Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Prester John]

I'm always a bit late to the party..... I know somewhere in the preceding 600+ pages I'll find the answer, but maybe someone will give me the Reader's Digest version...……… Is the discussed new Lambsfoot knife with the fluted ferrules available for purchase or was it a "short run" not to be available again? ……… In other words, I'd like to buy one, but I am uncertain how, or if I can..... Thank you for helping a fellow Guardian......

No commercial discussion on the thread, per forum rules. PM Jack, as @Pgg365247 suggested.

 

[HEMI 49]

No commercial discussion on the thread, per forum rules. PM Jack, as @Pgg365247 suggested.

Gotcha….. Thanks......

 

[Cambertree]

Fascinating Chin. I'd love to walk thru those mini forests. Thank goodness for those among us with the imagination, resolve and foresight to create such havens. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Dwight, I agree.

I’m glad to see your surgery was a success, and here’s to a speedy recovery, my friend.

Your currently incapacitated arm clearly hasn’t affected your abilty to compose and take exceptionally beautiful photos over the last few pages!

Just having my own cup of extremely strong tea here (Yorkshire Gold)

i could relate to a number of those shown even though it's the smaller LF I like most. Got an Ebony Ettrick on the way at the moment, woods of a feather

Nice Will, I’m also a big fan of the Yorkshire Gold, when I drink black teas.

Interesting comment on preferring the smaller size Lambsfoot, too. I prefer the more ‘swayed’ handle shape of the small model, but find the heavier pull is a bit less user friendly for a sinistral who has to pinch the blade open.

As shown previously

Those are a magnificent pair of Lambsfoot knives Jack. You and the lads at Wrights are steadily closing in on making knives in the category of ‘functional art’.

Sorry if you’ve mentioned this previously, but are these knives also made exclusively by Ashley and his Head Cutler father, like the previous Guardians editions?

Thanks pal, those photos are spectacular Yeah, it's the same here, though 'youse' may well be pronounced 'yiz', as in 'What d'yiz want from the bar'! I guess that a Yorkshire way of saying 'Hey, y'all' would be 'Na then, tha lot'!

Thanks mate! And since you're asking: a pint of mild for me, thanks!

Charlie has a theory that air-travel in the hold can affect knives. I guess if the air inside a flaw expanded?

Yes, I think this is correct - the aircraft hold would be very dry and cold - also the suddenness of moving from one environment where the scales were stable, to another which may be drastically different in humidity and temperature. In the old days, travelling by ship, the knives would have been more gradually acclimated to the different parts of the world they were exported to.

Thanks for the link Chin, one day I'm going to re-learn how to post a link properly! It's great to see your Lambshank again, how are you getting on?

Oh very well thanks - I meant to write some notes after using it for a while - but I’ve been tardy on having a custom pocket sheath made - and the sheath is an integral part of any fixed blade. At the moment I just have it in a leather belt sheath made for a different knife.

Well, I am not too far from Portland (about an hour and a half south) so if you ever do make it over here for a visit, we will have to make a point to get out and experience some scenery!

That would be fantastic, Dylan - and likewise, the same invitation applies should you ever make it over to Oz. If you’re here in season, we could get you out on a Sambar deer hunt.

Horace Kephart is one of my personal heroes, at least in respect to his woodsman knowledge. That particular book as well as his Camping and Woodcraft are excellent reads and I've read them more than a few times, I always discover something new each time I read them, particularly Camping and Woodcraft.

Yes, it was your sig line from Kephart that led me to rereading Camping and Woodcraft a couple of years back. That was actually one of the books I liked to read while lying under the Douglas Fir trees of the Forest Arboretum.

Interesting factoid, there is actually a small herd of Sambar in California and some in Florida too, I think. Introduced at the turn of the 20th century and subject to very controlled hunts.

Thanks for the info Dylan, I didn’t know that about California. I’d heard about the Florida herd, and is there a small Texas herd as well on private land?

Truly special Dylan I was talking to John Maleham and his Head Cutler about jigged bone. They were saying it wasn't all that long since the last Sheffield bone jigger packed it in. I do remember the last Sheffield pearl cutter, who worked very close to the Wright factory

That’s an interesting snippet of info Jack. That retired bone jigger would be an interesting bloke to chat to. I suppose it’s too much of an obscure trade for him to have been interviewed much over the years. What a pity to think of the information and experience that was lost with his leaving the industry.

