A Couple From Europe

[Blues]

I received a few slipjoint folders in the mail today from a friend in The Netherlands for helping ship some knives to him over the last few months.

The first one (not pictured) was a small Douk-Douk to go along with the large Douk-Douk I already owned from a previous trip to Paris.

The second knife is a 1920's-30's French made (Thiers) multi-blade. The scales are a really pretty (cow) horn. My friend got it at a flea market from the granddaughter of the original owner. One can only imagine the times this knife lived through.

The last knife is a 1950's vintage Gebruder Berns (Solingen) "Otter" in carbon steel. This is a nice light slipjoint with wood scales.

One thing that always strikes home when I look at these older knives from both here and abroad is how much better the owners/caretakers maintained their knives than (most) folks of the present day.

 

[RandyW]

Very cool ..Thanks for sharing..

 

[dulledge2]

sure is nice to have knife friendly friends.

 

[Thomason]

.....The second knife is a 1920's-30's French made (Thiers) multi-blade....One can only imagine the times this knife lived through.....

That era in Paris always interested me. All the literary names living there following WWI. The Lost Generation. Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot and the rest. I can imagine a similar knife in Ernest's pocket. As to the Otter, well I just like the looks of that one.

 

[Blues]

That era in Paris always interested me. All the literary names living there following WWI. The Lost Generation. Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot and the rest. I can imagine a similar knife in Ernest's pocket. As to the Otter, well I just like the looks of that one.

Rob, I think that's part of the fascination with knives. The who, what and where.

The Otter reminds me a lot of a twin bladed Sheffield knife I have by Trevor Ablett, though the Ablett is considerably heavier/stouter.

 

[jackknife]

Blues, those are some nice knives, I love that little French mult-blade. I could see Papa Hemingway uncorking a bottle of something. Thats one thing that always comes to my mind when looking at an old knife, wondering where its been and with who. Ya never know!

I've noticed the guys over the water really do seem to take better care of thier pocket knives, look at some of those hundred year old knives smiling-knife always has posts on!

 

[Blues]

That's two Hemingway comments in the thread.

Other than enjoying some of his books, my only other connection to Papa was that Mary Hemingway (his widow) was a client of mine when I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch back in 1975-1976.

She paid me a great compliment by telling me that Papa would've liked me. (You could've knocked my 23 year old ass over with a feather.)

Oh, and I sold her the sweetest lap strake (cedar and copper tacked) hand made Adirondack canoe you ever saw. She had it shipped to Mariel and Margaux in Ketchum, Idaho.

Ah, those were the days. So, I guess I'll dub the little French multi-blade my Hemingway knife. :thumbup:

 

[freekboi]

That's two Hemingway comments in the thread.

Other than enjoying some of his books, my only other connection to Papa was that Mary Hemingway (his widow) was a client of mine when I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch back in 1975-1976.

She paid me a great compliment by telling me that Papa would've liked me. (You could've knocked my 23 year old ass over with a feather.)

Oh, and I sold her the sweetest lap strake (cedar and copper tacked) hand made Adirondack canoe you ever saw. She had it shipped to Mariel and Margaux in Ketchum, Idaho.

Ah, those were the days. So, I guess I'll dub the little French multi-blade my Hemingway knife. :thumbup:

Now that's a great compliment!

 

[Blues]

I've noticed the guys over the water really do seem to take better care of thier pocket knives, look at some of those hundred year old knives smiling-knife always has posts on!

The few older American knives I have (1890's Russell Daddy Barlow, Remington R1123 & Waterville E-Z Opener) have shown the same tendency to give the knife proper care.

I think it says something about those who came from those earlier generations who had to take care of their tools (so their tools would take care of them) and didn't live in a society where most goods were disposable.

 

[fewpop]

Very nice knives, Elliott. They have that elegant simplicity that is the art of the form.

Picture Hemingway sitting at his well worn little teak table, corking a dusty bottle of cognac. While it breathes, he trims the end of a fine Havana, inhales the earthy aroma, and admires the warmth and depth in the horn handles revealed by the glow from his oil lamp. A sniff of cognac, airs of Cuba, and good pocket steel in hand.

Salute' Amigo.

 

[freekboi]

Picture Hemingway sitting at his well worn little teak table, corking a dusty bottle of cognac. While it breathes, he trims the end of a fine Havana, inhales the earthy aroma, and admires the warmth and depth in the horn handles revealed by the glow from his oil lamp. A sniff of cognac, airs of Cuba, and good pocket steel in hand.

Now that's a picture I wouldn't mind stepping into.:thumbup:

 

[Blues]

Jeez, for a moment I felt like Jake Barnes. (But fully intact. )

Very poetic, Ford. Nicely done. :thumbup:

 

[Rivit]

If you do a search there was a thread about the Hemingway Knife in the Levine forum. It is patterned after his and is still being made.

 

[Blues]

Thanks, Rivit. I just checked it out. Interesting (and pricey) to say the least.

Considering how spare and deliberate Hemingway was with his words (at his best) I'd be surprised if he didn't like the one I got in the mail today better.
(I tend to like to keep things simple.)

 

[rebeltf]

Blues said

One thing that always strikes home when I look at these older knives from both here and abroad is how much better the owners/caretakers maintained their knives than (most) folks of the present day

Is that not the truth ! That Otter, having carbon steel and being that old with no pitting or really visible rust , that knife was well loved. :thumbup:

Good 'score'.

 

[smiling-knife]

Those are great knives Blues. I like the simplistic beauty of the Otter. The French knives are under-rated in my opinion. I have a few in that style but not as old... I think.

 

[tarmix101]

(You could've knocked my 23 year old ass over with a feather.)

That paints a pretty funny picture Blues. It would be my great pleasure to get you and Jackknife in a nice cool pub in the middle of nowhere, a good collection of old slipjoints, and let you two "yarn" away.

Congtrats on the new additions:thumbup:

 

[Blues]

That paints a pretty funny picture Blues. It would be my great pleasure to get you and Jackknife in a nice cool pub in the middle of nowhere, a good collection of old slipjoints, and let you two "yarn" away.

Congtrats on the new additions:thumbup:

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback.

Tarmix, I've got a tale or two that hasn't yet been told but on my best day I'd have a hard time matching jackknife's eloquence in relating it. :thumbup:

(Oh, and yeah, I kinda cringed when I read that line but I figured you guys'd be good enough to kinda let it pass. )