Just what is Jack Knife?

[wlf]

In any discipline there are various degrees of complications, take for instance Humans. Scientifically speaking
is it animal, plant, Phylum, Order,Genus, etc.

The most authoritative and accepted views are explained in Levine’s guides.

[ken98k]

A jack knife is a folding pocket knife with one or more blades that pivot on the same end.

[OLDE CUTLER]

When I think of a jack knife, it would be like this.

[ken98k]

When I think of a jack knife, it would be like this.

IMG_1777.JPG

[bighomer]

What Ken,olde cutler and my grandpa said.

[kootenay joe]

"It's your knife. Call it what you want."
Standardization of knife terminology is needed so that we all know exactly what the other is referring to. But there are 'gray' areas because many knives do not clearly fit within the categories created by the definitions. These ones i think could be called whatever you want.
kj

[Steve Warden]

"It's your knife. Call it what you want."
Standardization of knife terminology is needed so that we all know exactly what the other is referring to. But there are 'gray' areas because many knives do not clearly fit within the categories created by the definitions. These ones i think could be called whatever you want.
kj

Yeah, I was speaking more of the "gray" areas.
Calling a toothpick a bowie just because you want to be able to say you're totin' a bowie just makes you look/sound foolish.

[Berryb]

This is one of my favorites, certainly in the top five. It has a lot of off road miles on it, I have a pretty good tolerance for honest wear. The main blade was used to spoon out something pretty caustic. I realize from this thread "jackknife" is kind of a moving target. I don't know what to call it: English, Farmer, or other. Also is the jigging on the handles any specific pattern? Thanks.
Bruce

[313 Mike]

I am in the camp that defines a jack knife as having two blades that open from the same end...

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I am too Mike, and those all fit the bill

[Steve Warden]

Likin' that Yellow Rose, Mike!

[jerryd6818]

Mike, I'm with you on the Jack definition (like I haven't already stated that about 43 times) and I'm joining Steve in admiration of that Yellow Rose.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I think this is a jack? At 3 7/8" it is almost as big as a trapper. Simmons Hdwe. Co.

[knife7knut]

I used the word "stout" because it is what BRL used. I interpret "stout" here as used more in Britain, to mean sturdy, solid, not flimsy. "Stout" can also mean getting towards fat, but that is not the intended meaning when describing a knife as "stout".
A single spring knife with steel handles would be slender while still being 'stout', i.e. stoutly built.
kj

I think of,"stout" as being cold(room temperature if you live on the other side of the Great Pond);dark;and having a nice after taste. To be enjoyed while cleaning and polishing your,"jack" knives.

[knife7knut]

Waterville Cutlery Co. with a few miles on her.

[eveled]

I never saw a folding kukri before.

[Old Hunter]

I think this is a jack? At 3 7/8" it is almost as big as a trapper. Simmons Hdwe. Co.
IMG_2155.JPG

I have a similar Schrade and an original Case 6207 - always referred to them as "Trapper Jack" but not sure that is a correct name. OH

[tongueriver]

always referred to them as "Trapper Jack" but not sure that is a correct name. OH

Me too.

[Woodly]

Waterville Cutlery Co. with a few miles on her.

Whats the length of that lovely oldie?

[OLDE CUTLER]

Waterville Cutlery Co. with a few miles on her.

Whats the length of that lovely oldie?

I took it that the squares in the photo are 1", so it looks like 4" or so closed length.

[Woodly]

Makes sense. Thanks OC

[knife7knut]

Makes sense. Thanks OC

I have several different backgrounds I use to photograph knives but they are all gridded with one inch(25.mm)squares. Works better than a ruler sitting next to it and they are easy to make. The blue background is a drafting board applique that can be cut on and is self sealing(available from Staples in various sizes;this one is 24 inches to fit my drafting board).For smaller knives I usually grid off the back of an index card(4x6).For larger pieces I use butcher paper(18 inches wide by however long I need it).I have rolls of it I use to make sign patterns.

[OLDE CUTLER]

This is a jack knife, a Cattaraugus 22739 gunstock jack. My brother in law got it in a box of stuff he bought at an auction. One chip of bone out of the back side, but still usable.

[bladecollectorr]

Great knives in this thread!

...To me a jackknife is a two blade pocketknife with both blades pinned on the same end that doesn't have another assigned name (i.e., Barlow, Trapper, etc.)

I go by the quote above when classifying "Jack Knives". I only have three of them.

I don't separate modern knives into "Jack" and "Pen" sub-catagories based on length and/or "stoutness". To me, there is no such thing as a modern "pen knife". Pen knives are for sharpening quill pens.

That said, I often tell people I collect "pen knives". Non-knife folks around here see any small folding knife as a "pen knife".

3-5/16" long 33OT

2-7/8" long 72OT

2-7/8" long CSW722

[TPK]

Great knives in this thread!

...To me a jackknife is a two blade pocketknife with both blades pinned on the same end that doesn't have another assigned name (i.e., Barlow, Trapper, etc.)

I go by the quote above when classifying "Jack Knives". I only have three of them.

I don't separate modern knives into "Jack" and "Pen" sub-catagories based on length and/or "stoutness". To me, there is no such thing as a modern "pen knife". Pen knives are for sharpening quill pens.

That said, I often tell people I collect "pen knives". Non-knife folks around here see any small folding knife as a "pen knife".

3-5/16" long 33OT33OT.jpg

2-7/8" long 72OT72OT.JPG

2-7/8" long CSW722CSW722.jpg

Great that you gave this thread a bump up to catch some attention again. An enjoyable thread to read through. The trick comes with remembering. I can go along with your statement about what "non-knife" folks say. For me, before my interest in pocket knives, any small folding knife was just a pen knife.

That said, compliments on all the nice looking Jack-Knives being posted here everyone. Nice to see them all together in one thread.

bladecollectorr I like that third knife you posted. That Schrade Walden is a real looker.

I have one knife that I would call a "Jack-Knife" so I'll add it to the other knives here.
It's a black, saw cut derlin, Coast knife that I picked up a little while back. Thanks for looking!