Thanks to everyone for your warm welcomes...… I have learned a lot from following your conversations and viewing the photographs..… Here is another shot of the 3 Lambsfoot knives I received yesterday..View attachment 1063262

Welcome Brent! Nice representative lineup of Lambsfoot knives there!

The first Lambsfoot models seemed to appear around the tail end of the 1800s in England. Joseph Rodgers was among the first to produce them, but George Wostenholm didn't offer a Lambsfoot model until the early 1900s. No Lambsfoot models are shown in a 1905 factory Wostenholm catalog, and the first one seen in print dates to 1915. Wostenholm carried that pattern at least up until the 1960s, and probably right to the end in 1983. Wostenholm was still using genuine stag in the 1950s, but had changed over mostly to "Simulated Stag" (Synthetic) by the 1960s. Here is a Wostenholm Lambsfoot model from around the 1960s era along with a catalog illustration from 1962.

View attachment 1063449

View attachment 1063450

Thanks for that post, my friend. I didn’t know that Wostenholm were late to the Lambsfoot party.
You’ll recall Thomas Turner had a Lambsfoot in their 1901 lineup in the Sheffield Millennium Gallery.

Had enough of the factory edge, so I gave her a proper sharpening. She's a cutter now.

Nice work Christian, I do the same. I’m interested in your Lambsfoot sharpening regime, if you’d care to share it? Is that a medium 3.5” handled version? I thought it must have been the smaller model from the shape of the handle?

Eeek, reminds me of that IXL lambsfoot I had seen online: words failed me

Arrgh, my eyes, my eyes!!!

Looks like it started as one of those faux stag plastics, and was ‘cleaned’ with some kind of solvent - maybe a 3-in-1 gun oil which reacted with the dye.

That almost deserves an entry in the Unique Examples section of the index for being The Ugliest Lambsfoot Knife In The World!

View attachment 1063741

Beautiful composition, Dwight.

Nice Christian, see you thinned it out some I was asking Wright's about those knives with a bit more sway in the handle - didn't even know what I was talking about!

LOL! I’d be keen to see a ‘more swayed’ medium Lambsfoot.

A great pile of of knives, Jack!! Looking forward to opening the box!!
This thread is just steaming along - I can hardly keep up!!
Here are two Joseph Rodgers large Lambfoot knives at 3 7/8".
A jigged bone single-blade with double rattail bolsters, and a two-blade with ebony, and flat bolsters. Both main blades are stamped with "The Lambfoot Knife".
View attachment 1063794 View attachment 1063795
These knives are helping to guide the Lambfoot Knives GEC is hoping to produce later this year!

Simply stunning, Charlie! It’s always a treat to see those knives. And in such a condition too!

I recall that a squad of zealous Guardians bailed up Bill Howard at the GEC rendezvous a couple of years back to introduce the pattern to him. Congratulations on seeing your efforts rewarded.

I wonder Charlie - is Bill aware that the ’biguns’ are one of the less common sizes of Lambfoot knife, and that it’s the 3.5” handled version that is most used?

Of course, I’d love to see any version GEC put out, but I feel the ‘medium’ version has some special ergonomics, the way the swayed butt of the handle sits and indexes exactly in your palm...

Adding a couple pics to stay relevant.

A pic of a mountain I visit regularly.

Awe inspiring scenery my friend!

I edited my posting to put Wind Chill after the -50 F . I have been -35 F 2 times in my life . The first time was prior to them inventing " Wind Chill " and do not know what the wind chill was the last time . I do know that the -43 F wind chill this morning is not a lot of fun and is not to be fooled with.
Harry

Sheesh Harry, that is cold - that’s approaching some of the mean temps in parts of Antarctica! Look after yourselves, all youse Guardians contending with this polar snap.

 

[Cambertree]

Worse news too, my sample 2019 Guardians Lambsfoot is at Wright's Knife Hospital... Fortunately, the half-open blade was OK, but the mark side took the impact

Grrrr, at least Wrights will be able to have it back to fighting fit again. I’m interested in the mark on the ironwood, Jack. Is it pretty superficial? I’m not sure what ironwood they’re using, but the Janka rating for the usual range of ironwood species sits in the range between the ebonies and African Blackwood, that is to say, around 3200 to 3600 pounds force on the Janka scale. (That’s how much force is needed to embed a .444” steel ball to its full diameter - half its height - into the wood.)

