Slip joint patterns

[jerseydevil]

Hey all,
Does anybody know of a resource that shows the different patterns of slip joints? I have a bunch of different Rough Riders on the way, a Congress, a Barlow, a Whittler, and a Canoe. I was wondering about other patterns and variations. For example, I have a Buck Muskrat that has a clip point and a spey blade. All other Muskrats that I've seen have two clip points. Any particular reason for this, or is it just a matter of to each his own? Thanks!

[2xTap]

jerseydevil,

There is no place on-line that I know of that shows all the variations of slipjoint patterns out there. For every pattern that exists there are many variations of it......be it in design, blade set-up, size, handle material, even in the name of it.

There are just so many. The Muskrat included. Yours that you mention is essentially a Muskrat, but often times there are specific names given to a Muskrat pattern with different blades such as a Improved Muskrat, or a Hawbaker Special. Give a Muskrat a blade set-up like your Buck and build it on a larger frame and it's called a Moose!

And some companies give different names to patterns usually called something else by others. Take for example the Bullet Trapper from Remington. This pattern has been around a long time. Current manufacturers have all kinds of names for their versions of this knife. Some just call it a Trapper and others a Jumbo Trapper. Queen calls theirs a Mountain Man, and GEC calls their version a Pioneer. All the same knife essentially.

It is kind of a "each his own" affair. But there are certain things that just are, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I could go on and on for days on this very subject. But to get at least a good idea of some of the base patterns that exist along with some variations of these (and trust me, this is only a small fraction of them) go to this link below..........

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wr_case/patterns_alphabetically/index.php

..........use the alphabetical index near the top of that page to find most patterns by name. These are Case patterns and there is alot of them, but they are established and most are used by other companies, in one form or another, as well. It will at least give you a good basis to start from.

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[jerseydevil]

Thanks for the response! I had a feeling that there were too many variations to list, but that link certainly helps. More stuff to  over and dream about!

[Swiss Man]

From my understanding the  patterns go by blades not the shape of the handles.

Such as there is a Stockman, Gun Stock Stockman, a Swell Center Stockman, all have the same blades but different handle patterns.  etc...

[2xTap]

From my understanding the  patterns go by blades not the shape of the handles.

Such as there is a Stockman, Gun Stock Stockman, a Swell Center Stockman, all have the same blades but different handle patterns.  etc...

Well, kind of. For some patterns the blade set-up can define it for the most part. But even with the Stockman pattern there have been versions with more than the standard 3-blade set-up, as well as different mainblades and secondary blades. But the pattern originally got it's name not for the blade set-up it had but for what group of people tended to use it. And then you take the Sowbelly......it is a Stockman, but it's uniquely curved frame gives it it's name. Like wise the Canoe pattern, it's name comes straight from it's frame design. Same too with the Coke Bottle pattern, the frame is shaped like a Coke Bottle.

Other patterns that follow the "named after their shape" include........

Elephant Toe
Sunfish
Dogleg (variants)
Copperhead
Cigar (variants)
Sleeveboard
Tear Drop Jack

..........just to name a few.

Then you have patterns whose names come from what their intended use is or was. Take Pen Knives for example. Most often a small frame equal end with a long Spear Point on one end and a shorter one (called a Pen Blade) on the other. This type of slippie gots it's name for it's use in sharpening quill tips for use as pens. On top of that Case now calls their Pen Knife the "Eisenhower".....it got this name for the fact that it was President Eisenhower's favorite knife, and he would order a ton of them from Case and give them out as gifts to White House guests.

Certain patterns have somewhat "standardized" themselves over the years, but there still is a huge variation to them. There really isn't any true specific way to categorize them when it comes to pattern names. It's kind of all over the place.

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[jzmtl]

Sort of on topic, is there any thickness difference between trapper and stockman since the latter has one more blade? I've been looking at Queen D2 trapper and stockman in birdeye maple, but not sure if any of them would be too thick for pocket carry. Or should I just get the cheap country cousin instead?

[2xTap]

jzmtl,

This is another area where things vary widely. In your case it depends on which Stockman and Trapper patterns you are refering to, the backspring set-up, the blade stock, the handle material, and with all companies not all Trappers and Stockmans are built the same.

