Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Jack Black]

That's two great mini-collections there gents I think you've persuaded me to add an ebony lambsfoot to my collection
Stonebeard, thanks for those stunning shots I went up Mt San Jacinto many years ago (I think out of Palm Springs?? but I may be wrong). One of the highest elevation hikes I've ever done.



Thanks Jack Lovely knife you have there.
No change for me.

You DO get about! Thanks my friend, that's another nice seasonal pic

 

[rockman0]

The penny is celebrating its 100th birthday this year along side the newborn lambs feet.

 

[Jack Black]

The penny is celebrating its 100th birthday this year along side the newborn lambs feet.

Cool pics Rob

Enjoying another nice, sunny day here in Yorkshire

 

[Jack Black]

Here's (Top to Bottom) my original ebony Lambsfoot, my 2017 Guardians Lambsfoot, and my ebony Guardians Lambsfoot from this year (background of Yorkshire oak)

 

[JTB_5]

Here's (Top to Bottom) my original ebony Lambsfoot, my 2017 Guardians Lambsfoot, and my ebony Guardians Lambsfoot from this year (background of Yorkshire oak)

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I see a difference in the bolster (that one's obvious), but is there also a difference in the swedge on the 2018 from the 2017?

 

[Jack Black]

I see a difference in the bolster (that one's obvious), but is there also a difference in the swedge on the 2018 from the 2017?

They're 100% handmade knives, but I would expect the swedges to be be essentially the same on all the knives

 

[JTB_5]

They're 100% handmade knives, but I would expect the swedges to be be essentially the same on all the knives

Maybe it is the camera angle then, or the position of the nail nick that is tricking my eyes.

 

[Jack Black]

Maybe it is the camera angle then, or the position of the nail nick that is tricking my eyes.

I'll have to take a comparison pic. That photo is taken at an angle (to try to avoid reflecting my ugly mug), so that could be a factor

Edit - I'm just about to go out, but here's a quickly cropped pic, it may have been the light as much as the angle

 

[JTB_5]

I'll have to take a comparison pic. That photo is taken at an angle (to try to avoid reflecting my ugly mug), so that could be a factor

Edit - I'm just about to go out, but here's a quickly cropped pic, it may have been the light as much as the angle

View attachment 914216

Thanks for cropping the picture, but those are both the 2018 models, correct? I was thinking that they looked similar to each other, but different from the one of top, which I understood as the 2017 model. In any case I bet you are right about the lighting. The patina on the 2017 is probably keeping some of the reflection down on the swedge, which is showing up on the new models.

Hope your outing is a good one!

 

[screened porch]

The top one is a pre-guardians; I think Jack Black 's said a few years old. The horn handled one is a 2017 guardian, and the bottom one is a 2018.
The 2017s were all horn-handled. The 2018s were some horn but most ebony.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for cropping the picture, but those are both the 2018 models, correct? I was thinking that they looked similar to each other, but different from the one of top, which I understood as the 2017 model. In any case I bet you are right about the lighting. The patina on the 2017 is probably keeping some of the reflection down on the swedge, which is showing up on the new models.

Hope your outing is a good one!

No, 2017 top, 2018 bottom. It doesn't really show up on that pic, but there is a LITTLE patina on the 2017



It was thanks, went out to a nice country pub with my mate and his three kids His 9-year old got a Lambsfoot for his birthday, and I got to drink a couple of pints of Sam Smiths in idyllic surroundings

The top one is a pre-guardians; I think Jack Black 's said a few years old. The horn handled one is a 2017 guardian, and the bottom one is a 2018.
The 2017s were all horn-handled. The 2018s were some horn but most ebony.

Spot on Jer The final tally for this year's knives was 35 in ebony and 20 in horn

 

[Cambertree]

Great pics, as always Chin, glad you have your 2018 Guardians It sounds like it's getting put straight to work

Thanks mate, very kind of you to say so, and you've done another outstanding job on this lot. Ashley can certainly put a fine knife together. Yes, this one's going straight into my current batch of users!

I'm going to regrind the blades on mine sometime this week. The rosewood I received has a deep enough nail nick that I think I can grind both sides of the blade. The Guardians knife, however, has a bit of a shallower nick, and since it has such a heavy pull, I'm considering just grinding the pile side of the blade down to zero and doing sort of a chisel-ish cutting profile, leaving the mark side alone so I don't loose any meat on the nick.

I really like the size of this pattern.

Sounds like a worthy experiment, I'll be interested to see how it turns out in comparison to the standard 50/50 edge grind - I daresay it'll make a fine woodcarving, gardening and paring knife edge configuration.