These are seriously hard timbers.

My ebony user just seems to shrug off impacts like that. The brass bolsters take marks far easier than the ebony.

One of the reasons I think you’ve outdone yourself (again) on this years edition, is that we can now enjoy a cover material which has similar astonishing and unique patterning and figure as the inaugural horn 2017 edition, combined with the rock hard durability and stability of the ebony 2018 knives.

Got some new silver needle white tea to try this morning with RALF . . . good stuff!

I’ve been enjoying your knife and tea series, Jeff. Love enjoying a good Pu-Ehr with friends. That silver needle tea sounds very refreshing.

Afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
Obviously we've all seen Jack's prototype but by virtue of the fact that my nationality places me in close proximity to West Yorkshire, I have the honour of introducing to you all...
The Guardians 2019 Lambsfoot:

Ooh la la...

...
I missed the last two Guardians knives, but I'm really glad I participated in this buy as this is a knife to cherish.
And lastly, a great "Huzzah!" to both Jack Black, whose been so kind and generous in arranging all this, and of course to Ashley at Wright's who obviously really Really knows his onions and is a true craftsman.

Absolutely stunning, mate. Thanks for the great review. That pile side looks like it may display some lovely chatoyance in the sunlight.

Harry

Harry, that is a pair of knives I never tire of seeing - they always cause a sharp intake of breath, like Charlies JRs, and Jack’s recent pic of his AC and Ironsides together.

I customarily take a snap of the ingredients before making each fresh batch of chilli hotsauce:

 

[btb01]

A great pile of of knives, Jack!! Looking forward to opening the box!!
This thread is just steaming along - I can hardly keep up!!
Here are two Joseph Rodgers large Lambfoot knives at 3 7/8".
A jigged bone single-blade with double rattail bolsters, and a two-blade with ebony, and flat bolsters. Both main blades are stamped with "The Lambfoot Knife".
View attachment 1063794 View attachment 1063795
These knives are helping to guide the Lambfoot Knives GEC is hoping to produce later this year!

Charlie, I had commented on those beautiful knives after you made this post, but it wasn't until I was reading through Chin's post above that I saw the part at the end there about the GEC Lambsfoot! That's exciting stuff!

 

[Old Engineer]

Grrrr, at least Wrights will be able to have it back to fighting fit again. I’m interested in the mark on the ironwood, Jack. Is it pretty superficial? I’m not sure what ironwood they’re using, but the Janka rating for the usual range of ironwood species sits in the range between the ebonies and African Blackwood, that is to say, around 3200 to 3600 pounds force on the Janka scale. (That’s how much force need to embed a .444” steel ball to its full diameter (half its height) into the wood.

These are seriously hard timbers. My ebony user just seems to shrug off impacts like that. The brass bolsters take marks far easier than the ebony.

One of the reasons I think you’ve outdone yourself (again) on this years edition, is that we can now enjoy a cover material which has similar astonishing and unique patterning and figure as the inaugural horn 2017 edition, combined with the rock hard durability and stabilty of the ebony 2018 knives.
I’ve been enjoying your knife and tea series, Jeff. Love enjoying a good Pu-Ehr with friends. That silver needle tea sounds very refreshing.
Absolutely stunning, mate. Thanks for the great review. That pile side looks like it may display some lovely chatoyance in the sunlight.



Harry, that is a pair of knives I never tire of seeing - they always cause a sharp intake of breath, like Charlies JRs, and Jack’s recent pic of his AC and Ironsides together.

I customarily take a snap of the ingredients before making each fresh batch of chilli hotsauce:

Chin I really appreciate your very kind remarks my friend . I wish that the new ones were obtainable in the 4 inch size though ..
Harry

 

[waynorth]

Chin I really appreciate your very kind remarks my friend . I wish that the new ones were obtainable in the 4 inch size though ..
Harry

Harry and Chin, it is strictly my doing that GEC is making that new Lambfoot at 3 7/8".
Harry it reflects the Joseph Rodgers knives - exactly the same length.
Pretty close to 4 " I'd say!
Sorry it's a little long for you Chin; we can only do one length at a time!
It's over three years since I started nudging Bill to make it. He has promised it before the end of this year - some time in the fall. It may not make it before the Rendezvous, but one can dream!!

 

[black mamba]

I’ve been enjoying your knife and tea series, Jeff. Love enjoying a good Pu-Ehr with friends. That silver needle tea sounds very refreshing.

Thank you, Chin, I do so enjoy my tea and Yixing clay pots. If your hotsauce is as good as your photo, then you'll have a winner!

 

[Old Engineer]

Harry and Chin, it is strictly my doing that GEC is making that new Lambfoot at 3 7/8".
Harry it reflects the Joseph Rodgers knives - exactly the same length.
Pretty close to 4 " I'd say!
Sorry it's a little long for you Chin; we can only do one length at a time!
It's over three years since I started nudging Bill to make it. He has promised it before the end of this year - some time in the fall. It may not make it before the Rendezvous, but one can dream!!

waynorth and Cambertree
I just measured my Old and New Lambfoots . Old = 4.125 //// New = 3.56 as compared to your SFO GEC of 3.875 . That is some great news Charlie . Now I can watch my Knife Budget with the time in mind . I hope that there will be some good jigged bone with those , or Ramshorn , or Ironwood , or Amboyna and Steel Liners and pins ( or nails ) . But you know I am in on them in whatever clothes they come with .

Harry

 

[kamagong]

Interesting comment on preferring the smaller size Lambsfoot, too. I prefer the more ‘swayed’ handle shape of the small model, but find the heavier pull is a bit less user friendly for a sinistral who has to pinch the blade open.

Thank you for that. Sinistral. Learned a new word today.

Nice work Christian, I do the same. I’m interested in your Lambsfoot sharpening regime, if you’d care to share it? Is that a medium 3.5” handled version? I thought it must have been the smaller model from the shape of the handle?

Chin, my lambsfoot is the smaller one. Model 31.25 on TSS's website. Like you I prefer the more swayed handle, and it only comes in the smaller size.

As to my sharpening regime, not much to it. I first reprofile with a coarse stone. I place the blade nearly flat to the stone. I follow up with a medium Arkansas stone, then a fine Arkansas. The edge is pretty close to done by then. I finish up by mildly convexing the bevel with some sandpaper on a leather backing. If it needs it, I'll remove any burrs left behind with a few licks on a translucent Arkansas.

After that I don't resharpen all that often. I can maintain the edge a long time just by stropping. I have a paddle strop loaded with Rich Notto's White Gold. It's the best compound I've used for stropping, as it's formulated specifically for hand stropping. Most stropping compounds need the heat from a moving wheel to stay applied.

Of course putting on an acute edge often scratches up the blade. In this case, as in many others, I'll try and improve the appearance by applying a pre-patina. The scratches don't show up nearly as much on darkened steel.​

 

[Cambertree]

Chin I really appreciate your very kind remarks my friend . I wish that the new ones were obtainable in the 4 inch size though ..
Harry

Harry and Chin, it is strictly my doing that GEC is making that new Lambfoot at 3 7/8".
Harry it reflects the Joseph Rodgers knives - exactly the same length.
Pretty close to 4 " I'd say!
Sorry it's a little long for you Chin; we can only do one length at a time!
It's over three years since I started nudging Bill to make it. He has promised it before the end of this year - some time in the fall. It may not make it before the Rendezvous, but one can dream!!

Nice work Charlie, your enthusiasm, dedication and persistence in enabling us all to enjoy these classic patterns of the Golden Age of pocket cutlery is very much appreciated.

That's fine, it will be an opportunity for me to sample the virtues of the Lambsfoot big'un!

I'm very excited also, as GEC are about the only makers I can think of now, who have the ability to achieve a historically sensitive rendering of those superb jigging patterns of the past.

Thank you, Chin, I do so enjoy my tea and Yixing clay pots. If your hotsauce is as good as your photo, then you'll have a winner!

Thanks Jeff. I was in the Melbourne Art Gallery the other day, and I actually tried to find a nice teapot in the Chinese antiquities gallery, to take a knife photo with for you. Bizarrely, although they had almost every other kind of porcelain and clay vessel, they didn't have any!

Another Lambsfoot Knife With Food pic:

(I wonder if GT @5K Qs still wears the honorary mantle of Official Guardians Food Correspondent?)

 

[Cambertree]

Thank you for that. Sinistral. Learned a new word today.

