Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Prester John]

OK, so let’s try it a second time...

Congratulations! You're in! (I see our Leader has welcomed you. Formal induction ceremony to follow at a later time. ).

 

[Jack Black]

Congratulations! You're in! (I see our Leader has welcomed you. Formal induction ceremony to follow at a later time. ).

 

[Jack Black]

Cheers Rockeley Lad!

No expense spared round at Lambsfoot Towers

 

[Half/Stop]

A lovely start to the week Ron

Thankful for that one Jack!

OK, so let’s try it a second time...

Welcome! That’s definitely a Lambsfoot and it has been well loved!

 

[Icarve2]

Thanks for the help Jack Black. I had copied the url from the share where google offers it up....? Anyway will do that from now cheers - does this make the cut?

 

[Icarve2]

 

[Jack Black]

Icarve2 - Beautiful Lambsfoot Do you know the maker?

If you're posting pics from Google, you need to click on the photo in your account to enlarge it, then right-click and take the image code, then click on the image icon above the posting box here, and paste in the code. If you need more help, check out the 'Technical' sub-forum here. If you want you can take your image from this post, and edit it into one or both of your posts above. Better to edit pics then keep pasting code

 

[Jack Black]

The lovely old Lambsfoot knives posted by Icarve2 and R Rockeley Lad have encouraged me to carry an old one myself - my Unity Lambsfoot, great knife with a beast of a pull

 

[Rockeley Lad]

Cheers Rockeley Lad!

No expense spared round at Lambsfoot Towers

Thank you Jack and thank you all for such a warm welcome! I’m greatly looking forward to conversing with you all more ofte now and hoping to be a worthy contributor.
Jack, thank you enormously for sharing the history of R Groves. It’s fabulous. I found it all truly interesting, but I was surprised to notice that there didn’t seem to be any reference to them being makers (cutlers) of pocket knives... I wonder, therefore, if any of The Guardians have a further example of a Groves piece they could share, or, at the moment, am I the proud owner of quite a rare example?
Anyway, moving on, I’d like share with you all another lambsfoot I’m happy to be ‘guarding’.

I bought this one in my late teens from a small but overwhelmingly well-stocked hardware shop in my local town.
The thing is, even though the blade is stamped with ‘REAL LAMB FOOT’, I’m not entirely convinced that it is.
I say this because, to me, the blade looks more akin to a Wharncliffe than a Lambfoot.
Secondly, the bolsters are more reminiscent of a Barlow than a traditional Lambfoot.
And lastly, there’s its overall size. It’s quite dinky and is considerably dwarfed when placed beside my EDC Burgon & Ball.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to enjoy a Sheffield pedigree either. The tang is stamped with CK who I understand were/are based in Wales and now only seem to produce the locking black-plastic-handled lambfoot and sheepsfoot knives used regularly by farmers.
Nevertheless, this is a super little knife and the blade centering is good.

The handle scales are not ebony, so don’t be fooled. They are highly polished though and my eye for wood grain ID leads me to believe they’re dyed beech.
I’d be really grateful for everyone’s thoughts on this little knife and whether it qualifies as a REAL LAMB FOOT.

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you Jack and thank you all for such a warm welcome! I’m greatly looking forward to conversing with you all more ofte now and hoping to be a worthy contributor.
Jack, thank you enormously for sharing the history of R Groves. It’s fabulous. I found it all truly interesting, but I was surprised to notice that there didn’t seem to be any reference to them being makers (cutlers) of pocket knives... I wonder, therefore, if any of The Guardians have a further example of a Groves piece they could share, or, at the moment, am I the proud owner of quite a rare example?
Anyway, moving on, I’d like share with you all another lambsfoot I’m happy to be ‘guarding’.

