Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Jack Black]

Looking good r8shell

 

[spycycle]

I was just looking at Michael Mays website, what do you think of his knives, is the build quality any good ?

I'd like to preface all this by saying that I love the knife. The blade grind was a little funny, leaving me with a dull-ish tip out of the box (easily remedied with a good sharpening, though). The scales and liners are very nicely mated, but there are some gaps between liners and backspring. I was a little disappointed at first, but the overall look, feel, and utility of the knife far outweighs what I would consider a purely cosmetic "flaw." I own several GEC and GEC-built knives and have perhaps become spoiled by their top-notch fit and finish work. This is a fantastic knife, and one that I'm happy to toss in my pocket for a long day's work.

 

[r8shell]

Looking good r8shell

Thank you. With all these here fancy ebony and horn examples, we gotsta 'preciate the humble rosewood from time to time.

 

[johnnyfive]

Given to me from flatblackcapo
I love it

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you. With all these here fancy ebony and horn examples, we gotsta 'preciate the humble rosewood from time to time.

Too true, they have a lot of character

Given to me from flatblackcapo
I love it

Glad you're liking the Lambsfoot Johnyfive, and thanks for posting it here That one has done the rounds, even has its own thread!

 

[johnnyfive]

Too true, they have a lot of character



Glad you're liking the Lambsfoot Johnyfive, and thanks for posting it here That one has done the rounds, even has its own thread!

It has its own thread awesome I love it

 

[Jack Black]

It has its own thread awesome I love it

Two in fact! Most of the pics are no longer hosted unfortunately, and recent changes to the forum software have messed things up a lot, but...

http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-silence-of-the-lambsfoot.1069771/

http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/pssst-want-a-stainless-lambsfoot-winner-announced.1097390/

 

[Cambertree]

Aha! I'd enjoyed reading that Silence of the Lambsfoot thread a while ago, but even then, some of the images didn't show, for some reason.

So this is the first time I've actually seen that 'Silent Lambsfoot'. I quite like the lines of the handle. The blade etch seems identical to A. Wright's to me:



How's the handle feel in use, J johnnyfive ?

It's much nicer than this ah, interesting thing...I mean 'Real Lambfoot' I saw in a display case in a hardware store in Belfast.



I didn't look any closer at the time beyond taking that cursory snap, but now it seems to me, the tang stamp actually says 'Italy'! I could be wrong though, it's a bit blurry to make out.

 

[flatblackcapo]

Given to me from flatblackcapo
I love it

Enjoy it and use the heck out of it, brother!
Ya know I think that just might be the Lambsfoot that started this whole wacky Lambsfoot craze....on the porch anyway... Jack's fault ....
I know it was the one that sparked my interest in the MIGHTY LAMBSFOOT (say with the mighty voice of Gandalf)

 

[B.Mauser]

Thanks so much for the kind compliments, my friends.

Yes, it goes without saying, I'm really looking forward to using this one more fully.



That's a great idea, r8shell, and I wish I had it at the time, when I had access to Christian's grinders!

If by a 'handle' you mean, crudely wrapped with paracord, so I could hold onto it while I sharpened it, then yes. But I removed it shortly after, as it looked embarassing next to the other knife, LOL!

I'm still having fun thinking what to do with the mule to get it in shape as a test blade. But it's fully heat treated and hardened now, so it would take quite a while to do anything but minimal regrinding using just my benchstones and hand sanding it. I think the D2 would blunt a file quite fast. But I really like the idea of a similar treatment of an Ettrick, maybe with handles slabbed out of Sambar antler tips.

At the moment, the truncated blade looks like a rather worn Lambsfoot, on the way to becoming a spey. But it might be interesting to see how it goes with that little hint of belly.

----------

Regarding the finished fixed blade Lambsfoot: I was looking at place names or landscape features in Sheffield or Yorkshire to go with a name for this model.

Or maybe just the 'WoodsWalker'...

I like the 'Endcliffe Lambsfoot' too, after the woods near Sheffield, but I'd just have to OK that with Paul (pmew), as I recall he suggested 'Endcliffe' as the name of the forum knife last year.

Wow Chin! I love it! I wish I could buy one just like it. Amazing work. I think LambShank is a great name too.







I carried my favorite lambsfoot and a little Sheffield single blade pen knife this week. I recently made a couple pocket sheaths for them so I took a few pictures.

 

[Jack Black]

Aha! I'd enjoyed reading that Silence of the Lambsfoot thread a while ago, but even then, some of the images didn't show, for some reason.

Yes, ImageShack promised to keep hosting images - and lied

Here's the Silent Lambsfoot in Yorkshire

It's much nicer than this ah, interesting thing...I mean 'Real Lambsfoot' I saw in a display case in a hardware store in Belfast.

I didn't look any closer at the time beyond taking that cursory snap, but now it seems to me, the tang stamp actually says 'Italy'! I could be wrong though, it's a bit blurry to make out.

Ugh! I think that one might be made by CK Chin (Whitby Knives are the British distributor - they sell to garden centres and hardware stores).

Enjoy it and use the heck out of it, brother!
Ya know I think that just might be the Lambsfoot that started this whole wacky Lambsfoot craze....on the porch anyway... Jack's fault ....
I know it was the one that sparked my interest in the MIGHTY LAMBSFOOT (say with the mighty voice of Gandalf)

I always enjoyed seeing your pics of it in use my friend

Great work on those pocket sheaths, your IXL Lambsfoot is a beauty

 

[Cambertree]

Wow Chin! I love it! I wish I could buy one just like it. Amazing work. I think LambShank is a great name too.

I carried my favorite lambsfoot and a little Sheffield single blade pen knife this week. I recently made a couple pocket sheaths for them so I took a few pictures.

