Peachy Keen!!!

[waynorth]

As a counterpoint to my older thread "Prune Big or Go Home", I thought we could pay tribute to this handy little knife, the Peach Pruner!! Compact, almost watch- pocket size, it is easily carried, and suits the harvesting of almost any fruit!! I'm not sure where or when the name originated, but the main producer seems to be Sheffield, with a few Italian versions that could fall under the definition size!! Here are some interesting ones!! The one from A.Wright (top) is the first knife I ever bought from that company!!
The second one is a curved Barlow style from the famous maker, now deceased, Trevor Ablett!!
The third, etched "Flag Knife" is older, by C.Johnson!!
The fourth and last another Trevor Ablett, with a longer, slimmer handle!!

Please post yours, if you have any!!!

 

[waynorth]

Here are two small pruners from Italy, compared to a huge Joseph Rodgers!!
The first, a Volpe (Fox) could be called a Peach "Hook" vs. Pruner!!
The second one is simply marked Maniago, a famous center of cutlery-making!!
These two Italians are smaller than the Sheffield knives at just under, and just over 3" respectively!!
The last one, for comparison, is the JR!! A whopping 4-7/8"!!!

What else

 

[afishhunter]

As a counterpoint to my older thread "Prune Big or Go Home", I thought we could pay tribute to this handy little knife, the Peach Pruner!! Compact, almost watch- pocket size, it is easily carried, and suits the harvesting of almost any fruit!! I'm not sure where or when the name originated, but the main producer seems to be Sheffield, with a few Italian versions that could fall under the definition size!! Here are some interesting ones!! The one from A.Wright (top) is the first knife I ever bought from that company!!
The second one is a curved Barlow style from the famous maker, now deceased, Trevor Ablett!!
The third, etched "Flag Knife" is older, by C.Johnson!!
The fourth and last another Trevor Ablett, with a longer, slimmer handle!!

Please post yours, if you have any!!!
View attachment 2405018View attachment 2405019

Very nice.
The stag reminds me of the Etteric (spelling?) pattern; larger handle with a shorter than maximium length blade.

the scratted bone Joseph Rogers & Son in the second photo.

Is it "safe" to presume scratting fell out of favor because jigging is (a) faster (b) easier (c) less expensive (d) can be automated?

I may be mistaken, but IMHO scratted bone has more class and is much more artistic than jigged bone.

Question:
Do you have any SFO's in the works thatwill be equipped with scratted bone covers?
(a 3.25 to 3.5 inch or 5 inch Daddy Barlow or 5 inch "coke bottle", or an 85 HJ, for instance.)
I know I'll never be able to afford one in this or any foreseeable lifetime ... I'm just curious.

 

[waynorth]

Very nice.
The stag reminds me of the Etteric (spelling?) pattern; larger handle with a shorter than maximium length blade.

the scratted bone Joseph Rogers & Son in the second photo.

Is it "safe" to presume scratting fell out of favor because jigging is (a) faster (b) easier (c) less expensive (d) can be automated?

I may be mistaken, but IMHO scratted bone has more class and is much more artistic than jigged bone.

Question:
Do you have any SFO's in the works thatwill beequipped with scratted bone covers?
(a 3.25 to 3.5 inch or 5 inch Daddy Barlow or 5 inch "coke bottle", or an 85 HJ, for instance.)
I know I'll never be able to afford one in this or any foreseeable lifetime ... I'm just curious.

Spelled Ettrick, the main difference is an Ettrick has a straight edge vs curved;
and a longer handle like Ablett's stag in the first post!!
Scratting mostly disappeared from production in 1910 to 1911 (verified by Bernie Levine!) I've always liked some of the scratting patterns, as you know!!
No SFOs in the works - believe me I wish there were some!!!

 

[mitch13]

Great threat Charlie, a handy little blade. I had an Abblet 2 blade version many years ago gave it to a friend. Hmm maybe time to get another 1.
Thanks for sharing Charlie.

 

[Invoice]

Very nice Charlie. The curves on these knives are very sexy.

