Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[euroken]

I have the opposite problem... I'm used to a #7 or #8 pull and think a #5 feels weak and cheap now.

Same here, I HATE weak pulls

I don't like weak pulls either but there are people that have only had SAK knives or others with pulls like them that get a traditional knife with a traditional pull and think something's wrong with the knife.

Lol, real men talking here...boys go play with SAK's

JohnDF I think you just shifted the scale from 1 to 10 now to 1 to 13, with 7 to 8 being the sweet spot!

I will say in general, I've found the Sheffield knives to have more stout pulls. Of the number of traditionals I have at the moment, 5 of 7 Sheffield knives have the strongest pulls out of all of them.

 

[JohnDF]

the scale from 1 to 10

1 is supposed to flop open
10 is supposed to be welded shut
I see people giving knives a 10 rating when they can still open them.
Even if you struggle mightily to open it, it's still not a 10 if you can get it open.

And I don't say any of that to question a guy's manhood, it comes down to what you're used to and your technique.
Oh ya, and don't use your left hand to open it... that's just wrong.

 

[Jack Black]

Lol, real men talking here...boys go play with SAK's

LOL!

 

[Jack Black]

1 is supposed to flop open
10 is supposed to be welded shut
I see people giving knives a 10 rating when they can still open them.
Even if you struggle mightily to open it, it's still not a 10 if you can get it open.

And I don't say any of that to question a guy's manhood, it comes down to what you're used to and your technique.
Oh ya, and don't use your left hand to open it... that's just wrong.

I've heard it said that SAKs are supposed to be 5, but if that's the case, there's not much room for the vast majority of traditional knives that have stiffer pulls. If the scale is 1-10, I think a SAK should be about 2 1/2 I'm sure I'm not the only poster to have laughed many times at hearing so many knives referred to as 'nail-breakers'!

Each to their own I guess, and some knives can be difficult to open, even for the most experienced cutlery user I know some folks say you shouldn't have to fight to open a knife, but I find a blade with a stiff-pull satisfying, rather than difficult to open, and know that many agree. Besides, some days that's the only physical exercise I get!

 

[euroken]

Well, they make tools for this and I use them well

I remember the video that Tony Bose did on how to use a 'knife pick.'

1 is supposed to flop open
10 is supposed to be welded shut
I see people giving knives a 10 rating when they can still open them.

Something that I learned here on the forums. In the beginning, I thought SAK's were at 5 thinking this was the 'standard.' Then I started to get into the traditionals more and it make sense that SAKs fall below 5.

At the same time, I feel like my nails actually have gotten stronger, or at least now I've become used opening stronger pulls. I just remember not to open a strong pull knife when my nails are wet or the nails are long lol. Keep it trimmed and dry and I feel I can deal with 7 ~ 8 pulls consistently.

 

[Modoc ED]

I've seen/heard/read here that some people use clear finger nail polish on their thumb nail to strengthen them/repair them.
No matter. We've all come across a knife that is difficult to open.

 

[bigfish64]

This happens all too often to people who have never had a knife with a hard pull. Maybe they've only had knives with pulls rated at "5" and all of a sudden come across a knife rated at "7" or "8" and think it's unmanageable.

Just as a frame of reference, what would you rate the knives you sent me Ed? The Big’un especially, since that is the one I use the most.

 

[JohnDF]

at least now I've become used opening stronger pulls.

I think that's really the biggest issue, we just have to get used to it.

 

[Jack Black]

Well, they make tools for this and I use them well

I remember the video that Tony Bose did on how to use a 'knife pick.'



Something that I learned here on the forums. In the beginning, I thought SAK's were at 5 thinking this was the 'standard.' Then I started to get into the traditionals more and it make sense that SAKs fall below 5.

At the same time, I feel like my nails actually have gotten stronger, or at least now I've become used opening stronger pulls. I just remember not to open a strong pull knife when my nails are wet or the nails are long lol. Keep it trimmed and dry and I feel I can deal with 7 ~ 8 pulls consistently.

I haven't seen Tony's video Stan Stan had strong, gnarly old hands, and strong finger-nails, but when he was working on a knife (he did a lot of multi-blades), he always used a knife pick, just an old Pen blade he had on the bench

I grew up with British military clasp knives, which have horrendous pulls. I was still given them as a young child though. I've always kept my finger-nails short, but I don't think they're particularly strong at all, you just get used to the strong pulls, and get to expect a knife to be that way

 

[Modoc ED]

ust as a frame of reference, what would you rate the knives you sent me Ed? The Big’un especially, since that is the one I use the most.

