An Honest Repair.

[Blake the Blade]

I recently posted this knife in another thread. Its a lovely old Sheffield folder by John Petty and Sons, which I picked up for a song from the tool department of a bric-a-brac shop at the industrial museum where I work. The knife was fully functional and in great (used) condition apart from some damage to the back of the horn handle.

Ordinarily I would have lived with the damage seeing it as part of its history, but the museum also has a walking stick maker who recently supplied me with a lovely blackthorn walking stick. Now he works with a number of natural materials in the course of his craft so I asked if he could do anything with the damaged knife, and he took it away saying he would "..give it a go". When he gave it back a couple of weeks later he exclaimed that he was a bit annoyed with himself as the horn he had carefully chosen for the job had remained a very good match to the existing horn on the knife right up until the point that he gave it a final polish when it went a good bit darker.

I assured my friend that he had done a fantastic job and an honest repair to the broken handle and that I was very happy with it, which I most certainly am. I personally think the repair clearly marks the next chapter in the life of a fine old user and will, in time, become a part of its character.

Anyway, just wanted to share the story, but opinions, similar stories, repairs and comparisons are welcome.

Untitled by Blake Blade, on FlickrUntitled by Blake Blade, on FlickrUntitled by Blake Blade, on FlickrUntitled by Blake Blade, on FlickrUntitled by Blake Blade, on FlickrUntitled by Blake Blade, on Flickr

- Mark

 

[JB in SC]

Looks pretty spiffy to me. I was taught some splicing techniques by a furniture maker many years ago, comes in handy when working with antiques.

 

[glennbad]

Looks very serviceable now, and you kept a nice hand made touch to the knife.

Nice!

 

[Horsewright]

Very nice work! Great to give the old knife more life for sure.

A similar repair. One of my Gordo models handled in mammoth tooth. Belongs to and is used by a rancher in Montana. Handle chipped off:

Took some scrap mammoth tooth and crunched er up on the anvil. Mixed it in some epoxy.

Stirred in some black dye to the epoxy tooth mixture and built a dam around the knife handle with blue tape.

Let it dry for a couple of days and worked it down.

Polish up the whole knife and put a new lanyard on it and call er good.

 

[WinchesteRalox]

That’s a good lookin knife!

 

[Jack Black]

Great-looking John Petty, and a nice repair job Feller makes a good-looking stick too

You did a great job of that mammoth repair Dave, lovely knife

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks Jack.

 

[Blake the Blade]

Looks pretty spiffy to me. I was taught some splicing techniques by a furniture maker many years ago, comes in handy when working with antiques.

I'll bet it does JB. Many thanks.

Looks very serviceable now, and you kept a nice hand made touch to the knife. Thank you Sir, praise indeed. I'll be sure to pass it on to the stick maker.

Nice!

Very nice work! Great to give the old knife more life for sure.

A similar repair. One of my Gordo models handled in mammoth tooth. Belongs to and is used by a rancher in Montana.

Took some scrap mammoth tooth and crunched er up on the anvil. Mixed it in some epoxy.

Stirred in some black dye to the epoxy tooth mixture and built a dam around the knife handle with blue tape.

Let it dry for a couple of days and worked it down.

Polish up the whole knife and put a new lanyard on it and call er good.

Fantastic knife Horsewright. Great repair too and like mine, and if you don't mind me saying, you can see its been done but, for me, that just adds to its story.

Great-looking John Petty, and a nice repair job Feller makes a good-looking stick too

Thanks Jack. by stick was actually an old one he'd picked up somewhere. The ones he makes himself are great...made from all manner of horn and wood in various traditional designs. very reasonably priced too. Haven't the need for a walking stick yet, fortunately, but surprising nice to have for walks in the country I have found.

 

[RayseM]

Excellent saves! Building on history (knifestory). Very cool.

Ray

 

[r8shell]

Nice looking repairs. A complete re-handle job could be mistaken for original covers, but a visible repair tells a story. It's more "honest."

