This Double-Bladed Pocket Knife Is a Modern Take on a Centuries-Old Design

The classic slip joint mechanism has stood the test of the time.

Published August 15, 2024

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At no time in history has technology accelerated as quickly as it does today. Even so, some innovations are so convenient and reliable, they can endure for literally hundreds of years.

Upon its introduction in the mid-1600s, the slip joint design gained popularity among scholars and merchants, who used the blades to sharpen writing utensils, hence the term “penknife.”

Considering it surfaced in England during the mid-1600s, the classic slip joint pocket knife mechanism is just such a thing. And thanks to fresh takes such as the recently released CRKT Forebear, we’re pretty sure it’s not going away anytime soon.

CRKT Forebear Slip Joint

$85.00 at CRKT

What makes the slip joint special?

A quietly brilliant mechanism, the slip joint blade is held in place by a sturdy “backspring” that seeks to maintain its current position, whether open or closed.

When you pull the blade out of the handle, you’ll feel resistance until it passes 90 degrees, at which point the force of the spring reverses and you’ll feel it push toward the open position. Closing it requires a bit of oomph until, again, the blade passes 90 degrees.

Upon its introduction, the design gained popularity among scholars and merchants, who used the blades to sharpen writing utensils, hence the term “penknife.”

crkt forebear blade deployed — Once deployed, it’ll take some effort to return the blade to the handle — that’s a good thing.

Due to regulations against swords and fixed-blade knives, slip joints also emerged as law-abiding — and easily concealable — weapons. That dynamic has kinda held up, as they continue to be valued in the UK (due to restrictions on locking folding knives) and Germany (where there are rules concerning locking one-handed folders).

That said, there are a couple notable downsides to the mechanism. First, it takes two hands to deploy the blade. Second, because it does not lock into the deployed position, the blade can potentially (and dangerously) fold in on itself under pressure from the back.

Nonetheless, slip joints remain pretty dang dependable for everyday use. They found their way into the very first Swiss Army knives in 1884 and continue to be used in those multi-tools — and many other EDC products — to this day.

CRKT Forebear Slip Joint

All of which leads us to the Forebear. Designed by Folsom, California-based Darriel Caston, an electrical engineer by trade, it has more to offer than a welcome nod to knife history.

Weighing in at just 1.3 ounces, it boasts not one but two Wharncliffe blades, providing the versatility to handle a variety of cutting and slicing jobs. Made of edge-retaining 12C27 steel, the blades feature nail nicks for easy opening, and the longer of the two is 2.29 inches.

crkt forebear folded — Ultem, the handle material, is valued for its unique look, its strength and its heat resistance.

Rounding out the materials is an ultem handle. Not only does the semi-transparent thermoplastic resin add visual interest, but also the substance is known for its strength and resistance to heat, steam and hot water.

That’ll come in handy when your washing the knife after a late-summer picnic. Pro tip: Use one of the blades for cutting ham, the other to slice cheese, and carefully craft a snack that, like the slip joint itself, is hundreds of years old: the sandwich.