Chin, my lambsfoot is the smaller one. Model 31.25 on TSS's website. Like you I prefer the more swayed handle, and it only comes in the smaller size.

As to my sharpening regime, not much to it. I first reprofile with a coarse stone. I place the blade nearly flat to the stone. I follow up with a medium Arkansas stone, then a fine Arkansas. The edge is pretty close to done by then. I finish up by mildly convexing the bevel with some sandpaper on a leather backing. If it needs it, I'll remove any burrs left behind with a few licks on a translucent Arkansas.

After that I don't resharpen all that often. I can maintain the edge a long time just by stropping. I have a paddle strop loaded with Rich Notto's White Gold. It's the best compound I've used for stropping, as it's formulated specifically for hand stropping. Most stropping compounds need the heat from a moving wheel to stay applied.

Of course putting on an acute edge often scratches up the blade. In this case, as in many others, I'll try and improve the appearance by applying a pre-patina. The scratches don't show up nearly as much on darkened steel.​

Thanks Christian, that’s very interesting. (Sorry, I was replying to another post while you were replying to mine.)

Sounds like a good technique - I pretty much use the same process on most knives albeit with different abrasives. The Naniwa Chosera stones are usually my go-to for carbon steels. I use the same convexing step to clean up the grind lines and blend the edge bevel into the flats a bit. Black emery on a rough strop also works well for this step, I’ve found.

Specifically for the Lambsfoot pattern, I’ve found the Spyderco Sharpmaker to actually be a decent way to reset the edge to 15dps, using the diamond rods. This avoids the errant scratching on the flats, too. It takes a bit more time and patience, of course, and you have to be careful not to run the tip off the stones and round it off, as @r8shell has pointed out before. This seems to give a more even looking edge bevel on straight edged A. Wright knives than using benchstones, I find.

All the below knives have had their edge areas thinned out with this method.

Lately I’ve been playing with the Russian Venev bonded diamond, double sided waterstones, which are excellent. They need to be lapped flat with a bit of loose silicon carbide powder on glass before use, to reach their full potential, but they give a great edge on the Lambsfoot knives.

Their little pocket stone versions (pictured) are a superb way to keep a great, razor keen edge in the field as well. The new CBN/fine ceramic Spyderco Doublestuff excels as a portable touchup stone too, although it’s capable of doing full sharpenings as well.

I’ve also been experimenting with sub micron CBN emulsions on nanocloth, which can achieve literally hairsplitting edges, but that’s probably something for another thread!

 

[Jody744]

Hopefully waynorth can get scratted parchment handles again!!!

 

[Jack Black]

Had the honor of carrying this with me all day. Just helped cut up some potatoes for a pork chop casserole.
View attachment 1064471

Looking good Taylor

I'm always a bit late to the party..... I know somewhere in the preceding 600+ pages I'll find the answer, but maybe someone will give me the Reader's Digest version...………

Thanks for your PM Brent, would you be kind enough to go back and edit the commercial content out of your post please?

He's as busy as a one legged man in a butt kicking contest with this latest 2019 Guardians lambsfoot purchase but your best bet is to shoot Jack Black a PM.

No commercial discussion on the thread, per forum rules. PM Jack, as @Pgg365247 suggested.

Thanks a lot guys

Those are a magnificent pair of Lambsfoot knives Jack. You and the lads at Wrights are steadily closing in on making knives in the category of ‘functional art’.

Sorry if you’ve mentioned this previously, but are these knives also made exclusively by Ashley and his Head Cutler father, like the previous Guardians editions?



Thanks mate! And since you're asking: a pint of mild for me, thanks!



Yes, I think this is correct - the aircraft hold would be very dry and cold - also the suddenness of moving from one environment where the scales were stable, to another which may be drastically different in humidity and temperature. In the old days, travelling by ship, the knives would have been more gradually acclimated to the different parts of the world they were exported to.

Thank you very much my friend, both knives are made entirely by Ashley Cheers! Good to have your thoughts on Charlie's 'flight risk' theory

Oh very well thanks - I meant to write some notes after using it for a while - but I’ve been tardy on having a custom pocket sheath made - and the sheath is an integral part of any fixed blade. At the moment I just have it in a leather belt sheath made for a different knife.

