The first folding knives appeared before our era. The most ancient finds date back to 600-500 year BC. They were found during excavations of ancient Roman cities. It is possible that they were invented back in ancient Greece, but since the knives were used to complete "development", only a few copies of the Roman folding knives reached us.
In the sixteenth century, Navaja knives using a folding mechanism appeared in Spain. Their popularity increased in connection with the adoption of a law prohibiting the possession of weapons to persons of noble origin. The size of the Navaja in the unfolded state reached 45 centimeters, so it was quite a serious weapon.
Between 1650 and 1700, folding knives spread widely among the peasants of western Europe. Appeared so-called "penny knives", characterized by very low quality. Made and piece products from the best steel and careful manual assembly of assembly. Naturally, a quality folding knife at the time was a rarity, available only a little. Famous French knives of the Opinel brand originate from this elite group.
During the war for the independence of the United States (1775-1783), the folding knives acquired a fixed blade of good quality steel. Everywhere began to use the spring mechanism, there were various rings and designs in the form of closures.
After the Vietnamese campaign of 20 c. folding knives received a new impetus to development. By this time, the appearance of tactical folding knives.
In the 1980s, folding knives firmly took place in the pockets of city dwellers.
Varieties of folding knives
Types of folding knives are huge. They can be roughly divided into several categories:
- Folding knives made of simple steel without blade retainer. Typical representatives of this category are folding knives from the USSR and similar to them Chinese knives. Here you can also bring a nameless switchblade made in China, which were used to fill up all the markets and kiosks. Knives of this category are extremely not recommended for purchase, as they are made of low-quality steel, often break, can fold on the fingers and do not cut, how many they do not sharpen. A person who first became acquainted with folding knives on the example of these models can consider folding knives to be complete nonsense all his life;
- Multifunction folding knives. This group is most famous and includes inexpensive Russia-made knives, Chinese knives (usually fakes for well-known brands) and Victorinox Swiss knives. Of these options, Victorinox is the undisputed leader and is recommended as the first knife for every day;
- Chinese brand knives. They are, as a rule, copies of expensive American models. Sold under its own brand, with a few changes in the design to avoid litigation by the original manufacturer. High-quality copies of good steel knives;
- Expensive folding knives of famous American brands. The cost of serial copies on average about 12-18 thousand. For their production using the best brand steel.
In addition to this classification, the best folding knives differ in blade fixation mechanisms:
- Lok liner - the most popular system, which is a metal plate that holds the blade in the open state;
- Axis Lock - a more reliable system, in which the spring-loaded peg performs the role of a lock;
- Virolok is the simplest system used on Opinel knives. It is a regular ring with a slot for folding the blade. If the ring is turned, the blade is fixed in the open position.
There are many more different systems for fixing the blade, but they are much less common.
Should I buy discharge knives?
If we investigate the rating of folding knives, then the automatic knives will surely occupy the leading positions. It’s hard to imagine a street hooligan without a flick-knife, although, as a rule, he only has a stupid Chinese fake. A quality flick knife is expensive and reliability will always be inferior to its non-automatic counterparts.
The flick automatic knife is always activated by pressing a button. The button actuates the spring, which throws the blade, fixing it. Such knives are the most spectacular, since the blade appears in a split second with a characteristic click. Discharge knives are of two types, each of which has a different pattern of blade ejection:
- Discharge knife with a vertical blade ejection;
- Discharge knife frontal release.
The first category includes cheap automatic knives, since the vertical blade ejection system is simpler in execution (by the way, unnamed Chinese automatic knives also belong to this group). The discharge knife with a frontal discharge system is more technically complex, even Chinese copies cost from 3 thousand.
Some fans of high-quality folding knives order handmade flick knives. As a rule, these are deep refining of serial models, with complete replacement of all buttons and springs with better ones.
Folding knives of the USSR
The industry of the USSR produced many folding knives for hunters, travelers, gardeners and summer residents. As a rule, these were single-type models, differing only in the number of tools. It is worth noting that the knives of the 60-70s were of higher quality than the knives released in subsequent years. In the 90s, with the advent of better foreign knives, the popularity of Soviet knives gradually faded away.
The most famous knife of the USSR - "Squirrel". This knife was the dream of all the boys of that era. Among the uniformity of knife products, it was Belka that stood out for its design. These knives were distinguished by their unpretentiousness and reliability.
The best models of folding knives
The most popular folding knife in the world is the Ontario RAT. This model is considered a survival knife, although it gained its popularity as a knife for every day. The popularity of this device lies in an attractive price-performance ratio. In less than 3 thousand rubles the buyer gets a perfectly cutting blade with descents from the butt. This knife has become the best-selling folding knife in the world.
Knife Keychain Victorinox Classic is the most popular knife in the Victorinox lineup and one of the most popular knives in the world. Used mainly for nail care. Small scissors and a nail file, despite their miniature size, work flawlessly. Swiss quality, as they say, obliges.
The knife Opinel №8 is the bearer of the traditions of the first European knives. Despite the outdated appearance, has an amazing cut. It can be used in the kitchen, where its wooden handle fits perfectly into any interior. Recommended for lovers of knife classics.
DIY folding knife
Making a folding knife with your own hands is quite a challenge. To solve it you will definitely need a drawing. The process of creating a blade is no different from making a blade for a fixed knife, there will be no problems with the handle either, but the assembly of the locking mechanism will require jewelry accuracy.
There is one secret that masters usually do not disclose. To make a perfectly working designer folding knife, a high-quality Chinese donor with the necessary fixation system for 1200 rubles is taken. He completely understands, the springs change, the blade is made of powder steel, original material is put on the plates and the author's knife is ready! Nobody even suspects the former Chinese model in it.
How to care for a folding knife
A folding knife needs more care and maintenance than a knife with a fixed blade. If used carelessly, the mechanism becomes clogged with dirt, which can lead to seizure. The mechanisms of multifunctional knives are especially clogged. A dirty folding knife must be disassembled, thoroughly cleaned of dirt, oiled and assembled. With timely service folding knife will serve you for many years.
Folding knife is a thing that can help in various situations. Unlike a knife with a fixed blade, it fits in your pocket, which allows you to carry it with you daily in urban environments. Remember that all folding knives that are commercially available are not cold weapons, whatever your friends and acquaintances tell you.
