Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Modoc ED]

Double post

 

[Jack Black]

This is my sentiment at work today, really not that bad but I keep that sign on my desk all the time. I moved to my 6’ social distancing line and everyone laughs about it.

on an upbeat note today I have carried the Lambsfoot for a month now and I’m really liking it. I always have 2 or 3 knives on me but the Lambsfoot gets the most use.
View attachment 1330943

LOL! Cool sign Chuck, and congratulations on your first month's Guardianship

After seeing all these fantastic knives and missing a point while carrying my sheep foot I really want a lambsfoot in the collection. Does anyone know of a lambsfoot knife around 3 3/4 to 4 inch blade wise? I've searched but can't seem to find a larger lambsfoot.

Thanks!

You might be able to pick up a vintage one with a blade up to about 3 1/4, but I think you'd have to go custom to get a Lambsfoot blade that large. It's a bit like asking for a Penknife with 4" blades. Some traditional patterns have long blades, some don't, and traditional Lambsfoot knives don't run that big. Is there any reason you need a blade that large? If you can lose an inch of that size, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting hold of one

Thanks Jack, The history of Sheffield cutlery is very interesting and we see unwillingness to change with the times put many businesses out of business as we have witnessed several big ones go down in our lifetime. Hopefully they don't succumb to the same fate.



Thanks John, I agree for most tasks, I normally use a kitchen knife for food prep but in a pinch I'll use what's in my pocket, I prefer the straight McClory in that case.



Another observation on the big un Turner is the pen blade has a stove pipe kick and the main doesn't, I assume the smaller pen needs the extra height to keep it out of the well.

Yes indeed Rob, any business needs to innovate or adapt. Sheffield cutlery firms have generally only modernised in order to produce cheaper, lower quality knives. When they've tried to copy popular designs (SAKs for example), they've done a really bad job. Historically, the cutlery manufacturers invested next to nothing in their firms - labour was cheaper than mechanisation - and the use of nominally self-employed workers (the 'gig economy' of its day). The labour system in Sheffield, and the anomalies it throws up, is often something that cutlery historians fail to appreciate I think. Take stainless steel for example, it's often said that Sheffield cutlers disliked it because it wouldn't take an edge (yet some firms, including Ibberson's and IXL, for example, were using it very early indeed). Sheffield cutlers had to buy all their own tools, and were always on fierce 'piece rate' rates. I suspect that their primary concern might have been that stainless knives would take slightly longer to make, and wear out their tools faster. Stan Shaw has told me as much, (though Ibberson's had already been using stainless for decades before he started work, he was trained by, and worked alongside, older cutlers). Here's an example of a 'modern' Sheffield knife, sold by Taylor's Eye Witness, and made who knows where. What a piece of junk it is compared to the knives they once made

Thanks Jack! I’ve got roots here and I’m too old to contemplate moving now! My days of shows are over, at any cost Jack! But I definitely still enjoy the music. I’ve been listening to a little Zeppelin this morning! I really hope we don’t have any storms. We can use some rain, if for no other reason other than to wash away the blasted pollen. It’s a killer this year! I’ve never really used either one of my Hartshead Barlow’s for anything other than mail and light cutting duties. Nothing that would cause even the slightest patina! It’s a shame really because they scream “Use Me” every time I’m carrying them. They’re both beautiful and stout. I have no doubt someone will be posting photos of them 100 years from now!

I thought about moving about 7 or 8 years ago Ron, maybe getting a bungalow, so I didn't have to deal with stairs as I got older. I looked at a few places locally, but they were tiny compared to where I live now, and I chickened-out in the end. Hopefully, this'll be it for me I remember going to see the film The Song Remains The Same with some school mates. Boy! That is a long drum solo! Not long after they split up, Robert Plant toured small venues over here with his new band, a girlfriend of mine went to see them, cost her £1! We'd 'crash' gigs at Sheffield City Hall as teenagers, so I saw lots of good bands for free, and I saw a lot for free elsewhere Sorry to hear you're suffering with the pollen Ron, I've bought a couple of air purifiers during the lock-down I sure hope those knives last that long my friend

Thanks, Jack, and no worries my friend.

I think I was posting at the same time as you Kevin. Nice choice

Most Impressive.

My afternoon reading

 

[Modoc ED]

Coronavirus get together. I scolded them about "Social Distancing".

 

[Jack Black]

Good morning, Guardians!

Great way to start the day Vince

Double post

Where's the first one Ed?

 

[tmd_87]

Today's Lamb. My iron wood has darkened a lot!
Before:

After:

Still an amazing knife. Strongest pull out of any of my lambs.

 

[Jack Black]

Coronavirus get together. I scolded them about "Social Distancing".