The only Queen brand Stockmans I own are their Cattle Kings, and I don't own any of their Standard or Mini Trappers so I can't give any figures on which is thicker. Queen makes many Stockman and Trapper patterns so the sizes are guaranteed to vary even within the same handle material Series.

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[jzmtl]

Thanks. Didn't realize it's so complicated, guess I better do some more research.

[2xTap]

Thanks. Didn't realize it's so complicated, guess I better do some more research.

Yeah, it can be. Even within the same make and pattern. Certain handle materials are put on in varying degrees of thickness. This is usually most prominent with Stag due to the natural gnarly surface of them. Few companies will bookend Stag exactly on each knife so two from the same run could be noticable different in thickness. With bone or synthetics not so much.

And certain patterns which will look the same between companies can vary substantially in thickness simply due to how many backsprings they use and their blade stock thickness.

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[jzmtl]

So generally speaking, for two blades that opposite each other, are they staggered and occupy the same layer as SAK, or separate layers?

[2xTap]

So generally speaking, for two blades that opposite each other, are they staggered and occupy the same layer as SAK, or separate layers?

Well, to answer your question lets take a popular pattern like the Canoe. The fullsize Canoe is usually 3 5/8" to 3 3/4" closed and sports a main Spear Point blade with a shorter secondary Pen Blade. These blades rest on opposite sides of the frame. If you have a Case Canoe it's uses two backsprings, one for each blade.....essentially two layers. If it's a Queen Canoe it uses one backspring and the blades are slightly offset from one another.

So, to answer your question......Yes and yes!

Like I said, it all depends on who is making it and what design they use. And you'll find these variations in many patterns. Some three blade Stockmans will use two backsprings and some three. Some two blade Muskrats will use one backspring or two.

And then you have the Split-Backs. Usually found in Whittlers. This is a old design. Most Whittlers will have a Mainblade on one end, and two secondaries on the other. Not unlike my Case Classic Whittler below........



But instead of having three backsprings, one for each blade, or two backsprings with one of the blades being crinked to fit the Split-Back Whittler uses two backspings that are seperate and split by a wedge shaped spacer, but then taper down to form essentially one. The Secondary blades operate off of their own backsprings but these backsprings merge and the mainblade cams off of both. Giving the frame it's tapered design, like this......



And there is another version of this that operates off of the same principle exept doesn't use the wedge shaped spacer, but still has the tapered frame. My Dogleg Whittlers from Rough Rider are like this. As a example.....



And it's tapered backsprings and frame sans the Split........



Confused yet? 

There is alot of variation in the slipjoint world.

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[jzmtl]

Confused yet? 

There is alot of variation in the slipjoint world.

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Oof, that's definitely a lot to take in for a slipjoint newbie... 

[2xTap]

Confused yet? 

There is alot of variation in the slipjoint world.

2xTap

Oof, that's definitely a lot to take in for a slipjoint newbie... 

No biggy, I've been into it for many years now and I still ain't got all the ins and outs of it down pat yet. I'm still learning myself. I get confused all the time! 

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[jerseydevil]

Well, it's a bit confusing but all very useful info. A lot to learn, but that's half the fun of any hobby .

[nuphoria]

You just need to buy a LOT of different ones and then you'll be able to compare and contrast

I have a Queen Canoe in that greyish birdeye maple and it's really nice

Personally I think Canoes make nice EDC even though they are a bit chunky. The smallest one I own is a Case Peanut in G10 - you don't even notice it's in your pocket!

[2xTap]

You just need to buy a LOT of different ones and then you'll be able to compare and contrast

Yup, that's how I did it! At least at the start. 

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[jerseydevil]

You just need to buy a LOT of different ones and then you'll be able to compare and contrast

That's exactly what I'm doing with my RR order. If I take any heat from my girlfriend, I'll just show her this thread and tell her I'm only doing exactly what others with more experience are telling me to do  .

[2xTap]

...........If I take any heat from my girlfriend, I'll just show her this thread and tell her I'm only doing exactly what others with more experience are telling me to do  .

Good luck with that! 

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