The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Don't you worry about that wood, it will develop it's own trait's over time with use. I have Rosewood that has gone from bland to down right gorgeous with use and carry. Rosewood is like a woman, it'll talk to you when it's ready. Hope Rachel doesn't read this post.
I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I know the old Sheffield cutlers used horn a lot and as Mr. Jack has said, the proper training and technique really matters. I have 7 powder horns of which 6 are high quality and made by craftsmen known as Horners and they belong to a guild. The Horners know the tricks of the trade. All 6 that I have purchased from guild Horners have remained air tight (has to keep black powder dry) and the only cheap one I have has gaps and leaks air. I won't clutter up your fine thread with this again, but, thought I would share a few of my horns and my favorite flintlock that I shoot with the Salt River club. I don't have any Lambsfoot knives to contribute at this point, but, that might be remedied soon. Have one that might qualify, but, might be lamb, but, more likely a sheep.
Your collection of manly things must be like the adult version a candy store for kids. "Where does he get those wonderful toys."
Stunning, all around! I inherited a flint lock pistol from my dad, but it's more like the poor man's version.... Very plain wood.I wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I know the old Sheffield cutlers used horn a lot and as Mr. Jack has said, the proper training and technique really matters. I have 7 powder horns of which 6 are high quality and made by craftsmen known as Horners and they belong to a guild. The Horners know the tricks of the trade. All 6 that I have purchased from guild Horners have remained air tight (has to keep black powder dry) and the only cheap one I have has gaps and leaks air. I won't clutter up your fine thread with this again, but, thought I would share a few of my horns and my favorite flintlock that I shoot with the Salt River club. I don't have any Lambsfoot knives to contribute at this point, but, that might be remedied soon. Have one that might qualify, but, might be lamb, but, more likely a sheep.
As far as the neighbor goes that was looking in the horses mouth, I told him that it was horn and that it was always possible, then gave him a nicer knife and let him have both. He is a fine neighbor to have though.
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Don't worry about that Steve. I should have one before long and you have already been too kind on your GAW's !
Don't you worry about that wood, it will develop it's own trait's over time with use. I have Rosewood that has gone from bland to down right gorgeous with use and carry. Rosewood is like a woman, it'll talk to you when it's ready. Hope Rachel doesn't read this post.
Thanks guys.It really does look nice.
Thank you very much JeremyThat's a nice story, I'm glad it's going well
+1
I recently posted about a small bottle of Polish vodka a friend gave me - it tasted absolutely awful!
Well, I'm glad I didn't tip it down the sink, because it may have come in usefulI purchased a Barbour jacket about 3 or 4 years ago, thinking I had 'a jacket for life', as they say (and bearing in mind the price). That turned out to be a false promise as these garments are really not what they used to be, with many now being made overseas
My pal with the tool stall thought that I had been ripped-off, and told me he had a brand new old Barbour in his loft I could have. He had bought it years ago, but had only worn it a couple of times. My friend brought the coat down to the market last week. It's a real old farmer style, with 'poachers pockets' on the inside
While in town this morning, I bought a plant mister, and we'll see if it works! Certainly a better use for that vodka than drinking it!
The stamp (and everything else) is one hundred percent a Jack Black creation.I have a question about the Hartshead Barlow and I have read quite a bit through the thread, trying to answer my own question. So far, I came up empty.
The bolster stamp, was that a stamp that Wright and Son already had or did Mr. Jack develop that with his special orders ?
Just curious ! It is a finely designed bolster stamp, IMO.
I figured as much, but, nice to know for sure. Outstanding job Mr. Jack !
cigarrodog
for his generosity. When I mentioned that I was having trouble with my arthritic hands Jack suggested looking into a Sheldon Knife. Harvey gifted one to me from his collection. Harvey’s kindness is what makes the porch and the Guardians a special place. Hats off to Harvey! 
I'd expect nothing less from a fine gentleman like Harvey.
Maybe your golf score will match the temperature.
I think many of us do Dwight
Terrific trio there my friend Some cutlers won't use horn, because it can be so problematic, and while it can be beautiful, I have to say that I can't blame them. Shipping horn-covered knives, in the hold of an aircraft, to multiple folks, who live in places with very variable climatic conditions is an added factorI have only owned one knife with horn covers and it peeled up and away from the liners at the bolsters. Swore to never buy another.
No doubt that not all the horn handles do that, I am sure.
Gave it to my neighbor as a gift and he brought it over and pointed out the problem !
Sorry about the wallet Mr. Jack. You might get it back after you get everything replaced.