I bought this one in my late teens from a small but overwhelmingly well-stocked hardware shop in my local town.
The thing is, even though the blade is stamped with ‘REAL LAMB FOOT’, I’m not entirely convinced that it is.
I say this because, to me, the blade looks more akin to a Wharncliffe than a Lambfoot.
Secondly, the bolsters are more reminiscent of a Barlow than a traditional Lambfoot.
And lastly, there’s its overall size. It’s quite dinky and is considerably dwarfed when placed beside my EDC Burgon & Ball.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to enjoy a Sheffield pedigree either. The tang is stamped with CK who I understand were/are based in Wales and now only seem to produce the locking black-plastic-handled lambfoot and sheepsfoot knives used regularly by farmers.
Nevertheless, this is a super little knife and the blade centering is good.

The handle scales are not ebony, so don’t be fooled. They are highly polished though and my eye for wood grain ID leads me to believe they’re dyed beech.
I’d be really grateful for everyone’s thoughts on this little knife and whether it qualifies as a REAL LAMB FOOT.

A pleasure my friend, thanks for joining us here Looking forward to seeing more of your posts Groves did make pocket knives (I used the term 'pocket cutlery' as that is what they used in their advertising - there's an example in Tweedale, taken from a trade catalogue, showing a Penknife). The name was bought by other firms, who were cutlers. They used the Groves tang-stamp alongside their own marks, as it still carried some cachet in some international trade markets, from the Grove saws. If I get time tonight, I'll see if I can find any other references to the firm or copies of their trade listings. I have not seen another Groves myself.

CK are Carl Kammerling, German, but most of their knives are made in Italy today. As you probably know, they tend to supply inexpensive knives to garden centres, agricultural stores, and the like. No, despite the blade stamp, that is not a 'Real Lamb Foot', though it's certainly much nicer than the one CK pass off as one today

 

[Rockeley Lad]

A pleasure my friend, thanks for joining us here Looking forward to seeing more of your posts Groves did make pocket knives (I used the term 'pocket cutlery' as that is what they used in their advertising - there's an example in Tweedale, taken from a trade catalogue, showing a Penknife). The name was bought by other firms, who were cutlers. They used the Groves tang-stamp alongside their own marks, as it still carried some cachet in some international trade markets, from the Grove saws. If I get time tonight, I'll see if I can find any other references to the firm or copies of their trade listings. I have not seen another Groves myself.

CK are Carl Kammerling, German, but most of their knives are made in Italy today. As you probably know, they tend to supply inexpensive knives to garden centres, agricultural stores, and the like. No, despite the blade stamp, that is not a 'Real Lamb Foot', though it's certainly much nicer than the one CK pass off as one today

Thanks, Jack!
Yes, that’s the interloper all right! They’re the ones I was talking about.
I’m really glad you’ve confirmed that my little CK is not a lambsfoot. I didn’t think so.
Another thing though re: my Burgon & Ball EDC - have you ever had hold of a Burgon & Ball?
I’m only asking because mine has a distinct whiff of A Wright & Sons about it.
Burgon & Ball are based in Sheffield and they supply gardening tools endorse by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), but their website makes no reference to the manufacturers of their pocket knives.
However, for some reason, my intuition is telling me their pocket knives are made in the Wright’s workshop.
I may be wrong, but there’s just something about these knives that suggests their heritage.
All thoughts welcome.

 

[Half/Stop]

I’m starting off my Tuesday with a black coffee and a black Lambsfoot. Have a great day Guardians!

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks, Jack!
Yes, that’s the interloper all right! They’re the ones I was talking about.
I’m really glad you’ve confirmed that my little CK is not a lambsfoot. I didn’t think so.
Another thing though re: my Burgon & Ball EDC - have you ever had hold of a Burgon & Ball?
I’m only asking because mine has a distinct whiff of A Wright & Sons about it.
Burgon & Ball are based in Sheffield and they supply gardening tools endorse by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), but their website makes no reference to the manufacturers of their pocket knives.
However, for some reason, my intuition is telling me their pocket knives are made in the Wright’s workshop.
I may be wrong, but there’s just something about these knives that suggests their heritage.
All thoughts welcome.

