Newbie Question: What is a Copperhead Knife

[john burk]

i have just started to collect pocket-knives and bought a Wostenholm IXL Copperhead folder from a guy at a street-market.

My question: what differentiates a "Copperhead" from a "Stockman" or "Barlow" or any other kind of pocket-knife?

thanks,

jb

 

[jim preston]

Head over to the traditional forum.

I know Copperhead is a pattern, but I'm not quite sure what it is. A Stockman generally has three blades: a clip point, sheepsfoot, and spey. A Barlow is a two blade with one bolster and usually a pen and spear blade.

 

[5370H55V]

They differ in the number of blades and the handle shape. For exmple, a stockman has 3 blades, a copperhead and barlow has 2, and the blades lengths and shape are different for each. A copperhead handle is long and narrow, while a barlows is wider, with a single bolster:

Stockman:

Copperhead:

Barlow:

There are tons of patterns, with many kinds of handle and blade materials.

 

[The Moose]

Well the CopperHead and Barlow are Jack knives (2 blades on the same side next to eachother)

 

[Mad_Maxx]

I have the IXL too
how do you like yours?

Maxx

 

[orca8589]

They differ in the number of blades and the handle shape. For exmple, a stockman has 3 blades, a copperhead and barlow has 2, and the blades lengths and shape are different for each. A copperhead handle is long and narrow, while a barlows is wider, with a single bolster.

(edits mine) From what I've learned on the forums here, a Copperhead pattern has a bolster (where the blades pivot) that rises up to cover the rear of the blade (when the knife is closed) so that part won't wear or tear the insides of pockets. The other bolster doesn't rise up.

A standard Jack pattern has regular bolsters that don't rise up.

A Canoe pattern has the same type of bolster, on both ends, rising up to cover the pivot end of the blades, because the blades pivot on opposite ends of the knife.

(I think the Barlow pattern has a longer bolster for extra strength at the pivot. I'm not sure on that one, though.)

thx - cpr