Old Hawkbill Pruner

Here are my Case pruners. I hope it's okay to post these here, since they're not exactly "old". The bone handled one arrived today. I posted a stock photo of a G10 model earlier, but this one is mine. I've used it heavily, and convexed the edge so it's a cutting demon now. The steel may be "nothing special", but that knife is a PERFORMER! I've never really used hawkbills before, but I have to say that now I'm sold on the design.

The amber bone pruner is a treat. It has very strange bone. It appears to have been peachseed jigged, and then saw cut, so there are machining lines running perpendicular to each other. It is a nice effect, and the bone seems to have some depth, unusual for such a brand-spanking-new knife. I usually don't like Case's amber bone. I got this one because it's the only barehead pruner Case currently makes, and I like the pattern so much. I'm glad I got it, it feels very nice in-hand. The spring is 100%, absolutely flush in all 3 positions, and the blade is perfectly centered. I plan on giving this knife no mercy, it will receive the same rough treatment the G10 version is being subjected to. I will convex the edge once the knife gets dull.

Pruners are made to work!

CasePruners.jpg


Caseprunersreverseclosed.jpg
 
Andy, that Case G10 looks awesome with the wear on the bolsters and blade. Love it.
 
powernoodle said:
Andy, that Case G10 looks awesome with the wear on the bolsters and blade. Love it.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! That blade means business! It's pure murder on kudzu. I can grab a fistful of green vines about as thick as my wrist and cut through them with that knife like they were soft cheese. :thumbup: I made friends with that knife quickly, especially after convexing the edge.

The bolsters do look a little scuzzy :D It's so humid here that my office building had condensation running down the windows this morning, like a cold bottle of beer. :eek: Nickel silver bolsters get a goldish patina literally within minutes of being used outside. I didn't like the full bolsters at first, I always thought pruners should be barehead. Historically, most are. I understand why Case is using bolsters on this version though. The weight of the bolsters gives the blade a good balance. It has a nice, lively feel in the hand.

Case's black G10 series is good stuff. I will probably start a thread about them at some point.
 
Andy,
Your pic of the bone,looks nothing like the photos on any of the Case dealers I looked at,am I looking at the right stuff here? Is it me ?
I have the rosewood & I know what is fueling your enthusiasm over this knife!!
-Vince
 
VCM3 said:
Andy,
Your pic of the bone,looks nothing like the photos on any of the Case dealers I looked at,am I looking at the right stuff here? Is it me ?
I have the rosewood & I know what is fueling your enthusiasm over this knife!!
-Vince
Click to expand...

The only bone hawkbill Case has made so far (in the new pattern) is the amber bone, which is what I have. The bone on mine has unusual jigging, but their amber bone is weird stuff. It seems to vary from year to year, from pattern to pattern, from knife to knife.
 
moonwilson said:
The only bone hawkbill Case has made so far (in the new pattern) is the amber bone, which is what I have. The bone on mine has unusual jigging, but their amber bone is weird stuff. It seems to vary from year to year, from pattern to pattern, from knife to knife.
Click to expand...

Andy,take a look,Google it or whatever,it appears brownish & yurs seems reddish ?
-Vince
 
VCM3 said:
Andy,take a look,Google it or whatever,it appears brownish & yurs seems reddish ?
-Vince
Click to expand...

That may be due to the combination of the calibration of my scanner and your particular monitor. The color is pretty close to the average amber bone, with the characteristic orange highlights. It is a bit darker brown in the dark bits. What's weird is the jigging. Most amber bone is peachseed. This is peachseed, and then sawcut on top. I've never seen that before (but I don't get out much). :)

I spent about a half hour this morning with the bone pruner giving some kudzu the business. It worked just fine, though I will need to give the edge some attention to get it to the same level as my G10 pruner. Here in the South, kudzu is everywhere, and it is relentless. Pruners seem to be the ideal tool for getting in and killing it back when it starts trying to take over bushes and trees. You just reach in through all the leaves, hook the blade around a clump of vines, and pull. It works like magic!

I found the bone handle to be much more comfortable than the G10. That big bolster gives the G10 pruner nice balance, but it gets slippery in a hurry when your hands are sweating.
 
Toledo Ohio

The bone or stag on this,whatever it is,is so thick at the butt,could this be Vince got faked out ? I am impressed,if its the real deal,I've never handled anything quite like this.4.5" closed,nice bolster
What do you guys think ? How old ?
-Vince

DSC02446.jpg


DSC02448.jpg


DSC02451.jpg


DSC02454.jpg


DSC02456.jpg


DSC02457.jpg
 
It appears to have the "canals" that you see in bone, Vince. Interesting, the way the jigging wraps around the curve, whatever it is. If it turns out to be stag, then it is second cut.

Nice 2-blades Steve! Does the Saynor have two springs?
 
VCM3 said:
Toledo Ohio

The bone or stag on this,whatever it is,is so thick at the butt,could this be Vince got faked out ? I am impressed,if its the real deal,I've never handled anything quite like this.4.5" closed,nice bolster
What do you guys think ? How old ?
-Vince
Click to expand...

I think you're fine there -- I'd guess in the 1930s. The thick almost round butt with the flat cap is a very common shape for pruner handles, except that normally scales like this are usually stag. Makes for great grip on the pull stroke. I have wondered why a lot of the old pruners (Sheffield was more typical than American) had this sort of thick, flat capped butt -- and usually it appears to have been used. A quick way to hammer in marking stakes maybe?
 
smiling-knife said:
Thanks Charlie. It has one spring and is a relatively small prunner at 3.5 inches closed.
Click to expand...

Steve,I have been looking at these now :) :thumbup:
Thanks for the help guys,
-Vince
 
VCM3 said:
Steve,I have been looking at these now :) :thumbup:
Thanks for the help guys,
-Vince
Click to expand...

I have one very similar to yours made by the Holley MFG Co Lakeville on the tang. Has the same brass butt, bolster is a little different & has nice wood scales. I have a scan of it, but don't know how to post pics.
I'll email the scan if someone would post it for me. I'd like to find out more info on the knife (age) & company if I can.
 
Mick57 said:
I have one very similar to yours made by the Holley MFG Co Lakeville on the tang. Has the same brass butt, bolster is a little different & has nice wood scales. I have a scan of it, but don't know how to post pics.
I'll email the scan if someone would post it for me. I'd like to find out more info on the knife (age) & company if I can.
Click to expand...

Dyin' to see it Check yur email :)
-Vince
 
Mick57 said:
I have one very similar to yours made by the Holley MFG Co Lakeville on the tang. Has the same brass butt, bolster is a little different & has nice wood scales. I have a scan of it, but don't know how to post pics.
I'll email the scan if someone would post it for me. I'd like to find out more info on the knife (age) & company if I can.
Click to expand...

Here it is ... Nice wood!

scan0001.jpg


can you scan other sides of it ? TIA,
-Vince
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top