Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

I have a few (okay, I have a large number of) knives that—while they aren’t exactly “safe queens”—get carried very rarely. I’ll fondle them periodically to admire their beauty, and I’ll pocket them on special occasions, but they aren’t really “users.”

I fully expected the 2019 Guardians knife to join this group, but I was mistaken.

As I was handling this knife last night, cleaning out leftover polishing compound, doing a bit of tweaking to limber up its admittedly stiff action, and sharpening it up a bit it became clear to me that this was a knife designed to do real work in the hands of people who actually *worked* for a living. I experienced some childhood nostalgia as I thought about working alongside my father. His primary knife was a Peanut with a broken main blade and a pen blade that had been oversharpened into a tiny Wharncliffe, but when we were working on the farm he frequently had in his capacious pocket an ancient knife of unknown manufacture with a swayback frame and a hawksbill blade. That knife would slash open feed sacks, cut out grass that had wrapped around the drive shaft of a bush hog, etc. it was used and abused, but it never quit.

To my mind, folding pocket knives represent compromise—tools that are useful because they can always be close-at-hand and can be called upon to do a “good enough” job when a more appropriate tool isn’t readily available. The Swiss Army Knife is the ultimate expression of this ideology. I’ve had one in my pocket for about 35 years, and I plan to have one with me for the remainder of my days. These little marvels of Swiss engineering have saved my bacon on more than one occasion, but when the time comes to do *real* work on a big job the SAK stays in my pocket while I take a walk to the tool box.

This evening my wife gave me a look that made it clear that it would be in my best interest to finally get around to doing a fixit task that I had neglected for some weeks. Part of the job involved trimming some rather substantial wooden shims. Ordinarily I’d grab a Mora or other fixed blade from my “outdoor knife” drawer for this task, but as I had this knife in my pocket I simply went to work.

With it’s superbly ergonomic handle and stout construction it didn’t feel like I was compromising at all. Because I wasn’t.

I am going to use the heck out of this knife.

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Frailer said:
I have a few (okay, I have a large number of) knives that—while they aren’t exactly “safe queens”—get carried very rarely. I’ll fondle them periodically to admire their beauty, and I’ll pocket them on special occasions, but they aren’t really “users.”

I fully expected the 2019 Guardians knife to join this group, but I was mistaken.

As I was handling this knife last night, cleaning out leftover polishing compound, doing a bit of tweaking to limber up its admittedly stiff action, and shapening it up a bit it became clear to me that this was a knife designed to do real work in the hands of people who actually *worked* for a living. I experienced some childhood nostalgia as I thought about working alongside my father. His primary knife was a Peanut with a broken main blade and a pen blade that had been oversharpened into a tiny Wharncliffe, but when we were working on the farm he frequently had in his capacious pocket an ancient knife of unknown manufacture with a swayback frame and a hawksbill blade. That knife would slash open feed sacks, cut out grass that had wrapped around the drive shaft of a bush hog, etc. it was used and abused, but it never quit.

To my mind, folding pocket knives represent compromise—tools that are useful because they can always be close-at-hand and can be called upon to do a “good enough” job when a more appropriate tool isn’t readily available. The Swiss Army Knife is the ultimate expression of this ideology. I’ve had one in my pocket for about 35 years, and I plan to have one with me for the remainder of my days. These little marvels of Swiss engineering have saved my bacon on more than one occasion, but when the time comes to do *real* work on a big job the SAK stays in my pocket while I take a walk to the tool box.

This evening my wife gave me a look that made it clear that it would be in my best interest to finally get around to doing a fixit task that I had neglected for some weeks. Part of the job involved trimming some rather substantial wooden shims. Ordinarily I’d grab a Mora or other fixed blade from my “outdoor knife” drawer for this task, but as I had this knife in my pocket I simply went to work.

With it’s superbly ergonomic handle and stout construction it didn’t feel like I was compromising at all. Because I wasn’t.

I am going to use the heck out of this knife.

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Well put!:thumbsup:
 
Lots of astounding knives coming home to roost recently! Congrats to all who've already received their 2019 Guardians lambsfoot, and for those still waiting, I hope you won't rub the faces of others in your delicious and ongoing anticipation! :thumbsup::cool::cool::thumbsup::D

My lambsfoot this week is Black Jack, the 2018 ebony Guardians lambsfoot. Here's it is on Yorkshire Day, I think:
BJ.mark.sliderule.right.jpg

- GT
 
Frailer said:
I have a few (okay, I have a large number of) knives that—while they aren’t exactly “safe queens”—get carried very rarely. I’ll fondle them periodically to admire their beauty, and I’ll pocket them on special occasions, but they aren’t really “users.”

I fully expected the 2019 Guardians knife to join this group, but I was mistaken.

As I was handling this knife last night, cleaning out leftover polishing compound, doing a bit of tweaking to limber up its admittedly stiff action, and sharpening it up a bit it became clear to me that this was a knife designed to do real work in the hands of people who actually *worked* for a living. I experienced some childhood nostalgia as I thought about working alongside my father. His primary knife was a Peanut with a broken main blade and a pen blade that had been oversharpened into a tiny Wharncliffe, but when we were working on the farm he frequently had in his capacious pocket an ancient knife of unknown manufacture with a swayback frame and a hawksbill blade. That knife would slash open feed sacks, cut out grass that had wrapped around the drive shaft of a bush hog, etc. it was used and abused, but it never quit.

To my mind, folding pocket knives represent compromise—tools that are useful because they can always be close-at-hand and can be called upon to do a “good enough” job when a more appropriate tool isn’t readily available. The Swiss Army Knife is the ultimate expression of this ideology. I’ve had one in my pocket for about 35 years, and I plan to have one with me for the remainder of my days. These little marvels of Swiss engineering have saved my bacon on more than one occasion, but when the time comes to do *real* work on a big job the SAK stays in my pocket while I take a walk to the tool box.