 

[Will Power]

Very interesting thread and as usual, a fine showing from you Charlie

I think the actual origins of Peach Pruner will be difficult to ascertain, likely a term given by marketing in knife companies. However, it seems reasonable to suggest that it is a Swayback pattern with a smaller/narrower than usual Pruner blade to differentiate it from some of the more rustic monsters amongst the Pruner pattern

Why Peach Pruner though?? Well, during Victorian/Edwardian times in England the nouveau riche and landed wealthy alike aspired to having their country mansions equipped with Hot Houses as a sign of prestige. These were either huge free standing glass-houses or very large structures against walls or buildings. All were lavishly heated via central heating fired by coke or coal with no expense spared. A good deal more pleasant to be in than the usual English houses rich or poor devoid of heat Some had enormous complex boilers pumping water around pipes run through beds, walls or underfloor to heat these green-houses. The gardeners would be expected to grow vegetables and fruits year round for the table of the the rich and the guests they wished to impress. Some even grew Citrus fruits or Pineapple in Southern England while, Peaches, Nectarines & Grapes were much favoured. Peaches require quite a lot of attention, they flower early- February- and need to be hand pollinated as bees are still for the main, dormant. Peaches require careful pruning but I think a small sized knife would've been most suited to thinning the fruits out once they had set, the same for Grapes.

Whatever, the Peach Pruner is clearly a different beast from its other Pruner cousins !

Here's my Ablett, think I've seen a non curved Wharncliffe blade too, from him, thus an Ettrick not a Prumer- but would still do the job being a pattern with leverage and short sharp blade.

Might be rewarding to ask Jolipapa and Âchillepattada about the French versions of the Pruner - la serpette - some are burly but others might be smaller ones like the Peach Pruner here ?

Now I'm interested in getting a Wright Peach Pruner.....can we never settle down..??

Thanks, Will

 

[waynorth]

Great thread Charlie, a handy little blade. I had an Ablett 2 blade version many years ago gave it to a friend. Hmm maybe time to get another 1.
Thanks for sharing Charlie.

Mitch, I got that Stag Ablett from a dealer in Tasmania!!!

 

[waynorth]

Very interesting thread and as usual, a fine showing from you Charlie

I think the actual origins of Peach Pruner will be difficult to ascertain, likely a term given by marketing in knife companies. However, it seems reasonable to suggest that it is a Swayback pattern with a smaller/narrower than usual Pruner blade to differentiate it from some of the more rustic monsters amongst the Pruner pattern

Why Peach Pruner though?? Well, during Victorian/Edwardian times in England the nouveau riche and landed wealthy alike aspired to having their country mansions equipped with Hot Houses as a sign of prestige. These were either huge free standing glass-houses or very large structures against walls or buildings. All were lavishly heated via central heating fired by coke or coal with no expense spared. A good deal more pleasant to be in than the usual English houses rich or poor devoid of heat Some had enormous complex boilers pumping water around pipes run through beds, walls or underfloor to heat these green-houses. The gardeners would be expected to grow vegetables and fruits year round for the table of the the rich and the guests they wished to impress. Some even grew Citrus fruits or Pineapple in Southern England while, Peaches, Nectarines & Grapes were much favoured. Peaches require quite a lot of attention, they flower early- February- and need to be hand pollinated as bees are still for the main, dormant. Peaches require careful pruning but I think a small sized knife would've been most suited to thinning the fruits out once they had set, the same for Grapes.

Whatever, the Peach Pruner is clearly a different beast from its other Pruner cousins !

Here's my Ablett, think I've seen a non curved Wharncliffe blade too, from him, thus an Ettrick not a Prumer- but would still do the job being a pattern with leverage and short sharp blade.

Might be rewarding to ask Jolipapa and Âchillepattada about the French versions of the Pruner - la serpette - some are burly but others might be smaller ones like the Peach Pruner here ?

Now I'm interested in getting a Wright Peach Pruner.....can we never settle down..??

Thanks, Will

If we don't hear from our French friends, I will ask directly!!
Nice precis on the name, Will!!
A peek into Victorian/Edwardian times in the UK!!!

 

[marantz]

Another great thread, Charlie. Quick question; you said in initial post that these peach pruners were "almost watch- pocket size". How big (small) are they? Handle size, blade size would be appreciated, since there's nothing for scale in the photos. By the way, the stag on the 4th one is gorgeous, and I like the scratted handles, too. And Will, great history lesson. Charlie, "precis" thanks for improving my vocabulary. You gentlemen made my day.