Cheers for the compliment Brian!

I'm glad you like the working nickname too - I think most knife people 'get it' - though a non-knife person might find it a little strange. Don't worry NKP: I'm not out to shank any wee lambs!Lambshank stew with barley was, and is, a very popular working class dish in Australia, too.

Those pocket sheaths are really fine - that beautiful, burnished, chestnut brown leather suits that Wostenholm of yours perfectly. I like the shape of the smaller sheath too. Nice one, mate!

I've never really worked leather before - I guess I'm going to have to learn (or commission a sheath, haven't decided yet).

Thanks for the further info and photo, Jack.

Here's a funny thing I was reminded of by that CK: I tend to ask knife collectors and makers, when I get the chance, what their most used knives are. It's usually not by any means the prettiest or most expensive, and is often quite surprising, considering the knives they have access to. Christian's most used knife in his custom knife workshop was funnily enough, an old leatherworkers 'boot' knife. Not a Lambsfoot, I know, but a branch of the same tree, I guess. Says something about that straight edge and blade shape...

 

[RichardBay]

Wow after reading this thread I think I need my first lambs football knife. Any recommendations?
Thank you.

 

[Cambertree]

Nice one Richard!

Jack gave a good rundown recently on the state of play of current Lambsfoot knifemakers.

As per the Traditional sub-forum guidelines, this thread exists for the discussion of the Lambsfoot pattern, rather than the BUYING of Lambsfoot knives The pattern is made by several Sheffield cutlers, and vintage examples can be found. Arthur Wright & Son are the only Sheffield manufacturer still making carbon steel examples. The Eggington Group, who own the Wostenholm and Joseph Rodgers marks, and also Taylor's Eye Witness, use stainless. If you have a look through this thread, you'll hopefully see something you'll like, and can search on the internet for vendors

Or, as Jack mentioned, you could keep an eye out for a nice vintage Lambsfoot, like B.Mauser did to get that fine looking IXL Wostenholm shown above.

Good luck, I'll look forward to seeing what you find!

 

[screened porch]

It's much nicer than this ah, interesting thing...I mean 'Real Lambfoot' I saw in a display case in a hardware store in Belfast.

I didn't look any closer at the time beyond taking that cursory snap, but now it seems to me, the tang stamp actually says 'Italy'! I could be wrong though, it's a bit blurry to make out.

Tolerant as I am of variations in terminology, it makes me crazy when people who should know better allow a sheepfoot to be sold as a lambsfoot.

 

[Jack Black]

Don't worry NKP: I'm not out to shank any wee lambs! Lambshank stew with barley was, and is, a very popular working class dish in Australia, too.

Same here

Thanks for the further info and photo, Jack.

Here's a funny thing I was reminded of by that CK: I tend to ask knife collectors and makers, when I get the chance, what their most used knives are. It's usually not by any means the prettiest or most expensive, and is often quite surprising, considering the knives they have access to. Christian's most used knife in his custom knife workshop was funnily enough, an old leatherworkers 'boot' knife. Not a Lambsfoot, I know, but a branch of the same tree, I guess. Says something about that straight edge and blade shape...

A pleasure my friend That is really interesting, when we met Stan Shaw, we were both struck by the intelligence of your questions

Wow after reading this thread I think I need my first lambs football knife. Any recommendations?
Thank you.

I take it you have 'Spellcheck' on your phone Richard! Everyone needs a Lambsfoot

Good luck, I'll look forward to seeing what you find!

Same here, and thanks for that Chin

Tolerant as I am of variations in terminology, it makes me crazy when people who should know better allow a sheepfoot to be sold as a lambsfoot.

Too right!

I'm carrying my ebony Lambsfoot again today, been trying to give this one a bit more pocket time recently

 

[flatblackcapo]

Here is a old pic of Mallory at work. I hope we get many more pics from J johnnyfive .

 

[Jack Black]

Here is a old pic of Mallory at work. I hope we get many more pics from J johnnyfive .

+1 Cool pic my friend

 

[flatblackcapo]

Jack Black: I just ran away.
Pertinux: No "just", Jack. What set you off? You started at what time?
Jack Black: Early, still dark.
Pertinux: Then something woke you, didn't it? Was it a dream? What was it?
Jack Black: I heard a strange noise.
Pertinux: What was it?
Jack Black: It was... clanging. Some kind of clanging, like a broken trash compactor.
Pertinux: What did you do?
Jack Black: I went downstairs, outside. I crept up into the barn. I was so scared to look inside, but I had to.
Pertinux: And what did you see, Jack? What did you see?
Jack Black: Lambs foot knives. The Lambs foot knives were clanging.
Pertinux: They were throwing away the stainless steel Lambs foot knives?
Jack Black: And they were clanging.
Pertinux: And you ran away?
Jack Black: No. First I tried to buy them. I... I offered money to the vendor, but they wouldn't sell. They just stood there, confused. They wouldn't sell.
Pertinux: But you could and you did, didn't you?
Jack Black: Yes. I took one Lambs foot knife, and I ran away as fast as I could.
Pertinux: Where were you going, Jack?
Jack Black: I don't know. I didn't have any food, any water and it was very cold, very cold. I thought, I thought if I could save just one, but... it was a copy. Just a copy. I didn't get more than a few miles when the sheriff's car picked me up. The vendor was so angry he sent me to live at the Pub in Yorkshire. I never saw the shop again.

I thought I would quote this post by Woodrow from the Silence of the Lambsfoot thread. It's too good to let it fade away.

 

[flatblackcapo]

+1 Cool pic my friend

Thanks. Jack. That post from Woodrow cracks me up!