- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 69,884
With the wind howling and the rain lashing outside, I thought Id spend an afternoon with Betty Grable - THE Betty Grable 
Besides, if we get any more rain, I might need it cleared so that I can use the wood to build a boat! :grumpy:
While our wet winter has clipped my accumulative wings considerably, the kitchen table was still in need of a session. I should also say that a few things have passed on and off the table since my last fettling session, some are on their way to other members, some purloined by friends, others, such as this set of MOP-handled EPNS tea-knives and the folding button-hook were swooped upon by SWMBO
Heres an interesting item I think, a knife made for the General Post Office by Joseph Rodgers & Sons in 1969. Similar knives were made by Rodgers for decades, and each bears the year of manufacture. The knife is 4 7/8 long, with a hefty rope blade of 3 ½, and a merciless spring untamed by a half-stop they didnt even bother adding a nail-nick! The knife was used by telephone engineers, primarily for cable-jointing, in the days when the copper wires were sheathed in lead, which had to be hacked through to reach the inner core. The shape of the blade is no coincidence, since they were apparently sometimes used much like the Rope Knives of old, being hammered through the lead. Rodgers also produced a smaller knife in the latter years of their contract with the G.P.O. which is much smaller (and apparently designated Knife, Pocket, No 2), an example of which I was kindly gifted by Alfredo when I first started posting regularly here. The tape-measure shown in the first photo above is from Chestermans of Sheffield, where several members of my family, including my grandmother and great-grandmother worked over the years. It appears unused and still in the plastic case it came in, but was actually produced in the 1950s.
This is a Dutch Army Knife from 1974, and apparently in unissued condition. Later DAKs were made by Victorinox, but this one was made by The Dutch cutler AMEFA. A quality item I think :thumbup: Behind the DAK is a vintage Silva compass. Ive had the same Silva compass since 1982, and despite covering thousands of miles with it, it still looks like new. So Im not sure Ill be needing a new one anytime soon, but I couldnt resist buying this one
This big lump of a SAK hasnt seen much use. I couldnt tell you the model off-hand, but Im sure plenty here can :thumbup: Comes with a bit of advertising
Ive had quite a few Richards knives recently, the first of which is this Sleeveboard, with a wee oil-can in the background
I spent the first ten years of my life learning to count in pounds, shillings, and pence, and then just when Id thoroughly learned that there were twelve pennies to a shilling, five shillings to a crown, twenty shillings to a pound, and twenty one shillings to a guinea, the smart-ass government came along and put the cat among my maths lessons with decimalisation! So I learned that there were now a hundred new pennies to a pound, and that when you change the language of currency its a very convenient way of doubling prices overnight! :grumpy: D Day February 15th 1971 - was a pretty big event in my early life, and despite feeling cheated at the sweet shop, and resentful of the fact Id had to learn all that olde money stuff for no good reason, my young mind was still dextrous enough to easily do the maths - unlike my elders, who really struggled to learn the new currency. For their enlightenment, currency convertors were printed EVERYWHERE including this Richards knife, which I actually think is rather cool!
Staying with Richards, these wee ones are quite collectible the top knife is actually made in Solingen though, where of course, these shell-handled knives originated.
Scots piper and lobster collide!
Also courtesy of Richards.
And from Pipers to Pipe Knives!
This one isnt in bad condition. I already have someone in mind who might like this :thumbup:
Ive had a few Richards Scout Knives recently too. This one is in pretty good shape :thumbup:
The last of the Richards knives is very plain, but could have come straight off the card in the newsagents window. It doesnt carry the Richards lamp-post stamp though, for some reason Richards stamped some of their knives No 30.
But wait, I hear you ask, whats that Scout Knife sitting there? That my friends, is one of the Irish clamshells, in this case bearing the Stag, Ireland mark. And someone has stolen half its clothes (probably the cursed English I expect! )! Someone will have to have that as a project knife
Returning to Sheffield, and something of infinitely better charm and quality, I was recently gifted this George Wostenholm Congress or Tobacco Knife by Mike Berkovitch Thanks again Mike :thumbup: The pattern gets its name from the etched Tobacco Blade reserved for cutting plug or twist. The other large blade was usually etched Congress Blade. A very cool knife, which is full of character I think. Ill have to see if I can find a catalogue pic
George Wostenholm also made this fine straight razor, which I found still in its original box
This old advertising penknife was made, like many others, by Harrison Fisher. Wee cutlers hammer in the background.
I was pleased to pick up this Ink Eraser by Joseph Rodgers. Its very feint, but some rascally college student or clerk couldnt resist adding their name. I wonder where David Swan is now?
