Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

Pàdruig said:
Well, I happened to check the tracking # that Jack sent me and it says that delivery was attempted 10 days ago!!! :eek:

It is rather fortunate that I thought to check it as they were preparing to send it back in a few days. Hopefully I can swing by Post Office and pick it up this afternoon.
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That could never happen to me. I check three to five times a day.
 
I finally just took some time to take pictures of my 2018 Guardians . Thank you very much for all your work to make this happen Jack . Ebony & Horn




The Horn one has some distinctive markings , with some of them being shades of Brown and a little Red as well .




Those of you who have a Horn know how much they change in appearance in the Sunlight , and this one is no different .

Harry
 
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Nature Boy said:
Sure am, Jack! I think the ebony one, especially, will be in my pocket quite a bit going forward!
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That's good to hear Mike, look forward to seeing more of it :) :thumbsup:

Old Engineer said:
I finally just took some time to take pictures of my 2018 Guardians . Thank you very much for all your work to make this happen Jack . Ebony & Horn




The Horn one has some distinctive markings , with some of them being shades of Brown and a little Red as well .




Those of you who have a Horn know how much they change in appearance in the Sunlight , and this one is no different .
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I'm glad they arrived Harry, now I can stop worrying! Horn is really hard to photograph I find, but I remember noticing you had a particularly striking example when I was packing it :) :thumbsup:

Friday is here, and I hope everyone has a good one, and an even better weekend, with a few more happy Guardians receiving their 2018 knives :thumbsup:

2018 Ebony Guardians Lambsfoot 2-8.JPG
 
Bartleby said:
I suppose I should point out to myself that Wright's is a small maker and they are doing SFOs for small runs that others would not attempt, and that they have greatly improved QC generally, but still....
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Yes indeed :) While they can be very frustrating to deal with, unlike most other manufacturers making the claim, their knives are genuinely handmade, and could not be made more traditionally. They also provide excellent value for money I think :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
Yes indeed :) While they can be very frustrating to deal with, unlike most other manufacturers making the claim, their knives are genuinely handmade, and could not be made more traditionally. They also provide excellent value for money I think :thumbsup:
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Jack, I totally agree with this! When I got my first Lambsfoot, a large Rosewood model that all here have seen before, I immediately compared it against what I was used to with my US made slip joints. That was like comparing apples to oranges. Granted my large Rosewood is most likely a second that was sold on the big auction site. The fit and finish was just not the same as my US models. Gaps in the back and blade closed off center to name a few. However the function was flawless. The blade opened and closed with authority and there was absolutely no blade play in either the open or closed position. I soon began to appreciate the Lambsfoot for what it is. IMO the Lambsfoot is a knife for the everyday life of any hard working person both male and female that with proper care will stand the test of time. It is truly a Traditional slip joint made by Wright’s, as you stated above, in a most Traditional method of manufacture, genuinely hand made. Beginning when I received my Ebony from your GAW which was actually an SFO I believe! I began to appreciate a better level of quality control which was exhibited in the fit and finish while still maintaining the flawless function. Now the Guardians are bringing the Lambsfoot pattern to more and more people. The knives we have received the last two years are IMHO a thing of beauty. The level of F&F and most certainly the aesthetics rival any US manufacturer. But like anything that is handmade they are not perfect. I hope someone that has perhaps received their first ever Lambsfoot will take the time to truly appreciate it for what it is. You are truly correct Jack in stating they are a most excellent value for the money! :) Please forgive the rambling and I’ll show you the one that is sharing my pocket today! This one has Pere David Stag and is a medium sized model. While it doesn’t exhibit the beauty of its Sambar brothers I’m happy to have it nonetheless. :)
Edited to add: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”

28620014238_bc9a2249a1_b_d.jpg
 
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Jack Black said:
You DO get about! :D Thanks my friend, that's another nice seasonal pic :) :thumbsup:
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flatblackcapo said:
Thank you, Donn. I am diggin' that 2 blade Lambsfoot.
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Cheers gents :thumbsup:

Cambertree said:
Jack's and @flatblackcapo's Lambsfoots with translucent gold and black horn covers are definitely among the most striking and photogenic Lambsfoots featured in this thread.:cool:

Here's a couple of pics of mine. I instantly grabbed this knife, when I saw it among all the AW&S stock at the Famous Sheffield Shop. I have never seen another with a wholly translucent cover scale, which reflects the light from the inner brass liner scale, so it appears gold in certain lights.

Of course if you're thinking of opaque pale blond coloured horn, that would no doubt be much easier to acquire from domestic cattle. I wonder if it has a similar durability to the dark buffalo horn?

6yzXIOf.jpg

O9cvN0r.jpg
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Jack Black said:
That's interesting about the horn. My own example only has the golden horn on one side, the pile side being dark. I think Padruig has a better example :thumbsup:

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I have picked up a few knives (different patterns) for members from Wright's, but you just have to see what they have in stock, there are never more than a few of the lighter ones, and they generally only use the light horn on one side. Consistency is a problem with them, and expecting them to be consistent over a full run of knives is too much, as I have discovered. They'd tell me they could do 50 knives in glorious golden horn, and expect me to pay for something completely different.

