"Old Knives"

[Gevonovich]

Whats a catch bit?

 

[ken erickson]

Whats a catch bit?

A catch bit is basically a spacer that makes up the difference between the thickness of the spring and the thickness of the secondary blade. In Jake's last picture, you can see the brass "catch bit". A catch bit allows the master to be longer than what would be achievable if both blade tangs are the same thickness of the backspring.

This picture shows a a single spring knife with catch bit. You can see how the tip of the master blade is as long as the flats on the tang of the secondary blade. If no catch bit was used the tip of the master could not extend further than the plunge line of the secondary blade.

 

[Gevonovich]

Excellent Ken. I appreciate the explanation with your pictures very much!!

 

[ken erickson]

Excellent Ken. I appreciate the explanation with your pictures very much!!

Your welcome, just hope I was able to explain it ok. I already had both pictures in my album. Catch bit is one of those terms that you do not hear often,, even though you probably have had knives with them.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Ken, thank you for being so thorough in your explanations .... just fantastic to actually see what you are talking about, to be honest it goes way over my head at times, and to have a Maker of your calibre help us out here-its surely appreciated.

 

[richstag]

Yeah, I agree. Thanks for always helping us out, Ken. Its nice to understand

 

[Campbellclanman]

I just have to show this beautiful old girl here to you guys & gals.... I was stunned when I saw this massive 5" closed knife in "the flesh", the bone is just suberb, and the CLACK goes right through your arm when this Grandaddy Barlow reaches it's half stop / opening position ( and back ).
A welcome addition to my other beauty Ulsters, this knife sports the stamping - "Ulster-DwightDivine & sons". A WW1 era knife.
I am quite proud to own this knife-it surely goes with my other very much loved knives, I hope you enjoy looking at this knife as much as I enjoy viewing everybody's pride and joy that they post here...

 

[Gevonovich]

Duncan
The bone scales on that beauty are delicious, just the right shade of honey. Quite divine!! Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[supratentorial]

I learned the term from Ken.

Duncan, I agree with Gevonovich. Those are some beautiful sawcut bone handles.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you guys...yeah that bone colour is lovely isnt it!, the knife is simply great, nice and tight-everything right!

 

[bakerg2g]

Here's a STA-SHARP made for Sears by Camillus (1924-1941). It's a dandy. Cam tangs, Tight snap, Blade etching
on main blade nice old bone. Thanks for looking..

Jason

 

[Campbellclanman]

Wow! ^^^ now that is one beauty of a knife, its got everything, shilled liners, Real nice bone, neat swedges-whew!
(as I saw Charlie post one day never forgot it )
GET IN MY POCKET!

 

[mike Berkovitch]

I agree with Duncan comments on Ken explanation, thanks Ken the visual explanation makes everything clear, and on Jason knife.
Duncan, your barlow just looks fantastic.

Mike

 

[Campbellclanman]

Why thank you kind Sir , I fell for that knife as soon as I saw it in my hands...boy..its a BIG knife

 

[Will Power]

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.

Mike

There's always something absorbing on this thread, but this knife really caught my imagination. Very interesting pattern, as I like a Sheepsfoot blade. True it's been shined up to the stratosphere but I would've been eager to buy it! It could be taken back into moderate use I feel, that would re-patina it and tone down the buffing. Thank you for posting, it's a fine knife.

Regards, Will

 

[waynorth]

Duncan, Dwight Divine was proud of his knives, and sometimes operated at a loss, because quality came first! Real nice Daddy Barlow from a great maker!

Jason, that Scout really is a beauty. Looks like genuine Rogers bone.
Super score!!

 

[ken erickson]

Jason,

Where in the world did you find that Camillus cattle knife? :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[thawk]

No kidding, Jason. That cattle knife is a humdinger. Looks old! And I'm diggin that etch too.

 

[lambertiana]

Been backpacking for nine days, and just catching up. Lots of good ones while I was gone!

Duncan, that granddaddy barlow looks ready for some real work.

Jason, I really like that Sta-Sharp.

 

[supratentorial]

Nice cattle knife, Jason!