Enjoying the reacquainting with my knife collection...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
Messages
3,989
Everyone here has their own way of enjoying their knives. Some in their use, some in their collecting, some in their displaying of them, and maybe some in the memories that a knife brings to them. There are those reasons, and likely plenty more, why we may enjoy our knives, (or any other inanimate object(s)).
That said, I occasionally go through my displayed collection of all sorts of do-dads for routine maintenance, (including knives). I get reacquainted with them, and sometimes a renewed "wow" feeling comes back to me.
Here is an example of that, this Canal Street Trapper in my collection...



And here is some information about them that I found online...
The Moon Pie Trapper is the first pocketknife that Canal Street Cutlery designed and manufactured all the components for. The first one was produced in 2007 and the first open stock handles were in Amber jigged and Stag Bone. It is called the “Moon Pie Trapper” because one of the cutlers thought the big cap at the end looked like the moon with a bite taken out of it. The design goals were to strengthen and upgrade the classic two-blade trapper and raise the industry standard components used in making it. They attacked the standard design and materials of the liners, the bolsters and caps, and the springs, the assembly pins and rivets, and the taper and finish of the blades and tang.
The industry standard liner is brass or nickel silver, and Canal Street upgraded the liner of the Moon Pie Trapper to heat-treated stainless steel. They widened the bolster and cap – first in nickel silver - and then, in 2013, they upgraded them to stainless steel. They intentionally recessed the tang ends inside the bolsters and rounded the ends to avoid snagging issues and create a uniformly smooth and firm opening snap. They widened the striker and thickened the springs to improve the walk. The springs were also fashioned out of heat-treated stainless steel, and changed the diameters of the pins and rivets. They instituted a two way flat grind on the blades and finished them with two separate finishes, one for each side of the blade (mirror finished mark side, satin finished pile side), instead of a standard uniform vibratory tub finish. They selected two main blade steels for the blade from Latrobe Steel: 440C Stainless Heat-Treated to 57-59Rc and D2 Tool Grade Carbon Steel Heat-Treated to 59-60Rc.
 
Last edited:
scrteened porch said:
Thanks. Now I need one.
Click to expand...

I will be honest in admitting that I purchased the above knife more as a Canal Street representation for my collection, not knowing the overall back story on this trapper model.
It's only after I received it, that I realized the extra effort Canal Street had put into them to make them more of a hybrid of the basic Trapper pattern knife, essentially improving on the old design, while still keeping it traditional.
Actually, when I first had it in hand, I was so thinking that the bone scales on it, (it's dye job), was way too ho hum for me, (boring). But, with everything else on it being so well done, the scales grew on me, and I'm glad to have included it into my collection :)
 
Last edited:
I too need a Canal Street representative in my collection, might be less of a user though since CS only recently started producing some knives again. Got my eyes peeled on a wooden one
 



Here's another one of my specimens that I recently was enjoying in getting to know again.
It's a Parker Cut. Co. product under that company's Eagle brand. This knife was made for them in Japan using Nickel Silver & Mother of Pearl for it's handle, (it also has a black liner between the MOP and tang). It was made sometime during the mid 1980's, but is still in absolute mint condition.
No, it's not an original mid to late 1800's American or Sheffield England Bowie, but it has much to admire for it's own traits. It's a great homage to the original knives that inspired it :)
 
Last edited:
PocketKnifeJimmy said:



Here's another one of my specimens that I recently was enjoying in getting to know again.
It's a Parker Cut. Co. product under that company's Eagle brand. This knife was made for them in Japan using Nickel Silver & Mother of Pearl for it's handle, (it also has a black liner between the MOP and tang). It was made sometime during the mid 1980's, but is still in absolute mint condition.
No, it's not an original mid to late 1800's American or Sheffield England Bowie, but it has much to admire for it's own traits. It's a great homage to the original knives that inspired it :)
Click to expand...
That's quite a stunner, Jimmy. I however prefer my blades ready to be throttled and I don't think my conscience will let me do that to such a piece.
 
SIG96 said:
That's quite a stunner, Jimmy. I however prefer my blades ready to be throttled and I don't think my conscience will let me do that to such a piece.
Click to expand...

Thanks, she really is a beaut.
Truth is, she is very much inspired by the kinds of Bowies that were imported from Sheffield, which were often very beautiful knives, although functional as well. There were the more mundane Bowies that may have been carried by the average man, or mountainmen and such, and they usually were not the most ornate (function being their main purpose).
Where as the city gentleman, well known politician, well known gambler, and business men, would sometimes opt for a more ornate knife. These Bowies had a shared main duty... They were a self defense weapon and status symbol :)



In the above picture is another Parker Cut. Co. Bowie specimen I have that is also inspired by a Sheffield Bowie of the mid to late 1800's. The actual antique Bowie that it is inspired from is also pictured above, (and is sadly not mine) :(

I like them all, and have some Bowies in my collection that would have fit right in with the average working men of those times, (and are obviously much less ornate than the ones pictured above) :)
 
Last edited:
Today's random choice for a quick wipe down and inspection of one of my collection's items, was this Schatt & Morgan 2010 File & Wire series large toothpick knife. I only own seven Queen/Schatt & Morgan knives, and this particular one is my favorite :)


 
Last edited:
Today was a nice Saturday wind down at home day for me, (after putting in my gym workout).
Anyhow, down time at home usually has me picking out an item or two from my collection of "do-dads" for routine maintenance.
One of today's picks was this US military issued Schrade Walden 'Pilot Survival Knife', which were made from 1953 to 1957.
I knew little about this model, only that it had belonged to the Grandfather of the young lady friend that gifted it to me. He had served in the US Navy, and this was something he brought back home after having served. When the gentleman passed away, her granddaughter wound up with it's possession. She and I had worked together under the same employer, and became good friends.
One day, while going through her personal things, she ran across the stored knife, and thought I should become the next recipient for it's continued care.
She came in to work one day and handed it to me, telling me the story of her Grandfather, and how she felt it would be in good hands with me because she knew I appreciated such items. I was so honored that she gave me such an item that had such sentimental attachment to her.
I don't believe these knives, that were made during non conflict years, (right in between the Korean and Vietnam wars), are all that commonly found. When they are, they are oftenly identified improperly. There are some civilian versions that were sold as hunting/outdoor knives, and these sometimes get mixed into the confusion. Camillus, Imperial, and Walden Schrade, were the known makers of these US issued 'Pilot Survival Knives'.
I have the original sheath, which I also have carefully stored away.
Well, it received some basic routine upkeep maintenance today, and back she went in one of my protective display cases. As long as I live, it will be stored and cared for properly.





Another one I pulled out of the collection for a quick inspection and wipe down, was my other Parker Cut. Co. Bowie knife, (having buffalo horn handle scales). It's of the same vintage as my other two Parker Bowies, (early to mid 1980's).

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top