These are two pre-production samples produced this year, but I was told that there was only a very small amount of blonde or red horn, and then it would only be on one side. There simply wasn't enough of it for a full run. Even then, the final knives may have looked very different.

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There's a military acronym here (and possibly elsewhere), K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid - And unfortunately it applies here. As I've found in the past, trying to drag Sheffield cutlers into the 21st (or even 20th) century is an exasperating and financially punishing business sadly. Much as I'd like to see ram's horn covers on a Lambsfoot, for example, in reality, if I do another Guardians run with Wright's, the covers will probably be wood, or possibly stag. But we'll see ;) I'm certainly sticking with wood for today :thumbsup:

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Thanks gents that's really interesting about the horn. My new one just arrived yesterday looking exactly like yours Jacks. A beautiful translucence horn on one side and almost jet black horn on the pile side, so Cambertree you obviously did well to acquire that lovely example with matching covers :thumbsup:
Jack, in regards to Rams horn if Wright's don't do Rams horn covers I wonder how TEW do theirs? I've TEW's catalogue from 2016 showing Rams horn covered lambsfoot, something very similar to what Old Engineer posted.

bI6f9aQ.jpg


Jack Black said:
I'm afraid they have no interest in the internet whatsoever, they don't even run their own website :(
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Is that why their knives come from the Sheffield Shop then?
 
Half/Stop said:
Jack, I totally agree with this! When I got my first Lambsfoot, a large Rosewood model that all here have seen before, I immediately compared it against what I was used to with my US made slip joints. That was like comparing apples to oranges. Granted my large Rosewood is most likely a second that was sold on the big auction site. The fit and finish was just not the same as my US models. Gaps in the back and blade closed off center to name a few. However the function was flawless. The blade opened and closed with authority and there was absolutely no blade play in either the open or closed position. I soon began to appreciate the Lambsfoot for what it is. IMO the Lambsfoot is a knife for the everyday life of any hard working person both male and female that with proper care will stand the test of time. It is truly a Traditional slip joint made by Wright’s, as you stated above, in a most Traditional method of manufacture, genuinely hand made. Beginning when I received my Ebony from your GAW which was actually an SFO I believe! I began to appreciate a better level of quality control which was exhibited in the fit and finish while still maintaining the flawless function. Now the Guardians are bringing the Lambsfoot pattern to more and more people. The knives we have received the last two years are IMHO a thing of beauty. The level of F&F and most certainly the aesthetics rival any US manufacturer. But like anything that is handmade they are not perfect. I hope someone that has perhaps received their first ever Lambsfoot will take the time to truly appreciate it for what it is. You are truly correct Jack in stating they are a most excellent value for the money! :) Please forgive the rambling and I’ll show you the one that is sharing my pocket today! This one has Pere David Stag and is a medium sized model. While it doesn’t exhibit the beauty of its Sambar brothers I’m happy to have it nonetheless. :)

28620014238_bc9a2249a1_b_d.jpg
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I agree. In my limited sample of three, each one has been an improvement on the last in terms of fit and finish. They are all good, hard-working knives.
Lambfoot wallpaper 6.jpg
 
Half/Stop said:
Jack, I totally agree with this! When I got my first Lambsfoot, a large Rosewood model that all here have seen before, I immediately compared it against what I was used to with my US made slip joints. That was like comparing apples to oranges. Granted my large Rosewood is most likely a second that was sold on the big auction site. The fit and finish was just not the same as my US models. Gaps in the back and blade closed off center to name a few. However the function was flawless. The blade opened and closed with authority and there was absolutely no blade play in either the open or closed position. I soon began to appreciate the Lambsfoot for what it is. IMO the Lambsfoot is a knife for the everyday life of any hard working person both male and female that with proper care will stand the test of time. It is truly a Traditional slip joint made by Wright’s, as you stated above, in a most Traditional method of manufacture, genuinely hand made. Beginning when I received my Ebony from your GAW which was actually an SFO I believe! I began to appreciate a better level of quality control which was exhibited in the fit and finish while still maintaining the flawless function. Now the Guardians are bringing the Lambsfoot pattern to more and more people. The knives we have received the last two years are IMHO a thing of beauty. The level of F&F and most certainly the aesthetics rival any US manufacturer. But like anything that is handmade they are not perfect. I hope someone that has perhaps received their first ever Lambsfoot will take the time to truly appreciate it for what it is. You are truly correct Jack in stating they are a most excellent value for the money! :) Please forgive the rambling and I’ll show you the one that is sharing my pocket today! This one has Pere David Stag and is a medium sized model. While it doesn’t exhibit the beauty of its Sambar brothers I’m happy to have it nonetheless. :)

28620014238_bc9a2249a1_b_d.jpg
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I like the character in the surface of this stag as much as sambar. The scratch pattern reminds me a little bit of Jackson Pollock (not that I'm endorsing his art, just an association that came to mind).

Jackson-Pollock-by-Joe-Fig-1.jpg
 
The Gifting Guardian has struck again!

