Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Half/Stop]

Have a good week Guardians

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My sentiments exactly Jack!

 

[Jack Black]

My sentiments exactly Jack!

 

[screened porch]

Silent lambsfoot! I get it. No brand or country on it. I'd forgotten. They are a fine, strong, sharp knife.

I'm giving some serious thought to dusting that windowsill.

 

[Jack Black]

Silent lambsfoot! I get it. No brand or country on it. I'd forgotten. they are a fine, strong, sharp knife.

I'm giving some serious thought to dusting that windowsill.

Sadly, most of the pics are gone now - https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-silence-of-the-lambsfoot.1069771/

That one is looking rather venerable Jer

LOL! I know the feeling!

 

[Jack Black]

In 1999, the discovery of the body of George Mallory, who had disappeared close to the summit of Mount Everest in 1924, was a momentous occasion in the climbing and mountaineering world. Among the few possessions found with him, (a silk handkerchief, a bundle of letters, a tin of beef lozenges, a small pencil, a needle and thread, a small pair of scissors, a box of matches, a tube of zinc ointment, spare mittens, goggles, and a broken altimeter), was a Sheffield-made Lambsfoot. I found this quite amazing, and it only deepened my affection for the pattern.



Last week I decided to order a few books about Mallory from the big river site. The first one, The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Everest by Conrad Anker and David Roberts, arrived a couple of hours ago, and is making for fascinating reading. Conrad Anker discovered the body, and I am just reading his account of the find. He describes how, after taking a DNA sample, they gave Mallory a mountaineer's burial, piling rocks over the corpse, and saying a short prayer. Anker then describes how, after the others began their descent of the mountain, he lingered briefly behind. "The last thing I did was to leave a small Butterfinger candy bar in the rocks nearby, like a Buddhist offering. I said a sort of prayer for him, several times over."







I'm pleased that, thanks to Barrett @btb01 *, I know what a Butterfinger candy bar tastes like, as he included one with a lovely gift package he sent me while visiting the UK last year Another coincidence



* Thanks Greg!

 

[donn]

In 1999, the discovery of the body of George Mallory, who had disappeared close to the summit of Mount Everest in 1924, was a momentous occasion in the climbing and mountaineering world. Among the few possessions found with him, (a silk handkerchief, a bundle of letters, a tin of beef lozenges, a small pencil, a needle and thread, a small pair of scissors, a box of matches, a tube of zinc ointment, spare mittens, goggles, and a broken altimeter), was a Sheffield-made Lambsfoot. I found this quite amazing, and it only deepened my affection for the pattern.

View attachment 927614

Last week I decided to order a few books about Mallory from the big river site. The first one, The Lost Explorer: Finding Mallory on Everest by Conrad Anker and David Roberts, arrived a couple of hours ago, and is making for fascinating reading. Conrad Anker discovered the body, and I am just reading his account of the find. He describes how, after taking a DNA sample, they gave Mallory a mountaineer's burial, piling rocks over the corpse, and saying a short prayer. Anker then describes how, after the others began their descent of the mountain, he lingered briefly behind. "The last thing I did was to leave a small Butterfinger candy bar in the rocks nearby, like a Buddhist offering. I said a sort of prayer for him, several times over."

View attachment 927625

View attachment 927626

View attachment 927628

I'm pleased that, thanks to Barrett @btb01 *, I know what a Butterfinger candy bar tastes like, as he included one with a lovely gift package he sent me while visiting the UK last year Another coincidence

View attachment 927630

* Thanks Greg!

Jack it's a fascinating story isn't it. I'd seen those photos before in another book (may of been "Last Hours on Everest" by Graham Hoyland). I've just been trying to find a website (without success) I was reading a few years ago about an expedition planned for 2011 to try and find Irvine's body. You'll know that researchers believe that he was carrying his camera and that any film recovered would prove whether they achieved the summit or not. But this website claimed that the camera would be useless. As contrary to popular belief the air about 8000m on Everest actually has quite high humidity relative to the altitude, and that instead of finding well preserved film, both it and the camera would of corroded beyond all hope of recovery. Maybe the rust on that lambfoot blade indicates that to be the case.
Thanks for the interesting post

 

[Jack Black]