I know what you mean Chin, it can sometimes be harder to get a good sheath made than a good knife

That’s an interesting snippet of info Jack. That retired bone jigger would be an interesting bloke to chat to. I suppose it’s too much of an obscure trade for him to have been interviewed much over the years. What a pity to think of the information and experience that was lost with his leaving the industry.

Definitely it would mate, if he is still with us, a lot of those old fellers seemed to work almost until the end. I have a lot of published interviews with folks from different trades, but I don't think I have one with a bone-jigger, I imagine he may have also performed a few similar cutlery-related jobs too. I doubt there'll be anymore in Sheffield, not enough demand for it these days, and I can't see any school-leavers going to see the careers officer for advice on entering the trade

Arrgh, my eyes, my eyes!!!

Looks like it started as one of those faux stag plastics, and was ‘cleaned’ with some kind of solvent - maybe a gun 3-in-1 oil which reacted with the dye.

That almost deserves an entry in the Unique Examples section of the index for being The Ugliest Lambsfoot Knife In The World!

LOL! Yes, it may well be!

I recall that a squad of zealous Guardians bailed up Bill Howard at the GEC rendezvous a couple of years back to introduce the pattern to him. Congratulations on seeing your efforts rewarded.

That would make a great painting, or even a bronze statue, for the GEC entrance, the Guardians shock troops door-step the gaffer demanding a US-made Lambsfoot! Nice work guys

Grrrr, at least Wrights will be able to have it back to fighting fit again. I’m interested in the mark on the ironwood, Jack. Is it pretty superficial? I’m not sure what ironwood they’re using, but the Janka rating for the usual range of ironwood species sits in the range between the ebonies and African Blackwood, that is to say, around 3200 to 3600 pounds force on the Janka scale. (That’s how much force is needed to embed a .444” steel ball to its full diameter - half its height - into the wood.)

These are seriously hard timbers. My ebony user just seems to shrug off impacts like that. The brass bolsters take marks far easier than the ebony.

Thanks Yes, it's just on the surface. The damage around the pin was actually caused by the pin being forced out, as the blade of the knife was open at a 45 degree angle. Worst case of knife fumbling I've ever seen, it really went with a bang, then tumbled across the roughly-textured concrete Wright's import the Ironwood from the US, so by the time it reaches most of our Guardians, it'll be very well-travelled indeed

One of the reasons I think you’ve outdone yourself (again) on this years edition, is that we can now enjoy a cover material which has similar astonishing and unique patterning and figure as the inaugural horn 2017 edition, combined with the rock hard durability and stabilty of the ebony 2018 knives.

Thanks pal, I had ironwood in mind for a number of reasons, but the lively patterns many of the knives display was a bonus. They don't all have it, but I do think they're all beautiful, and the wood almost glows in the light

I customarily take a snap of the ingredients before making each fresh batch of chilli hotsauce:

What a fantastic composition Chin, such great colours Nice to see your ebony Lambsfoot looking so good too

Harry and Chin, it is strictly my doing that GEC is making that new Lambfoot at 3 7/8".
Harry it reflects the Joseph Rodgers knives - exactly the same length.
Pretty close to 4 " I'd say!
Sorry it's a little long for you Chin; we can only do one length at a time!
It's over three years since I started nudging Bill to make it. He has promised it before the end of this year - some time in the fall. It may not make it before the Rendezvous, but one can dream!!

Yes, it's been an epic Charlie, you definitely deserve centre stage in that bronze statue or painting my friend

As to my sharpening regime, not much to it. I first reprofile with a coarse stone. I place the blade nearly flat to the stone. I follow up with a medium Arkansas stone, then a fine Arkansas. The edge is pretty close to done by then. I finish up by mildly convexing the bevel with some sandpaper on a leather backing. If it needs it, I'll remove any burrs left behind with a few licks on a translucent Arkansas.

After that I don't resharpen all that often. I can maintain the edge a long time just by stropping. I have a paddle strop loaded with Rich Notto's White Gold. It's the best compound I've used for stropping, as it's formulated specifically for hand stropping. Most stropping compounds need the heat from a moving wheel to stay applied.

Of course putting on an acute edge often scratches up the blade. In this case, as in many others, I'll try and improve the appearance by applying a pre-patina. The scratches don't show up nearly as much on darkened steel.​

Interesting post Christian, thanks for sharing

I'm very excited also, as GEC are about the only makers I can think of now, who have the ability to achieve a historically sensitive rendering of those superb jigging patterns of the past.

