The shield

[quattromori]

I give credit to Elliott for suggesting this thread a while ago, and now I'm relaxed on my holidays, I decided to start it. It feels weird to start it myself, since Italian knives have no shield, nor I can say I love shields, nor I know much about them... but who cares? after all, this is just the first small stone thrown in the lake...
Shields are something that I discovered thanks to this subforum (along with other features) and now it's time to see some more and learn more about them.
As a general idea, I assume that a shield on a knife handle is just a decorative element. But, I guess there might be reasons and stories behind certain shield patterns, shapes and so on. Also, it might be a decorative element nowadays, but in the past it could have been different. For instance, a certain shield could have been linked to a certain maker or place or who knows what.
So, those among you who can enlighten us with your knowledge, are invited to do so. And, as in any other thread, any contribution with images, pics, drawings and so on is highly welcome. ;rolleyes;

Fausto

 

[Campbellclanman]

I was waiting for you to start this up Fausto, one thing I cannot do is enlighten you with knowledge, but put up a few photos of shields that I think are pretty cool
New York Walden, a neat Bomb Shield ( now if I name these incorrectly-please feel free to put me right guys )

Love the shield on this awesome Primble.... Sherrifs Badge shield...just what is this shield called?

This sweet little Ulster has a slight variation to the Primbles Shield..

The Bowtie shield...the following knives have slight variations...are all these called the Bowtie?..

Ulster-Divine version of the Bowtie?

Robeson again..

Here is a shield with a slight difference...on its way to one of our Blade Brothers as we speak..

Heres a shield that started a few wanting it...my good friend owns this knife, I own another ( Toothpick ) that has the same shield..

 

[Sword and Shield]

Your "badge" shield is more appropriately called a Federal Shield.

As for why, maker's name, or blank for personalization with initials, or just decoration.

 

[quattromori]

Thanks for your replies.
As for leaving a "blank" space for personalization, or as a decoration itself, it's nice but sure less interesting than hearing that a certain knifemaker was named (or nicknamed) "Fish" and therefore put a fish shaped shield on his handles...

Fausto

 

[jackknife]

I guess with traditional pocket knives, shields are a necessary evil that I put up with, but I'm not a fan of them. I'd be happy if they were not even put on some knives, those with nice jigged bone or stag to be certain. I have a nice old Bertram made Hen and Rooster that has some great German style stag, lots of bark and charter. I thank the Traditional God's that the Bertram boys had the grace not to mess up a beautiful knife by sticking something unneeded in the middle of some great stag.

If the name of the maker is on the blade tang, that's good enough for me. Don't mess up nice scale material with glitter that is not needed.

Carl.

 

[quattromori]

Carl,
I can say that I partially agree. On "non smooth" handles (stag, jigged bone and so on), shields still don't look too right for me, and if I could choose, I might have the knife without a shield, but honestly that could be due to the fact that I grew up with smooth horn handles with no shield, and that's also why I'm somehow interested in the topic. On smooth handles they sure look better for me.
As for putting the name on the blade instead of "marking" the knife with a shield, I vote for the second option. Like knights in the Middle Age painting a bear on their shield since that was their nickname. They could have written their name on the shield too...but where would be the style in that? Instead, I'm not a fan of knives that have writings everywhere (blade, tang and so on). An indentificative shield, visible to anyone but known by few, sounds more appealing to me

Fausto


p.s.:Carl, did you get my message anyway?

 

[Railsplitter]

I don't know much about the origins of shields but I sure do like them. I had always thought that a shield shaped like the "spades" in a deck of cards would look good on a knife. I heard that there were some made but I had never seen one before.

When I ordered my first knife from Ken Coats I asked Ken to put a spade shield on both sides of the knife. It turned out great and it actually looks even better than I thought it would. Ken calls it the "Ace of Spades" shield.

 

[kc custom]

Good thread to list my accumulation of shields, top row
Bullocks, Sowbelly, Oval, Rocket, Crest, Ace of spades, Gimp, Star.
Second row Arrowhead, Dogs head, Acorn, Double bomb, Federal,
Badge, and Keystone. I make these from 1/16" thick Ats-34 left ice
hard. If there were to ever be any wear the shield would grow with
the parser plate, the crest shield I didn't make. Take a look.
Ken.

