A.Wright and Son Question

[Magizm7]

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.

Had the same experience and gave up!

 

[Jack Black]

The really sad thing is that this firm are capable of producing knives of higher quality, but the effort involved in getting consistently good results out of them is so huge it is exhausting

 

[jwh720]

So, where would a feller look for a decent quality and readily available slip joint witha lambfoot blade? I know about the sfo gec but I am not willing to pay secondary prices for one.

 

[Jack Black]

So, where would a feller look for a decent quality and readily available slip joint witha lambfoot blade? I know about the sfo gec but I am not willing to pay secondary prices for one.

I'd check out the antique shops first

 

[Corso]

The really sad thing is that this firm are capable of producing knives of higher quality, but the effort involved in getting consistently good results out of them is so huge it is exhausting

I often wondered why they didn't consider selling kits, I bet there would be a decent market for them and fit and finish would be down to the buyer

 

[Jack Black]

I often wondered why they didn't consider selling kits, I bet there would be a decent market for them and fit and finish would be down to the buyer

The kits are good idea, but trying to sell an innovative idea to a Sheffield cutler is like bashing your head against a wall, for the most part, I'm afraid

 

[hornetguy]

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.

I see what you are saying, but I didn't want CC to be involved, unless, of course, he wanted to be. I would like this to be purely GEC deciding to revive the lambfoot, giving the consumer the choice of blade styles. Especially since they now have produced a sheepfoot blade (calling it a sailor's knife). They make a ramfoot, and a sheepfoot, all that is left is a lambfoot. Speaking of non-American, isn't the sodbuster style non-American in origin?
I still think that an initial run in the Farm/Field category, as a working knife would be a great way to "re-introduce" the quality and ergonomics of the lambfoot to the US market.
I think it could also serve the purpose of forcing Sheffield to up their game, quality wise, or they would forever lose the US market for their knives. Competition is a great incentive.

 

[Corso]

The kits are good idea, but trying to sell an innovative idea to a Sheffield cutler is like bashing your head against a wall, for the most part, I'm afraid

It is indeed a shame - i remember when BB was an active forum there was a chap in Sheffield offering kits, they sold like hot cakes

Its a real shame I'd love to be able to keep collecting Sheffield folders - the few I have are mainly JR&S and the craftmanship and fit and finish were spot on even if they are showing their age, its just geting harder and harder to find anything other than penknives and sleeveboards these days

 

[screened porch]

My first lambsfoot I ground from a hawkbill pruner. I wanted the swayback handle. Wish I could find it.
I have one good Wright, one bad Wright, and two JB SFO Wrights that are very good. So 50% success without Jack Black 's intervention.

 

[cudgee]

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.

Me too. They are just really good work horses. And that is why they were in the pockets or on the belts of most of the farmers i knew. I nearly always have one in my pocket, they are easy to keep sharp, can do most tasks and simply put they are just a good work knife.

 

[Onebigbill]

My recent experiences with Sheffield knives has not been good. A. Wright and Michael May sent me knives that were unacceptable to me. M May is working to fix the problems with the knife that was sent to me but it is taking a very long time. Pretty knife but F&F was horrid and the blade grind was beyond bad. However, my Hartshead Barlow is great but only because Jack Black was heavily involved. Jack is a gentleman and I believe the one of the best authorities on Sheffield we have. IMHO

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Overall, I've had very positive experience with A. Wright & Son Ltd knives. I have owned 9 (8 lambsfoots and 1 Ettrick). Currently 8, as I moved along a buffalo regular a while ago. I won't say the level of fit and finish are what companies like Case or GEC regularly supply, but each has been sturdy (emphasis on sturdy!) and serviceable.

Some have taken a little bit of work to get to where I want them (sharpening of course, light sanding of the tang to smooth out the pull, a good cleaning of the internals, and the occasional filing of the kick), but all in all they have met my expectations of the knives. In general, they are relatively inexpensive working knives, not really collector pieces.

The two examples of Jack Black's SFO's I have (HHB and '19 Guardian) are NOT the standard in quality. They are head and shoulders above the standard production in quality, and as has been mentioned before, due to Jack's heavy involvement in the process.

