Good question Elmo. Personally I have never heard the term before, & would tend to think it was a spelling error & actually meant to be Back Spring Knives. But I will keep my eye open. Regards, Keith.
Elmo. Here is what I have been looking for: POCKET KNIFE PATTERNS
Figure 3 shows the pattern for the blade of a spring knife. Figure 4 shows the pattern for its backspring. For these styles it is also necessary to make a variety of different sized patterns, such as from 3 to 6 [French Royal] inches.
L'Art du Coutelier (The Art of the Cutler), published in 1771. 18th century Parisian master cutler Jean Jacques Perret.
I think we can conclude from this that a buck spring knife is indeed a clasp knife with buckhorn scales. Regards, Keith.
It's a strange blindness--I know pocket knives with backsprings have existed for centuries, but it still feels like they're a modern innovation that nobody would have used in the eighteenth century, even having seen a few from that time in local museums.
I've used Google to pull up a reading list of your entries that mention "folding knife", "jack knife", and "clasp knife" in hopes of getting a feel for the frontier character of folders; hopefully it's an error I won't repeat. ;)
Do you know what's meant by "buck spring knives", by any chance? My initial googling is confounded by results for modern Buck brand pocket knives.
ReplyDeleteGood question Elmo. Personally I have never heard the term before, & would tend to think it was a spelling error & actually meant to be Back Spring Knives. But I will keep my eye open.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Keith.
Elmo, I see there are "Buck Handled Knives" also. Perhaps this is where the mistake comes from?!
ReplyDeleteAnother strong possibility is a jack knife with buck horn scales.
ReplyDeleteElmo.
ReplyDeleteHere is what I have been looking for: POCKET KNIFE PATTERNS
Figure 3 shows the pattern for the blade of a spring knife.
Figure 4 shows the pattern for its backspring. For these styles
it is also necessary to make a variety of different sized
patterns, such as from 3 to 6 [French Royal] inches.
L'Art du Coutelier (The Art of the Cutler), published in 1771. 18th century Parisian master cutler Jean Jacques Perret.
I think we can conclude from this that a buck spring knife is indeed a clasp knife with buckhorn scales.
Regards, Keith.
Wonderful; thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteIt's a strange blindness--I know pocket knives with backsprings have existed for centuries, but it still feels like they're a modern innovation that nobody would have used in the eighteenth century, even having seen a few from that time in local museums.
I've used Google to pull up a reading list of your entries that mention "folding knife", "jack knife", and "clasp knife" in hopes of getting a feel for the frontier character of folders; hopefully it's an error I won't repeat. ;)
Elmo. The name "spring knife" was new to me, so through your enquirie I have learnt something new. So thank you Elmo.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Keith.