This evening my wife gave me a look that made it clear that it would be in my best interest to finally get around to doing a fixit task that I had neglected for some weeks. Part of the job involved trimming some rather substantial wooden shims. Ordinarily I’d grab a Mora or other fixed blade from my “outdoor knife” drawer for this task, but as I had this knife in my pocket I simply went to work.

With it’s superbly ergonomic handle and stout construction it didn’t feel like I was compromising at all. Because I wasn’t.

I am going to use the heck out of this knife.

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I love the way you put that. I will be waiting for mine for quite a bit longer than most so these pictures and stories allow me to live vicariously through you all.

Is that a Gränsfors Bruks axe next to your 2019 Guardian? If so, I believe they are some of the finest axes one can get. I absolutely love mine and won't settle for anything else when it comes to needing that tool.
 
mitch4ging said:
:D
From Silver City, in the SW part of the state. Did a lot of hunting and fishing up and around the Gila wilderness and river. Have a small plot of land, hope to move back some day.
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Ah cool, been to Silver City a few times. I was born in Portales, and the family still has farm land around there. Lived from Espanola to Carlsbad but not to the west. The Gila is something I've wanted to explore. :thumbsup:
 
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pjsjr said:
Well told story, Dwight, mine wasn't delivered...I would have liked to have the excitement, even if it had to be repelled.


That AC of yours certainly has exceptional stag


That's a great photo of a wonderful knife, congratulations!


Congratulations on receiving your Ironwood Guardian Lambsfoot! It's a good looking specimen.


I'll bet that good looking stag AC makes the waiting just a little easier!


Nice photo, Dennis, at least you have some Ironwood.


Glad you're going to be joining in the felloship.


Nice photo and good looking Lambsfoot, that Ironwood has a great pattern.

Congrats to all that have received their knives and best wishes to those of us still waiting for it to be a short wait. Preston
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Thank you @pjsjr! Hope you get yours in hand soon!
 
Pgg365247 said:
...Is that a Gränsfors Bruks axe next to your 2019 Guardian? If so, I believe they are some of the finest axes one can get. I absolutely love mine and won't settle for anything else when it comes to needing that tool.
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It is indeed; it’s their Small Hatchet, AKA “Mini Hatchet,” Gränsfors model #410.

It looks like a toy, and many complain that it’s too small to be useful, but I love it. It’s a marvelous little tool.
 
peanutsxx said:
Ah cool, been to Silver City a few times. I was born in Portales, and the family still has farm land around there. Live from Espanola to Carlsbad but not to the west. The Gila is something I've wanted to explore. :thumbsup:
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Beautiful country. I've stomped around the Guadalupe Mnts area and not too long ago we were camping in the forest southwest of Cloudcroft. Mostly we stay in the northern part when we are out that way. Wonderful state all over.
 
mitch4ging said:
Here was an elk my dad killed up there a fews years ago, jusr ignore the stuff hanging off it. Field dressed almost 850 lbs.
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OH Dennis - what a sacrilege using that great Elk crown as a rubbermaid closet organizer :( :D

Frailer said:
I have a few (okay, I have a large number of) knives that—while they aren’t exactly “safe queens”—get carried very rarely. I’ll fondle them periodically to admire their beauty, and I’ll pocket them on special occasions, but they aren’t really “users.”

... With it’s superbly ergonomic handle and stout construction it didn’t feel like I was compromising at all. Because I wasn’t.

I am going to use the heck out of this knife.

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Ain't enlightenment a wonderful experience? ;)

Cool Frailer Frailer use it and love using it. :cool:

Ray
 
peanutsxx said:
Ah cool, been to Silver City a few times. I was born in Portales, and the family still has farm land around there. Live from Espanola to Carlsbad but not to the west. The Gila is something I've wanted to explore. :thumbsup:
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Nice!
On the way back to Okla., we usually spend the night in Roswell, get an early start, and eat breakfast in Portales, little cafe on the north side as your leaving toward Clovis. I hate Albuquerque, so we go through Roswell, Ruidoso, 'Gordo, Cruces on to Silver.

There is a lot to see around the Gila, and some nice fishing as well. My Great Great Grandfather settled there around 1850 from Cornwall. Would love to go full circle and visit Cornwall some day, and maybe one or two of the Guardians that live in that direction!
 
Fodderwing said:
Beautiful country. I've stomped around the Guadalupe Mnts area and not too long ago we were camping in the forest southwest of Cloudcroft. Mostly we stay in the northern part when we are out that way. Wonderful state all over.
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peanutsxx said:
Lived from Espanola to Carlsbad but not to the west
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My brother lives just out side of Santa Fe, works at Los Alamos, been meaning to go visit him, then go up through Raton then up to Colorado for a trip.

I thought Española sounded familiar, my folks lived there for a short time in the early '90s.

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And lovely stag on this one!!:thumbsup:
 
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I find people's ego and lack of respect appalling. Why graffiti a rock formation millions of years old?

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Methinks Adam and Ken should be defenestrated out of that cave.
 
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mitch4ging said:
My brother lives just out side of Santa Fe, works at Los Alamos, been meaning to go visit him, then go up through Raton then up to Colorado for a trip.
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I love to go straight up from Bartlesville OK to the Kansas line, hang a left and straight across through Guymon and on along the Cimmaron River into NM by Capulin Volcano into Raton. From there west to the Red River through Kit Carson Nat Forest to Angel Fire and on to Santa Fe and Taos. One of my favorite trips. It just doesn't get any better really. :)

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