Jack it's a fascinating story isn't it. I'd seen those photos before in another book (may of been "Last Hours on Everest" by Graham Hoyland). I've just been trying to find a website (without success) I was reading a few years ago about an expedition planned for 2011 to try and find Irvine's body. You'll know that researchers believe that he was carrying his camera and that any film recovered would prove whether they achieved the summit or not. But this website claimed that the camera would be useless. As contrary to popular belief the air about 8000m on Everest actually has quite high humidity relative to the altitude, and that instead of finding well preserved film, both it and the camera would of corroded beyond all hope of recovery. Maybe the rust on that lambfoot blade indicates that to be the case.
Thanks for the interesting post

It certainly is David, I have had climbing friends (writers) who have had life-long obsessions with Mallory. Most of those photos are owned by Getty Images, I have a few more too, and Charlie waynorth obtained some good ones of Mallory's Lambsfoot a few years ago That is very interesting about the film, I'd always understood that air at altitude had very low humidity. I'm looking forward to reading the book, I was hoping there might be a bit more info on the Lambsfoot, but it's just described as "a small penknife"

 

[Jack Black]

I saw my old ebony looking neglected on the coffee table, and thought I'd pocket it tomorrow

 

[Will Power]

I've seen a picture of that Lambfoot found on Mallory's remains before, very interesting. But the images appear to show different knives in that the second photo with the goggles folded looks like it has entirely different scale material?? Also, what does the stamping on the blade say? Real Lambfoot then it seems to have the letters OT? stamped between but at a different angle?

 

[Jack Black]

I've seen a picture of that Lambfoot found on Mallory's remains before, very interesting. But the images appear to show different knives in that the second photo with the goggles folded looks like it has entirely different scale material?? Also, what does the stamping on the blade say? Real Lambfoot then it seems to have the letters OT? stamped between but at a different angle?

It's the same knife Will I'll post some more pics below, some of which Charlie managed to obtain (originally posted in one of the other threads). The OT is the mark of the makers, I forget who they were, an obscure firm long-gone, there are Mallory links in the thread index







Well, you can read the maker's name on that last pic W.E.Oates Weird how eaten-away the bolsters appear to be

 

[waynorth]

It certainly is David, I have had climbing friends (writers) who have had life-long obsessions with Mallory. Most of those photos are owned by Getty Images, I have a few more too, and Charlie waynorth obtained some good ones of Mallory's Lambsfoot a few years ago That is very interesting about the film, I'd always understood that air at altitude had very low humidity. I'm looking forward to reading the book, I was hoping there might be a bit more info on the Lambsfoot, but it's just described as "a small penknife"

That small penknife is a hefty pocketknife - about 4"!!

 

[5K Qs]

My wife spent 3 weeks in April visiting our daughter who lives in Spain, and together they spent one of those weeks together in the UK, ...
While in York, they visited Burnitt's hardware store, where my daughter picked out an A. Wright & Son lambsfoot with rosewood covers for my wife to bring back for me! ...
I don't usually name my knives, but I'm seriously considering naming this one (partly inspired by flatblackcapo's Rosie ).
- GT

...
Thanks, Greg. I've settled on a name, but have to decide on the right time/circumstances for the public christening.
...
- GT

...
I enjoy it immensely, Jack! I don't typically name my knives, but I've been secretly referring to my rosewood lambsfoot from York by name for months, and have decided to name ALL my lambsfoot knives. The name I have in mind for my Guardian Lambsfoot will reflect your generosity, sir!
... FBC's naming his lambsfoot Rosie is what initially got me thinking about naming "special" knives, and as I mentioned to mrknife, I've decided to name my lambsfoot knives. I'll reveal those names later this month, I think!
...
- GT

...
This week it's the horn Lambsfoot from 2017. The rotation will be alphabetical, by the names I've given each of these knives, but that's another post!
- GT

I've been "dropping hints" about names for my lambsfoot knives since May of last year, and I'm finally making time for a "christening post". The names aren't cool ones like Rosie or Old Toffee Wings or Sam, but they're meaningful to me.

The first knife I named was the A. Wright & Son rosewood lambsfoot that my daughter picked out in a York hardware store while visiting the UK with my wife, who brought it home to me in April 2017. I was struck by the vivid stripes on the handle, with one side having stripes running parallel to the handle and the other side having stripes running diagonally across the handle.


The combination of stripes in various directions on a British knife reminded me of the British flag (and some research revealed that the flag design actually includes at least 3 types of crosses), and I started calling the knife my Union Jack even before seeing the souvenir pen that came back from York, too.


