Besides reading the classics and complaining about Star Wars tie-in novels, I like to collect knives. It started as a mix of my dad being into them, and a practical matter for camping, but it's gotten a bit out of hand. Many countries have a knife that's deeply associated with them in the knife collector community.
The Filipino Balisong:
The French Opinel (or maybe a Douk Douk or Laguiole):
I prefer the #7
The Italian Stiletto:
The Swiss Army Knife
But I got to thinking, what's the "classic" knife for the US? It's fun to collect some knives from my great grandparents' countries, but what represents me as a modern, red blooded, American mutt?
The internet (as always) is happy to weigh in with a few options.
KA-BARs and Bowies:
Assorted Slipjoints:
Even Multitools!
Buck Knives (Lockback Hunters)
I have feelings about some of these, but I think the it's important to think about what traits a knife needs to be a countries "classic" knife. I'd list the following:
1. Age: A classic is at least 20 years old. Sorry, Bugout fans.
2. Originates in (or at least substantially developed in) the country: I see Scout/Camper patterns listed as the American knife in some places, but they're clearly very European.
3. Popular and widely carried: It can't really be representative of a country unless people in that country actually liked and used it. It can't just be a military weapon or a part of ceremonial dress or something. It had to be a knife that could wind up on the belt, pocket, or bag of soldiers, farmers, doctors, shopkeepers, factory workers, and everyone in between, at work or on a day off.
And one thing that isn't necessary:
-1. A specific knife: There's no specific company that makes the stiletto, and while the #8 is the most popular Opinel, I wouldn't call someone any less French for liking a #6 or #10. So I'm willing to go with a pretty broad interpretation of style or pattern.
Using those criteria, I think I can eliminate a few of the commonly suggested knives above, and also add one of my own.
Eliminated: Bowie Knives- At no point in US history was it common (though it is very 'Merica) in most of the country to walk around with what was nearly a short sword on your hip. While you can buy smaller ones today (though some people would say it's not a real Bowie then) the traditional Bowie knife had a blade around 10 inches, plus a honkin' big guard. Besides being widely restricted or outright outlawed, they just weren't practical.
Try going to work with this thing.
The KA-BAR is a bit smaller (blade length 5"-7"), but the model most people, the Mark II
IT'S A SPACE BAR!
wasn't invented until the 40s, well past the time you could even pretend that carrying a belt knife around all the time was plausible.
That leaves me between trying to find the real American slipjoint pattern, Buck 110s (and derivatives), and Leatherman style multitools. But I want to consider one more option:
Spyderco debuted their first knife in 1981. 20+ years old? Check.
Invented and made in America? Golden, Colorado, baby. Pioneering the OHO thumb hole, integrated pocket clip, and probably a bunch of other features.
Popular: Multiple entries on Amazon's top 50 pocket knife charts.
A lot newer than the others, but I think it's a contender.
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