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- Dec 2, 2005
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On Friday, when I went to check my mail, I was very surprised to find not just one, but three parcels waiting for me. I opened them with great excitement.
The first package was from 'Old & In The Way', Stephen, and it contained a lovely letter and a postcard from Alabama. Along with these was a GEC 'tube' - time to get the Top Popper! Stephen had sent me one of Charlie's new Razor Barlows, with covers in rust red saw cut bone! I was kind of slow to warm to this pattern, but like many of us I suspect, was won over by Charlie's enthusiasm, by his affectionate stories about his father-in-law Stew, and by the superb photographs being posted of this knife, not least those taken by Primble. As with all Charlie's SFO's, the 'Stew's Blade' tube art is something interesting and admirable in itself, as well as poignant and touching. This is a lovely Charlow, and one I'm very pleased to own courtesy of my friend Stephen.
Stephen had hunted me down some very special old US coins, which were in the tube too. Fascinating.
There was also something else in the tube though, a lovely old Sleeveboard Penknife, which carries the name R.Kelly & Sons, Liverpool, England. Stephen has done some sterling detective work, and it seems that Kelly's was a successful Liverpool hardware business, established in 1875, the knife being made in Sheffield. It's certainly a rare and interesting penknife, and still in great condition. Many thanks Stephen.
But hang on, I still have two pretty large boxes to open! Amidst a large amount of packing material, the smaller box contained the beautiful Schatt & Morgan Heritage Series Barehead Jack that I recently won in KBA's extremely generous mystery giveaway. As I've said elsewhere, I've long been a sucker for dark wood and good steel, but this really is a beauty, and must be one of the most gorgeous knives I own. Many thanks Brett.
Now for the BIG box! I'm sure that a few of you remember Davek14's recent giveaway in which he gave away a very special customised Russell Green River Skinner. Certainly our very own 'Sodbuster King' Trevytrev will remember, as he won Dave's giveaway knife. Well I now have it's twin brother! Dave makes the handles himself from aluminium, and the engraved Celtic knot design makes for an extremely attractive knife I think. What a truly special knife.
But there was more in that big box! Next I pulled out a fantastic Green River Hunter with a great pair of pants, absolutely dripping in character. I love this style of knife, and it went out with me the very next day. Hawkeye couldn't have asked for a better knife!
The next knife I pulled out of the box reminded me of another semi-fictional character, Bill The Butcher. Yes, I know, he was a real-life character, and if you haven't read it, I thoroughly recommend the book 'Gangs of New York', but I'm thinking of the character played in the film by Daniel Day-Lewis, who of course also played Hawkeye in the most recent film version of 'Last of The Mohicans'. There's a scene in Gangs of New York where Bill is explaining how he cut out his own eye and sent it to the adversary who had beaten (but not vanquished) him, and he taps his false eye with the tip of a worn old skinning knife. Knives like this, worn through years of daily use and continual sharpening always remind me of the knife in that scene, as much full of character as old Bill himself. Unfortunately, I've just realised that I forgot to upload the pics of the knife, so until I can edit the pic in, you'll just have to use your imaginations my friends. Sorry, first Senior Moment of the day!
Last, but certainly not least was another handmade knife with an elaborate stag handle and brass guard. I'm not sure about the blade, it looks to me like it might possibly have been made from a file. Like the other knives, it certainly came with a great edge. Many thanks for these Dave, it is outstandingly generous of you.
Well what a haul, I feel exhausted just writing about it! And this is yet another example of the spirit of generosity and kindness so prevalent among the regulars here at The Porch. Many thanks guys.
The tail-end of Hurricane Bertha has disrupted the weather here the last few days - it's currently absolutely slinging it down - which has made outdoor photography difficult, but rest assured that you will certainly be seeing more of these fine knives.
Thanks again to Stephen, Dave, and Brett for their outstanding generosity, and thanks for reading folks.
Jack
The first package was from 'Old & In The Way', Stephen, and it contained a lovely letter and a postcard from Alabama. Along with these was a GEC 'tube' - time to get the Top Popper! Stephen had sent me one of Charlie's new Razor Barlows, with covers in rust red saw cut bone! I was kind of slow to warm to this pattern, but like many of us I suspect, was won over by Charlie's enthusiasm, by his affectionate stories about his father-in-law Stew, and by the superb photographs being posted of this knife, not least those taken by Primble. As with all Charlie's SFO's, the 'Stew's Blade' tube art is something interesting and admirable in itself, as well as poignant and touching. This is a lovely Charlow, and one I'm very pleased to own courtesy of my friend Stephen.
Stephen had hunted me down some very special old US coins, which were in the tube too. Fascinating.
There was also something else in the tube though, a lovely old Sleeveboard Penknife, which carries the name R.Kelly & Sons, Liverpool, England. Stephen has done some sterling detective work, and it seems that Kelly's was a successful Liverpool hardware business, established in 1875, the knife being made in Sheffield. It's certainly a rare and interesting penknife, and still in great condition. Many thanks Stephen.
But hang on, I still have two pretty large boxes to open! Amidst a large amount of packing material, the smaller box contained the beautiful Schatt & Morgan Heritage Series Barehead Jack that I recently won in KBA's extremely generous mystery giveaway. As I've said elsewhere, I've long been a sucker for dark wood and good steel, but this really is a beauty, and must be one of the most gorgeous knives I own. Many thanks Brett.
Now for the BIG box! I'm sure that a few of you remember Davek14's recent giveaway in which he gave away a very special customised Russell Green River Skinner. Certainly our very own 'Sodbuster King' Trevytrev will remember, as he won Dave's giveaway knife. Well I now have it's twin brother! Dave makes the handles himself from aluminium, and the engraved Celtic knot design makes for an extremely attractive knife I think. What a truly special knife.
But there was more in that big box! Next I pulled out a fantastic Green River Hunter with a great pair of pants, absolutely dripping in character. I love this style of knife, and it went out with me the very next day. Hawkeye couldn't have asked for a better knife!
The next knife I pulled out of the box reminded me of another semi-fictional character, Bill The Butcher. Yes, I know, he was a real-life character, and if you haven't read it, I thoroughly recommend the book 'Gangs of New York', but I'm thinking of the character played in the film by Daniel Day-Lewis, who of course also played Hawkeye in the most recent film version of 'Last of The Mohicans'. There's a scene in Gangs of New York where Bill is explaining how he cut out his own eye and sent it to the adversary who had beaten (but not vanquished) him, and he taps his false eye with the tip of a worn old skinning knife. Knives like this, worn through years of daily use and continual sharpening always remind me of the knife in that scene, as much full of character as old Bill himself. Unfortunately, I've just realised that I forgot to upload the pics of the knife, so until I can edit the pic in, you'll just have to use your imaginations my friends. Sorry, first Senior Moment of the day!
Last, but certainly not least was another handmade knife with an elaborate stag handle and brass guard. I'm not sure about the blade, it looks to me like it might possibly have been made from a file. Like the other knives, it certainly came with a great edge. Many thanks for these Dave, it is outstandingly generous of you.
Well what a haul, I feel exhausted just writing about it! And this is yet another example of the spirit of generosity and kindness so prevalent among the regulars here at The Porch. Many thanks guys.
The tail-end of Hurricane Bertha has disrupted the weather here the last few days - it's currently absolutely slinging it down - which has made outdoor photography difficult, but rest assured that you will certainly be seeing more of these fine knives.
Thanks again to Stephen, Dave, and Brett for their outstanding generosity, and thanks for reading folks.
Jack
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