What is the definition of "Clasp Knife"?

SonnyJim

SonnyJim

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Mar 6, 2012
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I searched here, and on Google, but the answers seemed vague and pretty general. Is it just another name for a slip joint?:confused:

Jim
 
As far as I can recall, a Clasp Knife is a particular pattern of slipjoint. It's a large knife, with no lock (usually), a skinner-type blade, and a handle with a tapered, down-turned pommel.
Case made one called the Bulldog, I think.
Here's a picture of what I think of when I hear "Clasp knife."
4501996_1_l.jpg
 
puukkoman said:
As far as I can recall, a Clasp Knife is a particular pattern of slipjoint. It's a large knife, with no lock (usually), a skinner-type blade, and a handle with a tapered, down-turned pommel.
Case made one called the Bulldog, I think.
Here's a picture of what I think of when I hear "Clasp knife."
View attachment 313711
Click to expand...

I don't think there is a standard definition of a clasp knife. The only one I know of is in period literature of 150 years or so ago that referred to a clasp knife as one that "clasped shut" as opposed to a fixed blade or a friction folder.

Based on my extensive reading and love of Twain, Bearce, etc., that picture defines my personal mental picture of what a clasp style knife should be. A heavy single blade in a holder with a spring to keep it "clasped shut". There were certainly a lot of variations on a theme, but I don't believe there are any hard, fast design rules.

Robert
 
midnight flyer said:
I don't think there is a standard definition of a clasp knife. The only one I know of is in period literature of 150 years or so ago that referred to a clasp knife as one that "clasped shut" as opposed to a fixed blade or a friction folder.

Based on my extensive reading and love of Twain, Bearce, etc., that picture defines my personal mental picture of what a clasp style knife should be. A heavy single blade in a holder with a spring to keep it "clasped shut". There were certainly a lot of variations on a theme, but I don't believe there are any hard, fast design rules.

Robert
Click to expand...

That seems consistent with the perception I have of a clasp knife. I always associated the pattern name to very large, non-locking slipjoint folders, often with strong bear-trap springs, which do a great job in 'clasping' the blade shut. That Case Bulldog pictured earlier is what represents my perception of a clasp knife. I suppose the large folding hunter styles (like a Case 6165/6265) might also fit the description, in my mind anyway.

Here's a definition of 'clasp knife' I found in my 'Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary':

"a large pocket knife having a blade or blades that may be folded into the handle."
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Gents. JackBlack, your thread was the impetus for this question, I blame you! ; )

Jim
 
I think it's like the word pen-knife, which is used by non collectors to be any kind of old fashioned pocket knife. In this case, I think it as being a large singlebladed slipjoint with enough blade to be clasped open, another word for folder. I've seen Deer Slayer used as a word to describe a large old school pocket knife.

Jack Black is also right, in Europe it's associated with military issue folding knives.
 
SonnyJim said:
Thanks Gents. JackBlack, your thread was the impetus for this question, I blame you! ; )

Jim
Click to expand...

Sorry Jim! :) Those old military-issue knives are generally all too eager to clasp unwary digits! :)
 
Jack Black said:
Interersting link Elliott. Now I'm wondering how old the term 'slipjoint' is! :D I'm not sure I ever remember hearing it more than 10 or 15 years ago :)
Click to expand...

I'm staying out of it...:p
 
A regular guy...so many ways to take that...:p (I'm taking it in the best light...and I'm still staying out of it. :D)

Thank you for the good words.

BTW, whatever knowledge I have I got from other members, makers and folks like Bernard Levine. I can't take any credit except for paying a modicum of attention.
 
Blues said:
A regular guy...so many ways to take that...:p (I'm taking it in the best light...and I'm still staying out of it. :D)

Thank you for the good words.

BTW, whatever knowledge I have I got from other members, makers and folks like Bernard Levine. I can't take any credit except for paying a modicum of attention.
Click to expand...

You should only take it in the right way - in the best light!

And don't be so modest. I think everyone here appreciates when you post as a regular knife lover; you are a resource in itself.

Don't worry... I'm not going to PM you for your phone number. :D:D

Robert
 
Jack Black said:
Interersting link Elliott. Now I'm wondering how old the term 'slipjoint' is! :D I'm not sure I ever remember hearing it more than 10 or 15 years ago :)
Click to expand...

I started buying knives in earnest back in the early '90s (~20+ yrs. ago), and was seeing the term used then, in distinguishing between locking & non-locking folders. I think I was even seeing it in catalogs back then.
 
The first time I ever saw the term "slipjoint" used was Benchmade describing the secondary blade on the 921 Switchback. I had no idea what it meant. I guess English (or at least American) isn't a dead language after all. It is still evolving.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
I started buying knives in earnest back in the early '90s (~20+ yrs. ago), and was seeing the term used then, in distinguishing between locking & non-locking folders. I think I was even seeing it in catalogs back then.
Click to expand...

I think the first time I heard the term was in about 1993 (though my recollection may not be accurate), and I took it to be an older term I just hadn't heard before. Prior to that, the term 'lock-knife' was used here to diffeerentiate them from other folders. I can't remember when I first heard the term 'clasp knife'! :)
 
Interesting all that discussion about slipjoint and its origins. BL is right I think, it's a rather silly term and I didn't know what it meant when I first saw it 15 or so years ago...:confused:.Why not just Backspring knife :D:D Mind you, Traditional, takes care of it satisfyingly:thumbup:

Thanks, W
 
puukkoman said:
As far as I can recall, a Clasp Knife is a particular pattern of slipjoint. It's a large knife, with no lock (usually), a skinner-type blade, and a handle with a tapered, down-turned pommel.
Case made one called the Bulldog, I think.
Here's a picture of what I think of when I hear "Clasp knife."
View attachment 313711
Click to expand...
I have a Parker like that except it is a lock back. Is it still a clasp knife then?
 
I have always associated the term "Clasp Knife" to mean any folding knife that may be opened by clasping the blade as opposed to a nail nick. Much like an Easy-Open jack. Every Clasp Knife I've seen, when closed, the blade has a lot of exposed area to allow opening while wearing gloves and such. Some have locking blades and some have no nail nick whatsoever, much like the old Gerber 650.
 
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