The Silence of The Lambsfoot

[Jack Black]

Nice JP :thumbup:

I'll play. Here's one I made recently, I had been calling a hawkbill, but I guess it's more of a lambsfoot now that I'm seeing this thread. I didn't base this off any pattern, just wanted to come up with a swayback in my style, in fact, I'd never seen a "lambsfoot" knife before. Rust blued W2, integral wrought iron bolsters/liners, amber stag, texture left on peened pins, back square hidden in all positions. Sorry, camera phone photos suck. I'll definitely grind a clip of the style of these knives on the next one.

That's a really beautiful knife Javand :thumbup: I think you were more accurate in describing it as a Hawkbill though, a shame so many of the early pics are gone from this thread, a Lambsfoot has a straight edge, which is not parallel to the spine, quite a subtle thing. Many are Swaybacks, but not all :thumbup:

This one's been up before, but here's some better photos of it. One of the best from my small collection. A lovely old Sheffield knife made by Newton. Lamb's foot or sheep's foot? 😕

Untitled by Mark Saunders, on FlickrUntitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr
Untitled by Mark Saunders, on Flickr

Nice Lambsfoot! :thumbup:

 

[javand]

That's a really beautiful knife Javand :thumbup: I think you were more accurate in describing it as a Hawkbill though, a shame so many of the early pics are gone from this thread, a Lambsfoot has a straight edge, which is not parallel to the spine, quite a subtle thing. Many are Swaybacks, but not all :thumbup:

Ah dang! I thought I was on to something. Recurve lambsfoot? Bluntnose Hawkbill? :\ Heh. I get the distinction you're making though now, looking at some of the photos.

 

[Jack Black]

Ah dang! I thought I was on to something. Recurve lambsfoot? Bluntnose Hawkbill? :\ Heh. I get the distinction you're making though now, looking at some of the photos.

:thumbup:

 

[Primble]

J. Fenton & Son Ltd. Farrier Horseman knife:

Mr. Jack - I had previously thought the main on this knife to be a sheep foot, however, it does have a very subtle taper ( a little more than 1/32nd inch ) from tang to tip. What do you think - sheepfoot or lambsfoot ?

 

[Ramrodmb]

I'll play. Here's one I made recently, I had been calling a hawkbill, but I guess it's more of a lambsfoot now that I'm seeing this thread. I didn't base this off any pattern, just wanted to come up with a swayback in my style, in fact, I'd never seen a "lambsfoot" knife before. Rust blued W2, integral wrought iron bolsters/liners, amber stag, texture left on peened pins, back square hidden in all positions. Sorry, camera phone photos suck. I'll definitely grind a clip of the style of these knives on the next one.

Nice looking knife there. Well done!!
Amazingly beautiful stag!:thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

J. Fenton & Son Ltd. Farrier Horseman knife:

Mr. Jack - I had previously thought the main on this knife to be a sheep foot, however, it does have a very subtle taper ( a little more than 1/32nd inch ) from tang to tip. What do you think - sheepfoot or lambsfoot ?

A beautiful knife Mr P, and an interesting size. Also in lovely condition :thumbup: I'm finding it hard to tell, it looks like a Sheepsfoot to me, but maybe it is the angle the knife is photographed at? How is it compared to this pic of Mallory's knife, which Charlie posted, for example?

 

[waynorth]

I think the taper allows you to call it a Lambfoot, Mr. P!
The top knife in this collection is in the same boat - a very slight taper allows it into the category, IMO. What say you Mr. B??

The "white" Stag knife is a lefty! There is a nick etc. on the other side!

 

[Jack Black]

Fantastic collection Charlie :thumbup: It's late here, and I'm going cross-eyed staring at those blade angles!

 

[waynorth]

I hope you don't have bad dreams!!

 

[Primble]

A beautiful knife Mr P, and an interesting size. Also in lovely condition :thumbup: I'm finding it hard to tell, it looks like a Sheepsfoot to me, but maybe it is the angle the knife is photographed at? How is it compared to this pic of Mallory's knife, which Charlie posted, for example?

More subtle taper than the one above - I imagine nearly exact taper as the one Charlie shows as top knife below.

I think the taper allows you to call it a Lambfoot, Mr. P!
The top knife in this collection is in the same boat - a very slight taper allows it into the category, IMO. What say you Mr. B??

The "white" Stag knife is a lefty! There is a nick etc. on the other side!

Beautiful collection Charlie and thanks for the opinion.

Fantastic collection Charlie :thumbup: It's late here, and I'm going cross-eyed staring at those blade angles!

Looks like we have wore down ole Jack's eyes for the day. Bet he wishes he never used the word "subtle".

 

[Jack Black]

I hope you don't have bad dreams!!

No, but I woke up at 5.00am puzzling about that elusive W.E. Oates tang-stamp!

 

[waynorth]

I don't recall seeing that W.E.Oates tang stamp before now.

 

[Jack Black]

I don't recall seeing that W.E.Oates tang stamp before now.

Me neither Charlie, haven't checked through all the trade catalogues yet, but so far I've only found one reference to W.E. Oates (along with F.W. Oates - Albert's son - at St Philip's Road). Clearly a relative, but I may have to check the birth records, if that's possible.

 

[StoneBeard]

Apologies for jumping back a few pages. I truly enjoyed the piece on George Mallory, his Lambsfoot and Everest as I have always had a connection with mountains. I had remembered some years ago watching a documentary with Conrad Anker who led the expidition and found George Mallory's body on Everset. I can't remember if the knife is specifically featured as its been a few years since Ive seen it but I do believe they review the equiptment they find on Mallory helping to identify him. For anyone interested the documentary was a National Geographic special called " The Wildest Dream". Again, thanks for all the research and original post. Amazing stuff!

 

[supratentorial]

...The top knife in this collection is in the same boat - a very slight taper allows it into the category, IMO. What say you Mr. B??...

Nice collection, Charlie. I'm not Mr. B but I'd call that one a ram's foot.

 

[mike Berkovitch]

How about this foot? Wade and Butcher, Sheffield (thank you Duncan), the checkered bone scales look great.

This is an older photo, now the patina is more even

Mike

 

[screened porch]

No expert here, but to me that looks like a sheepsfoot, which at least some Sheffield cutlers have called a farmer's blade.
But then, unless I was looking at the catalogue cross-eyed, Taylor's Eye Witness is now calling an obvious lambsfoot a sheepsfoot, which it very clearly isn't.
At least to me it very clearly isn't.

 

[Jack Black]

Nice collection, Charlie. I'm not Mr. B but I'd call that one a ram's foot.

:thumbup:

How about this foot? Wade and Butcher, Sheffield (thank you Duncan), the checkered bone scales look great.

Wow, beautiful Sheepsfoot Mike :thumbup:

No expert here, but to me that looks like a sheepsfoot, which at least some Sheffield cutlers have called a farmer's blade.
But then, unless I was looking at the catalogue cross-eyed, Taylor's Eye Witness is now calling an obvious lambsfoot a sheepsfoot, which it very clearly isn't.
At least to me it very clearly isn't.

Yes, today's Sheffield cutlers are certainly not averse to getting patterns wrong by any means

 

[waynorth]

I like the designation Ramfoot, Jack!! As in Ram-bunctious!

Too big to be a Lambfoot, but not quite a Sheepfoot. A teenager!!

Their feet are often too big!!

 

[Jack Black]

I like the designation Ramfoot, Jack!! As in Ram-bunctious!

Too big to be a Lambfoot, but not quite a Sheepfoot. A teenager!!

Their feet are often too big!!

Good stuff Charlie! :thumbup: