"Old Knives"

I think 50 years qualifies this as an "Old Knife"!!
Early in his career, Stan Shaw worked for G. Ibberson before going out on his own!!
I'm lucky to own this masterwork by Stan!!
A Sowbelly pattern with nice pre-ban covers and Stan's favorite filework!!!Stan Sow 1.jpgStan Sow 2.jpgStan Sow 3.jpgStan Sow 4.jpgIbberson Shaw 1.jpg
 
I have an example of that material that I am trying to get analyzed by this university here in town.


Marshall paleontologists identify new ancient marine predator
Research conducted by Robert O. Clark of Marshall University?s Department of Biological Sciences and colleagues from Marshall unveils a new species of plesiosaur, Unktaheela specta. Their findings, published this week in Cretaceous Research introduce a polycotylid plesiosaur that hunted the inland seas of the North American Midwest 80 million years ago.
https://www.marshall.edu/news/2024/01/marshall-paleontologists-identify-new-ancient-marine-predator/

Maybe we can get closure on this subject that's been bothering me for years.
One thing to consider, I've NEVER seen an example of this handle material made by an American company. All I've seen are exclusively English or German.

If the O in WHATEVER KNIFE CO is the little underlined O , it's German in every case I've seen..

Here's a couple of typical styles of "pressed stag" from their respective countries.
German Henckels "pressed stag"( that's what it's been called by experts I've known , regardless of composition) :

J A Henckels pressed stag (1).JPG


English Wostenholm "pressed stag":

Wostenholm pressed stag Michells Seeds (10).JPG
 
wlfryjr said:
I have an example of that material that I am trying to get analyzed by this university here in town.


Marshall paleontologists identify new ancient marine predator
Research conducted by Robert O. Clark of Marshall University?s Department of Biological Sciences and colleagues from Marshall unveils a new species of plesiosaur, Unktaheela specta. Their findings, published this week in Cretaceous Research introduce a polycotylid plesiosaur that hunted the inland seas of the North American Midwest 80 million years ago.
https://www.marshall.edu/news/2024/01/marshall-paleontologists-identify-new-ancient-marine-predator/

Maybe we can get closure on this subject that's been bothering me for years.
One thing to consider, I've NEVER seen an example of this handle material made by an American company. All I've seen are exclusively English or German.

If the O in WHATEVER KNIFE CO is the little underlined O , it's German in every case I've seen..

Here's a couple of typical styles of "pressed stag" from their respective countries.
German Henckels "pressed stag"( that's what it's been called by experts I've known , regardless of composition) :

View attachment 2474309


English Wostenholm "pressed stag":

View attachment 2474318
Click to expand...
I'm convinced it's Stag, Lyle. I don't think bone can get "fluid" (with heat or chemicals) enough to reshape - it's too tough and firm. Horn can be pressed with heat, but the fibers are even larger than Stag, and we'd see them!!
 
waynorth said:
I'm convinced it's Stag, Lyle. I don't think bone can get "fluid" (with heat or chemicals) enough to reshape - it's too tough and firm. Horn can be pressed with heat, but the fibers are even larger than Stag, and we'd see them!!
Click to expand...


Me too , you're one of the experts I've discussed this with, but not the only one. I'm gonna try and get forensic documentation for those that don't agree.
 
I got this a year ago or so, but this is the first post of it! An odd pattern, it's made like a sleeveboard Pen with square bolsters, but it's hard to call it a pen, at 4" long!!
It's not magnetic at all even though it says it on the main, but magnets stick to it!! 😁
I like the John Petty Cask or Barrel logos on each blade!!!
John Petty 1.jpgJohn Petty 2.jpgJohn Petty 3.jpgJohn Petty 4.jpg
Note the Pressed Stag handles!!!
 
Its a worthy discussion Lyle and Charlie, I too used to think that was pressed Stag Lyle- and most certainly NOT arguing- its great discussing such topics, I am not sure within myself now - but I am no expert and my Ears are wide open - as is my mind. 🙃 :thumbsup:

Apparently Bone and Stag are too Hard and cannot be manipulated under steam Heat etc- but I for one sure DO NOT know enough on the subject at all, there is lots of History recorded within the Cutlery Firms of the old with the heating of Horn, but none on Stag - so that makes me wonder why there is much one can find on the manipulation on Horn - but Nothing whatsoever on Stag, it could be the Cutler firms holding their cards close to their Chest - but very interesting Lyle.
I agree, I have only seen English and German Knives with this Handle material finish.

Either Way Lyle those Knives are outstanding my friend - just amazing,
 
the-accumulator said:
Here's most of my stash:
View attachment 2475507
View attachment 2475509
View attachment 2475510
View attachment 2475511
Knives were/are meant to be maintained and used. Boxes are occasionally repurposed but mostly discarded. It's nice to see images of those that we are lucky enough to still have around. T-A
Click to expand...
One more box I found:
20240129_132656.jpg
20240129_132721.jpg
20240129_132819.jpg
20240129_132829.jpg
20240129_132848.jpg
The box is pretty boring, marked with only a 5 digit number, but it still contains its original contents! I acquired this 20-25 years ago from a retiring chiropractor who said it was given to him when he was a small boy by his aunt who worked for the JENNY WREN feed mill. Notice that three of the knives have never even been unwrapped! Thanks for watching! T-A
 
Campbellclanman said:
Its a worthy discussion Lyle and Charlie, I too used to think that was pressed Stag Lyle- and most certainly NOT arguing- its great discussing such topics, I am not sure within myself now - but I am no expert and my Ears are wide open - as is my mind. 🙃 :thumbsup:

Apparently Bone and Stag are too Hard and cannot be manipulated under steam Heat etc- but I for one sure DO NOT know enough on the subject at all, there is lots of History recorded within the Cutlery Firms of the old with the heating of Horn, but none on Stag - so that makes me wonder why there is much one can find on the manipulation on Horn - but Nothing whatsoever on Stag, it could be the Cutler firms holding their cards close to their Chest - but very interesting Lyle.
I agree, I have only seen English and German Knives with this Handle material finish.

Either Way Lyle those Knives are outstanding my friend - just amazing,
Click to expand...
It would be nice to get a forensic lab definitive answer, but meanwhile, what I don't see mentioned, is that stag IS bone. There are a few different types of bone in a creature's body, and antler is just one of them. And that rubbish about halversian canals- they can often be clearly seen in antler. Sambar stag is apparently the densest, and halversian canals often can't be readily seen, but they are often easy to see in inferior antler such as red deer, etc.
 
tongueriver said:
It would be nice to get a forensic lab definitive answer, but meanwhile, what I don't see mentioned, is that stag IS bone. There are a few different types of bone in a creature's body, and antler is just one of them. And that rubbish about halversian canals- they can often be clearly seen in antler. Sambar stag is apparently the densest, and halversian canals often can't be readily seen, but they are often easy to see in inferior antler such as red deer, etc.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure of the exact consistency , but I feel very confident that it's not naturally occurring or it would not have faded out. The deer didn't go extinct.

There's a reason why it was only used in Germany and England, and also why it was only used a short time before 1900 and thereafter.
 
the-accumulator said:
One more box I found:
View attachment 2475553
View attachment 2475557
View attachment 2475559
View attachment 2475560
View attachment 2475563
The box is pretty boring, marked with only a 5 digit number, but it still contains its original contents! I acquired this 20-25 years ago from a retiring chiropractor who said it was given to him when he was a small boy by his aunt who worked for the JENNY WREN feed mill. Notice that three of the knives have never even been unwrapped! Thanks for watching! T-A
Click to expand...


Great story and collectibles.
 
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