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Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:18 am
by Gr8wazu
At this point Ive accumulated five or so multi-tools that are commonly referred to as "hobo knives". I find them fascinating, and pretty impressive examples of craftsmanship.
They all seem like jumbo sized precursors to Swiss Army knives, but I honestly don't know much about them. Were they marketed for hobos? Did most cutlery companies sell some version of them? When were they popular? Why were they all oversized when technology surely allowed for smaller versions at the time?
I'd love to hear any history any of you can add, or pictures of your own hobo knives. Here's a Japanese made Sanko jigged bone handle brass bolster beauty. It's rustic and angular, but something about it is downright sexy, right?!
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:27 am
by Railsplitter
My only example is a much more modern variant that A.G. Russell called the "Boxcar Jack". Like most knives of this nature, you have to open the fork to separate the handles. That way you can use the knife blade for utility tasks without fear of the handles separating.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 5:19 am
by New_Windsor_NY
Gr8wazu wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:18 am
At.....
There are quite a few scattered throughout AAPK.
There are quite a few here:
viewtopic.php?t=21337
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 6:09 am
by Reverand
Gr8wazu wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:18 am
At this point Ive accumulated five or so multi-tools that are commonly referred to as "hobo knives". I find them fascinating, and pretty impressive examples of craftsmanship.
They all seem like jumbo sized precursors to Swiss Army knives, but I honestly don't know much about them. Were they marketed for hobos? Did most cutlery companies sell some version of them? When were they popular? Why were they all oversized when technology surely allowed for smaller versions at the time?
I'd love to hear any history any of you can add, or pictures of your own hobo knives. Here's a Japanese made Sanko jigged bone handle brass bolster beauty. It's rustic and angular, but something about it is downright sexy, right?!
Gr8wazu, yours actually looks sleek compared to most of the Japanese versions from that era. I don't think that I've seen a Sanko before. Thanks for sharing it!
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 6:44 am
by knife7knut
Here is one that looks identical to the OP's knife but is stamped AMEIKE below a clover.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:10 pm
by tunefink
Old Hobo's are one of my favorite finds.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:20 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
To my eye the knife in the OP is a camper / scout type knife. I always thought a hobo had a fork or spoon or both.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:23 pm
by chickenman62
A Case Hobo,
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:24 pm
by Mumbleypeg
OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:20 pm
To my eye the knife in the OP is a camper / scout type knife. I always thought a hobo had a fork or spoon or both.
Agree. I would not call the OP knife a “hobo” pattern. IMHO it’s a “utility” knife. There is one very similar pictured in
Levine’s Guide to Knives under Utility Knives. In the glossary it describes hobo knives as having changeable blades, and “the term is now applied to slot knives.”
Ken
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:56 pm
by Paladin
Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:24 pm
OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:20 pm
To my eye the knife in the OP is a camper / scout type knife. I always thought a hobo had a fork or spoon or both.
Agree. I would not call the OP knife a “hobo” pattern. IMHO it’s a “utility” knife. There is one very similar in
Levine’s Guide to Knives under Utility Knives. In the glossary it describes hobo knives as having changeable blades, and “the term is now applied to slot knives.”
Ken
Correct,, OP is not a hobo.
Ray
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 8:49 pm
by Gr8wazu
Great additions! I should have mentioned that despite its look as a camper, it's a honker. The thing is about two pounds and two inches thick. The scale is what takes it from camper to hobo knife in my opinion. But that said, I'm posting here to see what more info I can find on hobo knives and what specifications make a hobo knife.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 8:50 pm
by Gr8wazu
Paladin, thanks for getting my back by saying I'm not a hobo. But like my inquiry here, I'm not sure what the qualifications are. So, I very well may be. Or at least hobo adjacent.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:00 pm
by Paladin
Gr8wazu wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 8:50 pm
Paladin, thanks for getting my back by saying I'm not a hobo. But like my inquiry here, I'm not sure what the qualifications are. So, I very well may be. Or at least hobo adjacent.
I was pretty sure you weren't a hobo but the photo you posted also was not a hobo.
Ray
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2024 12:53 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
Gr8wazu wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 8:49 pm
Great additions! I should have mentioned that despite its look as a camper, it's a honker. The thing is about two pounds and two inches thick. The scale is what takes it from camper to hobo knife in my opinion. But that said, I'm posting here to see what more info I can find on hobo knives and what specifications make a hobo knife.
As shown in some of the photos above, a hobo knife would include fork, spoon , and knife blades in some combination. That way out on the road you pulled it out of your kit and had eating utensils.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2024 4:42 pm
by bighomer
Here's the Japanese take on the hobo knife l reckon, from the heft of it'd take a healthy hobo to hop a freight.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 12:56 am
by gsmith7158
bighomer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2024 4:42 pm
Here's the Japanese take on the hobo knife l reckon, from the heft of it'd take a healthy hobo to hop a freight.
Dang Bighomer with all those tools you could be a lumberjack or a seamstress. So many jobs you wouldn't even need the Hobo part
Here's one I have and it is indeed very large.
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 8:01 am
by Miller Bro's
tunefink wrote: ↑Sat Dec 07, 2024 3:10 pm
Old Hobo's are one of my favorite finds.
Awesome collection!
Re: Hobo Knives?
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 5:44 pm
by bighomer
gsmith7158 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 15, 2024 12:56 am
bighomer wrote: ↑Sat Dec 14, 2024 4:42 pm
Here's the Japanese take on the hobo knife l reckon, from the heft of it'd take a healthy hobo to hop a freight.
Dang Bighomer with all those tools you could be a lumberjack or a seamstress. So many jobs you wouldn't even need the Hobo part
Here's one I have and it is indeed very large.
Stuffy that's a beauty you have, I reckon that monstrosity I showed is the only knife l own that I've never carried.
Guess you could say kinda bought it on a lark, no one was bidding on it I throwed out a minimum bid and won it. Fool thing weighs a ton. Near as I can figure the spoon and fork are stainless steel and the blades are carbon.
