Any love for large framed "sportsmans" knives?

ken erickson

ken erickson

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
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I would love to see your photos and or comments regarding these very varied and interesting vintage slip joints.
I would guess that not very many vintage good examples are in the hands of most collectors.

By large I am going to say at least 4 1/2 closed. This example was the only one that I had made but it was a fun build! (not for sale)
5 1/4 closed , three thick with checkered ebony covers.

If you have one , no matter the condition or size, although I am intrigued by these large frames, I would love to see pictures and encourage discussion on these somewhat rare knives.

0VRT4vT.jpeg
 
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Sportsmen's knives, the original multitools. Though I don't like their bulkiness, I've always found them fascinating and appreciate the skill in crafting them.

They're undeniably useful. Even the Nepalese saw their utility and have a version of the khukuri with various accessory tools.
 
ken erickson said:
I would love to see your photos and or comments regarding these very varied and interesting vintage slip joints.
I would guess that not very many vintage good examples are in the hands of most collectors.

By large I am going to say at least 4 1/2 closed. This example was the only one that I had made but it was a fun build! (not for sale)
5 1/4 closed , three thick with checkered ebony covers.

If you have one , no matter the condition I would love to see pictures and encourage discussion on these somewhat rare knives.

0VRT4vT.jpeg
Click to expand...

The one you made is a stunner Ken. As you state they are somewhat rare, I think I've only seen a handful over the years.

This is the only one I have, a 4 3/4" ivory Taylors Eye Witness, also 3 wide, broken main but other than that decent condition and still has the tweezers and pick. One of these days may try to find someone that can do a correct restoration.


IMG_2594.jpegIMG_2598.jpegIMG_2596.jpegIMG_2600.jpegIMG_2601.jpeg
 
You sure made a nice Sportsman, Ken!!

Here's a Joseph Rodgers & Sons!!JR Large 1.jpg
Two-thick Horseman's version, 4 1/2" long, it's a real pocketful!!
Nice to marvel at, with its nutcracker/hoof pick, handle inserts etc; A great pocket companion for insurance on a long horse ride (If I had a Horse!! 😁 ), but just too bulky in a pocket for today's automobile travel, with a full tool kit on board! Good for dreaming and marveling!!;)
 
ken erickson said:
I would love to see your photos and or comments regarding these very varied and interesting vintage slip joints.
I would guess that not very many vintage good examples are in the hands of most collectors.

By large I am going to say at least 4 1/2 closed. This example was the only one that I had made but it was a fun build! (not for sale)
5 1/4 closed , three thick with checkered ebony covers.

If you have one , no matter the condition I would love to see pictures and encourage discussion on these somewhat rare knives.

0VRT4vT.jpeg
Click to expand...
Beautiful knife, Ken!
Two lovely old horseman's knives, Augie and Charlie.
 
Compared to your svelte knife, this one is very bulky I'd say, Ken!!
3 thick, missing its inserts, but all there bladewise, it's 4 3/8" long - a little under the wire!
Checkered horn, the handles are interesting!!Ross n Alexander 1.jpg
Ross & Alexander!!
 
Augie,
I really like the aging and patina on the ivory! Nice knife that looks like it was loved and used judging by the pen blade being sharpened unknown times! One of the few blades I have not made is the saw blade. Hope to see it restored some day!

Charlie,
Very cool horseman's knife. Do you think yours is more of an outlier at 4 3/8 closed?



I REALLY like your sportsman's ! Lots of neat features including the stove pipe kick on the pen blade, do the others use them also? Do you speculate the slide outs where a tweezers and pick?

Mine was originally going to be checkered in buff horn also and due to circumstances the knife was canceled by the original customer and I decided to build it anyways. Ebony seemed a better choice due to size, buff horn was tough to source in large enough pieces for the knife, at least at that time.


Some might find this interesting. After completing my sportsman's knife I displayed and entered the judging at one of the larger knife shows in the area. Due to its size at 5 1/4 closed this knife seemed massive! Almost like a caricature!

n. a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.🤣


A lot of folks stopping by were not even sure it was a "real" knife, including, I think, the judges! lol.
 
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Nice one, Charlie. Here is one fairly similar, except a little larger at 6"long, in quite poor condition. The slide outs are also missing. I believe it is checkered horn as well. The large punch is triangular in cross section and I think would be considered a trocar? Tang stamp appears to be J.W. Stutter. Ron Flook's "The London Knife Book" lists a Joel W. Stutter as a manufacturing cutler, located at various addresses in London from 1829 through to 1945.