Ah, I see, always a sign that things are running slow!

Great group shot Ed, hope you're doing OK buddy

 

[Jack Black]

Today's Lamb. My iron wood has darkened a lot!
Before:

After:
View attachment 1331002
Still an amazing knife. Strongest pull out of any of my lambs.

That really has darkened a lot hasn't it Taylor?! Great comparison pics The pulls on those ones were certainly stout! Not the strongest of all my Lambsfoot collection, but the strongest of my SFOs. I did take a half dozen back. I got a sample from that factory the last time I was there, very badly made knife unfortunately, and I had to put in a lot of work to be able to even open it (and I can pinch open all my others)!

 

[tmd_87]

That really has darkened a lot hasn't it Taylor?! Great comparison pics The pulls on those ones were certainly stout! Not the strongest of all my Lambsfoot collection, but the strongest of my SFOs. I did take a half dozen back. I got a sample from that factory the last time I was there, very badly made knife unfortunately, and I had to put in a lot of work to be able to even open it (and I can pinch open all my others)!

I really like the walk n talk it's super smooth but opens and closes with a loud clunk. That I love. The pile side almost looks ebony. Show side you can still see the grain but it's wayyyyy darker. It definitely deserves more pocket time but I'm afraid it's gonna be black soon.

 

[K33ncutter]

 

[Prester John]

I bet I bought that issue when it came out. 1974 or so? That's gotta be Gil Kane's artwork.

 

[cigarrodog]

I hope you had a nice walk

Thank you Jack. Great walk. Lovely Ivory Senator. I know it’s heresy, but I dig that page feeds Lamb Foot. Don’t hurt me.

a wonderful old Lambsfoot!

Thank you Ron. Beautiful Ironwood Damascus Lamb.

@donn - Hope your internet woes ease soonest. The Horn on your Lamb shows beautiful color and character.

Prester John - Quite proper breakfast, Vince.

Good Afternoon Guardians.

JB SFO and a triple chocolate cookie with walnuts.

I just shook my head...

 

[rockman0]

Thanks for the insight into Sheffield culters methods of operating, interesting piece of history. Now that orange TEW is a horrendous looking pos

Yes indeed Rob, any business needs to innovate or adapt. Sheffield cutlery firms have generally only modernised in order to produce cheaper, lower quality knives. When they've tried to popular designs (SAKs for example), they've done a really bad job. Historically, the cutlery manufacturers invested next to nothing in their firms - labour was cheaper than mechanisation - and the use of nominally self-employed workers (the 'gig economy' of its day). The labour system in Sheffield, and the anomalies it throws up, is often something that cutlery historians fail to appreciate I think. Take stainless steel for example, it's often said that Sheffield cutlers disliked it because it wouldn't take an edge (yet some firms, including Ibberson's and IXL, for example, were using it very early indeed). Sheffield cutlers had to buy all their own tools, and were always on fierce 'piece rate' rates. I suspect that their primary concern might have been that stainless knives would take slightly longer to make, and wear out their tools faster. Stan Shaw has told me as much, (though Ibberson's had already been using stainless for decades before he started work, he was trained by, and worked alongside, older cutlers). Here's an example of a 'modern' Sheffield knife, sold by Taylor's Eye Witness, and made who knows where. What a piece of junk it is compared to the knives they once made

 

[black mamba]

That's gotta be Gil Kane's artwork.

I was thinkin' Jack Kirby. Come on, Les, fill us in!

 

[Ramrodmb]

Good afternoon/evening Guardians.

Hello, Jack! I've been missing you! Thanks so much for thinking of me, my friend. I'm finally feeling better after the longest sickness in the history of sicknesses. Yikes.
I'm going to have to just jump in here as I fear there is no way for me to catch up on everything I missed.
My lovely wife asked me to refill the line in the weed whacker, then I realized we had none. Had to go old school. It just needed a little tightening.
Here it is with my trusty JB sfo Ironwood.

 

[btb01]

I bet they were Barrett! I was an apprentice mechanic when I first left school, and worked on all sorts of heavy plant, as well as trucks and wagons. It's a long time ago, but I remember enjoying driving the JCBs the most, and the drots and dumper trucks! That wasn't on the road though, just at work, as I didn't have a driving license then!

Sounds like an interesting job! I worked as a transit bus driver when I was in college, got to put that RV driving experience to good use.

Yes indeed, one of our greatest engineers, Isambard Kingdom Brunel Nice photo Barrett

Quite a name, too!

Great pics Barrett, I remember your brother's address now!

That’s funny! Their place was just at the top of that long walkway in that photo, there on the left.

