previously enjoyed hawkbills

[VANCE]

came across these today

this one says "QUEEN CITY"
TITUSVILLE PA

can anyone tell me approx..when these were made?

TIA
VANCE

 

[wagglebee]

I don't know when they were made, but they both look outstanding!

 

[Absintheur]

This is my late Grandfather's Kutmaster. He was a mine safety engineer in the coal mines of Harlen County Ky. The hawkbill was a favored knife among coalminers back then.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Those are some beauties! I love a good traditional hawkbill.

 

[jackknife]

This is my late Grandfather's Kutmaster. He was a mine safety engineer in the coal mines of Harlen County Ky. The hawkbill was a favored knife among coalminers back then.

For the sake of my curiosity, why would a hawkbill be good for a coal miner?

 

[Knife Crazied]

Very nice knives you have there! :thumbup:

 

[Absintheur]

For the sake of my curiosity, why would a hawkbill be good for a coal miner?

Good question and I wish my grandfather was alive so I could ask him. I have been told the blade shape was great for prying samples from mine faces, the blade was wide enough to cut dynamite and the curve helped keep it from rolling. I have seen a number of mining equipment advertising knives and many incorporate a hawkbill such as this Colonial...

 

[coffeecup]

A further question: what is the significance (if any) of the grooves on the handle of Absintheur's Grandfather's knife? I've seen those grooves on several hawksbills from the coal mines.

thanks,
Jim

 

[neeman]

These could be pruning knives
Or
Electicians cable spliting knives when the cable sheath was lead

 

[Absintheur]

A further question: what is the significance (if any) of the grooves on the handle of Absintheur's Grandfather's knife? I've seen those grooves on several hawksbills from the coal mines.

thanks,
Jim

well....actually those are my Grandfather's initials, L.V., nothing more.

 

[ChapmanPreferred]

Seems like the carved initials might help you keep your knife or get it back if it is temporarily misplaced. They would help you verify ownership.

 

[Absintheur]

Well if they were popular in the mines having your initials on your knife would reduce confusion as I am sure many men would have the same model...not a lot of choices at the company store in those days.

 

[ea42]

Vance,
The Camillus stamp on your knife was used from I believe the mid-forties to the late fifties. Looks like what was referred to as "fibron" handles on that one, which was a precursor to delrin. Tough stuff!

Queen City was used from 1922 to around 1945, after which they changed to Queen Cutlery.. That's an oldie for sure, and in nice shape!

Absintheur, those are some mighty fine keepsakes!:thumbup:

Here's an old Camillus Sword Brand, this one dates between 1941 and 1946, has the four line stamp in the pile side:

[/IMG]


Eric

 

[black mamba]

Eric, that Sword has the coolest tang stamp I've ever seen, and some nice rosewood too!

 

[VANCE]

thanks for the info ea42

 

[SusAntigoon]

I used to have some of these hawkbill blades when i was young. The thing is, I used to sharpen them with a very cheap cilindershaped stone that was originally meant to sharpen darts! I remember getting them ok-sharp but I wonder, in a world of predominantly rectangular sharpening stones, how did people sharpen these hawkbills?

 

[TrojanDonkey]

When I worked at a cottonmill the older guys (and me ) preferred Hawkbills over the blunt tipped fixed blade Hyde safety cloth knives.They had a bunch of older fixed blade hawkbills and I had a few over the years.Looked like longer linoleum knives.They became coveted as time passed on.They were carbon steel and rusted easily.We used fine sandpaper(very fine from machine shop) and wrapped it around the round metal safety bars( 2 inch OD pipes that kept fork lifts from hitting the machines),tied the ends to the bar with string and used a reverse stroke like stropping.We had a pile of obsolete left over leather belts from 1800s-1960s that were used for stropping.Some was supposedly buffalo leather.The pocket Hawkbills were sharpened the same way but on smaller pipes.They were more than sharp enough for cutting the wet yarn I worked with.The factory opened in 1845 and it was amazing some of the prizes(to me) that would show up.I would'nt know how to get a modern hawkbill scary sharp.Sandpaper on a free work knife is one thing but on a $60 Spyderco??

 

[Nightshifter]

I love the hawkbill pattern! When doing chores around my home I always carry the 3-bladed version with the locking screwdriver blade. Mine is a relatively new Old Timer. I'd like to find some old ones though.