RIMG3426.JPGRIMG3429.JPGRIMG3427.JPG
 
Maybe I set the parameters to tight Mike, post it up! Thinking about it they are so closely related.
 
ken erickson said:
I would love to see your photos and or comments regarding these very varied and interesting vintage slip joints.
I would guess that not very many vintage good examples are in the hands of most collectors.

By large I am going to say at least 4 1/2 closed. This example was the only one that I had made but it was a fun build! (not for sale)
5 1/4 closed , three thick with checkered ebony covers.

If you have one , no matter the condition or size, although I am intrigued by these large frames, I would love to see pictures and encourage discussion on these somewhat rare knives.

0VRT4vT.jpeg
Click to expand...

Fantastic knife Ken!!!
I had the great pleasure of meeting you and handling this knife (I believe it was this knife?) at the Janesville knife show several years ago.
I was more than impressed with your work.
Here is a fine old Sheffield Horseman model by W. Green.

Horseman Sheffield W Green (2000x1867).jpg
 
herder said:
Fantastic knife Ken!!!
I had the great pleasure of meeting you and handling this knife (I believe it was this knife?) at the Janesville knife show several years ago.
I was more than impressed with your work.
Here is a fine old Sheffield Horseman model by W. Green.

View attachment 2677335
Click to expand...
Thank you, and yes, the only show I had that knife to was the Janesville show. Was it already moved down the road to Beloit ? If memory serves that was 2015?

Wow, that is one clean and well preserved horseman! Just fantastic how the masters could fit up stag.
 
Mike Robuck said:
Thanks Ken. Mine is a horse of a different color (or pattern). I have a Henckels that may qualify on the larger end, but here's a 3 1/2 Miller Brothers with the usual disclaimer that I can't take good pics of pearl.

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Mike,
Really a lovely horseman and rare in mother of pearl! I do not know if I have seen screws for the covers before. Interesting.
 
Thanks Ken. Miller Brothers was known for using screws some of the time. I must have confused your knife with the one you sold Gus at Blade. Bad memory means everything is new to me now
 
Reading through Levine just now I was very interested by his illustration of a Shadow Sportsman's knife by Rodgers , Sheffield, based on a giant Norfolk type. There was also one with just a tip bolster at the end in Stag. Must have been a very tricky construction, there you are Ken - something for the long winter ;)😍
 
This size is carryable by today's standards, around 3 1/2"!! Unused Joseph Rodgers in lovely pre-ban!!JR Small 1.jpg
Three-thick.
ken erickson said:
Charlie,
Very cool horseman's knife. Do you think yours is more of an outlier at 4 3/8 closed?



I REALLY like your sportsman's ! Lots of neat features including the stove pipe kick on the pen blade, do the others use them also? Do you speculate the slide outs where a tweezers and pick?
Click to expand...
I've seen most lengths, Ken! Here's an I*XL that is 3 7/8", but it has all the usual tools!!
I've never seen alternate inserts from tweezers and picks!IXL Horse 1.jpg
Here is an economy Horseman from Ulster, at 3 5/8"!!Ulster.jpg
Two thick.

Below is a Hammond that had checkered horn, all bug eaten!! I had it re-handled with Macassar Ebony!!
Hammond 1.jpg
4", and no hoof pick!!
 
waynorth said:
This size is carryable by today's standards, around 3 1/2"!! Unused Joseph Rodgers in lovely pre-ban!!View attachment 2677115
Three-thick.

I've seen most lengths, Ken! Here's an I*XL that is 3 7/8", but it has all the usual tools!!
I've never seen alternate inserts from tweezers and picks!View attachment 2677410
Here is an economy Horseman from Ulster, at 3 5/8"!!View attachment 2677414
Two thick.

Below is a Hammond that had checkered horn, all bug eaten!! I had it re-handled with Macassar Ebony!!
View attachment 2677422
4", and no hoof pick!!
Click to expand...
Very nice collection of horseman's and sportsman's!

Interesting on the horn now replaced with ebony. I remember well the horn butt plates that Browning would use back in the day and how often they would have bug holes. One of the first things I would check when I was considering a trade or buy outright , mostly Auto 5's.
 
ken erickson said:
I remember well the horn butt plates that Browning would use back in the day and how often they would have bug holes
Click to expand...
These were bad - - falling off in pieces!! I've often thought of checkering the ebony, but I think I will leave it to the next owner!!
 
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