I need to give Stan a ring Barrett, he was poorly at the beginning of the year, and had been in hospital, so wasn't able to work anyway. I very much doubt he has been into the museum, unless he's needed to pick something up. That's a great pic my friend

Sorry to hear that, Jack. I hope he’s doing better now!

Good Evening Guardians.

A couple of snaps from today’s walk.

View attachment 1330877

Great photos, Harvey!

on an upbeat note today I have carried the Lambsfoot for a month now and I’m really liking it. I always have 2 or 3 knives on me but the Lambsfoot gets the most use.
View attachment 1330943

LOL! Cool sign Chuck, and congratulations on your first month's Guardianship

That reminds me: it’s been a while since I’ve asked if there’s anyone new who’d like to be added to Guardians Map? If so, just let me know (either here in the thread or via PM) and I'll get you added!

 

[CelloDan]

Wooden Wednesday

 

[Half/Stop]

Thank you Ron. Beautiful Ironwood Damascus Lamb.

Good Afternoon Guardians.

JB SFO and a triple chocolate cookie with walnuts.

I just shook my head...
View attachment 1331079

Thanks for the compliment Harvey! Beautiful Ebony and a delightful looking cookie my friend! That playground is a scary looking sight. Almost like something out of a Science Fiction movie!

 

[chuck4570]

LOL! Cool sign Chuck, and congratulations on your first month's Guardianship



You might be able to pick up a vintage one with a blade up to about 3 1/4, but I think you'd have to go custom to get a Lambsfoot blade that large. It's a bit like asking for a Penknife with 4" blades. Some traditional patterns have long blades, some don't, and traditional Lambsfoot knives don't run that big. Is there any reason you need a blade that large? If you can lose an inch of that size, you shouldn't have too much trouble getting hold of one

Yes indeed Rob, any business needs to innovate or adapt. Sheffield cutlery firms have generally only modernised in order to produce cheaper, lower quality knives. When they've tried to copy popular designs (SAKs for example), they've done a really bad job. Historically, the cutlery manufacturers invested next to nothing in their firms - labour was cheaper than mechanisation - and the use of nominally self-employed workers (the 'gig economy' of its day). The labour system in Sheffield, and the anomalies it throws up, is often something that cutlery historians fail to appreciate I think. Take stainless steel for example, it's often said that Sheffield cutlers disliked it because it wouldn't take an edge (yet some firms, including Ibberson's and IXL, for example, were using it very early indeed). Sheffield cutlers had to buy all their own tools, and were always on fierce 'piece rate' rates. I suspect that their primary concern might have been that stainless knives would take slightly longer to make, and wear out their tools faster. Stan Shaw has told me as much, (though Ibberson's had already been using stainless for decades before he started work, he was trained by, and worked alongside, older cutlers). Here's an example of a 'modern' Sheffield knife, sold by Taylor's Eye Witness, and made who knows where. What a piece of junk it is compared to the knives they once made

I thought about moving about 7 or 8 years ago Ron, maybe getting a bungalow, so I didn't have to deal with stairs as I got older. I looked at a few places locally, but they were tiny compared to where I live now, and I chickened-out in the end. Hopefully, this'll be it for me I remember going to see the film The Song Remains The Same with some school mates. Boy! That is a long drum solo! Not long after they split up, Robert Plant toured small venues over here with his new band, a girlfriend of mine went to see them, cost her £1! We'd 'crash' gigs at Sheffield City Hall as teenagers, so I saw lots of good bands for free, and I saw a lot for free elsewhere Sorry to hear you're suffering with the pollen Ron, I've bought a couple of air purifiers during the lock-down I sure hope those knives last that long my friend



I think I was posting at the same time as you Kevin. Nice choice



My afternoon reading

Sounds like an interesting job! I worked as a transit bus driver when I was in college, got to put that RV driving experience to good use.



Quite a name, too!



That’s funny! Their place was just at the top of that long walkway in that photo, there on the left.



Sorry to hear that, Jack. I hope he’s doing better now!



Great photos, Harvey!





That reminds me: it’s been a while since I’ve asked if there’s anyone new who’d like to be added to Guardians Map? If so, just let me know (either here in the thread or via PM) and I'll get you added!

Sorry I’m a little new at quoting but Thank You very much Jack for considering me a Guardian, I’m honored. Barrett btb01 if I pass muster please add me to the Guardians Map.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Senator jumped back in the pocket today. Happy Hump-Day Guardians!

 

[cigarrodog]

the longest sickness in the history of sicknesses.

Happy to hear you’re feeling better, Mark.

Great photos, Harvey!

Thank you kindly, Barrett.

Almost like something out of a Science Fiction movie!

Thank you Ron.