In praise of ebony: Traditional knives in the prince of wood

Thanks for the info Bob, thanks too to red sparrow for pointing out those different Ebony colours.:thumbup:

Likewise, Brian's array is really interesting but that old Wyeth is top of the range! Outstanding shield too.

Here's the Queen Heritage again, this time unmolested by elephants...:D

IMG_2887.jpg
 
Thank you Will for the kind words; I feel very fortunate to be the caretaker of that outstanding Wyeth. I love those Heritage series knives as well; My two in rosewood don't quite make the cut for this thread though!;)
Brian
 
Intensely awesome spread(s) of ebony:

IMG_0719.jpg~original


Our Gang:
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And, because the above shot neglected Beast, here's a quick, poorly-framed image including it:

IMG_0711.jpg~original
 
Sarah, you have some fine taste in knives!:)

And Rob, that Hatch is as good as it gets!:thumbup:

My Radio, when she was new
 
Primble, ditto on everything said about the Hatch jack, a truly wonderful specimen! Just the way a spear should look, with a great long pull and deep cut swedge. I really like the gradually tapering slender pen as well. Some knives just look perfect in black, black ebony, and this is one of them. The shield really works on this pattern, too. What would you call it, a hotdog, bowtie, or what?
 
This photo actually shows both sides of the same knife, so in fact I only have one Ebony. More to come I'm sure!

 
I love that ebony. As I said before, it is very elegant looking. There is nothing quite as "gentlemanly" as ebony on a folding knife.
 
jorjor said:
This photo actually shows both sides of the same knife, so in fact I only have one Ebony. More to come I'm sure!

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Very cool picture and a grail knife for many of us. I love long pull spears and (of course) I love Ebony. I just got my first TC today: a Spey in African Blackwood... I shouldn't write it here but I think I may like it even more than Ebony...
 
Jeff I've seen the word Gimp used for the type of shield on Primble's Hatch. I think it's a generic term covering many types of propeller, bow-tie etc. As with most things in knife diction , nothing is really set in stone or that clear I think.

Thanks, Will
 
Will Power said:
Yes, wonderful Spear on that Hatch, just the right patina too!

Thanks, Will
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Always appreciated Will. :thumbup::)

black mamba said:
Primble, ditto on everything said about the Hatch jack, a truly wonderful specimen! Just the way a spear should look, with a great long pull and deep cut swedge. I really like the gradually tapering slender pen as well. Some knives just look perfect in black, black ebony, and this is one of them. The shield really works on this pattern, too. What would you call it, a hotdog, bowtie, or what?
Click to expand...

Will Power said:
Jeff I've seen the word Gimp used for the type of shield on Primble's Hatch. I think it's a generic term covering many types of propeller, bow-tie etc. As with most things in knife diction , nothing is really set in stone or that clear I think.

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff. It is certainly a Gimp type shield. I would call it a bowtie, but, I can see where hotdog could apply too. I agree with Will's knife diction statement. :D

jorjor said:
This photo actually shows both sides of the same knife, so in fact I only have one Ebony. More to come I'm sure!
Click to expand...

That is a very fine only Ebony to have. :thumbup::thumbup::)

BigBiscuit said:
This is just full of awesome! :D
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Many thanks Bob. :thumbup::)

For those that would like a little more history - The Southington Barlow was made at a large factory on Center Street in Southington, Connecticut. That factory operated as Southington Cutlery Company from 1867-1905.

There were two Hatch Cutlery Companies.

The one in Bridgeport, Ct. started out as Hatch Brothers company in 1885. George C. Hatch purchased the company later the same year and named it Pacific Knife Company. It was re-named Hatch & Holmes Manufacturing Company in 1887. The name was later changed to Hatch Cutlery Company and they produced 175 dozen pocket knives per day. It was sold to Challenge Cutlery Company in 1899.

Walter P. Hatch was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1855.

Walter became ill and sold his business, the Elyria Shear Company, in 1884. There is a gap in his history from 1884-1887. Walter clearly had ties to the state of Connecticut. Those ties to Connecticut and the time frame, when Hatch Brothers began in 1885, might lead a reasonable person to believe that he and George might have been brothers and started out in Bridgeport as Hatch Brothers.

Walter became manager of Cleveland Machine Company in 1887.

The Hatch Cutlery Company in Buchanan, Michigan began as a shear and scissor company in 1892, owned by Walter P. Hatch.
Walter bought the Automatic Knife company of Middletown, Connecticut, moved it to Buchanan, and re-named it Hatch Cutlery Company in 1893.
 
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Primble said:
There were two Hatch Cutlery Companies.

The one in Bridgeport, Ct. started out as Hatch Brothers company in 1885. George C. Hatch purchased the company later the same year and named it Pacific Knife Company. It was re-named Hatch & Holmes Manufacturing Company in 1887. The name was later changed to Hatch Cutlery Company and they produced 175 dozen pocket knives per day. It was sold to Challenge Cutlery Company in 1899.

Walter P. Hatch was born in New Haven, Connecticut in 1855.

Walter became ill and sold his business, the Elyria Shear Company, in 1884. There is a gap in his history from 1884-1887. Walter clearly had ties to the state of Connecticut. Those ties to Connecticut and the time frame, when Hatch Brothers began in 1885, might lead a reasonable person to believe that he and George might have been brothers and started out in Bridgeport as Hatch Brothers.

Walter became manager of Cleveland Machine Company in 1887.

The Hatch Cutlery Company in Buchanan, Michigan began as a shear and scissor company in 1892, owned by Walter P. Hatch.
Walter bought the Automatic Knife company of Middletown, Connecticut, moved it to Buchanan, and re-named it Hatch Cutlery Company in 1893.
Click to expand...

Great information - and that Hatch knife is gorgeous. Hard to believe a knife that's 115 years old (at least, if I'm reading the dates correctly) has survived in that condition.

(I think I need to pay more attention at the flea markets!)
 
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