I hemmed and hawed about buying a 2018 Guardian. I knew they'd be great, but I couldn't justify getting one. I already have a large rosewood, and a medium sized Guardian in horn. I told Jack that what I really wanted is a small in stag. Today I received a most generous gift package from Jack!
View attachment 913317
Along with a great drink coaster, and an intriguing old penknife, is a beautiful little Sambar Stag Lambfoot! Thank you so much, it's perfect!
Now I have the "full set"
View attachment 913326
Thank you, Jack!

Terrific trio there, Rachel! That little Sambar Lambsfoot is really nicely done, I agree. I'm looking forward to hearing how it handles in use for you, compared to the larger two sizes.

Pardon me everyone, I have to blast this thread with pictures

Jack,
Thanks for the time and effort you put into bringing us these wonderful knives! I know the stress was high and it's very gracious of you to push through and land these knives in our mail boxes.

You really went over board on the treasure chest that arrived here yesterday I was like a 6 year old on Christmas morning ! Your generosity is appreciated and will be remembered

Now for a few pictures.

It's rare Now days to get a hand written card or letter. Very nice !

The post card and book were attached to the outside of my treasure chest.

How fitting is it that I'll be enjoying this little book with our pair of Yorkshire Terriers They will get to see some scenery from the homeland of their ancestors

Oh and I open the book and here's another nice surprise ! A couple of cool post cards!

I break open the chest and that was no easy task Jack really packs em well

Here's the treasure

I'll post pictures later with each gift with one of or both of these beautiful knives

It's hard for a guy possessing such lackluster photography skills to capture the true colors of this bone but the first pictures are under the patio out of bright light.

Full shade on a sunny afternoon.

Congratulations, what a fine pair. I'm hoping that despite his time constraints, Mr GT may chime in with some of his Rorschach test style descriptions of the unique patterning on the small batch of horn covered knives. I'm seeing comets tail, and solar corona and flare effects in yours, myself.

Congrats on the 2018 Guardians ebony Lambsfoot, Chin; very handsome knife!! (Does using your pocket knives for cutting food on the plate dull the blade relatively quickly? I use my knives for food prep on a cutting board, but, given my rudimentary sharpening skills, I'm leery of using my knives at the table! )

Thanks GT. Yes, cutting on a ceramic plate does almost instantly flatten and dull a sharp, refined edge apex, so I usually avoid it too. Sometimes when it can't be avoided, I use the following techniques to minimise problems, when I may be away from home without sharpening gear for a while.
- Using the fork to lift away the food to be cut from the plate, so the knife doesn't actually contact the plate as it completes the cut.
- Use a blade design like the Lambsfoot which minimises the actual contact area hitting the plate to the blade point, preserving the rest of the sharp edge, and being relatively easy to restore with steeling, benchstone, ceramic rods, or mugs etc.
-Use a knife with a soft, easily resharpened steel, which is easy to restore, specifically for this task, or a multibladed knife. This last technique is what I usually do: I have a couple of stainless Case mini-trappers in 420HC I use for eating, when the provided cutlery is so blunt as to detract from the enjoyment of a meal.

GT, your mileage may vary, but I find being able to sharpen well can significantly add to ones enjoyment of a knife, as well as being a relaxing end in itself. It doesn't have to cost a lot for a decent setup.

My newest arrivals showed up from England earlier this week, and I couldn’t possibly be any happier. Both the Ebony and Stag Little Lambsfoot knives are perfect! The Stag has great character and fits perfectly in a watch pocket, and the Ebony is jet black!!! Thank you so much, Jack, for all your hard work and the time you invested to bring us these beautiful knives. Well done my friend!

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A few family photos-

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Things have been beyond busy, and I apologize for my absence but rest assured a Lambsfoot has been my daily companion. I recently finished the college course that was consuming my free time outside of work and was then surprised by a few back to back work trips, but those are now complete, and I have a bit of time to catch my breath.


Friday I took the Stag Little Lambsfoot knife on a beautiful walk to the summit of Mt. San Gorgonio. It was nice to get some miles in and head up to elevation as in a few short weeks I am taking a much-needed vacation and heading on a long walk through the Sierras accompanied by one of my lucky Lambsfoot knives.

View attachment 913749 View attachment 913747 View attachment 913748

Mt. San Jacinto seen from the Gorgonio summit.

View attachment 913750

Yesterday for a bit of contrast I took the Lambsfoot on a walk along the beach.

View attachment 913752 View attachment 913758 View attachment 913751

I hope you all have been well and enjoyed catching up and seeing the excitement in everyone's new additions. Have an outstanding weekend Guardians-

Thanks for the excellent pics, and I'm glad to see you got another great Li'l Sambar. Congratulations on finishing the college course!

Wouldn't it be great if we could all meet up and buy Jack Black a couple pints?

