"Old Knives"

Ken,
I think you are right on the money.
I kept lookin at the picture, and noticed, that the spine of the blade is parallel to the cuttin' edge, which is unusual in a clip. But as you said, I think the small amount of up-sweep is the key here.

Peter
 
I believe the clip blade was either worn or chipped, and someone straightened it out to make it look "better" (maybe better, maybe not). When you look at a lot of clip blades, you eventually get the hang of what they should look like.
Ken, the punch is formed into a big arcing "roll". They used thin metal to ease its forming, then doubled the metal at the tang for proper fit into the knife. I'll post more pics.
 
The clip blade on that knife has just been sharpened down over time. They get pointy like that when they wear, I don't believe it has been messed with.
 
What Tony said is what I thought as well. Just an honestly used and likewise sharpened over time.
 
"The clip blade on that knife has just been sharpened down over time. They get pointy like that when they wear, I don't believe it has been messed with." [quote Tony]

"What Tony said is what I thought as well. Just an honestly used and likewise sharpened over time." [quote Anthony]

I love a good argument!!;)
I think both of you guys must carefully and lovingly sharpen your knives, and keep the edges nice and straight!!:thumbup:
I think most people are a little sloppier than that, and that's why, when I see a worn blade so straight, I think that it's been ground straight, then resharpened. Not necessarily a bad thing or for nefarious purposes, but maybe a little wasteful of "blade-age".
Maybe I'm too cynical:confused: :D :D
 
Rolling right along, here's a picture of the third and final equal ender from our sweet 16 collection. This is a junior Cattleman, under 3 1/2" long, but it says, "don't call me junior!!"
Snaps loud and hard, like a knife twice it's size, and has chips in it's teeth like a boy named Sue!! Grrrrr!
Has that wonderful Cooper punch designed at Robeson, ca.1905. And, it's stamped Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co. Nice deep reddish brown jigging, and threaded bolsters cap it off.
I've shown it here with our "straightened clip" knife for a comparison gander at sizes and at clip blades.
Sweet1612.jpg

Sweet1613.jpg
 
BTW, here are the pics of the NYK punch I promised before. When you contemplate all the work that went into making this punch happen, you realize how important a punch blade must have been back then. Before WWI there was a flurry of punch patents. Almost everyone who made knives was trying to get an edge over their competitors (pun intended).
NYKPunch1.jpg

NYKPunch2.jpg

NYKPunch3.jpg

NYKPunch4.jpg

NYKPunch5.jpg
 
Thanks for taking the time to do the scans and post them Charlie. I enjoyed seeing them. Those punches are interesting.
 
waynorth said:
"The clip blade on that knife has just been sharpened down over time. They get pointy like that when they wear, I don't believe it has been messed with." [quote Tony]

"What Tony said is what I thought as well. Just an honestly used and likewise sharpened over time." [quote Anthony]

I love a good argument!!;)
I think both of you guys must carefully and lovingly sharpen your knives, and keep the edges nice and straight!!:thumbup:
:(, and that's why, when I see a worn blade so straight, I think that it's been ground straight, then resharpened. Not necessarily a bad thing or for nefarious purposes, but maybe a little wasteful of "blade-age".
Maybe I'm too cynical:confused: :D :D
Click to expand...

Actually Charlie, You make some great points here!. I remember when my uncle Lew was teaching me how to sharpen my knife on a whet stone and strope after skinning-gutting some quail and dove on an afternoon hunt..

He meticulously pulled back and forth at the very same angle with his knife perhaps half a dozen times on either side of the edge, stopped and then dry leather stroped it hair pop'n sharp off his outstretched belt. I laughed thinking I was cool and said "I'll get mine sharper than yours right here on the stone." He looked at me hard and said, "Yours won't be any sharper than mine is now, and you're going to leave most of your steel on that stone, son." . . I got the message loud and clear that day! :o

Anthony
 
Here are a couple more of the wrench knife. Well. . . .would you look at that punch!!! It's everywhere I tell ya!! One on the Miller Bros, and now one on this Catt!
The handle of the wrench serves as the center liner as well. Makes for a nice rigid knife.
Sweet1614.jpg

Sweet1616.jpg
 
These two stag handled knives are nice to see side by each. The fitting is classic Sheffield, gnarly right to the bolsters. The bump-back whittler made in Sheffield, and I believe the Keen curved Jack is made in the good old U.S.A. This curved Jack could be my favorite knife of this collection!!
Sweet1615.jpg

I added the pile sides, cause they're so darn purty!
Sweet1617.jpg
 
Please forgive my ignorance- I have a kinda stupid question- are there any "everyday" uses for a punch nowadays? I can't imagine a situation where I would need to use one. Are they pretty much just for cutting little holes in leather? What else are they used for?
 
moonwilson said:
Please forgive my ignorance- I have a kinda stupid question- are there any "everyday" uses for a punch nowadays? I can't imagine a situation where I would need to use one. Are they pretty much just for cutting little holes in leather? What else are they used for?
Click to expand...

There a multitude of chores that I find myself using for my punch on my HJ's besides my sheathes and general leather work. Cleaning out the stem and bowl of my smoking pipes, reaming and scraping the fuel lines and carburetor intakes, ect, of various motorized machines on my property. Piloting holes in wood, drywall, aluminum, soft metals and other materials in preparation for setting screws or drilling projects, are but a few daily uses that I have employed my punch for lately.

Very handy little tool indeed.:thumbup:
 
They're not much use in places like a cube farm but if you work with your hands you are constantly using or needing one.
Greg
 
mckgreg said:
They're not much use in places like a cube farm but if you work with your hands you are constantly using or needing one.
Greg
Click to expand...

That pretty much speaks volumes to the "went out with the wash board" theory quite definitively. Not much use for a punch blade if'n you make your living as a keyboard pounder, nor other productive uses in your spare time for such a valuable tool-blade.
 
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Judging from how fast my Special Factory Order Harness Jacks sold, to actual users, I'd say "washboards" are still in;)!!
Besides, they make beautiful music!!:D:D
Washboard1.jpg
 
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