 

[Will Power]

waynorth Many thanks Charlie Particularly like the Ablett you show in Horn with the extended 'Barlow' style bolster, one to keep an eye out for sure

 

[Modoc ED]

Charlie waynorth - You wouldn't be working on Bill Howard to produce a GEC version of the knives shown above would you? Just asking. We never know what you've got up your sleeve.

 

[Alex.Y.]

Charlie waynorth - You wouldn't be working on Bill Howard to produce a GEC version of the knives shown above would you? Just asking. We never know what you've got up your sleeve.

That's what I thought too. I think the curved 39 frame of Bunny knife would work well.

Also, I expect GEC to make a curved Barlow on that frame someday. Maybe even in the nearest future.

 

[waynorth]

As a counterpoint to my older thread "Prune Big or Go Home", I thought we could pay tribute to this handy little knife, the Peach Pruner!! Compact, almost watch- pocket size, it is easily carried, and suits the harvesting of almost any fruit!! I'm not sure where or when the name originated, but the main producer seems to be Sheffield, with a few Italian versions that could fall under the definition size!! Here are some interesting ones!! The one from A.Wright (top) is the first knife I ever bought from that company!!
The second one is a curved Barlow style from the famous maker, now deceased, Trevor Ablett!!
The third, etched "Flag Knife" is older, by C.Johnson!!
The fourth and last another Trevor Ablett, with a longer, slimmer handle!!

Please post yours, if you have any!!!
View attachment 2405018View attachment 2405019

How big (small) are they? Handle size, blade size would be appreciated, since there's nothing for scale in the photos.

Marantz, I may have been a bit hasty!! The first two are ~ 3 1/4", surely watch pocket sized, but the other two are a bit too long! The Johnson and the Ablett are 3 3/4"!! A bit to long, for my watch pocket anyway!!

 

[waynorth]

Charlie waynorth - You wouldn't be working on Bill Howard to produce a GEC version of the knives shown above would you? Just asking. We never know what you've got up your sleeve.

No SFOs in the works Ed, but a Peach Pruner wouldn't be a bad Idea!!

 

[Will Power]

Got an Oak handled Peach Pruner on the way from Wright's. Let's see how it turns out and what the wait is like, recent knives have been good- although for some reason they never seem capable of cutting the ends of the springs off cleanly. Minor point true but odd. We will see A smaller compact Pruner blade, what's not to like?

 

[Jolipapa]

Mitch, I got that Stag Ablett from a dealer in Tasmania!!!

So did I for this combo (traces on the blade is oil). Mitch, I'm afraid you'll have difficulties to find TA's knives these days.


I don't know much about garden knives. This is my garden pruner, #10cm handle. Official name is Serpette Allemande (German Pruner).


I gave a larger one (+2cm) to my daughter who has a bigger garden.

 

[waynorth]

Got an Oak handled Peach Pruner on the way from Wright's.

Can't wait to see it!! The concept is great!!!

So did I for this combo (traces on the blade is oil). Mitch, I'm afraid you'll have difficulties to find TA's knives these days.
View attachment 2406499

I don't know much about garden knives. This is my garden pruner, #10cm handle. Official name is Serpette Allemande (German Pruner).
View attachment 2406513

I gave a larger one (+2cm) to my daughter who has a bigger garden.
View attachment 2406516

Nice TA Serpette Anglais, Alain!!
Is your daughter's (larger) French made??

 

[waynorth]

Mitch, I'm afraid you'll have difficulties to find TA's knives these days.

I remember a big "rush" on TA knives when he passed, including my own greedy self!!
I bought 3 or 4. Gave most away!!

 

[Johnnythefox]

Got an Oak handled Peach Pruner on the way from Wright's. Let's see how it turns out and what the wait is like, recent knives have been good- although for some reason they never seem capable of cutting the ends of the springs off cleanly. Minor point true but odd. We will see A smaller compact Pruner blade, what's not to like?

Ive been looking at them in a shop nearby this year,nearly bought one.