Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

Jack Black said:
Quote Originally Posted by Jack Black View Post
Very interesting questions my friend In Sheffield, I've only ever heard the knife called a 'Lambsfoot', despite the fact that I've only ever seen it written 'Lambfoot' or 'Lamb Foot' on knife blades. As for the 'Real Lamb Foot', this sounds very strange, but no more than 'Real Knife' or 'Real Barlow Knife'. I've heard it said that the name is taken from the blade's similarity to that of a lamb's foot, or that it has that name because Shepherd's used it to trim the hoofs of lambs. I take both tales with a large pinch of salt though. The Sheepsfoot is a much, much older blade form, and I suspect that calling a slimmer straight-edged blade a 'Lambsfoot' (or Lambfoot) made sense, or was a clever bit of early marketing. I wish I knew more about how the Lambsfoot developed historically, for such a popular English pattern, very little stems to have been written about it, but perhaps if someone has some answers (or some early trade catalogues), this thread will attract them. Certainly in Smith's Key of 1816 (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...tterns-of-1816), the blades which come closest are ones similar to Charlie's Ancient Barlows, but there is nothing quite like the Lambsfoot we know of today, so I think it must have either developed from that earlier style, or been a separate and later (later in the19th century) development
Click to expand...
Just my 2cts : I guess the name came from the shape of the blad, the French name for Sheepfoot being pied de mouton, exactly the same. Knives specifically designed for shepherd's tasks have ...a specific name : piétin in France and körmölö in Hungary for trimming sheep's hooves :

pie-ebe-dt.jpg


ag2wu0z9060.jpg
 
Very interesting JP :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
Gotta post this guy here although it's in another thread!
It belongs with the others. The handles are from the same batch of special horn that Jack has on his latest, and is a gift from Jack!!
Thank you my nimble friend in Leeds!! It's a beauty!!

Lambsfoot%20Horn%201A_zpsx7hjw4ig.jpg


Lambsfoot%20Horn%201B_zpsjcvcfslw.jpg
 
waynorth said:
Gotta post this guy here although it's in another thread!
It belongs with the others. The handles are from the same batch of special horn that Jack has on his latest, and is a gift from Jack!!
Thank you my nimble friend in Leeds!! It's a beauty!!

Lambsfoot%20Horn%201A_zpsx7hjw4ig.jpg


Lambsfoot%20Horn%201B_zpsjcvcfslw.jpg
Click to expand...

Incredible!! Looks mesmerizing!
 
Love your new sig line Charlie, and thanks for believing in my nimbleness! :D :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
Sorry for my ignorance - i've never heard of a lambsfoot blade shape before. From what I can gather it's similar to a sheepsfoot but with a more gradual drop to the tip?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
irona said:
Sorry for my ignorance - i've never heard of a lambsfoot blade shape before. From what I can gather it's similar to a sheepsfoot but with a more gradual drop to the tip?
Click to expand...

Welcome irona :thumbsup: Typically, a Lambsfoot blade looks like this (below). Slimmer than a Sheepsfoot, but also note the edge and spine are not usually parallell, like on a Sheepsfoot. If you look through this thread you'll see some examples :thumbsup:

 
Last edited:
waynorth said:
Gotta post this guy here although it's in another thread!
It belongs with the others. The handles are from the same batch of special horn that Jack has on his latest, and is a gift from Jack!!
Thank you my nimble friend in Leeds!! It's a beauty!!

Lambsfoot%20Horn%201B_zpsjcvcfslw.jpg
Click to expand...

It's a beauty!! Charlie it is indeed a beauty my friend! :thumbup: Bring that jewel to T-ville so we can get some finger prints on it! :eek: Well done Mr. Jack Black! :thumbup:
 
Jack Black said:
Welcome irona :thumbup: Typically, a Lambsfoot blade looks like this (below). Slimmer than a Sheepsfoot, but also note the edge and spine are not usually parallell, like on a Sheepsfoot. If you look through this thread you'll see some examples :thumbup:

Click to expand...

I see what you mean. Can't say I've ever seen one before - I'd imagine they're somewhat obscure and if I have I've probably mistaken it for a sheepsfoot; but I definitely want to give it a try! Do you know of any specific knives to keep an eye out for? Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Echoing Ron here, but very nice new addition Charlie, and great job Jack!

Does a "modified" lambfoot count? Just received it yesterday, and man, does it have great snap to it. Came pretty sharp too :)

20160707_201916.jpg
 
irona said:
I see what you mean. Can't say I've ever seen one before - I'd imagine they're somewhat obscure and if I have I've probably mistaken it for a sheepsfoot; but I definitely want to give it a try! Do you know of any specific knives to keep an eye out for? Thanks!
Click to expand...

Unusual in the US (becoming increasingly less so), very common in Britain. If you read back through the thread, there's a list of companies who manufacture Lambsfoot patterns, and many old Sheffield makers (now defunct) made the pattern, and they are still available. Out of the ones available today, I personally like the ones made by Arthur Wright & Son of Sheffield, they're handmade and in carbon-steel (though they make a few in stainless too), a good working knife at a reasonable price I think :thumbsup:

Crazy Canuck said:
Echoing Ron here, but very nice new addition Charlie, and great job Jack!

Does a "modified" lambfoot count? Just received it yesterday, and man, does it have great snap to it. Came pretty sharp too :)

20160707_201916.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks Mike, definitely a Lambsfoot my friend, and a nice example I think :thumbsup: Welcome to the Guardians! :D :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
I'd forgotten how irritating Slater's website is. A list of names and prices below a picture of a pile of knives that don't match the list. An Ettrick is listed, for instance, but there isn't one in the picture.
 
scrteened porch said:
I'd forgotten how irritating Slater's website is. A list of names and prices below a picture of a pile of knives that don't match the list. An Ettrick is listed, for instance, but there isn't one in the picture.
Click to expand...

It has the look of something which was posted online a decade ago, and then forgotten about. The firm are still going, but I don't know how they manage :rolleyes:

WhittlinAway said:
I was in my kitchen, so there was no reason for my lambsfoot to cut these spare ribs, other than the simple fact that I enjoy using it.

d5ddbdb2ad377820c5bd30a93f6f7d63.jpg


As Jack predicted, I'm finding the lambsfoot to be quite versatile. I bet my fellow Guardians do, too. How about some more action shots, folks? :)
Click to expand...

Great stuff Greg, glad you're finding the Lambsfoot useful :) Be great to see more shots of them in use :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top