Your Burgon & Ball was definitely made by Wright's. They were made for a dealer some years ago. Funnily enough, I saw one advertised just the other day. Burgon & Ball were once internationally famous for their sheep shears

A couple of pics of their works, which originally took power from the River Rivelin there.

And for good measure, a Lambsfoot pic taken close by

I’m starting off my Tuesday with a black coffee and a black Lambsfoot. Have a great day Guardians!

Good stuff Ron, I'm just having a black coffee myself Nice pic of your Lambsfoot my friend, that ebony wasn't so bad after all was it?!

 

[Half/Stop]

Your Burgon & Ball was definitely made by Wright's. They were made for a dealer some years ago. Funnily enough, I saw one advertised just the other day. Burgon & Ball were once internationally famous for their sheep shears

A couple of pics of their works, which originally took power from the River Rivelin there.

And for good measure, a Lambsfoot pic taken close by

Good stuff Ron, I'm just having a black coffee myself Nice pic of your Lambsfoot my friend, that ebony wasn't so bad after all was it?!

Thanks Jack! I’m liking the Ebony on our 18 Guardians more and more. It’s smooth as butter and feels so good in hand! Very nice indeed!

 

[Rockeley Lad]

Your Burgon & Ball was definitely made by Wright's. They were made for a dealer some years ago. Funnily enough, I saw one advertised just the other day. Burgon & Ball were once internationally famous for their sheep shears

A couple of pics of their works, which originally took power from the River Rivelin there.

And for good measure, a Lambsfoot pic taken close by

Good stuff Ron, I'm just having a black coffee myself Nice pic of your Lambsfoot my friend, that ebony wasn't so bad after all was it?!

Wow! I knew it!
Thanks again, Jack. You are a true oracle! Where do you keep all that info?
Did you take a tour of all the Sheffield works?
That rams horn lambsfoot on the bridge is an absolute belter!
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying another lambsfoot with buffalo horn scales to try and replicate the Groves example of my Great Grandfather’s, but I can’t seem to find one with fluted steel bolsters - only nickel silver...
I guess we’d have to dig up Richard Groves for that.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack! I’m liking the Ebony on our 18 Guardians more and more. It’s smooth as butter and feels so good in hand! Very nice indeed!

Me too Ron, and it does feel good in hand

Wow! I knew it!
Thanks again, Jack. You are a true oracle! Where do you keep all that info?
Did you take a tour of all the Sheffield works?
That rams horn lambsfoot on the bridge is an absolute belter!
I’ve been toying with the idea of buying another lambsfoot with buffalo horn scales to try and replicate the Groves example of my Great Grandfather’s, but I can’t seem to find one with fluted steel bolsters - only nickel silver...
I guess we’d have to dig up Richard Groves for that.

I don't know RL, because I have the memory of a goldfish when it comes to day to day things! I am from Sheffield, and very familiar with the cutlery industry there. Here's a couple of old threads, which you might find of interest

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/visiting-arthur-wright-son-pics.1481181/

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/sheffield’s-old-factories-workshops-pic-heavy.1479108/

You might be better trying to find another old Lambsfoot. The Guardians Lambsfoot knives of 2017, and half the 2018 run, have fluted bolsters, but they are of nickel-silver

Old cutlery works at the bottom of Snow Lane, Sheffield.

Another pic of my Unity Lambsfoot

 

[Pàdruig]

Good morning, folks. (still morning here...)

As promised, the Ebony is accompanying me today. Such a terrific knife.

 

[Jody744]

I still can’t believe I missed out on the ebony

 

[Jack Black]

Good morning, folks. (still morning here...)

As promised, the Ebony is accompanying me today. Such a terrific knife.

Morning Dylan, thanks for another wonderful pic my friend

I still can’t believe I missed out on the ebony

 

[Half/Stop]

Good morning, folks. (still morning here...)

As promised, the Ebony is accompanying me today. Such a terrific knife.

They are indeed special knives. Probably my favorite Lambsfoot!