 

[Peregrin]

The shield on the S&M slim trapper is a keystone shield. Pennsylvania is known as the keystone state, the home state of the Queen factory.

 

[jackknife]

Carl,
I can say that I partially agree. On "non smooth" handles (stag, jigged bone and so on), shields still don't look too right for me, and if I could choose, I might have the knife without a shield, but honestly that could be due to the fact that I grew up with smooth horn handles with no shield, and that's also why I'm somehow interested in the topic. On smooth handles they sure look better for me.
As for putting the name on the blade instead of "marking" the knife with a shield, I vote for the second option. Like knights in the Middle Age painting a bear on their shield since that was their nickname. They could have written their name on the shield too...but where would be the style in that? Instead, I'm not a fan of knives that have writings everywhere (blade, tang and so on). An indentificative shield, visible to anyone but known by few, sounds more appealing to me

Fausto


p.s.:Carl, did you get my message anyway?

Yes, on smooth scale material I can see it as an additional trim. But I just can't stand it when nice old pop corned stag with lots of bark gets a shield stuck in the middle of it. Save the shields for nice smooth ebony or rosewood, or horn.

Yes, got your message. The tours we were looking at was the Vespa tours of the Tuscan area with a stop at the Vespa factory at Pontaderra. They supply the LX150's, but for a few bucks more one can have the GT250 under you.

Carl.

 

[supratentorial]

There are a few examples on page 13 of Levine's Guide 4th Ed and a list of 6 groups on p32 of Collector Knives: Crests, Bars, Gimp, Gimp Variations, Round/Oval, Figural. Here are a couple of examples based on those references.

Bar

Crest

Figural

Gimp

Gimp Variation

Round/Oval

I've also heard of this shield referred to the "Sowbelly shield" but I don't have a reference for it.

 

[Gevonovich]

This is one of the only unusual ones I have and was amazed when I found it. Duncan...you have some beautiful knives!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Interesting.
Its good to see my average is way up there....Im still on 100% ( as in WRONG).
Its great to see different tastes come in here as well, I like a shield...but not all, I guess its a personal choice on the knife.

 

[Campbellclanman]

This is one of the only ones I have and was amazed when I found it. Duncan...you have some beautiful knives!!

Why thank you Sir!....only thanks to our Bladeforum Brothers here, Im sure I would love to spend time having a peek at just some of your knives too my frend , man some of those Keen Kutters are just fantastic arent they :thumbup:

Edit : I just went through and had a good look at Kens post with all the different shields...Thank you Ken, and everyone else....that Ace of Spades shield looks just awesome on that lovely Easy Opener of Ricks.

 

[gruntmedik]

I always wondered if there were stories behind the shields too. Some are obvious, others not so much. When I finally get around to having a custom folder made, I have a shield I want. So far, I haven't seen one.

 

[supratentorial]

I think there are a lot of collector names for the different shields.

...Duncan...you have some beautiful knives!!..

That's for sure! How'd you get all those beautiful harness jacks?! I thought Charlie had them all.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Lol Jake..Oh to be a fly on the wall when Charlie gets out just a few of his babies to "oil the joints"
I also got that Primble from a great guy as well

 

[TLARbb]

I believe this is a GIMP or BOWTIE shield. ... or maybe a TLAR shield...

Ed J

 

[cnas122]

I think we did this a few years ago and some really interesting ones popped up...here are some to add to the bunch...

Bullet (obviously)

Arrow (now with another owner)

Bar

Diamond

Oval

Double Bomb (a couple variations)

Acorn

Saw Blade

New York Knife Company pattern (shield inlaid by T. Bose on ebony grips)

Bullocks (aka Ballsac)

Federal

 

[Campbellclanman]

I think that the Bullocks shield has to be one of the more defined and classy shields you can, it certainly has something to it.
Campbell..as per usual Sir....some very very nice knives there.