Always had an Eye for this one

pmew

pmew

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Oct 2, 2011
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I recently travelled the 600 mile journey south to visit my folks in England where they now live. They were celebrating their Ruby (40) wedding anniversary and had a big party planned for Saturday afternoon. It was a regular family and friends type thing so I'll not go into details about it, other than to say it was great craic and everyone had fun.

My father has a beautiful Taylors Eye Witness jack that he carried throughout my childhood and which is the knife that I always coveted. My father suffers from Motor Neurone Disease and of recent years has been carrying an SAK which is much less of a bear trap. Well, on the Sunday after the party he put the old Lambsfoot jack into my hand and told me that he would not carry it again so it should join my collection which he knows I carry and use regularly. He told me that he bought this one new in 1962, and other than the swiss army knife it is the only one I ever knew him to carry.





Lambsfoot and pen blades, liners, springs and bolsters are all carbon steel.



The black jigged handles are some kind of plastic, although I know not what. They have obviously shrunk over the years.





Beautiful rat-tail bolsters and swedges on the blades.











I have loved this knife, and all that it represented to me for as long as I can remember. I'm very pleased to now own it.

My beloved parents.



Paul
 
Thanks for a photo of the happy couple. I see your dad wore ruby for the occasion. They look happy and healthy.

What a treasured bit of family history must be associated with that knife. I'm sure you'll think of your father every time you use it, or even each time you look at it. Would you call that pattern a Swayback Jack? I like those British Lambfoot blades. We don't see those much in the States, nor those fine rat-tail bolsters. Your dad had great taste--lucky you! I wonder, do you have any particular associations with him using the knife--say around the yard or in the shop? Or was it a general use, everyday knife? It looks like he really cared for and knew how to sharpen it well.
 
Awesome story and knife.
Looks like a good candidate for ivory!
Big congrats to your parents for 40 years!
 
WOW that's just TOTALLY AWESOME!!! :)

That's way too cool is all I can say. That knife has been carried and USED for 50+ years and it was your Father's so to say it's a cherished keepsake would be an understatement - especially since it was his ONLY EDC and you have the childhood memories to go with it.

Excellent pics! Thanks for sharing, this post has made my day :) :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
pmew said:
I have loved this knife, and all that it represented to me for as long as I can remember. I'm very pleased to now own it.
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Fantastic post Paul, a lovely knife full of Sheffield character, and a lovely story too, I'm very pleased for you my friend :)

I wonder if I ever encountered your dad as a youngster. Unfortunately, my memory is so bad these days that I could have met him a dozen times and not remember. A belated congratulations to your parents :thumbup:

Jack
 
arizonaranchman said:
WOW that's just TOTALLY AWESOME!!! :)

That's way too cool is all I can say. That knife has been carried and USED for 50+ years and it was your Father's so to say it's a cherished keepsake would be an understatement - especially since it was his ONLY EDC and you have the childhood memories to go with it.

Excellent pics! Thanks for sharing, this post has made my day :) :thumbup: :thumbup:
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup:

Congratulations to your parents on their 40th wedding anniversary. That is a fine knife and your dad took great care in maintaining it. Good for you Paul. :)
 
That knife is stellar. Glad you are able to have such a special knife. The ones we remember from our childhood are often the best and most valuable.
 
AWESOME Knife with History and sentimental Value that can Never be bought!! Congrats to you and TO your Parents!!
 
Thanks for all the comments guys and gals! :)

@RobbW - the waistcoat is Wilson tartan that I had made for him. I think swayback jack is correct. I have tons of memories of it being used by him and a few funny ones. He is a retired minister, and he hated wearing the white dog collars so would always put them on at the last minute. I remember being with him in the vestry one Sunday morning an he had forgotten to put one in his briefcase so he used the lambsfoot to cut a strip of white card. :)
 
pmew said:
Thanks for all the comments guys and gals! :)

@RobbW - the waistcoat is Wilson tartan that I had made for him. I think swayback jack is correct. I have tons of memories of it being used by him and a few funny ones. He is a retired minister, and he hated wearing the white dog collars so would always put them on at the last minute. I remember being with him in the vestry one Sunday morning an he had forgotten to put one in his briefcase so he used the lambsfoot to cut a strip of white card. :)
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If that was in Sheffield Paul, that church yard is full of old Sheffield cutlers, and their gaffers, such as George Wostenholm.

I don't know a single clergyman who likes the dog-collars! A piece of card once worked for me at a fancy dress party, people kept saying how nice it was to have the vicar there! :D
 
Just the pictures of that classic knife are enough to make my mouth water, and then the sentimental connections make my eyes water! Congratulations to your parents on their matrimonial milestone, and to you on your receipt of a family heirloom. Fantastic!

-GT
 
That's the dream, right there. To be carrying the knife that you grew up admiring. Congratulations, and congratulations to your parents. 40 years is no small feat.
 
What an amazing knife to have in your hand. It's not just a knife your father owned, it is one you knew he used most every day for decades. I'm sure it has stories to tell, from the outrageous, to the most mundane of family tasks that a knife is used for.

Thanks for sharing this with us!
 
WOW - that old knife has so much character and the story behind it makes it so very special. Thank you for sharing this Paul. :thumbup::)
 
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