GEC have done some incredible jigging, I've been looking forward to this one for nearly as long as Charlie

Another Lambsfoot Knife With Food pic:

Living phat there mate, what a life!

Morning Guardians, up at 5.30am today, and trying to soothe my aching heart with this ivory custom, which I'm hoping has some new Max Capadebarthes pants arriving today

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Christian, that’s very interesting. (Sorry, I was replying to another post while you were replying to mine.)

Sounds like a good technique - I pretty much use the same process on most knives albeit with different abrasives. The Naniwa Chosera stones are usually my go-to for carbon steels. I use the same convexing step to clean up the grind lines and blend the edge bevel into the flats a bit. Black emery on a rough strop also works well for this step, I’ve found.

Specifically for the Lambsfoot pattern, I’ve found the Spyderco Sharpmaker to actually be a decent way to reset the edge to 15dps, using the diamond rods. This avoids the errant scratching on the flats, too. It takes a bit more time and patience, of course, and you have to be careful not to run the tip off the stones and round it off, as @r8shell has pointed out before. This seems to give a more even looking edge bevel on straight edged A. Wright knives than using benchstones, I find.

All the below knives have had their edge areas thinned out with this method.

Lately I’ve been playing with the Russian Venev bonded diamond, double sided waterstones, which are excellent. They need to be lapped flat with a bit of loose silicon carbide powder on glass before use, to reach their full potential, but they give a great edge on the Lambsfoot knives.

Their little pocket stone versions (pictured) are a superb way to keep a great, razor keen edge in the field as well. The new CBN/fine ceramic Spyderco Doublestuff excels as a portable touchup stone too, although it’s capable of doing full sharpenings as well.

I’ve also been experimenting with sub micron CBN emulsions on nanocloth too, which can achieve literally hairsplitting edges, but that’s probably something for another thread!

A fascinating read Chin (and an outstanding pic) I also have one of the white pocket stones, and have used it since Sal sent it me in the early 90's, together with the coarser grey stone, which sadly I don't have anymore

 

[Jody744]

Thankfully it wasn’t the ivory that got dropped!!! That one makes my heart skip a beat every time. Your story reminded me of a time I dropped a brand new Case sfo showing it to a coworker years ago. Just fell right out of the box as I opened it in the parking lot, bolster all kinds of beat up. Made me sick. Still have it tho

 

[Jack Black]

Thankfully it wasn’t the ivory that got dropped!!! That one makes my heart skip a beat every time. Your story reminded me of a time I dropped a brand new Case sfo showing it to a coworker years ago. Just fell right out of the box as I opened it in the parking lot, bolster all kinds of beat up. Made me sick. Still have it tho

That feller certainly isn't getting a look at any of my other knives! That's rotten Jody, I know the awful feeling

 

[Jack Black]

Here's how this year's Guardian's Lambsfoot started

 

[Campbellclanman]

Great reading guys- just Wow!! I am cursing somewhat that the train left me behind with the Lambsfoot- well not really because I carry My Ebony with me on a regular EDC rotation.
Chin....my friend I couldn't even begin to quote your posts- just fantastic - LOVE the photos my friend.

In fact this thread is such a meticulously looked after thread by Jack thats its so neat coming in and catching up- there is SO SO much going on, and to be honest, I can honestly say that Jack Sir- a Massive THANK YOU from the knife World I am sure you do so much more than what we see for the Traditional Knife World- and I really appreciate this- you are an amazing guy, Charlie is know well and truly as the god father of the TC Barlows- and for awakening such fine Traditional Patterns up, Jack you my friend can take sole ownership of doing this for the Lambsfoot in my opinion.

Reading your plan for this years one.... Oh I'm sweating now, Pruner Frame!!!! YES!!!!!! Swage Work!!!!! YES!!!!! Ironwood + Blade etch + Rats Tail..............Jack you have hit that nail right dead centre on the head sir, I would order a good handful of those myself in all seriousness if you were dependent on order numbers!, but lets not flog forum rules because we all know if this knife comes out- they are gone before you could raise the start flag.

Great reading folks, great viewing!

 

[Will Power]

Cambertree Yes I do prefer the smaller frame with the Swayback, Chin. I don't find the pull excessive, but then I'm one of those odd types who is ambidextrous