I just don't remember. Sorry but I think at least 7.

 

[Pt-Luso]

 

[Snoopy1]

You Sir take some beautiful photos! I ordered one of these also.

 

[cudgee]

I haven't seen Tony's video Stan Stan had strong, gnarly old hands, and strong finger-nails, but when he was working on a knife (he did a lot of multi-blades), he always used a knife pick, just an old Pen blade he had on the bench

I grew up with British military clasp knives, which have horrendous pulls. I was still given them as a young child though. I've always kept my finger-nails short, but I don't think they're particularly strong at all, you just get used to the strong pulls, and get to expect a knife to be that way

Great photo, i heard a farmer talking about politicians one day, this is how he described them, over university educated vermin that have never had one grain of dirt under their fingernails. An apt description i thought, and those old hands have had plenty of dirt and grease under them in their hard working useful life, they actually make something.

 

[Jack Black]

Great photo, i heard a farmer talking about politicians one day, this is how he described them, over university educated vermin that have never had one grain of dirt under their fingernails. An apt description i thought, and those old hands have had plenty of dirt and grease under them in their hard working useful life, they actually make something.

Aye, Stan was certainly a grafter, right until the end. Part of me always wanted to go over with a decent camera, and take some proper photographs of Stan, rather than the few hastily-taken snapshots I did take. He was certainly not camera shy, but it would have altered our relationship. I was always happiest talking to him about the contrary cutlers and rotten gaffers we both knew, and about our families, and everyday things, as well as knives of course Here is another poignant photograph, taken of Trevor Ablett, on his last day at work, before going home, where he would pass away soon after

 

[Jack Black]

Having managed to get most of my work done, I'll be off down to the market, as usual, tomorrow. I have trips to the optician, and to the post office too, but it is the market I am looking forward to I thought I would pocket my Rosewood Big 'Un. I have had this knife a few years now, and it has had plenty of use, but on a TRUE 1-10 scale, I don't think I would put the pull at more than a 5. The longer blade is easier to open, and the patina makes it more pinchable (though I've Flitzed it off at least twice) I won't have time to post in the morning, so have a good day Guardians

 

[JohnDF]

It will make an excellent cake cutter.

 

[cudgee]

Aye, Stan was certainly a grafter, right until the end. Part of me always wanted to go over with a decent camera, and take some proper photographs of Stan, rather than the few hastily-taken snapshots I did take. He was certainly not camera shy, but it would have altered our relationship. I was always happiest talking to him about the contrary cutlers and rotten gaffers we both knew, and about our families, and everyday things, as well as knives of course Here is another poignant photograph, taken of Trevor Ablett, on his last day at work, before going home, where he would pass away soon after

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is, when you see these sorts of photos, in this case, old cutlers, they are in old workshops using hand tools that they have probably had since they started their apprenticeships. They would have bought these tools with one of their first pay packets, and the old machinery has been there it seems like forever, no new wiz bang stuff, as you said, just old graft tools. I remember seeing a metal worker make a replica mud guard for a 1964 EH Holden from a piece of sheet metal, i was just in awe that this skilled craftsman could do this all by hand with a dolly, hammer, file and a metal stretching machine with the big rollers. And it fitted like it came from the factory, as Denis mitch4ging said in a recent post, each generation that goes by some of these skills are lost, till eventually they will be lost forever, sad, but reality. At least some of these old crafts are being preserved, with a lot of people now getting interested in bespoke/hand crafted products and are taking these skills on through classes run by old masters of these crafts and skills. Keep posting these old photos Jack, i know i am not the only member who loves seeing them.

 

[cudgee]

Having managed to get most of my work done, I'll be off down to the market, as usual, tomorrow. I have trips to the optician, and to the post office too, but it is the market I am looking forward to I thought I would pocket my Rosewood Big 'Un. I have had this knife a few years now, and it has had plenty of use, but on a TRUE 1-10 scale, I don't think I would put the pull at more than a 5. The longer blade is easier to open, and the patina makes it more pinchable (though I've Flitzed it off at least twice) I won't have time to post in the morning, so have a good day Guardians

Great wood on that one.

 

[JTB_5]

Thanks Duncan, hope you're doing well buddy Here's my Rosewood AC (with a vintage comic @Herder sent me recently )

Great to see you here Joshua, and with that wonderful pic Good luck with the new job my friend, your AC is looking good

Thank you, Jack! I was glad to see you win the recent giveaway that Glenn hosted.

 

[JTB_5]

Sorry to hear about your job JTB_5, but very glad to hear that you landed another one.

Thank you! I am thankful.