Doctor/Physician Knife

GigOne

GigOne

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Nov 27, 1999
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I've noticed that most of the threads here center around the "slip standards" (i.e., canoe, trapper, whittler, congress, sowbelly, barlow, etc., etc., etc.). But rarely is there any back and forth about the "Doctor" (or Physician if you prefer) knives.


I don't know what it is. . . .but they trip my trigger ! :D


The only drawback that I can find with them is the "spatula blade" (I've yet to discover a real use for it). :D

That OK. . . .there are some out there that don't have the spatula (single blade "Doctors") and ones that have the spatula replaced with another blade.

The latter. . . .really trips my trigger ! :eek: :D



So. . . .am I the only one (on this forum) that likes them . . . or what ? :D
 
For putting lubricant--usually crisco-- over the ball in cap&ball sixguns. Other than that, if you're not a Dr counting pills with that blade it's pretty much as worthless as mammary glands on a stud horse.
 
I've got my eyes open for one also. I do like the spatula blade - makes it more like the 'real' thing. The pill-crusher end is another unique feature of the doctor knives.

So far I've only casually browsed the online catalogs. No one particular knife has screamed out, yet. So far I'm leaning towards the Queen brand, but I'm not big on the blade etching that they put on so many of their knives. And I definitely can't decide on a handle material. The most eye-catching is the jigged mother-of-pearl, but the various bone handles have real class, and I've always been a sucker for abalone.

-Bob
 
GigOne said:
So. . . .am I the only one (on this forum) that likes them . . . or what ? :D
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I'm quite fond of them, too. Very slim, good for "dress up" EDC. My favorite is a Queen, with abalone scales, a thing of great beauty. The pics on the Queen Cutlery site don't even *begin* to show the colors! This one from Cumberland Knifeworks is better.

queen_abalone_doctors.jpg


As I understand it, they're called "doctor's" or "physician's" knives because they found favor with doctors. The long, slim spear-point blade could be used as a scalpel in a pinch, and the spatula was used to count out pills and mix medicines. The square butt end could be used to crush pills, too.
 
Bob W said:
I've got my eyes open for one also. I do like the spatula blade - makes it more like the 'real' thing. The pill-crusher end is another unique feature of the doctor knives.

So far I've only casually browsed the online catalogs. No one particular knife has screamed out, yet. So far I'm leaning towards the Queen brand, but I'm not big on the blade etching that they put on so many of their knives. And I definitely can't decide on a handle material. The most eye-catching is the jigged mother-of-pearl, but the various bone handles have real class, and I've always been a sucker for abalone.

-Bob
Click to expand...

The blade etch on my canoe didn't bother me, I just sanded it off. Of course it's a user - not as pretty as the abalone pic!!
 
I'm not picking on doctors knives, or even Queen, but the blade etching is very distracting from overall knives' beauty. Knives have the brand name on the box, the paperwork, the tang, and often on a escutcheon. Do they think we're going to forget who's knife they carry without yet another label?

-Bob
 
What with doctors wearing scrubs or other clothing I don't think that spatula blade would be effective. I think a Randall #1 would work better.

I just got back from the dentist and I'm really looking for a dentist knife about now.

:D
 
I bought my Bro-in-law, a doctor, a Case #5910 for Christmas. He was not a real knife guy but I thought it would be a nice traditional gift. A nicely made piece I might add.
 
I am fond of this pattern as weel. I have 11 production docs knives.
Most of them are Case knives, but there is a Robeson and a Remington in there somewhere. I had been carrying them and my intent originally was to have a different one for each month. I don't carry them as much now, but still like the pattern. I will try to find the thread with pics and drag it up.
 
I hate 'em. ;)

(a few from my collection of DR. knives some are reruns.)

Those spatula blades makes good staple removers. Not much of a use unless you want to manipulate something you do not want to touch or use an edge on.
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I just picked up a Queen Doctor's knife with MOP scales and the spatula. Overall it is really nice, although I can spot a small gap between the scale and bolster in one place.

However the spatual serves a great purpose for me. I seem to have been drafted to be a pharmacy tech at the store I work in. Kinda like hey, its not busy enough to require a tech yet, but if more than one person shows up at a time we want to get the scipts filled quickly. So I get to count out pills and stuff, but not get paid. :cool: What a deal.

At least it was an excuse to go out and buy the knife. :D
 
I like docs, but all the docs I see around here with any age have the main blade down to nothing. Saw a bunch at the LCRC show last month that had 100% full spatulae but blades at maybe 10%.
 
Bastid said:
I hate 'em. ;)

(a few from my collection of DR. knives some are reruns.)

Those spatula blades makes good staple removers. Not much of a use unless you want to manipulate something you do not want to touch or use an edge on.
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Click to expand...



:eek:



Do you want to be my friend ? :D
 
Gus, the stag on that R. Bose Dr blows me away. Reese is a true master with handle materials, and that may be as nice as any stag I've ever seen.

A doctor, knife collector friend of mine told me that the spatula isnt for counting pills, it's for schmearing stuff. He didnt elaborate on what stuff.
 
Ed,

I agree Reece did a wonderful job on this one, but it seems that is the ususal for him.

Last year was a pretty good one.
Tony finished one up for me as did Joe Kious. I am pretty sure I ordered Tony's knife in 97 and it was more than well woth the wait. Stunning work from both of them.

Picked up an elegant serpentine single blade from Richard Rogers in pearl with a bar shield. Bill Ruple made small blade and spatula version in black lip that a friend picked up for me in Texas. Bill did an outstanding job as well. I would have an impossibly hard time picking my favorite out of that group alone.
 
I carry a case baby doctor's pattern in my scrub top shirt pocket- it's small and light enough to do the job! I admit I really like the pattern- but I would love to see a nontraditional piece with a blade made of *good* steel, titanium spatula/bolsters/liners, and some g-10 scales! And maybe even a clip!

I figure it would make a nice, lightweight, easily cleaned, and conveniently carried piece!

If anybody has any leads on a maker that would undertake this job, please let me know...

Thanks!

-Gregory
 
The Queens:
IMG_6554.jpeg
I’ve become particularly fond of the smaller S&M #68 pattern on the left. It and the Weidmannsheil below are the only ones with half stops, and the S&M has ATS-34 blades as a bonus. And it is significantly larger then the Case baby doc, which I find too small. The 68 really is just right.

For years now I have wondered when/if GEC will get around to this. They’ve done multiple runs of leg knives but not the doc!
 
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