been exemplified in these models. Their popularity is exemplified by the vast number of Chinese knock-offs of these models. This design typifies the ‘ClipIt Revolution’ that began in 1981 and the many inventions and innovations spawned by the creative mind of Sal Glesser (owner of Spyderco): the popularization of one-hand opening (patented & trademarked round hole in the blade), inventor of the pocket clip (thus eliminating the need for a belt sheath and used by everyone in the business), first serrated locking folder, first use of ATS34 by a US maker, first use of anodized 6066 T6 aluminum handles in a production knife, first use of G10 handles in a production knife, first use of VG10, S60V and S30V in a production knife, popularized the idea of using custom knifemaker designs in production knives. Virtually every locking folding knife made today and in the last twenty years owes at least one design feature to Spyderco! Sal and his son Eric continue to push the envelope and stimulate the market.
Tactical Folders – Michel Walker provided the simple but brilliant blueprint. Al Mar and Bob Terzuola created their own versions and started the ball rolling in the mainstream markets. Emerson/Benchmade and later Emerson Knives, took it to heights no one could have ever imagined – in excess of a billion dollar industry. (that was a bit of poetic license but it’s probably correct –and then some)
One would first need to define the term “tactical folder”, which by any definition is quite generic … that is a “combat” knife; does it have to be black and mean looking to be a “tactical knife”? To my knowledge Al Mar’s S.E.R.E. folder was the first groundbreaking model. Terzoula and Emerson came much later.
Honarable Mentions – The real gold standard of quality is William Henry Knives. This Oregon based studio has created the ultimate gentlemen’s folder. Matt Conable has bridged the gap between custom, production, and art knife, adding his own talents to design, style and use of the highest quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship that easily rivals the best custom makers (and surpasses the majority!) earning his company multiple Blade Show awards.
Don’t forget Marble’s hunting knives. Since his first hunting the pattern, the Ideal in 1900, Webster Marble practically created the American Hunting knife as we know it today. His linage can be seen in almost every fixed blade hunting knife produced today and is the direct predecessor of the WWII Ka-Bar Fighting Knife still being produced and in active service today, transcending the twilight of their popularity.
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