Earlier this week I checked my P.O. box and found that I had a package waiting from none other than our Guardian in Chief, Mr. Jack Black Jack Black . Inside were a few thoughtful items that are typical of his packages and something I was both surprised and delighted to see, this lovely Guardians Edition Lambsfoot in ebony:

ctuANjhh.jpg


Jack, thank you so much! It’s just lovely. I know the bolsters aren’t the ones you had intended, but I love them. As others—and maybe even you yourself—have said, the seemless transition from wood to bolster makes for a wonderful worry stone and I think the shape of the bolster enhances that even more.

I’ve been enjoying the family pics, so here’s my Trio o’ Wrights:

GDZtIAqh.jpg


To date, the standard buffalo horn on the bottom left has had the most carry, with the fancy horn on the bottom right being reserved for Sunday Best occasions. I can already tell the new ebony one is going to see a lot of pocket time, though. In fact, it’s in my pocket now.

Thanks again Jack, both for your generosity and all the effort you put into making these Guardians Edition knives a reality.
 
Half/Stop said:
Jack, I totally agree with this! When I got my first Lambsfoot, a large Rosewood model that all here have seen before, I immediately compared it against what I was used to with my US made slip joints. That was like comparing apples to oranges. Granted my large Rosewood is most likely a second that was sold on the big auction site. The fit and finish was just not the same as my US models. Gaps in the back and blade closed off center to name a few. However the function was flawless. The blade opened and closed with authority and there was absolutely no blade play in either the open or closed position. I soon began to appreciate the Lambsfoot for what it is. IMO the Lambsfoot is a knife for the everyday life of any hard working person both male and female that with proper care will stand the test of time. It is truly a Traditional slip joint made by Wright’s, as you stated above, in a most Traditional method of manufacture, genuinely hand made. Beginning when I received my Ebony from your GAW which was actually an SFO I believe! I began to appreciate a better level of quality control which was exhibited in the fit and finish while still maintaining the flawless function. Now the Guardians are bringing the Lambsfoot pattern to more and more people. The knives we have received the last two years are IMHO a thing of beauty. The level of F&F and most certainly the aesthetics rival any US manufacturer. But like anything that is handmade they are not perfect. I hope someone that has perhaps received their first ever Lambsfoot will take the time to truly appreciate it for what it is. You are truly correct Jack in stating they are a most excellent value for the money! :) Please forgive the rambling and I’ll show you the one that is sharing my pocket today! This one has Pere David Stag and is a medium sized model. While it doesn’t exhibit the beauty of its Sambar brothers I’m happy to have it nonetheless. :)
Edited to add: “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”

28620014238_bc9a2249a1_b_d.jpg
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Ron, in my opinion, that is an exceptional post! :) For the minor faults I've found on my Wright's knives over the years, I've certainly never experienced the slightest bit of blade-play, as we all know, those knives snap open like a bank vault door closes! :) It's also worth remembering that Wright's biggest sellers are the inexpensive Rosewood models, and most of their cutlers are engaged in producing them. Only Wright two best craftsmen are involved in making the Guardians knives however :) :thumbsup:

donn said:
Cheers gents :thumbsup:





Thanks gents that's really interesting about the horn. My new one just arrived yesterday looking exactly like yours Jacks. A beautiful translucence horn on one side and almost jet black horn on the pile side, so Cambertree you obviously did well to acquire that lovely example with matching covers :thumbsup:
Jack, in regards to Rams horn if Wright's don't do Rams horn covers I wonder how TEW do theirs? I've TEW's catalogue from 2016 showing Rams horn covered lambsfoot, something very similar to what Old Engineer posted.

bI6f9aQ.jpg




Is that why their knives come from the Sheffield Shop then?
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Congratulations my friend, you really got a beauty there, and that's a great pic of it on the old Sheffield map :) Wright's are reluctant to use (polished) ram's horn because they've found that parts of it can flake off during the final polishing stage, which basically means the knife is ruined. TEW's ram's horn knives knives are made for them by Russell White, and the number he produces are relatively few. They are several times higher in price than Wright's knife, so presumably the extra work a spoiled cover might entail is worked into the cost. I dare say that at the price they are, Russell can afford to take his time with them too :) The sort of ram's horn covers I'd most like to see are the ones which retain the character of the horn. I don't think either Wright's or TEW have ever produced knives like that. Working with a new material might inevitably have a learning curve, and I can understand their reluctance to go down that route. Personally, I'd also not want to sponsor that learning curve. Michael May might want to haft some ram's horn knives, but they'd be substantially more expensive than knives from Wright's I imagine :thumbsup:

r8shell said:
I agree. In my limited sample of three, each one has been an improvement on the last in terms of fit and finish. They are all good, hard-working knives.
View attachment 916614
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:) :thumbsup:

JTB_5 said:
I like the character in the surface of this stag as much as sambar. The scratch pattern reminds me a little bit of Jackson Pollock (not that I'm endorsing his art, just an association that came to mind).

Jackson-Pollock-by-Joe-Fig-1.jpg
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Nice comparison Joshua :) I don't think that's the first time Jackson Pollock has been mentioned in this thread, though it was in relation to the 2017 Guardians knives :thumbsup:

AWSFO 4-8.JPG
 
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