Pen blade or not , technical question

Âchillepattada

Âchillepattada

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May 17, 2012
Messages
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Hello,
Question for the scientists and historians :
I was wondering why when we have a traditional pattern with two blades the second one is so often a... pen blade ?

IMG_9960.jpg

May be those pattern date from the time when people wrote with pencils and pens that have to be sharpened ?

Because for my personal use this second blade is much more useful:

IMG_9961.jpg

So , do you have another explanation and what is your use of this pen blade ?

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Âchillepattada said:
May be those pattern date from the time when people wrote with pencils and pens that have to be sharpened ?
Click to expand...

Well the term “pen knife” or “pen blade” is just that; hold over from sharpening quills for writing… something most people haven’t done for a century.

The persistence and prevalence is probably due to the fact that the small secondary blade is useful. I suspect I’ve also used secondary blades more than any other, particularly in the case of my #35 Churchill.

The blade shape for a small secondary in my opinion almost doesn’t matter as long as it’s there. I do favor sheepsfoot/coping secondaries.
 
Brother Sorenson is correct...pen blades were the way for ancient Porchenbergers to create a quick and easy writing implement out of the readily available supply of suitable feather quills....All you had to do was catch a large bird..Swans ,Eagles or Geese were popular....pluck out a feather...trim it up with your handy pen blade...dip it in your bottle of ink...or blood...and et voila start scribing...Sooo much easier than going to the shop and then having decide over the hundreds of types of massproduced fake ones of todays time consuming world..✍️🤓😁
 
meako said:
Brother Sorenson is correct...pen blades were the way for ancient Porchenbergers to create a quick and easy writing implement out of the readily available supply of suitable feather quills....All you had to do was catch a large bird..Swans ,Eagles or Geese were popular....pluck out a feather...trim it up with your handy pen blade...dip it in your bottle of ink...or blood...and et voila start scribing...Sooo much easier than going to the shop and then having decide over the hundreds of types of massproduced fake ones of todays time consuming world..✍️🤓😁
Click to expand...
And no waste , especially with geese... roasted, then bone could be used on handles of knives with pen blades... 🪿 = ✍️
 
meako said:
Brother Sorenson is correct...pen blades were the way for ancient Porchenbergers to create a quick and easy writing implement out of the readily available supply of suitable feather quills....All you had to do was catch a large bird..Swans ,Eagles or Geese were popular....pluck out a feather...trim it up with your handy pen blade...dip it in your bottle of ink...or blood...and et voila start scribing...Sooo much easier than going to the shop and then having decide over the hundreds of types of massproduced fake ones of todays time consuming world..✍️🤓😁
Click to expand...
Thanks for the idea I wish it will work with the sunday roasted chicken too , because eagles are not what they used to be 😁

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Last edited:
It took a little work (and a small belt sander)

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Âchillepattada said:
Hello,
Question for the scientists and historians :
I was wondering why when we have a traditional pattern with two blades the second one is so often a... pen blade ?
Click to expand...
I like a straight-edged main, and I am somewhat steeped in tradition, so this is a great combination for me!! But each to his or her own!!A square JR 6.jpg
 
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