Knifemaker Inspiration!

[VCM3]

As I look at them,I can picture blades in the more modern produced slips,that are obviously copied from these
I can see the style of the clip blade in the last three,how the nail nick is in the flat behind the swedge,this is just how it is on my Lanny's Clip knife.
I can see a pen blade,like on my Case Bose Dog leg & lockback whittler
I see spearpoints similar to what is on S&M's and one ,like on a whittler that I have,a Winchester repro
Unless I missed it,there do not seem to be any Carpenter coping blades in the scans,were these a rare bird?
-Vince

 

[Mike Robuck]

I like a lot of them, but this one in particular because of the long swedges and grinds. I think the nail nick location is interesting and I'm trying to picture what the handle would have been like for this blade.

 

[flyfishrman]

I like a lot of them, but this one in particular because of the long swedges and grinds. I think the nail nick location is interesting and I'm trying to picture what the handle would have been like for this blade.

I like that blade too. A couple of questions pop into my mind. First is the flat on the bottom of the blade a half-stop. Second would a blade with a nick that far back be a nail breaker to open?

 

[waynorth]

For a smaller coping blade, I think sometimes they just cut off a pen blade at an angle, Vince. For a larger one, they seem to be purpose made. You certainly see fewer of them than other blades.
I wonder if, in a more overtly class-conscious society (100 years ago, give or take) only tradesmen would have one, and likely, they would use it up working!?!?
I can imagine a prosperous banker, or businessman having clean nails, and small pen blades!
Of course this is all speculation, rumination, and maybe a little hallucination;-)
Say Mike, how 'bout a purty Avatar for a change??:-O

 

[VCM3]

Cool Charlie,geat speculating
In response to the Flyfisherman (new name!!) :
I think with the tang square,that would have a half stop.
How strong the spring is what would determine the nailbuster part.
Looks like a toothpick blade,I could picture a teardrop handle on it,too.
-Vince

 

[VCM3]

Charlie,Now that you mention it,with all you guys showing off all those old catalogues in here,it seems to me from those catalogues,all the carpenter knives were big jacks w/Spears & pen,and,sheepfoot & pen blades

 

[KnifeHead]

Cool Charlie,geat speculating
In response to the Flyfisherman (new name!!) :
I think with the tang square,that would have a half stop.
How strong the spring is what would determine the nailbuster part.
Looks like a toothpick blade,I could picture a teardrop handle on it,too.
-Vince

The size of that backsquare(tang end) compared to the blade indicates that blade would be pretty easy to open. That's a small blade...it's just long and slim. Not gonna break a nail on a blade that small I don't think.

 

[RAN]

oh there are some beauties in there arent there
Fantastic Post ..the forging is too cool

 

[Mike Robuck]

This is a scan Kerry did for Tony. Tony said the ad was in the January 1930 issue of HTT magazine. The knife was only made for one year, 1930, and available only through the magazine.

Aside of old catalogs, old ads are a great way for both collectors and makers to see what a knife is supposed to look like. Of course, handling them is also key,

BTW, Tony thought the blade that I cropped out of Charlie’s scan was for a small knife such as a peanut.

 

[T.A.DAVISON]

oh there are some beauties in there arent there
Fantastic Post ..the forging is too cool

This is a great thread, had to bump it back up. :thumbup:

Tony, and gang Thanks for sharing, very nice.

Todd

 

[waynorth]

If anyone has a knife with a blade that matches one in this thread, maybe they could post it???

 

[waynorth]

Charlie,Now that you mention it,with all you guys showing off all those old catalogues in here,it seems to me from those catalogues,all the carpenter knives were big jacks w/Spears & pen,and,sheepfoot & pen blades

Many different knives were called Carpenter's knives, Vince. Any variety of blades could be in them!
Marketing is shameless, isn't it???

 

[thawk]

Upon reviewing those scans, I found them less than "inspirational"! This is what separates the hacks with a scanner, like me, from the talents, like Kerry, with their cameras! To help out, I took some more at different angles, and these show the grinds and swedges much better I think.
With apologies, here they are;

Wow! The swedges on some of those big clip blades at the bottom are inspirational, but I have to say I'd sure like to see the knife that Morley, third from the top would be on. Maybe an equal end jack? What do you think? Got a knife with one of those on it Charlie?

 

[waynorth]

I wish thawk!! The tang, if I've got the right blade, says HOLLEY over MAN'FG. Co. over LAKEVILLE over CONN ! Early blade, most likely!!
I see I "mirrored" the scans, so the back of that blade is third from bottom, second pic.

 

[smiling-knife]

A fascinating thread. Thanks. I have a some unused hawkbill and pruner type blades. Will try to take a photo this weekend. Tony, if you would like a few e.g.s for your reference collection please feel free to contact me.

 

[thawk]

I wish thawk!! The tang, if I've got the right blade, says HOLLEY over MAN'FG. Co. over LAKEVILLE over CONN ! Early blade, most likely!!
I see I "mirrored" the scans, so the back of that blade is third from bottom, second pic.

I think you are right, but this is the one.

They're all interesting.

 

[smiling-knife]

Some old unused prunning blades.

 

[KnifeHead]

Some old unused prunning blades.

....with some forge tabs still attached but no pivot holes. Those blades aren't hardened are they??? Holes would have been put in while the steel was in the annealed state....normally.

 

[waynorth]

I just acquired a couple of knives that seem to fit the premise of this thread! The first is a hefty Ulster sleeveboard whittler. It is massive, but is only 3 5/8" long; very pocketable. The main blade is mostly there, maybe 1/32" to 1/16" short, and has a wonderful grind!

The second one is a rare Fulton Razor Co, again a hefty knife. I'm not sure how close this blade is to the original shape, but I like the overall knife.

Maybe one of these will inspire a "resurrection" of an old pattern!
Halleluleah!! (sp?)

 

[KnifeHead]

OOOOOOOAHHHHHH! That'swhutI'mtalkinboutrightthere!