Traditional Chinese folding/pocket knives

[Y'shua]

I'm fairly new here, so I'll say a quick hello.

Hello all!

Sweet now that that's out of the way...

I was wondering if anyone here knows about traditional Chinese folding knives. Historically speaking. We all know the volumes of cheap stuff that comes out of the country now and floods all markets. I am however curious about what their "EDC" knives looked like before they became the massive production country they are today. I would assume they had simple knives similar to those you see in Japan around the same time as they have always traded and shared a lot of history. The folded metal/wood frame/handle with a simple pivot and blade. I am familiar with their weapons for war but not their daily task knives in days old. I can't seem to drum much up by the way of the almighty Google either. If anyone knows I'd love a link to read, or if you simply want to respond I'd love to read what you have to say. I don't care to hear about the state of affairs with their knives now or opinions on the country. Just looking to glen some deeper historical knowledge.

Thank guys!

 

[Etna]

I'm fairly new here, so I'll say a quick hello.

Hello all!

Sweet now that that's out of the way...

I was wondering if anyone here knows about traditional Chinese folding knives. Historically speaking. We all know the volumes of cheap stuff that comes out of the country now and floods all markets. I am however curious about what their "EDC" knives looked like before they became the massive production country they are today. I would assume they had simple knives similar to those you see in Japan around the same time as they have always traded and shared a lot of history. The folded metal/wood frame/handle with a simple pivot and blade. I am familiar with their weapons for war but not their daily task knives in days old. I can't seem to drum much up by the way of the almighty Google either. If anyone knows I'd love a link to read, or if you simply want to respond I'd love to read what you have to say. I don't care to hear about the state of affairs with their knives now or opinions on the country. Just looking to glen some deeper historical knowledge.

Thank guys!

They had no such thing. Most of the ancient Chinese were laborers working in farms and forges, and those that weren't were either scholars, government / provincial officials, district guards or soldiers. The chefs and butchers would have their large cleavers which performed all their kitchen jobs, the laborers had their tools of the trade and the scholars / officials / guards / solders had their weapons which also served as their symbol of authority.

If they ever carried a utility knife, it would most definitely be a tiny fixed blade.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

I can't speak for the past but you don't see much in the way of folding knives in China today. You will find a few small, cheap folders they sell as "fruit knives" in most kitchen wear shops but that is about it. A lot of old, beat up cleavers serve as utility knives around gardens and fields.

 

[Charlie Mike]

 

[marcinek]

Shilin folders have been around for quite a while. Going further back, I cant imagine that there is not a tradition of, at least, some type of friction folder throughout China's very long history.

Anybody a Levine's Guide handy...I seem to recall a part about Chinese traditional knives in there....

 

[Y'shua]

Thanks for the replies guys! I feel there has to be some kind of small knife, even if it is fixed like etna said. It would seem to be a country with such a long established history there has to be something lurking in that past.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amibri]

That's an interesting question. I lived in Shanghai for three years and browsed a lot of markets. Saw many cool old items...clocks, watches, books, fountain pens, money. But no knives. I suspect that many of their knives were sacrificed during Mao's Great Leap Forward. From what I have read, people were giving up every piece steel they had to meet the village's required output. Even their farm tools were fed to the furnaces...a move that came back to haunt them when they couldn't plant their crops.

 

[Y'shua]

That's an interesting question. I lived in Shanghai for three years and browsed a lot of markets. Saw many cool old items...clocks, watches, books, fountain pens, money. But no knives. I suspect that many of their knives were sacrificed during Mao's Great Leap Forward. From what I have read, people were giving up every piece steel they had to meet the village's required output. Even their farm tools were fed to the furnaces...a move that came back to haunt them when they couldn't plant their crops.

That's sad to read, I didn't even think about that... Hmmm.

 

[marcinek]

Shilin folders have been around for quite a while. Going further back, I cant imagine that there is not a tradition of, at least, some type of friction folder throughout China's very long history.

Anybody a Levine's Guide handy...I seem to recall a part about Chinese traditional knives in there....

BRL shows a couple Shilin folders.

 

[Y'shua]

BRL shows a couple Shilin folders.

I saw those. I've also seen a number of modern folders done by Muslim populations near Beijing, and Xingjiang. There was a mass murder committed by a radical group however and the government cracked down... Most shops are closed these days. Truly sad time for custom knife makers.