#46 WHALER , History and function ?

Ƃchillepattada

Ƃchillepattada

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May 17, 2012
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Hello ,
I'm almost sure that this topic has already been treated but I can't find it o_O
I'm looking for the history and function of this exceptional knife ( which I would love to see again in production šŸ¤© )

Thanks .
Ƃ
 
I had written this post in the general discussion šŸ¤”, new forum's template, old brain šŸ¤•

I'm almost sure that this topic has already been treated but I can't find it .
I'm looking for the history and function of this exceptional knife ( which I would love to see again in production šŸ¤© )

Thanks .
Ƃ
 
As far as a functioning knife I dont see much of a purpose for it. I guess you could flip pancakes with it, or bludgeon someone with it without even opening the blade. That being said I absolutely love mine, the snap from the action is almost hair raising.
 
Also history tells us that they were used in mercantile stores to cut rope to certain lengths as required. They would place that Jumbo blade over the rope and baton the spine to make the cut. One reason the older blades are hard to fine in good shape. I have also heard that GEC whom has made some in the past had difficulty in production for one reason or another.
 
Just speculation on my part, but I believe the wide blades are so they can be ground thin while having strength due to width. A wide thin blade makes for easier push cuts through natural fiber rope imo. While I dont have a 46 I do have a Case elephant toe and it is ground very thin behind the edge. But again mostly speculation on my part.
 
The pattern dates from the 1880's or 1890's.
Other names include "Sunfish", "Elephant's Toe" because of the shape, and "British Rope Knife".
Originally 4.125 to 4.25 inch closed was the most common size.
The "Toenail"/"Elephant's Toenail" is the small 3 inch version, which came out later.

While it was unquestionably used to cut small lines on sail and steam ships they were NOT batoned through the rope/lines as some mistakenly think.
They had axes/hatchets throughout the ship and on deck, available to all the crew.
The vessel could be at sea for anywhere from a couple weeks to several years before the sailor could replace his broken or lost knife.
If a rope/line had to be cut in an emergency, an axe/hatchet would be a lot faster.

Sailors are intelligent. Slip knots that were released by a tug on the tag end, along with chains and come-a-longs, were used to tie-down cargo. Splices were and are used on more permanent connections or tie-downs.
Also, the Marlin Spike was (and is) a much more popular and practical pattern aboard ship. It has a bail, which when used with a lanyard (not a fob) prevents the knife from going to Poseidon when (not "if") it is dropped on deck.
The Marlin Spike was used more for splicing than for untying knots, by the way.
Back then pretty much every crew member knew how to splice a line, lanyard, halyard, or stay, and how to tie a knot that could be released by pulling on the tag end. Those that didn't learned how really quickly.

I read somewhere that the pattern was most popular with loggers, farmers, carpenters, and other "blue collar" workers that wanted a heavy duty folding knife on the job/farm/feed lot.
 
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gruntmedik said:
Because every thread needs pics...
Click to expand...
And beautiful pics they are!! :cool::thumbsup:
I never heard of these "Elephant Toenails" called "Whalers" until GEC adopted that name!! Other names were "Sunfish", "Pocket Axe", and sometimes, "Old English Rope Knife"!!
I feel that Whaler is still an adopted/borrowed name!! True Whalers, also known as "New England Whalers" are these medium sized Rope knives!!Whalers 2 Schrades A.jpg
They were also sold as Florist's Knives!! Swayback handle - Sheepfoot blade!!
What's in a name???šŸ¤”
 
I admittedly donā€™t know much about the history of these patterns, and honestly Iā€˜ve never really seen what practical purpose they could serve. They are curious, though, and it seems to me like a good way for a cutler to show off their skills. I mean, these have to be more challenging to make properly than a more standard-sized pattern, right?

Hereā€™s a sort-of-camouflaged comparison of GECā€™s #46 and #25 patterns.

eqFWkkX.jpg


On a related note, I hope GEC runs the #36 pattern again some time. That one seems not quite so ridiculously large, like something I might actually see myself using. (Ok, probably not, but Iā€™d buy one anyways.) šŸ˜
 
btb01 said:
I admittedly donā€™t know much about the history of these patterns, and honestly Iā€˜ve never really seen what practical purpose they could serve. They are curious, though, and it seems to me like a good way for a cutler to show off their skills. I mean, these have to be more challenging to make properly than a more standard-sized pattern, right?

Hereā€™s a sort-of-camouflaged comparison of GECā€™s #46 and #25 patterns.

eqFWkkX.jpg


On a related note, I hope GEC runs the #36 pattern again some time. That one seems not quite so ridiculously large, like something I might actually see myself using. (Ok, probably not, but Iā€™d buy one anyways.) šŸ˜
Click to expand...

I've seen a couple of custom makers say it is one of the hardest patterns to get everything right on.

I don't have a GEC Whaler, but I have a few Elephant Toenails/Sunfish/Sleeveboards. Most do not pocket carry well.

 
Another aspect to its provenance could simply be cutler's art- or vanity;)

The challenge of making some massive outlandish knife was probably equally enticing as making a small precision pattern, a test of skill and ingenuity. Then along comes Mr Marketer and gives it an alluring name that has say nautical connexions and the public get 'hooked' :D Nobody's going to claim this is a practical pattern but it's one that has strong effect and loyal following..

It also allows indulgence in the use of scales, the thing is so massive that it offers an outrageous canvas, just look at gruntmedik gruntmedik examples, the Tidioute jigged bone looks astounding, size of a small vehicle šŸ¤©
 
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