A.Wright and Son Question

jwh720

jwh720

Joined
Feb 21, 2016
Messages
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I am considering purchasing an A . Wright and Son lambfoot and was wondering what to expect for fit and finish. Not sure if it would be like case quality or more inline with gec.
 
I have two, and the quality is closer to Case than GEC. I like both of mine quite a bit...but I will note that they don't open/close quite as smoothly as the Case and GEC's.
For the price, they are really nice knives, in my opinion. If you want a true Lambsfoot knife, it's about the only game going, at least to my knowledge.
 
I love Wright's Lambsfoot knives, but don't expect anything close to GEC quality.
They are every day, hard-use work knives, not pretty collection pieces. That's their charm.
Jack Black has done some special orders and they have come with a higher quality of fit and finish.
 
Disappointment, I purchased 3, 1-ebony wood, blade so off centered i am surprised it closes. 2nd -rose wood , terrible fit and finish on the wood and pin work, 3rd buffalo horn, worst than terrible fitting of the horn to the handle, 1 side has such a gap it is offensive. the design of the knife and the shape of the handle and blade material is what drew me to the pattern. i was hopeful to receive a well made knife that's why i tried 3 different times.
 
pholder said:
Disappointment, I purchased 3, 1-ebony wood, blade so off centered i am surprised it closes. 2nd -rose wood , terrible fit and finish on the wood and pin work, 3rd buffalo horn, worst than terrible fitting of the horn to the handle, 1 side has such a gap it is offensive. the design of the knife and the shape of the handle and blade material is what drew me to the pattern. i was hopeful to receive a well made knife that's why i tried 3 different times.
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This is the reason I haven't bought one yet ... seems you have to take a leap of faith - I always like to see the exact knife I'll be receiving before I order it - as far as I know this isn't possible from the UK sites I've visited. Can anybody help ... is there a better way ?
 
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get GEC to make a run of 93's with lambfoot blades, instead of ramfoot? I know there was an SFO for Waynorth like that, but we're talking unicorn stuff here.
I mean, a simple Tidioute 93 lambfoot... maybe 4 different handle options. I bet they'd sell like the proverbial hotcake...

late edit: another thought occurred to me. GEC could make a "working man's" lambfoot in the Farm/Field knife group. Delrin or micarta handles... they would probably outsell A.Wright knives 5 to 1. GEC quality, at workman's prices. Heck, I'd probably buy 3 or 4 of them myself.
 
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Lansky1 said:
This is the reason I haven't bought one yet ... seems you have to take a leap of faith - I always like to see the exact knife I'll be receiving before I order it - as far as I know this isn't possible from the UK sites I've visited. Can anybody help ... is there a better way ?
Click to expand...
You are wise to be wary.
I purchased a snakewood covered example figuring that if they're putting that much effort into the handles it would follow suit that there would be some quality in the fit and finish overall.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The wood is beautiful.
And that's where it ends.
The blade grind is so far off from one side to the other it is actually crooked.
Has a thick edge that was beveled at more than 40 degrees...on just one side! The other side varied between 20-30.
The pull is a nail breaker.
Gaps on the spring, wide gaps with grit inclusions.
Grit inclusions that give me the impression that a 10 year old assembled the thing in the slag pit.
Seriously.
I used aerosol Remoil and compressed air for an afternoon and it still was spitting out sludge. Inordinate amounts, almost like someone was getting a laugh on the sucker who buys it.
Basically I'm going to give it away.
 
Barman1 said:
You are wise to be wary.
I purchased a snakewood covered example figuring that if they're putting that much effort into the handles it would follow suit that there would be some quality in the fit and finish overall.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The wood is beautiful.
And that's where it ends.
The blade grind is so far off from one side to the other it is actually crooked.
Has a thick edge that was beveled at more than 40 degrees...on just one side! The other side varied between 20-30.
The pull is a nail breaker.
Gaps on the spring, wide gaps with grit inclusions.
Grit inclusions that give me the impression that a 10 year old assembled the thing in the slag pit.
Seriously.
I used aerosol Remoil and compressed air for an afternoon and it still was spitting out sludge. Inordinate amounts, almost like someone was getting a laugh on the sucker who buys it.
Basically I'm going to give it away.
Click to expand...
Not disagreeing with anything you’re saying, but If you decide to give it away, I will be happy to pay postage and provide my address.
 
