Yes, but these aren't "penny" knives, intended for shepherds, peasants, fishermen or hunters. They are fighting knives that have less everyday utility (most are long and thin, oriented more at piercing than cutting). Undoubtably beautiful, they belong to collections and traditional folklore festivities, rather than urban EDC. Anyway, I told you that we are not world famous for our steel. So Cretans do the same thing Ghourgas do. They use old files and suspension metal from old German and Swedish trucks. The finest steel recycled.
(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)This one is the knife I bought. Knives here follow the general concept of Opinel, sans Vibrolock. This one has a liner lock, most are friction folders. I've seen Opinel blades and even a Scandi blade, but this is the most original shape. All are hand made, so you have to find one with nice fit and finish. There are several sizes. Handle is from Olive tree for the cheap ones. This goes up to other woods, bones and horns, most from local flora and fauna. The handle has a distinct V tail, but there are two other shapes, one for the abundant serrated sickle (Tsaprazi, or Svarnadaki) and one for clipped blades. It doesn't have a nail nick but it is opened easily one handed.Tourist kitch requires the blade and handle to bear certain ornaments. Two dolfins, a Kri-Kri goat, the Crete map shape (they love it here as Cypriots do), a Cretan outdoorsman, the Phestos disk and a Mantinada, traditional verse as a local Hai Ku.There are astonishing Damascus and file forged blades, with white bone handles. This one is inox but it cuts great out of the box. Finish is a bit crude, testifying a handmade mass production procedure. Generally, it is as good as any Opinel. It costs here 20€ for tourists at this #9 size, which is close.
Quote from: kkokkolis on July 25, 2017, 07:21:24 AM(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)This one is the knife I bought. Knives here follow the general concept of Opinel, sans Vibrolock. This one has a liner lock, most are friction folders. I've seen Opinel blades and even a Scandi blade, but this is the most original shape. All are hand made, so you have to find one with nice fit and finish. There are several sizes. Handle is from Olive tree for the cheap ones. This goes up to other woods, bones and horns, most from local flora and fauna. The handle has a distinct V tail, but there are two other shapes, one for the abundant serrated sickle (Tsaprazi, or Svarnadaki) and one for clipped blades. It doesn't have a nail nick but it is opened easily one handed.Tourist kitch requires the blade and handle to bear certain ornaments. Two dolfins, a Kri-Kri goat, the Crete map shape (they love it here as Cypriots do), a Cretan outdoorsman, the Phestos disk and a Mantinada, traditional verse as a local Hai Ku.There are astonishing Damascus and file forged blades, with white bone handles. This one is inox but it cuts great out of the box. Finish is a bit crude, testifying a handmade mass production procedure. Generally, it is as good as any Opinel. It costs here 20€ for tourists at this #9 size, which is close.General Concept! At least one portuguese brand, Cutelaria Martins, is making a similar model with a similar lock.
I believe that the Sodbuster is originally a German design. I also have a feeling that the majority of US traditional knives were originally British patterns?
Quote from: pomsbz on August 07, 2017, 02:46:06 PMI believe that the Sodbuster is originally a German design. I also have a feeling that the majority of US traditional knives were originally British patterns?I don't know if the American companies copied the designs that we were already selling them, or if our patterns were influenced by the fact that we were selling heavily into the American market .... or a mixture of both. There doesn't seem to be a complete mirroring either. Lambsfoot blades and Wharncliffe's seem to be less popular in the States, and such as the Congress seems less popular over here. There seems to be less traditional double-ended penknives (aka sleeveboard) about these days too. My grandfather always carried penknives rather than the larger "farmers knives" that he would consider many traditional slippies to be.
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