Folding knives have been staple tools for thousands of years of human history. The oldest known folding knife is the Hallstatt knife, an ancient friction folder discovered in modern-day Austria and dating back to 500-600 B.C. As old as it is, its design and construction suggest that it was not the first of its kind!
From the time of the Hallstatt knife to the present, most folding knives were simple designs, held open by friction, spring tension or a very basic lock. While many of these designs were intricately crafted and capable tools in skilled hands, tasks like prying, stabbing, wedging and heavy cutting could stress them to their limits and beyond. They were not designed to endure extreme use.
Industrial Revolution
In 1979, a young man with some high…
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Knives Illustrated (Digital) - 1 Issue, May - June 2020