The first lambsfoot I ever had was a Wright stag senator that I won in a GAW generously sponsored by @R.c.s , a BF member from Manchester, England. Since Manchester is sometimes abbreviated as "Man" (e.g., football's Man United), and since there's an archaic phrase "man jack" (e.g., "Every man jack of you should own a lambsfoot."), I decided to call this knife my Man Jack.


My Wright horn-handled 2017 Guardians Lambsfoot is a generous gift from @mrknife, and in his honor I've taken to calling this knife my Lam Jack.


I recently acquired an ebony Wright lambsfoot that Jack Black shepherded into existence for the Guardians in 2018. To honor his contributions to popularizing the lambsfoot, as a nod to the knife's color, and because of my fascination with symmetry, I call this knife my Jack Black Black Jack, or simply my Black Jack.


Finally, I have a Taylor-Schrade 19OT that the maker calls a Land Shark. I bought it because of its lambsfoot blade (although that's not what Schrade calls the blade shape). To give it a name that fits in with the names I've bestowed on the rest of my flock of lambs, I now call the Old Timer my Lamb Shark.


So here's a photo of the entire flock of five:

From left to right, Black Jack (or BJ), Lam Jack (or LJ), Union Jack (or UJ), Man Jack (or MJ), and Lamb Shark.

- GT

 

[lambertiana]

The first knife I named was the A. Wright & Son rosewood lambsfoot that my daughter picked out in a York hardware store while visiting the UK with my wife, who brought it home to me in April 2017. I was struck by the vivid stripes on the handle, with one side having stripes running parallel to the handle and the other side having stripes running diagonally across the handle.
View attachment 928032
View attachment 928033

- GT

Of all the rosewood Wrights that have been posted, yours is by far the best. It has good grain and reddish color, which I like. If I could find one with similar wood I would buy it. Since I have ebony and horn lambsfoot knives, I need to round it out with a rosewood version.

 

[dc50]

I saw my old ebony looking neglected on the coffee table, and thought I'd pocket it tomorrow

View attachment 927885

Good idea Jack! Don't forget the old ones, they carry a lot of memories.

 

[Jack Black]

That small penknife is a hefty pocketknife - about 4"!!

Maybe there'll be something else further into the book, but so far, I am a bit disappointed they didn't take anymore interest in George Mallory's knife. As an American climbing team, I would have thought it was quite different to anything they had seen before, and bearing in mind how much trouble they went to, I'd have thought they would have examined every item in meticulous detail - and learned to name it correctly! They are not totally unfamiliar with pocketknives since they used them to clear away the snow from around the body, and to take a DNA sample.

I've been "dropping hints" about names for my lambsfoot knives since May of last year, and I'm finally making time for a "christening post". The names aren't cool ones like Rosie or Old Toffee Wings or Sam, but they're meaningful to me.

The first knife I named was the A. Wright & Son rosewood lambsfoot that my daughter picked out in a York hardware store while visiting the UK with my wife, who brought it home to me in April 2017. I was struck by the vivid stripes on the handle, with one side having stripes running parallel to the handle and the other side having stripes running diagonally across the handle.
View attachment 928032
View attachment 928033
The combination of stripes in various directions on a British knife reminded me of the British flag (and some research revealed that the flag design actually includes at least 3 types of crosses), and I started calling the knife my Union Jack even before seeing the souvenir pen that came back from York, too.
View attachment 928057

The first lambsfoot I ever had was a Wright stag senator that I won in a GAW generously sponsored by @R.c.s , a BF member from Manchester, England. Since Manchester is sometimes abbreviated as "Man" (e.g., football's Man United), and since there's an archaic phrase "man jack" (e.g., "Every man jack of you should own a lambsfoot."), I decided to call this knife my Man Jack.
View attachment 928058

My Wright horn-handled 2017 Guardians Lambsfoot is a generous gift from @mrknife, and in his honor I've taken to calling this knife my Lam Jack.
View attachment 928059

I recently acquired an ebony Wright lambsfoot that Jack Black shepherded into existence for the Guardians in 2018. To honor his contributions to popularizing the lambsfoot, as a nod to the knife's color, and because of my fascination with symmetry, I call this knife my Jack Black Black Jack, or simply my Black Jack.
View attachment 928061

Finally, I have a Taylor-Schrade 19OT that the maker calls a Land Shark. I bought it because of its lambsfoot blade (although that's not what Schrade calls the blade shape). To give it a name that fits in with the names I've bestowed on the rest of my flock of lambs, I now call the Old Timer my Lamb Shark.
View attachment 928063

So here's a photo of the entire flock of five:
View attachment 928066
From left to right, Black Jack (or BJ), Lam Jack (or LJ), Union Jack (or UJ), Man Jack (or MJ), and Lamb Shark.