Here's a Wadsworth I patched, using some bone from a broken parts knife:

 

[Blake the Blade]

Nice looking repairs. A complete re-handle job could be mistaken for original covers, but a visible repair tells a story. It's more "honest."

Here's a Wadsworth I patched, using some bone from a broken parts knife:
View attachment 957915
View attachment 957914

Great match r8shell, but no attempt at deception...like that!

 

[JB in SC]

r8shell nicely done

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack. by stick was actually an old one he'd picked up somewhere. The ones he makes himself are great...made from all manner of horn and wood in various traditional designs. very reasonably priced too. Haven't the need for a walking stick yet, fortunately, but surprising nice to have for walks in the country I have found.

Yes, I often take one myself, and slightly unintentionally, I'm developing quite a collection - the oldest is from 1847!

Here's a Wadsworth I patched, using some bone from a broken parts knife:
View attachment 957915
View attachment 957914

Real nice work

 

[Blake the Blade]

Yes, I often take one myself, and slightly unintentionally, I'm developing quite a collection - the oldest is from 1847!

View attachment 957941

That's a beauty Jack. What a nice thing to have when you're out and about. Like traditional folders they're nicely made, useful and eminently collectible. Anyway that's another story...don't get me started.

 

[Ernie1980]

I repair when possible to save as much of the original work as possible. Your friend did well, especially for his first knife fix!

 

[r redden]

Great repair and great knife B Blake the Blade loved the story thanks for sharing.

Horsewright that knife is gorgeous. I'm a big fan of both the knives you make and the lifestyle of being a real cowboy you show us at times . Hopefully someday soon I am going to PM you and purchase one of those beauties you create.

r8shell great repair. Rachel you are a talented lady especially your scrimshaw work.


I have posted this story and pictures before so thank you for indulging me to post it again.

When I was 10 years old we'll just say it was over 50 years ago I spent a couple of weeks with my grandparents and during that time I helped my grandfather put up a new barbed wire fence around the lower pasture. When we finished pop took me to the feed and seed and he bought me a new Colonial Barlow and gave me a $10 bill for helping him. In the 60's $10 was a lot of money for a 10 year old boy but it paled in comparison to that new Barlow.
Over the years I lost track of that old Barlow after one of the covers came off. My father passed when I was young and my mom had put his tool box up and it was off limits. A few years ago I spotted that old tool box where I had put it behind my workbench when I cleaned out the old home place before I sold it. I opened it and there was my barlow where Mom must have thought it was Dad's and put it in the old toolbox. I contacted Glennbad and asked him to bring it back to life with some stag covers and now it remains my most cherished knife.

Before Glennbad

After Glennbad

 

[RayseM]

^ That deserves a WOW. Beautiful save - what a treasure!

LNIB right?

Ray

 

[Blake the Blade]

When I was 10 years old we'll just say it was over 50 years ago I spent a couple of weeks with my grandparents and during that time I helped my grandfather put up a new barbed wire fence around the lower pasture. When we finished pop took me to the feed and seed and he bought me a new Colonial Barlow and gave me a $10 bill for helping him. In the 60's $10 was a lot of money for a 10 year old boy but it paled in comparison to that new Barlow.
Over the years I lost track of that old Barlow after one of the covers came off. My father passed when I was young and my mom had put his tool box up and it was off limits. A few years ago I spotted that old tool box where I had put it behind my workbench when I cleaned out the old home place before I sold it. I opened it and there was my barlow where Mom must have thought it was Dad's and put it in the old toolbox. I contacted Glennbad and asked him to bring it back to life with some stag covers and now it remains my most cherished knife.

Before Glennbad

After Glennbad

Hey Randy. I didn't catch your post the first time around, so glad you've had the chance to repost it. Glen has done a fantastic job on your knife and preserved some very precious memories for you. What better keep sake to remind you of days spent with your Grandparents during your childhood. Thank you for sharing. Mark.