the origin of the folding knife

[druid]

when was the first folding knife made, what kind of knife was it, when was the first locking mechanism made. truly locking not friction folder. please to answer:D

[Piet.S]

The ancient Romans had folders.

[Derkomai]

The Romans already had folding knives made of iron with bronze handles.:eek: The first reliable back-spring was invented by Benjamin Huntsman of Sheffield, England. Source: Bernard Levine, Pocket knives. The compact study guide and identifier (Edison 1998). Nice book!:)

I believe, but I am not absolutely sure, that the 110 folding hunter (1963/1964) made by Al Buck was the first popular lock back, although I guess there were locking mechanisms from the 1900’s onwards.

Perhaps the more (knife)-educated forum members can give you more facts and sources.:confused:

[Chucula]

I'd rather make up a story:

A long time a go, a caveman was eating a bird wing and cut his mouth by accident on the bone. He was a genius (called crazy) for his time, and realized he could use this bird's folding, cutting wing to cut up animal poo and his beard. Thus, the first folding cutting device was created.

:D

[Darkfin]

Check HERE (http://www.google.com/patents?as_q=&num=100&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_pnum=&as_vt=folding+knife&as_pinvent=&as_pasgnee=&as_pusc=&as_pintlc=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1776&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1950&as_drrb_ap=b&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=1776&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=1950).

[The Deacon]

Think locking folders go way further back than 1900. I would guess the locks used on Navajas and Opinels have been around considerably longer than that.

[224477]

I would say Spanish influenced "Navajas" were 1st locking folders, not 100% sure though.

[dialex]

I remeber I read in Blade Magazine about an ancient Roman folder unearthed. The folder had ivory handles, sculpted as an animal (a lion, IIRC) and I don't think it had a lock. The blade was spearpoint shaped, made out of BG42 :eek: ... I mean, good old carbon steel. ;)