I have a question on knife TERMINOLOGY here please~~~

C

Catherine_Montana

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Sep 10, 2014
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Is there a LINK on here (BF) that explains what some knife terms and words mean?

Did I miss it?! :)

I do not mean the brand name of the knife but some sort of OFFICIAL explanation like when some of us discuss single action revolvers, double action revolvers, semi automatic pistols, lever action and bolt action rifles or sail and power boats in our lives - past and present.

I looked at Wiki (NOT a good choice but better than nothing for a brief LOOK online.) and I read websites where some companies tell you about their knives with PICTURES too.

Examples:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slipjoint

Some states and countries only ALLOW specific types of knives. Knife laws.

So when I read slip joint - I think that it means a FOLDING KNIFE but obviously - I am wrong. I would be ignorant in thinking that it only means a 'folding knife'.

My husband is not home now so I can't ask him.

I always said folding knife or a fixed blade knife. :eek:

Plus some of you call the handle of a knife something else, right?

And the material USED would be different on various knives and some of you call them 'scales'? So are ALL scales everything but WOOD or do they include wooden handles?

So when I explain the one Damascus custom blade that came out of Idaho but my husband bought it IN PERSON from a favorite knife maker at a show here in town and I said that I picked out a beautiful black walnut out of many walnut samples for it - am I saying it wrong my using the word HANDLE?!

The Damascus Blade was in a design called ICE JAM not Ice Breaker which I want to say and screw it up. RP Martin made it - Idaho. His friend from work who makes knives made the handle and leather sheath for it.

The one man from work will make another one using his own steel - metal and the handle will be in black walnut. Same black walnut like the other one and the WOOD matches our lever action rifles. The shape of the fixed blade may be a bit different - it will be smaller - a shorter blade and I may request a different shape to the blade. It will be for me. I have not made up my mind yet! I do not want a Damascus design on mine just a simple, good quality, old fashioned looking steel. I love my husband's latest, beautiful, custom made knife (Fixed blade.) but I want a simple, plainer design fixed blade knife with an almost identical handle. My blade will not be in stainless steel - not for this knife.

My husband would like one in maple and one in oak too.

I have to go back and LOOK at the knife makers HERE too. Some of them made some beautiful knives and I have to ask them about some fixed blade knives too.

Excuse my ignorance in some of these things.

So I guess that I asked more than one question too, eh?

My husband can rattle off the STEEL and so could my late husband even more than him.

I know that there are different types and QUALITIES of stainless steel and the same thing for NON SS blades.

Thank you and excuse my ignorance here.

Cate
 
Hi Cath.
I think--
slip joints are folding knives such as Opinels which pivot open without a backspring .
Handle scales include wood,bone,antler, stone,horn and others.Both folders and fixed can have scales.

hope that helps.:) Rest easy because if I'm incorrect someone will come along and make it good.
 
^^^

Okay and thank you!

My poor husband had to explain lock backs and some other WORDS to me like 'liner' (?) with some knife STYLES and companies too.

Curious Cate
 
Catherine_Montana said:
Is there a LINK on here (BF) that explains what some knife terms and words mean?
Not a thread here, but still a list of terminology http://greateasterncutlery.net/blog/pocket-knives/knife-terminology/

So when I read slip joint - I think that it means a FOLDING KNIFE but obviously - I am wrong. I would be ignorant in thinking that it only means a 'folding knife'.
A slipjoint is a folding knife that is held open/closed by the tension of the backspring. So, you are right in thinking that it's a folding knife, but there are other types of folding knives such as a lockback or friction folder.

Plus some of you call the handle of a knife something else, right?
I call it a handle.

And the material USED would be different on various knives and some of you call them 'scales'? So are ALL scales everything but WOOD or do they include wooden handles?
The scales are the sides or liners. People often use the term scale to refer to the cover material, such as the wood, bone or stag, but the actual term means the piece of metal that runs between the cover and the blades. On most slipjoints it's the piece that the bolsters are attached to. The wood/bone/stag are the covers.

So when I explain the one Damascus custom blade that came out of Idaho but my husband bought it IN PERSON from a favorite knife maker at a show here in town and I said that I picked out a beautiful black walnut out of many walnut samples for it - am I saying it wrong my using the word HANDLE?!
I'm guessing by the rest of your post that you're now talking about fixed blade knives. In that case, it depends on the style of knife. If it's a hidden tang knife, where the handle completely covers the metal such as this one:

wt4_l.jpg


I would call that a handle. If it's a full tang knife like this one:

IMG_8794.jpg


I would call the pieces of wood or micarta covers or scales.
Click to expand...

