Trying to classify folding hunters is at best an exercise in futility.What exactly defines a knife as a,"folding hunter"?
Currently I have managed to break it down into four(or five)basic configurations:
#1 the "traditional" folding hunter I would call the Case 65 pattern.Available in either one or two blade models(I know;there is a four blade model but let's keep it simple for now)it is probably the most prolific style of folding hunter;having been made by virtually every major American and Japanese maker.Overall length of this pattern is usually right at five inches(127.0mm)For some inexplicable reason I don't recall ever seeing this pattern being produced in England. As a "sub-species" I would say that falls to the Boker model with it's narrower rear bolster.This was also seen on earlier USA models.These come in either locking or non locking configuration.
#2 would go to the Case 72 pattern that is slightly larger at 5.25 inches(133.5mm) and as far as I know has only came in a single blade.I have seen this model from Case,KA-BAR,Schrade,and a couple of Japanese manufacturers.I haven't seen a locking version of this pattern but they might exist.
#3 is what is commonly the,"coke bottle"pattern due to the handle rising in thickness slightly in the center on both sides.This again is I believe only a single blade model and slightly larger at 5 1/2 inches(139.7mm).A variant on this would be larger only one the blade opening side which is also common to large trapper models. These come in locking and non-locking versions.
#4 is what I refer to as the,"modern" folding hunter initiated by the Buck 110. With an overall length of 5 inches,brass bolsters front and rear(sometimes integral with the liners)and handles of rosewood,it brought forth countless imitations;some good and some horrible.Buck later tried to make them with titanium handles to lighten them up a bit(successful but very expensive)and then eventually to use Zytel or some other space age material. Again these were strictly single blade although I do have a Browning model with two locking blades.Very hard to operate the locks.
There are other species that could qualify as folding hunters and the variations are endless. This post will concern itself with those aforementioned four models.Maybe in the future I can expand it a bit to include other variants.As there will be many pictures on this please be patient.
#1 is stamped simply 1407 and comparing it to others appears that it may have been made by KA-BAR.
#2 is a Case Tested XX 5165 with what appears to be a factory installed bail.
#3 is a Case XX 6265 with jigged bone handles.
#4 is a Frontier(by Imperial)
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