"Old Knives"

waynorth said:
Ivory "spuds" were quite common for many years!! When used to open the bark, these spuds were not reactive to the cambium layer and bark, and didn't pollute/poison/spoil the plant!! Here's an example made for Marshall Wells; a Zenith brand, with an ivory spud!!View attachment 2994882View attachment 2994883
Nice pickbone handles; a spey blade was sometimes used in these knives to protect the plant when making cuts in the bark!!
In later years, stainless steel was used to replace the ivory spuds, as a cost saving measure!!
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Wow! Pickbone and ivory together. I'm in love.
 
Taking one of the knives from my picture above, there are some interesting details!!!
Tina pruner; note the pivot pin is back from the tip of the knife, and the tang has a generous length at full thickness!!Tina detail 1.jpgTina detail 2.jpg
The liners are quite thick, and the tang sits well into them! The red mark shows the approximate location of the pivot, All these details, along with the robust handles keep the blade rigid!! None of these hard-working Tina knives (in the above pics) have any slop in the blades!! Nice and firm!! Great and subtle design IMO!!!!!
 
tongueriver said:
Show us that bad boy opened up from a couple more angles!
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This is all.I have for now. I took these pics over 4 years ago after I rediscovered it in my late Opa's tool drawer. I recall removing a fair bit of the rust you see, but I didn't do a deep clean on it; just trying to stop further damage.

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As far as I know, my Opa didn't do any budding or grafting (although pecan and peach orchards are common in our region). I seem to recall him explaining to me that this knife was designed for grafting pecan branches but he preferred to use it to evenly cut leather straps for belts or to repair saddles, etc. He also just liked cool knives, so he might have initially bought it because it caught his eye. Golly, I wonder where I got some of my habits...
 
I don't really know if the early 1950s qualify as "old" knives, as they are newer than I am but sometimes I think that knives that pre-date the "Delrin® revolution are kinda OK in that regard. Here is a 'box cutter' commonly sold to the florist trade for decades. It was sold as a 175 and a 176 for many years; I never owned one until today, but I thought that I would try one on for $26 shipped. It has no snap and will be one of my desk knives. Now... this "French Ivory" thing. What's that all about? Were the French infamous at some point in history infamous for faking ivory? Should be a story there.

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From Google:
"
Antique French Ivory Dresser Set From 1920s, Vintage ...
French Ivory is not attributed to a single inventor; rather, it refers to several imitation ivory products, most notably celluloid, which was patented by John Wesley Hyatt in 1869 and marketed as "French Ivory" or "Ivorine". Celluloid was the world's first thermoplastic and was used to create many personal items that mimicked natural ivory. "
And, It was cheaper than Ivory!!
 
Would really like to see one like the 4" schrade greens keeper with the forked weed puller on a 35 or 81 pattern, a thick forked weed puller and a thick clip with strong pulls.no beer and sausage or golf knife just a good old yard knife, I have been trying out the 29 for pocket carry yard knife but find punch a little narrow and weak pull
 
Charlie - the depth of those high end Budding and Grafting knives was real candy for the eye.

That Beautifully Jigged Bone New York Budding Knife is a standout IMO.

Another great knife that stood out to me ( as if all the others weren't something to talk about) that Stag handled Tourzalin ( that's what I can kind of make out on the blade).
 
tongueriver said:
This one is a little different because it is FIXED.

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Cal - amazing additions, just right up there my friend!

Cal, that fixed blade - can I still see a join of the blade to the spine in the 4th and 8th photos down from top? Looks like it doesn't it?
 
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