(851) What is a Clasp Knife❓️

A few people wanted to know about the Clasp Knife. So I cracked my only book on traditional knives, then I went on an internet search and found out a few things about the history of Clasp knives. Not a definitive, concise, complete, or particularly well researched investigation, but here it is. Bonus Mini Rant about people who tell you they know everything about something, yet never give any factual evidence. A warning ⚠️ pops up for those who love ❤️ the fast forward button 🤣
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[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Here is Tobias's video on this subject kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqOxdqiwgcx6mJI

[@daven.7685]

Good discussion William! And thank you, Tobias. I really appreciate both of your efforts to keep knife history alive! The name “Clasp Knife” may be one of those situations where the language used to express the original definition within the subculture that created it, used it, and commonly understood it, has not carried over to today’s culture. At the time the definition was originally expressed, it may have been the case that the number of knives available within the subculture was very limited, making the definition of the knife described stronger amongst them. Today, due to the many variations of blades we see in the market place, definitions are becoming blurred as we try to describe these variations. This is how we get terms like “Reverse Tanto” or “Modified Sheepsfoot”. Likewise, absent the original definition of “Clasp Knife”, a person describing that style of knife today might describe it as a “Big-Bellied Powder Horn Hunter”.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Dave. Language does evolve.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

A clasp knife in England is pretty much any large folding slip joint. Levine is an authority on quite a few things but he also went with his local experiences. One of the biggest problem with Levine is he doesn't cite his sources. The biggest thing is many knives do indeed go by different names (as you pointed out, Fish/Tickler) Sometimes Levine points this out and other times he doesn't. My advice for folks who want to learn about knives is to read all you can about them. Levine is a great place to start. But there are numerous knife magazines and an incredible number of knife books. Great episode and well said rant, WKL. However, FTR I'm not a fat guy in a garage and I don't own a chainsaw. I'm just an old curmudgeon who researches for a living. But now I want to go buy a chainsaw. 🔪🔗🪚

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

🤣 I do need to get some more knife books. 🔪

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

@@WilliamsKnifeLife Maybe but as Dr. Spock once said, "Trust Yourself, You know more than you Think." There's a reason your channel is as popular as it is!

[@klaassiersma4892]

I love them all, locking, non locking, Traditional, modern,Cheap, expensive. Nice materials and design that floats my boat. And that can be G10, wood,titanium,horn, plastic., if it looks nice and it cut's good I take it.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

That's the way to go Klaas 👍

[@Warthogg1]

I agree with you in some sorts William - My interpretation: A "Clasp" knife should have a body with a curved horn covering the tip of the non-locking blade & the blade should definitely be hefty with a belly Santa Claus would be proud of!!😂 Of course, as with many other patterns, interpretations are just that - interpretations... Take Care William ✌️

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

That's what I picture on a Clasp Knife too. Just like these Marbles are, maybe without the blade etch. I know S&M made some nice ones. Show yours Rick, if you get a chance. You don't have to show all of them if you have many.

[@bobbyking3503]

Great video! Thanks for the history lesson. I love learning about the history of knives (and most other things). I'm also quickly becoming a fan of the Clasp pattern.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

thank you. they are a great pattern

[@andrewnawarycz3026]

Love the three marbles decorated clasps, favourite shape big single blade folder shape👍🏻👍🏻

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

I totally agree.

[@chriscapune7873]

Always enjoy your channel 😅 🐈🐾🐈‍⬛🐾

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Chris 👍

[@mikehook2835]

Awesome information thanks for researching this.

[@jeroenvoss6231]

The curved handle, clippoint bladeshape and slipjoint in a rather large size is what comes up in my mind with the word clasp knife. If i'm wrong, i'm wrong but that's what i see for me when i hear the word. Now a clasp knife can have all kinds of sizes and shapes and i didn't know that, so i learned something today. By the way how did you know i'm living in a garage?😆 Oh the bowie discussion yeah in my opinion you were right with the guard to begin with, so i lost it after those comments and luckily Tobias had good information which prooved you where right also. I'm not a three year old, my mind just works like one haha. Now where is my chainsaw? Oh the YKM sends greetings and asked if your former wounds from members are healed totally, something to be glad to remember you in some way or something, they mumbled the last words.... Stay well my friend.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Jeroen.

