Story about “Palm” Knife

The Palm knife was a French folding knife inspired by the Spanish Navaja, a famous locking knife from the late 18th century. Unlike the Navaja, which was often linked to fighting, the Palm knife became known as a practical tool for everyday use.

It featured a wooden or horn handle and a unique backspring lock shaped like a palm leaf (palme in French), which gave the knife its name. This lever lock was safer and easier to use than the older pull-ring system of the Navaja.

By the early 1900s, the Palm knife was popular with hunters, farmers, and workers because of its durability and secure locking blade.

When World War I began in 1914, the French military urgently needed trench knives. Thousands of Palm knives were taken from factory stocks and issued to soldiers, with over 46,000 delivered by September 1914.

However, the knife was not ideal for combat. Its blade was thin, the pivot was weak, and the handle lacked a guard, making it unsafe in close fighting.

Although not successful as a weapon, the Palm knife remains an important historical knife valued for its clever design and practical everyday use.