B-day present from Sheffield

Jack Black said:
What's the knife on the left Jon?
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A.G. Russell's take on the sodbuster pattern that he calls a Rancher. Great knife if you don't mind the 8cr13mov steel (looks a bit naked sitting there patina-less next to its cohorts in Will's photo :) )

Jon
 
klineh said:
A.G. Russell's take on the sodbuster pattern that he calls a Rancher. Great knife if you don't mind the 8cr13mov steel (looks a bit naked sitting there patina-less next to its cohorts in Will's photo :) )

Jon
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Thanks for the info, nice-looking knife :)
 
"Renown" is the trademark associated with W Hawcroft & Sons of Bath Works Sheffield circa 1892. The firm trademark was later associated with Needham Veall and Tyzack of Eye Witness Works from 1865 to 1925. Whether they bought out Hawcrofts after 1892 I don't know but is likely.

The usual way it was seen was " W Hawcroft & Sons, Sheffield, Renown" but variations I suspect were common.

The resource for Sheffield Trademarks for the cutlery Industry I used is here -

http://www.sha.org/documents/research/Parks_Canada_Resources/Trademarks on Base-Metal Tableware.pdf

As to whether the Renown Works for Russell Bros takes it's name from this old trademark - there may be some link to this.

Russell Bros were more machine knives than pocket knives from what I can tell from local information ( I live just out of Sheffield in the Peak District ).

Nice knife and great present :cool:
 
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As far as English knives no specific knife or pattern. I suppose a Sheffield barlow might be nice, seems like a lot of them were made there, but no specific pattern. Just something from the land of my ancestors I guess.
 
NoNameNomad said:
As far as English knives no specific knife or pattern. I suppose a Sheffield barlow might be nice, seems like a lot of them were made there, but no specific pattern. Just something from the land of my ancestors I guess.
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Trevor Ablett makes a reasonable Barlow.
 
PeterPHWS said:
"Renown" is the trademark associated with W Hawcroft & Sons of Bath Works Sheffield circa 1892. The firm trademark was later associated with Needham Veall and Tyzack of Eye Witness Works from 1865 to 1925. Whether they bought out Hawcrofts after 1892 I don't know but is likely.

The usual way it was seen was " W Hawcroft & Sons, Sheffield, Renown" but variations I suspect were common.

The resource for Sheffield Trademarks for the cutlery Industry I used is here -

http://www.sha.org/documents/research/Parks_Canada_Resources/Trademarks on Base-Metal Tableware.pdf

As to whether the Renown Works for Russell Bros takes it's name from this old trademark - there may be some link to this.

Russell Bros were more machine knives than pocket knives from what I can tell from local information ( I live just out of Sheffield in the Peak District ).

Nice knife and great present :cool:
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Whew! The plot thickens... I may have to make a thread over in Levine's forum just for kicks. Thanks so much for the info!

Jon
 
Jack Black said:
Trevor Ablett makes a reasonable Barlow.
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The one with BARLOW written on it and I'd say a big chunky solid barlow-this one is a Bexfield.I'm told thats Trevor Ablett but I'd like to know more.
 
Here's a stock image of a contemperary Ablett Barlow.

TAStagcliptLG.JPG
 
Please excuse more phone pics...

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I got a couple of Trevor's barlows earlier in the year and I was a little disappointed. Advertised as carbon steel (I have yet to see any patina of any kind), I think it's actually more likely 440A from the retention and the feel of it on a stone. I thought the fit and finish pretty poor in that when opening and closing the blade, masses of swarf was coming off the brass liners at the springs and the pivot.
Aside from that, the knife has lots if charm. I like the rustic feel to the stag handles and the all-brass fittings. I like the deep clip on the blade too, but I wouldn't call it a quality pocket knife at all. I gave the better of the two away but I'm still not sure about keeping this one, I like to see the used look develop on carbon blades and this one won't.
Paul
 
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pertinux said:
Thanks!

(There was an odd prefix on your link preventing the image from showing.)

~ P.
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Thanks for the assistance P :)

pmew said:
I got a couple of Trevor's barlows earlier in the year and I was a little disappointed. Advertised as carbon steel (I have yet to see any patina of any kind), I think it's actually more likely 440A from the retention and the feel of it on a stone. I thought the fit and finish pretty poor in that when opening and closing the blade, masses of swarf was coming off the brass liners at the springs and the pivot.
Aside from that, the knife has lots if charm. I like the rustic feel to the stag handles and the all-brass fittings. I like the deep clip on the blade too, but I wouldn't call it a quality pocket knife at all. I gave the better of the two away but I'm still not sure about keeping this one, I like to see the used look develop on carbon blades and this one won't.
Paul
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That's very disappointing Paul, particularly about the steel. I despair when it comes to Sheffield. Taylor's also do a couple of Barlows, but they have very fancy prices (hope these show OK).

taylorseyewitnesspremier.jpg


taylorseyewitnessrange.jpg
 
My Dad has a Taylor's lambsfoot jack from the 70s that has carbon steel and is a superb knife. Carbon steel blade, liners and bolsters with some sort of black imitation jigged bone. It's always been a working knife and he has knocked it about a lot, but it works great. This just doesn't add up. Taylor's new stuff ... well I don't know anyone who has bought one recently and I just don't trust them at that price when I can buy two or three American knives with perfect f&f for the same money. Such a shame.
Paul
 
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