If you're curious, I would strongly recommend taking the chance on one. It won't be the best made knife you own, but you may find yourself falling in love with it anyway

PS: Get a Lambsfoot in rosewood, either of the 3 sizes

ETA: photo

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the kind words gents

 

[gaj999]

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...

So they gave him a guarantee of exclusivity? For how many years? I'd love to be able to get a 93 lambsfoot at a reasonable price.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Everything about what has been said about Jack and his involvements with the Lambfoot Knife is more than true, Jack has put in a phenomenal amount of work in with The Cutler Firm - also on top of all that great personal sacrifice of Time and money, we owe an awful lot to Jack for stamping his print on the Sheffield Knife - because there are now many very good quality knives out there with a historic story to go wit those Knives, something collectors in any right mind want.

A MASSIVE thanks to Jack!

 

[Will Power]

So they gave him a guarantee of exclusivity? For how many years? I'd love to be able to get a 93 lambsfoot at a reasonable price.

I've no idea of how these things work, Charlie C spent a very long time discussing and persuading GEC to make a Lambfoot knife. Thus it was his SFO as the blade had never been made before by GEC and needed tooling, they couldn't use an in house blade for the frame-a kind of one blade fits all frames approach at all. There will have been expense and time allocation factors, none of which can have been easy.

As I wrote earlier, the Lambfoot is unarguably an English pattern and very unlikely to have been made in the USA in any significant numbers before, perhaps not at all. GEC prides itself on being an American cutler making American patterns (they don't do their version of the Laguiole for instance) so getting them to do it at all was I suspect, challenging and I can understand their reasoning. This may limit future releases. It is true that the Sodbuster was originally a German type of work-knife taken up by CASE with enthusiasm in I believe the 1960s, but note they gave it the name, they didn't borrow the German original and now it has a firm place in US and world cutler. But its blade is not unique unlike the Lambfoot. Yes I'd like GEC to do a simplified Lambfoot in larger numbers but whether they will or if there are complications with regard to SFO rights or respect due to a valued eminence such as CC I would not know .

 

[cudgee]

Overall, I've had very positive experience with A. Wright & Son Ltd knives. I have owned 9 (8 lambsfoots and 1 Ettrick). Currently 8, as I moved along a buffalo regular a while ago. I won't say the level of fit and finish are what companies like Case or GEC regularly supply, but each has been sturdy (emphasis on sturdy!) and serviceable.

Some have taken a little bit of work to get to where I want them (sharpening of course, light sanding of the tang to smooth out the pull, a good cleaning of the internals, and the occasional filing of the kick), but all in all they have met my expectations of the knives. In general, they are relatively inexpensive working knives, not really collector pieces.

The two examples of Jack Black's SFO's I have (HHB and '19 Guardian) are NOT the standard in quality. They are head and shoulders above the standard production in quality, and as has been mentioned before, due to Jack's heavy involvement in the process.

If you're curious, I would strongly recommend taking the chance on one. It won't be the best made knife you own, but you may find yourself falling in love with it anyway

PS: Get a Lambsfoot in rosewood, either of the 3 sizes

ETA: photo

Could not have said it better. They are after all working knives.

 

[CelloDan]

I know this does not answer the op question but in my case no other knife I own will cause me so much sadness if I were to loose it than my treasured ebony lambsfoot.

It was my intro to the pattern as well as a the way to start contributing to the Guardians thread.

It came with a handwritten note by a caring lady who read my note when I ordered it and took the time to write it when packaging my knife.

This knife accompanied me on countless walks as I was dealing and struggling with some rough stuff in my life.

It fits my hand perfectly. It is the knife I reach for most of my daily cutting tasks.

And I think it looks very classy too ( I even took it to a wedding reception after polishing it and buffing it ... and we both looked great in black I must say )

Album:
https://imgur.com/a/S5jZPtE

 

[abcdef]

Why doesn't Case make a lambsfoot in cv? Unless they hopelessly botched the f&f, seems like it would be a dunk. They sold out of those saw cut cv barlows in no time. I don't see what the big deal is.

 

[WHT]

If you are willing to pay a premium and are willing to have a stainless steel blade, I would look at Taylor's Eye Witness.