"Old Knives"

Although this knife isn't in the best condition, I just bought it because I thought it was interesting. It's a Walden Knife Co lockback 3-blade whittler. Notice that it has a wedged backspring. I have only seen photos of one other 3-blade lockback whittler, an Ulster (link), but I didn't see a photo of the springs. The modern examples, like the Case/Bose and Fight'n Rooster whittlers (link), have a wedge that does not taper. I'm not sure of the reason for the tapered spring design but I though it was interesting.

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Jake,

A very cool knife! Incorporating a tapered spacer along with a locking master is a very difficult knife to build. The Remington lockback whittler with raised locking tab has a tapered spacer also. I am curious, is the lockbar tapered also?
 
chuko said:
Thanks Ken. Having read many of your posts about other knives, seeing the questions you ask and also knowing a little about the great knives you build I tried to get some close ups of the details. Hope they met with your expectations. This is a really special vintage knife in my collection. Charles
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Charles,

Very much so, thanks again! That is the type of knife I really enjoy putting my spin on;) Maybe in the future I could bug you for some precise measurements?
 
Ken:

I would certainly be happy to try and provide the information you're interested in.

Charles
 
Just picked this one up off the bay. Never heard of the brand before, Troll? Germany, but I liked the way it looked.
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Thank you, Ken. I didn't realize the Remington had a tapered spacer. I'll post a better photo of the springs/lock on the Walden whittler when it arrives.

pistonsandgears, Nice easy opener. ...I'm going to guess that's the pattern name. :p I've seen one other Troll Easy Opener but it wasn't as well preserved. I don't have my knife books with me otherwise I'd look up the company and dates of manufacture. Edit: I was able to find it online... though unfortunately the online book is not my preferred edition. It is listed as "export brand?" and "c1920s".
 
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I agree with Jake....that is a nice Easy Opener, doubts whether Troll was a manufacturer-but indeed a stunning knife, and as good-as quality you would get, I own a few (earlish) German slippies, and they never disappoint in how well they are made ( Im sure Roland will back me up here ) :)
 
Thanks guys, and thanks Jake for the information on the knife. I did some looking around also to see if I could find any information. It looks to me that the same company may have exported these under different names but they all seem to have the same "easy opener" blade etch.
 
supratentorial said:
Thank you, Ken. I didn't realize the Remington had a tapered spacer. I'll post a better photo of the springs/lock on the Walden whittler when it arrives.
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Actually I do not think the Remington lockbar is tapered but there is a tapered spacer between the springs. In the rendition that I made I tapered the lockbar. I was sent a series of pictures of a vintage Remington and it did not look as if the lockbar was tapered. It looked as if they kinked or bent the liners slightly to accommodate the transition from tapered to non-tapered.
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Great knives Jake and Pistonsand gears, the lockback whittler is true treasure and the EO is great looking it is my favorite pattern along with teardrop jacks. Here is one I got recently, vintage Schutt and Morgan swayback jack. The previous owner had it polished, too much I think, but after looking at the knife for few days I felt I have to have it.
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Mike
 
That's a dandy right there Mike! NIce old pattern.
Love the sheepsfoot. What size is it closed?

Jason
 
bakerg2g said:
That's a dandy right there Mike! NIce old pattern.
Love the sheepsfoot. What size is it closed?

Jason
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What Jason said! It is nice to see sheepsfoot masters in these Swayback's versus the more common(on newly made) wharncliffe blade.
Looks like a wonderful user.
 
Thanks Jason and Ken. It 3.25" closed. The thing that caught my eyes and the reason I bought the is the sheepfoot blade.

Mike
 
Ken, Yours is nicer than the Remington. ;) Btw, I don't think the lockbar is tapered on the Schatt & Morgan reproduction... though the spacer tapers... there's a gap around the lock bar: http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u298/supratentorial/lockback-whittler-internals-4.jpg

Mike, That swayback is sweet! Love the handle and the crest shield... I've become mildly obsessed with crest shields recently... Even though it is polished it's a beautiful knife and I would have bought it also. I agree with Ken about the sheepfoot blade. I also like the elongated shape of the old swaybacks.

P.S. We should get a Traditional Forum bumper sticker that reads "Don't buff my bolsters". :D
 
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A trio of 2-blade sowbellies (Double-end Premium Jacks.... Using the same parts as premium stock knives). I've posted two of them previously. The Norvell was added recently.

Norvell, Thomaston, Remington
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lovely trio Jake, I'd love to see this trio with blades open.
This is Utica EO I got recently, I believe that the pen blade is not original to the knife as the tang is seen completely while the blade open, also the bolsters are have "nice" satin polish which indicates dis-assembly of the knife. But this is still good knife and a good user.

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Mike
 
Thanks Jake. The jigged bone on the Remington is very attractive, but the Thomaston is the one I like the most. The scales are brilliant. Does all of them have two springs?
Mike
 
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