Slipjoint Knives
A slipjoint has no lock. A flat backspring presses on the blade tang and holds the knife open by tension alone, so the blade closes when enough force pushes it back. That is the pattern almost every pocket knife used before locking folders became common, and it is still legal to carry in places that restrict locking blades. Closing one takes two hands and a finger clear of the edge. The full range of folders is in Folding Knives.
What to Look for in a Slipjoint
Pull weight is the number that matters most and the one nobody prints. A light pull opens with a thumbnail and suits a pen knife or a small trapper. A heavy pull resists closing under load and suits a knife that will see real work. Blade count changes what the knife does: a single blade keeps it thin, two blades give you a clip for slicing and a spey or pen for detail, and three or four turn it into a small kit at the cost of thickness in the pocket. Check the half stop too, since a blade that pauses at ninety degrees is easier to close safely than one that snaps shut from full open.
What This Category Covers
Every non-locking folder we stock, including friction folders with no spring at all. Blade lengths run from 1 inch to 4.75 inches across Rough Rider, Case, Cattleman's Cutlery, Roper, Rite Edge, Marbles, Schrade, Novelty Cutlery and Higonokami. Handle materials include jigged bone, stag, Micarta, Delrin, wood and brass.
Browse by Pattern or Lock
Most slipjoints follow a named pattern. Two blades with a clip and a spey make a Trapper, three blades add a sheepsfoot for a Stockman, and a long front bolster marks a Barlow. Jack knives, pen knives and other shapes are in Specialty Knives, and the whole group sits under Traditional Knives. If you want a blade that locks open, compare Lockback Knives, where a spine-mounted bar catches the tang instead of just pressing on it. Keep any of them sharp with a stone or system from Sharpeners.
Browse our complete selection of slipjoint knives at CritPro.