You can look at a piece of stag, and see what you're getting. With horn you really don't know. All you can do is trust the cutler, but I suspect many won't know much either, and some, sadly, can't be trusted, in my experience I think he eventually had the knife, a Big 'Un, re-covered 
Nice Lambsfoot and slingshot pic
I'd not seen those Ka-Bar slingshots before, looks pretty good Do you always use it with tubes, or have you tried it with flat-bands? I also have a lot of horn, and have not had any problems, except for with two knives that I left out on my coffee-table, where the horn lifted. I put them in a drawer, and when I checked again, they were fine
My old school was just a stone's throw from where I lived as a kid. You could tell that, because all the windows were broken!That is a nice looking slingshot under that lamb! I remember accidentally breaking a few windows with one of those as a kid.
Another factor is that horn may have a flaw, or a crack, in it, which gets nearer to the surface, or is even exposed, as the covers of a knife are ground to shape. Since that is, traditionally, one of the last stages of manufacture, even if a cutler notices, he may not care, and it may also be missed during the QC stage, particularly if that stage is cursory or non-existent. The vast majority of knife dealers here in the UK don't check their incoming stock carefully, in my experience, and know little about what they are sellingThat to me says there was an issue to begin with. Either a bad piece of horn, or possibly badly attached. Horn can shrink sometimes, but as Jack said usually goes back into place. I personally have never had an issue with horn, but being organic from an animal can be tricky stuff, that is what i have read and been told by knife makers. But horn can be an issue not just with knives, i have a friend who has a very successful antique restoring business, he also told me horn can be difficult to deal with. So you just may have got a bad piece.
I've handed back a few found wallets (and phones) myself Leon, but you are probably right. The last time I found a lost wallet, it belonged to a professional magician, so I told him I would be happy to make it re-appear!You use the word slim very loosely my friend, in this day and age, i would say closer to nil. Sadly.
I still have his card, as I never know when I might need somebody to disappear! 
It's a fine photo too ToddNothing fancy about the wood, but I like how it looks in the morning light.
Sadly, the days when Sheffield had specialist 'scale cutters' are long gone I'm afraidI wouldn't worry too much if I were you. I know the old Sheffield cutlers used horn a lot and as Mr. Jack has said, the proper training and technique really matters. I have 7 powder horns of which 6 are high quality and made by craftsmen known as Horners and they belong to a guild. The Horners know the tricks of the trade. All 6 that I have purchased from guild Horners have remained air tight (has to keep black powder dry) and the only cheap one I have has gaps and leaks air. I won't clutter up your fine thread with this again, but, thought I would share a few of my horns and my favorite flintlock that I shoot with the Salt River club. I don't have any Lambsfoot knives to contribute at this point, but, that might be remedied soon. Have one that might qualify, but, might be lamb, but, more likely a sheep.
As far as the neighbor goes that was looking in the horses mouth, I told him that it was horn and that it was always possible, then gave him a nicer knife and let him have both. He is a fine neighbor to have though.
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Fascinating to read about the 'Horners' Mr P, that really is some beautiful work That must be a very rewarding hobby, and, as always your photos are superb While a beautiful Horseman's Knife, that is indeed a Sheepsfoot blade, rather than a Lamb, I'm afraid, so in the words of Jim Reeves, "He'll have to go." Lambsfoot knives only here please (see post #1) Hopefully, we can sort you out a Lambsfoot, and welcome you into the order of Guardians soon my friend You have been more than generous Steve. I've had a busy week, but I'm hoping to post a giveaway shortly. Having given so many away already, I need to go hunting around Grumble Towers, to find a suitable prize
AsI have a question about the Hartshead Barlow and I have read quite a bit through the thread, trying to answer my own question. So far, I came up empty.
The bolster stamp, was that a stamp that Wright and Son already had or did Mr. Jack develop that with his special orders ?
Just curious ! It is a finely designed bolster stamp, IMO.
JohnDF
and
Fodderwing
helpfully replied, the stamp is an old A. Wright & Son stamp, which at one time, in the past, they sometimes used on fixed blades. I was aware of the stamp from my collection of older knives, and asked them to use it on the bolster of my Hartshead Barlow. At this time, Wright's didn't even correctly know what a Barlow knife was, thinking it was a Clip-point Jack. Sheffield cutlers are always conservative, and arguably lazy, in terms of anything that is 'new' or different to them, but I was their biggest customer at this point, and ordering a hundred knives, so while they found my request somewhat inexplicable and strange, they were prepared to make the knife to my specifications. Since their stamping equipment is somewhat primitive, the bolsters were actually stamped by another firm. The steel used for the bolster is the same C70 carbon steel that the blade and liners are made of, though only the blade is hardened of course 