I tried to answer your questions as best I could. Hopefully I got more right than wrong. :o I thought I remembered a thread around here somewhere that went over terminology, but I can't seem to find it.
 
Hi Catherine!

Scales is a term used on fixed blades and handles on folding knives. The material can be wood, bone, stag, ivory, micarta, plastic.........

Liners on fixed blades are thin plastic and on folders they are steel or brass.

Hope this helps.
 
meako said:
Hi Cath.
I think--
slip joints are folding knives such as Opinels which pivot open without a backspring .
Handle scales include wood,bone,antler, stone,horn and others.Both folders and fixed can have scales.

hope that helps.:) Rest easy because if I'm incorrect someone will come along and make it good.
Click to expand...

Woah, are you sure? Because one of us is dead wrong. I thought slipjoints were non-locking folders with a back spring that provided the resistance to keep them closed or open (or at halfstop if applicable).
 
Markesharp said:
Hi Catherine!

Scales is a term used on fixed blades and handles on folding knives. The material can be wood, bone, stag, ivory, micarta, plastic.........

Liners on fixed blades are thin plastic and on folders they are steel or brass.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Thank you too!

Cate
 
Dr-Mabuse said:
Woah, are you sure? Because one of us is dead wrong. I thought slipjoints were non-locking folders with a back spring that provided the resistance to keep them closed or open (or at halfstop if applicable).
Click to expand...

No Worries! Your definition is correct.

An Opinel is a "ring lock knife". If you remove the ring lock mechanism, then it is a "friction folder".
 
Told ya.
There y go. I learn something new every time I get on here.
BUT- my Opinel does not have a back spring-so even if I removed the ring lock it still would not have a back spring...hmmmm:D
 
Old Hunter said:
Here is an exploded view of a Slip-joint, with each part labeled as well. OH

Anatomy_of_a_Case_Knife.jpg
Click to expand...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^This

Buy a copy of Blades Guide to Knives, or Levines 4th Guide if you can spare a hundred bucks for a dog eared copy. From what I've been told, the scales are called covers. Also, the other bolster is called a cap.
 
Hi, Cate. A. G. Russell has a Some Articles and a Glossary of knife related terms on his website, under the tab "Knife Encyclopedia". It's pretty informative and a handy resource.

His definition of "Scale" differs a bit from what has been posted but I guess some of the terms mean different things to different folks, depending on their references and experience.

"Scale
To knife people the word scale refers to the handle parts on each side of a full tang hunting knife or the parts on the sides of a pocket knife or folder."

I didn't quote this to start an argument. Just to reference another definition that's out there.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^This

Buy a copy of Blades Guide to Knives, or Levines 4th Guide if you can spare a hundred bucks for a dog eared copy. From what I've been told, the scales are called covers. Also, the other bolster is called a cap.
Click to expand...

Or get the 3rd Edition (the Red Cover) for about $25.00, pretty much the same information.
 
If you want an excellent resource of info, go to Spyderco's website and order a catalog. In it they have a full glossary of terms, pictures showing every lock configuration along with blade grinds, shapes, etc. It also tells about handle materials and how they're made. It also features a full table of *all* popular knife steels and their chemical makeup along with a small glossary beside it of the elements and how they affect the steel. Its a phenomal encyclopedia of knowledge and is totally free. They might have it online, but not sure.
 
Peregrin said:
Hi, Cate. A. G. Russell has a Some Articles and a Glossary of knife related terms on his website, under the tab "Knife Encyclopedia". It's pretty informative and a handy resource.

His definition of "Scale" differs a bit from what has been posted but I guess some of the terms mean different things to different folks, depending on their references and experience.

"Scale
To knife people the word scale refers to the handle parts on each side of a full tang hunting knife or the parts on the sides of a pocket knife or folder."

I didn't quote this to start an argument. Just to reference another definition that's out there.
Click to expand...

Thank you too!

Cate
 
k_ozdragon said:
If you want an excellent resource of info, go to Spyderco's website and order a catalog. In it they have a full glossary of terms, pictures showing every lock configuration along with blade grinds, shapes, etc. It also tells about handle materials and how they're made. It also features a full table of *all* popular knife steels and their chemical makeup along with a small glossary beside it of the elements and how they affect the steel. Its a phenomal encyclopedia of knowledge and is totally free. They might have it online, but not sure.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this suggestion too.

Cate
 
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