(Continues below)
Besides, if we get any more rain, I might need it cleared so that I can use the wood to build a boat! :grumpy:
While our wet winter has clipped my accumulative wings considerably, the kitchen table was still in need of a session. I should also say that a few things have passed on and off the table since my last fettling session, some are on their way to other members, some purloined by friends, others, such as this set of MOP-handled EPNS tea-knives and the folding button-hook were swooped upon by SWMBO
Heres an interesting item I think, a knife made for the General Post Office by Joseph Rodgers & Sons in 1969. Similar knives were made by Rodgers for decades, and each bears the year of manufacture. The knife is 4 7/8 long, with a hefty rope blade of 3 ½, and a merciless spring untamed by a half-stop they didnt even bother adding a nail-nick! The knife was used by telephone engineers, primarily for cable-jointing, in the days when the copper wires were sheathed in lead, which had to be hacked through to reach the inner core. The shape of the blade is no coincidence, since they were apparently sometimes used much like the Rope Knives of old, being hammered through the lead. Rodgers also produced a smaller knife in the latter years of their contract with the G.P.O. which is much smaller (and apparently designated Knife, Pocket, No 2), an example of which I was kindly gifted by Alfredo when I first started posting regularly here. The tape-measure shown in the first photo above is from Chestermans of Sheffield, where several members of my family, including my grandmother and great-grandmother worked over the years. It appears unused and still in the plastic case it came in, but was actually produced in the 1950s.
This is a Dutch Army Knife from 1974, and apparently in unissued condition. Later DAKs were made by Victorinox, but this one was made by The Dutch cutler AMEFA. A quality item I think :thumbup: Behind the DAK is a vintage Silva compass. Ive had the same Silva compass since 1982, and despite covering thousands of miles with it, it still looks like new. So Im not sure Ill be needing a new one anytime soon, but I couldnt resist buying this one
This big lump of a SAK hasnt seen much use. I couldnt tell you the model off-hand, but Im sure plenty here can :thumbup: Comes with a bit of advertising
Ive had quite a few Richards knives recently, the first of which is this Sleeveboard, with a wee oil-can in the background
I spent the first ten years of my life learning to count in pounds, shillings, and pence, and then just when Id thoroughly learned that there were twelve pennies to a shilling, five shillings to a crown, twenty shillings to a pound, and twenty one shillings to a guinea, the smart-ass government came along and put the cat among my maths lessons with decimalisation! So I learned that there were now a hundred new pennies to a pound, and that when you change the language of currency its a very convenient way of doubling prices overnight! :grumpy: D Day February 15th 1971 - was a pretty big event in my early life, and despite feeling cheated at the sweet shop, and resentful of the fact Id had to learn all that olde money stuff for no good reason, my young mind was still dextrous enough to easily do the maths - unlike my elders, who really struggled to learn the new currency. For their enlightenment, currency convertors were printed EVERYWHERE including this Richards knife, which I actually think is rather cool!
Staying with Richards, these wee ones are quite collectible the top knife is actually made in Solingen though, where of course, these shell-handled knives originated.
Scots piper and lobster collide!
Also courtesy of Richards.
And from Pipers to Pipe Knives!
This one isnt in bad condition. I already have someone in mind who might like this :thumbup:
Ive had a few Richards Scout Knives recently too. This one is in pretty good shape :thumbup:
The last of the Richards knives is very plain, but could have come straight off the card in the newsagents window. It doesnt carry the Richards lamp-post stamp though, for some reason Richards stamped some of their knives No 30.
But wait, I hear you ask, whats that Scout Knife sitting there? That my friends, is one of the Irish clamshells, in this case bearing the Stag, Ireland mark. And someone has stolen half its clothes (probably the cursed English I expect!
)! Someone will have to have that as a project knife 
Returning to Sheffield, and something of infinitely better charm and quality, I was recently gifted this George Wostenholm Congress or Tobacco Knife by Mike Berkovitch
Thanks again Mike :thumbup: The pattern gets its name from the etched Tobacco Blade reserved for cutting plug or twist. The other large blade was usually etched Congress Blade. A very cool knife, which is full of character I think. Ill have to see if I can find a catalogue pic 
George Wostenholm also made this fine straight razor, which I found still in its original box
This old advertising penknife was made, like many others, by Harrison Fisher. Wee cutlers hammer in the background.
I was pleased to pick up this Ink Eraser by Joseph Rodgers. Its very feint, but some rascally college student or clerk couldnt resist adding their name. I wonder where David Swan is now?
(Continues below)
Great pic Meako :thumbup: The boarding axes at the Royal Armouries near where I live are one of my favourite display items. I'll have to see if I have a pic. I come across a lot of interesting axes, but daren't buy them all. The rubber-handled ones have a nice feel to them, as do the WW2 bomber escape axes, which are similar, made by firms like Elwell 