I hope y'all aren't tired of seeing Li'l Sambar yet, but I'm having fun taking pictures. I've got the edge thinned out a little bit, and a patina is starting. (the blade looks dark in the pics because of the angle. it's still pretty shiny)

View attachment 913931
View attachment 913932

Nice chilli peppers and sharpening work there, Rachel.

I see; I wasn't reading carefully. Since Andrew (traumkommode) modified that Navy knife into a lambsfoot, I've been really impressed with its slicing capabilities with the thinner grind he did. It seems like a belt would be the easiest way to do it, but I'm curious if anyone has ever used sandpaper on a flat surface and just freehanded a grind that way.

Yes, you can definitely use sandpaper glued or taped to a hard flat surface like glass to do this job, you just need to take a little care to avoid rounding the tip. Using substrates with a little 'give' in them as well, like leather, or a few sheets of paper can help with creating a slight convex edge contour as well, which usually gives a smoother cutting feel, than a sharp shouldered V-grind.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks mate, very kind of you to say so, and you've done another outstanding job on this lot. Ashley can certainly put a fine knife together. Yes, this one's going straight into my current batch of users!



Sounds like a worthy experiment, I'll be interested to see how it turns out in comparison to the standard 50/50 edge grind - I daresay it'll make a fine woodcarving, gardening and paring knife edge configuration.



Terrific trio there, Rachel! That little Sambar Lambsfoot is really nicely done, I agree. I'm looking forward to hearing how it handles in use for you, compared to the larger two sizes.



Congratulations, what a fine pair. I'm hoping that despite his time constraints, Mr GT may chime in with some of his Rorschach test style descriptions of the unique patterning on the small batch of horn covered knives. I'm seeing comets tail, and solar corona and flare effects in yours, myself.



Thanks GT. Yes, cutting on a ceramic plate does almost instantly flatten and dull a sharp, refined edge apex, so I usually avoid it too. Sometimes when it can't be avoided, I use the following techniques to minimise problems, when I may be away from home without sharpening gear for a while.
- Using the fork to lift away the food to be cut from the plate, so the knife doesn't actually contact the plate as it completes the cut.
- Use a blade design like the Lambsfoot which minimises the actual contact area hitting the plate to the blade point, preserving the rest of the sharp edge, and being relatively easy to restore with steeling, benchstone, ceramic rods, or mugs etc.
-Use a knife with a soft, easily resharpened steel, which is easy to restore, specifically for this task, or a multibladed knife. This last technique is what I usually do: I have a couple of stainless Case mini-trappers in 420HC I use for eating, when the provided cutlery is so blunt as to detract from the enjoyment of a meal.

GT, your mileage may vary, but I find being able to sharpen well can significantly add to ones enjoyment of a knife, as well as being a relaxing end in itself. I doesn't have to cost a lot for a decent setup.



Thanks for the excellent pics, and I'm glad to see you got another great Li'l Sambar. Congratulations on finishing the college course!



Nice chilli peppers and sharpening work there, Rachel.



Yes, you can definitely use sandpaper glued or taped to a hard flat surface like glass to do this job, you just need to take a little care to avoid rounding the tip. Using substrates with a little 'give' in them as well, like leather, or a few sheets of paper can help with creating a slight convex edge contour as well, which usually gives a smoother cutting feel, than a sharp shouldered V-grind.

Thanks pal, those pics are superb, really show off your knife well

 

[Cambertree]

Thanks pal, those pics are superb, really show off your knife well

Thanks Jack, I took a few while I was away over the weekend:

 

[pistonsandgears]

Finally picked up a Lambsfoot so now I have something to contribute to this thread

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack, I took a few while I was away over the weekend:

Wonderful mate, and that is some fantastic-looking country Tasty-looking pint too

Finally picked up a Lambsfoot so now I have something to contribute to this thread

Hey, you got a nice one there! How are you finding it? Welcome to the Guardians

 

[traumkommode]

I'll have to take a comparison pic. That photo is taken at an angle (to try to avoid reflecting my ugly mug), so that could be a factor

Edit - I'm just about to go out, but here's a quickly cropped pic, it may have been the light as much as the angle

View attachment 914216

Jack, I may have missed this somewhere that you already addressed it, but are you carrying one of the samples or something? Your 2018 nail nick looks much smaller, whereas the nicks on mine look large like the 2017 knife.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack, I may have missed this somewhere that you already addressed it, but are you carrying one of the samples or something? Your 2018 nail nick looks much smaller, whereas the nicks on mine look large like the 2017 knife.

No, the nicks are put in individually (I'm not sure if they're struck in with a hammer or using a hand-operated press), so they will vary. Personally I prefer the larger, deeper nick

 

[traumkommode]

Thanks. I like the larger nick, too.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks. I like the larger nick, too.

I find it more functional. I guess I could have specified. Mine is OK though, very happy with it