[@gbltheolechurch5acrehomestead]

Good Morning my FRIEND! Like the “Clasp” knives! We just call them pocket knives! Keep posting.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you GBL 👍

[@ThriftyKaniffy]

I tend to let Knife magazines glossary be the authority for me. If they're wrong, well then at least it came from a credible source. Here's their definition, take it for what you will: A handle pattern, usually found in large folding hunter sizes, which curves up at the head; the shape may be mostly straight or may swell in its center. The head is sometimes pointed and sometimes bulbous. This is an early pattern derived from the shape of cattle horn and antler used for knife handles. The straighter style is typified by Case’s Buffalo/Bulldog pattern, the swell center style by Case’s xx65 pattern.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Thrifty. That sounds like what I picture them to be.

[@andrewnawarycz3026]

William you are right about the type of person who puts off the novice knife collector and every collector, the supercilious over-correcting know it all, who puts novice collectors off whilst annoying everyone else never ask,(what and how much would you like to know about said knife)... A total bane to everyone!!! Atb buddy keep the uploads coming, Andy 👍

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Andrew 👍

[@mikecurtis2585]

I love all types of knives! You have to get what you can afford!!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

That's true Mike. 👍

[@Gazz_R]

Interesting stuff William. Thanks for sharing and take care mate.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Gazz

[@jimmyj4811]

The Clasp knife is one of my favorite patterns.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Jimmy J 👍

[@jelkel25]

The traditional British Services folding knife is referred to as a Clasp knife. It might just be to differentiate it from the fixed blades ect in inventory which would mean it just means a folding knife. I thought it had a services meaning as in "Corporal Cooper has been on 48 hours leave and has come back with the clasp" ? Or is there an extra unneeded letter there somewhere???

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

🤣 Sargent, why are the pipes bent in the urinals?🚯 Private Pyle caught the clap 👏 again! 😫

[@davidkurle5418]

As a pattern, I guess when someone says "clasp knife" I always picture something like those Marbles knives. A horn shaped handle with a broad clip point blade. But that's just me, and I guess whoever makes a knife can call it whatever they want. lol Cheers, buddy.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thanks David. I picture these Marbles as the classic Clasp Knife.

[@bluetoad2001]

William, you are throwing Louie the Locust into the mix, i can barely keep knife classification straight. clasp knife is something i’ve never owned so now i gotta study on it. i think i know where there is a Case clasp knife for sale, seems like they wanted $350.00 for it.. whew 😜🥺🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🥓🥓🥓🥓🥓 🥓🥓🥓🥓🥓but it does have nice stag handles. i only bring home enough bacon 🥓 to serve one guy a simple breakfast on the trail in the mountains by himself all alone so i won’t be buying no $350.00 clasp knife any time soon. but anyway pretty cool clasp knife story. seriously, you got me to thinking in a different light and you enlightened me about life.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you buzz. Other than Marbles, I think RRR has a Clasp Knife available.

[@bluetoad2001]

@@WilliamsKnifeLife William, i didn’t have one Folding Hunter in my collection. so i started looking around my area. i bought one at auction, a couple at a flea market and i found one in a pawn shop. no way i could use four folding hunters but my curiosity nudged me to find different examples and learn something about them. they all have different steels and handle materials.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

@@bluetoad2001 yep, that's how it starts. Buy one, you like it, you buy another one, and another one, an another...🤣

[@gizmocarr3093]

Books written about knives are opinions of one person’s research of that subject. Some are more detailed than others are and give more facts and information. The ideas of what is the correct answer is an opinion from the facts that person believes. If the knife maker names their knife model, a Clasp knife, it is what they say it is regardless of opinions written in books. I find that is a less complicated description to believe. 🐯🤔😅🤣😂

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Yep, if the manufacturer calls it a Wharncliffe, but it sure looks like a sheepsfoot, well, its a Wharncliffe in that case. Once you buy it you can call it whatever you want. 😏

[@danieltporter959]

Thank you for doing this Vid!

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thanks for watching Daniel

[@Zen_Ali_123]

A large folding hunter with a wide blade that you can pinch open without using the nail nick?

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

That sounds good.

[@skcamerican]

I go with Warthogg’s definition. I think that’s the current US idea of a clasp knife, down to the Santa belly. Lol. Gotta accept that definitions change over time and locale. I don’t mean to be a pedantic wanker about knife patterns, but, dang it, you learn this stuff and know what a barlow is, and can talk about barlows - and then Boker comes out with short-bolster barlows, when the definition of Barlow is a long bolster! Manufacturers can sure muddy the waters! But since words are to communicate, we gotta take it all into account and try to be clear.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you Su.

[@ihopetowin]

Indeed the Romans had folding knives and multi-tools as well; some with folding spoons, proof there is pretty much nothing new under the sun.................... Please rant as much as you like, it's good.

[@WilliamsKnifeLife]

Thank you ihopetowin