- Joined
- Feb 11, 2003
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- 1,862
Yesterday (Saturday) morning, my wife Katie, my dad, and I headed down to Dover for the Dale Warther Memorial Knife Show, as put on by the Western Reserve Cutlery Association. This is the 4th year in a row that we’ve attended this show, and it never fails to impress us. There were over 80 tables, and the show was absolutely DOMINATED by traditionals. I took a couple knives with me to use as trade fodder, and wound up offloading one of them. More on that later, on with the knives!
As some of you may recall, I have a soft spot in my heart for Western branded knives. As a little kid, the local hardware store carried a huge variety of Westerns and Case knives. The Case knives were all displayed in a case mounted vertically on the wall, way up high for a little guy to see. The Westerns, though, were all in a glass display counter that was right at my eye level. My first purchase of the day was a Western W77 large boot knife that looks to be in unused condition. I already own the smaller version of it (the model number currently escapes me), so I had to have the big brother! There are a couple spots of corrosion/patina on the edges of the tang, but I can polish them off no problem.
Next up is a custom made by BFC’s own Jim Coffee of Norton, OH. Jim and his wife were great to talk to, and I wound up with a nice hidden tang hunter in gorgeous Mirindaba wood and O1 steel. I feel as though I paid way less than the knife was worth, and will be dealing with Jim again!
The next purchase was made by Katie, so she could have a handy knife to keep in her purse. This is a stock Opinel that had the handle sanded down, and then burned electrically. The man there, who’s name I never found out, said that his friend was a career electrician, and has made a hobby of burning wood with “120,000 volts” which results in the patterns seen here. Very cool, and I was very proud of Katie for picking out such a simple, elegant knife as this.
Last of all was the one I traded for. I saw this beaut sitting in a display case and after getting it in my hands, I knew I was leaving with it. I had taken with me a Spyderco that I didn’t carry very often any more due to preferring traditionals. I saw this guy, and after a bit of haggling on the deal, traded it straight for a lightly used Spyderco delica. What we have hear is a circa 1909-1916 (according to David Anthony’s book) Tidioute Cutlery Co single spring jack. Someone please correct me on the name of the pattern, as that’s just a guess on my part.
I’m absolutely in love with it! It’s simple, elegant, and effective. The walk and talk puts some of my new Cases to shame, and I’d rate the pull on each blade as an authoritative 7. It snaps shut like a bear trap. The brass liner on one end is slightly bent, but I think I can tease it gently back into position. It’s just an aesthetics thing anyway, so no biggie.
This Tidioute has definitely earned a spot in the new display case I’m building for the living room wall. Good thing it’ll be easily opened, though, as I have a feeling this one will be riding in my pocket quite often… Man, I need more weekends like this!
Whew, long post! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!
-Parke1
As some of you may recall, I have a soft spot in my heart for Western branded knives. As a little kid, the local hardware store carried a huge variety of Westerns and Case knives. The Case knives were all displayed in a case mounted vertically on the wall, way up high for a little guy to see. The Westerns, though, were all in a glass display counter that was right at my eye level. My first purchase of the day was a Western W77 large boot knife that looks to be in unused condition. I already own the smaller version of it (the model number currently escapes me), so I had to have the big brother! There are a couple spots of corrosion/patina on the edges of the tang, but I can polish them off no problem.
Next up is a custom made by BFC’s own Jim Coffee of Norton, OH. Jim and his wife were great to talk to, and I wound up with a nice hidden tang hunter in gorgeous Mirindaba wood and O1 steel. I feel as though I paid way less than the knife was worth, and will be dealing with Jim again!
The next purchase was made by Katie, so she could have a handy knife to keep in her purse. This is a stock Opinel that had the handle sanded down, and then burned electrically. The man there, who’s name I never found out, said that his friend was a career electrician, and has made a hobby of burning wood with “120,000 volts” which results in the patterns seen here. Very cool, and I was very proud of Katie for picking out such a simple, elegant knife as this.
Last of all was the one I traded for. I saw this beaut sitting in a display case and after getting it in my hands, I knew I was leaving with it. I had taken with me a Spyderco that I didn’t carry very often any more due to preferring traditionals. I saw this guy, and after a bit of haggling on the deal, traded it straight for a lightly used Spyderco delica. What we have hear is a circa 1909-1916 (according to David Anthony’s book) Tidioute Cutlery Co single spring jack. Someone please correct me on the name of the pattern, as that’s just a guess on my part.
I’m absolutely in love with it! It’s simple, elegant, and effective. The walk and talk puts some of my new Cases to shame, and I’d rate the pull on each blade as an authoritative 7. It snaps shut like a bear trap. The brass liner on one end is slightly bent, but I think I can tease it gently back into position. It’s just an aesthetics thing anyway, so no biggie.
This Tidioute has definitely earned a spot in the new display case I’m building for the living room wall. Good thing it’ll be easily opened, though, as I have a feeling this one will be riding in my pocket quite often… Man, I need more weekends like this!
Whew, long post! Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed!
-Parke1