Barman1 said:
You are wise to be wary.
I purchased a snakewood covered example figuring that if they're putting that much effort into the handles it would follow suit that there would be some quality in the fit and finish overall.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
The wood is beautiful.
And that's where it ends.
The blade grind is so far off from one side to the other it is actually crooked.
Has a thick edge that was beveled at more than 40 degrees...on just one side! The other side varied between 20-30.
The pull is a nail breaker.
Gaps on the spring, wide gaps with grit inclusions.
Grit inclusions that give me the impression that a 10 year old assembled the thing in the slag pit.
Seriously.
I used aerosol Remoil and compressed air for an afternoon and it still was spitting out sludge. Inordinate amounts, almost like someone was getting a laugh on the sucker who buys it.
Basically I'm going to give it away.
Click to expand...
I bought a Michael May knife that sounds exactly like that one, except the wood on mine was bocote. I don't know what's happening in Sheffield, but it is not good.
 
hornetguy said:
Wouldn't it be nice if we could get GEC to make a run of 93's with lambfoot blades, instead of ramfoot? I know there was an SFO for Waynorth like that, but we're talking unicorn stuff here.
I mean, a simple Tidioute 93 lambfoot... maybe 4 different handle options. I bet they'd sell like the proverbial hotcake...

late edit: another thought occurred to me. GEC could make a "working man's" lambfoot in the Farm/Field knife group. Delrin or micarta handles... they would probably outsell A.Wright knives 5 to 1. GEC quality, at workman's prices. Heck, I'd probably buy 3 or 4 of them myself.
Click to expand...

An attractive concept but it took CC a very long time to persuade GEC to make a pattern that is non American, plus I think he would not want to have his blade installed in more basic finishes.

However, I agree with the notion, a no frills version in say Micarta and or Osage Orange would guarantee a delightful QUALITY knife. GEC, CASE are far ahead in QC. This is something I have not found Wright's capable of after several tries. All their knives have required 'work' on them to make them acceptable to use, particularly brass liners very proud of the scales that needed filing back on all examples until flush. Numerous gaps, often the blades are bent-kind of 'krinked' if you like;) the ends of the springs are cut off very crudely as well-not straight. I don't particularly care for the often oversized nail nicks either, they look a bit strange with the rest of the knife and you usually have a sharpening job on your hands on delivery. Spring action is strong but none too smooth. In addition, I discovered at Christmas that a Wright Etrrick I got earlier this year has such soft steel that the tip curled over like a sardine can when scoring Chestnuts, so I am less than impressed by them, it's a pity as the pattern (both Lambfoot and Ettrick) look on paper attractive but my experience of them is one that I would advise buyers to have low expectations, others may well have encountered very different knives from mine I fully understand. But my statistics are not too good, all 6 with issues or rapidly developing them, 2 were simply beyond rubbish. A work-knife such as a CASE Sodbuster or a GEC Bullnose are simply far better made and consistent in quality.
 
GEC are pretty much the only current brand I would buy site unseen - even Case have disapointed me in the past. I have handeled a few A Wright knives and they fall in the £20 bracket, I'd much prefer something from the original Sheffield makers
 
Well this is disappointing to hear, on the site I was looking at they look beautiful with nice wood covers. I think I am going to pass on picking one up. I dont mind rolling the dice with case sometimes because its easy enough to return or send in for warranty but that does not seem logical when buying from across the pond.
 
Corso said:
GEC are pretty much the only current brand I would buy site unseen - even Case have disapointed me in the past. I have handeled a few A Wright knives and they fall in the £20 bracket, I'd much prefer something from the original Sheffield makers
Click to expand...

I agree GEC seems to be the go to for quality in production traditionals. I just bought a new case barlow that has so much blade play that you cant cut a straight line in paper.
 
Despite its few flaws, none of which effect it's operation, this is hands-down my favorite knife of all time.
I don't gaze at its beauty, or marvel at the wonderful craftsmanship. I throw it in my pocket and use the crud out of it... day in and day out.
 
From a UK perspective they are embarrassing. Still living off their name. Fit and finish is often wide of the mark. Don't even bother!
 
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