- GT

Great post GT, you've put a lot of thought into naming your knives

Of all the rosewood Wrights that have been posted, yours is by far the best. It has good grain and reddish color, which I like. If I could find one with similar wood I would buy it. Since I have ebony and horn lambsfoot knives, I need to round it out with a rosewood version.

I agree, GT's 'Union Jack' is a great-looking knife. I keep meaning to pick up a Rosewood model myself. I did pick up one of the two-blade models, which has some stripes on the mark side. It's easier to open than it was when I got it, but still about a 9 I think. I keep meaning to spend a bit more time on it, but I prefer the standard single blade models, particularly in this size

Good idea Jack! Don't forget the old ones, they carry a lot of memories.

Yes indeed I forget how long I've had this one now, but it's been a good few years According to my computer, the first pic I have of it is from 2014



Then.



Now

 

[Half/Stop]

5K Qs That's a great lineup Gary!

Jack Black Jack, that is some nice Rosewood on the double blade model. I do not have a double blade model, but I think I much prefer the singles in the Lambsfoot pattern! I just noticed that your Ebony has the same tang stamp as these Oakedge models. Do you think that Wrights had made it as a contract knife for someone? Just a thought, it is a great knife. Like the example I won in your GAW it has jet black Ebony.

Since we seem to be all about names this morning today I'm totin one of my Oakedge Rosewood Barlambs! I hope you all have a great day!

 

[Jack Black]

Jack Black Jack, that is some nice Rosewood on the double blade model. I do not have a double blade model, but I think I much prefer the singles in the Lambsfoot pattern! I just noticed that your Ebony has the same tang stamp as these Oakedge models. Do you think that Wrights had made it as a contract knife for someone? Just a thought, it is a great knife. Like the example I won in your GAW it has jet black Ebony.

Since we seem to be all about names this morning today I'm totin one of my Oakedge Rosewood Barlambs! I hope you all have a great day!

Thanks Ron, the pile side is plainer. I suspect some customers prefer the plainer wood

I also prefer the Lambsfoot as a single blade, I find the Lambsfoot can do everything I want, and the knife is a lot more pocketable without the additional pen, and that the Lambsfoot blade is easier to open. With the larger Lambsfoot blades, the pen doesn't get in the way as much, and arguably adds a bit more versatility, but even the large Lambsfoot is versatile enough in my opinion. The only advantage I can see with adding a pen is to give the option of a more discreet blade, but I'd much rather carry an additional smaller knife for that eventuality

Various individuals and companies buy finished knives and loose blades from Wright's, but don't want the A.Wright tang-stamp. Sometimes they get mixed up though. I was once at The Famous Sheffield Shop when the owner, Paul Iseard, was sorting through a delivery from Wright's, and he picked out a handful of knives with the generic Sheffield tang-stamp for return. Some other traders aren't so diligent. I ordered my knife from one of the vendors who some Guardians have had problems with. There was a space on the order form for if you had any special requirement "eg tang stamp", so I asked them to make sure my knife had the A.Wright & Son stamp. It arrived with the 'Sheffield' stamp! When I drew this to the attention of the seller, he replied with some patronising rubbish about how he couldn't actually inspect the knives, as if he did, the carbon steel would be sure to rust. Also, that the knives came specially packaged from the factory - but the knife hadn't any packaging at all, it had just been dropped in a jiffy bag! I thought the knife was so lovely, and the dealer so stupid, that I didn't think he'd be able to exchange it for a better example, so I hung onto it. I've always wished it had the A.Wright stamp though. I didn't order anything from him again

Nice Barlamb my friend! Nice swedges on it too

 

[dc50]

Hey Jack, that sounds like the outfit I'm dealing with!

 

[Half/Stop]

Nice Barlamb my friend! Nice swedges on it too

Thanks Jack!

 

[Jack Black]

Hey Jack, that sounds like the outfit I'm dealing with!

Yeah, I reckon so my friend

I just submitted another (the third) complaint to the Royal Mail in relation to your delayed Guardians knife. After watching this documentary though, I'm not expecting much sense out of them