Some oddities from Dexter-Russell

[Henry Beige]

Something I read here got me started, I forget what, but I ended up ordering a box of knives from Dexter-Russell.



The one I really wanted to see was the 4 1/2” Fish Knife, mostly because I already have a knife billed alternatively as a “4 1/2” Fish Knife”, and a “Five Inch Fish knife”. The invoice lists this one as a 4 1/2” sheath knife. It really has a 4 1/2-inch blade. The other has a five-inch blade. Both have checkered handles. The new one has some sharp corners which will take some grinding and sanding.



The six-inch butcher knife is fairly unremarkable. I would like to preserve the sticker on the handle, but do not think it will hold up well under the torch.



The last one caught my eye on the vendor’s web site, a “6-inch Sticking Knife”. Both edges are sharpened. Not sure what it is for; “sticker” says pigs to me, but I guess it could be anything that needs sticking.

One odd thing about it is the guard, which is both asymmetrical and lopsided. I am not sure how else to describe it, and can’t say for sure which edge is up and just how you are supposed to grip it.

Another oddity is the tang, full width but extending only half the length of the handle. What are you supposed to call that?


All three came pretty sharp out of the box. I hope they will give me a few hours of amusement in the coming months.

 

[kvaughn]

You'll have to get a stabbing chair for that sticker!--KV

 

[tltt]

On the sticker, it's for sticking/bleeding out hogs, and such during slaughter. Despite the name, it's not as violent as it sounds. Guard goes downward, with the flared part against your index finger. They also use that guard on their larger industrial butcher knives. Tang style is "half tang".

During WWII certain styles of sticking knife were pressed into service as combat knives.

 

[sgbeskin]

My father in law owned a slaughter house many years ago, and he ordered those Dexter Russell knives by the box. Although he’s on up in age now, he still gets a call every now and then to skin and butcher cows or hogs. He still uses Dexter Russell knives for the job. I have a couple he gave me. I’ve used them on hogs and cows. They work pretty good! And that sticker knife is for bleeding out cows, hogs, etc. I knew an old guy, years ago, that used to kill hogs with a sticker like that. He would stick them under the left front leg. That had to have been 40 years ago.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Very interesting. Thanks! Those look like elemental users.