Thoughts on old-school Woods knives?

[WalterDavis]

Please, tell me about em What do you like, love, or hate about the knives of yesteryear? What knives do you see that make you think of days gone by, of rougher times and stouter folk getting by? Or, does the thought of a stick-tang make you run in fear

I've always loved the flow and finesse of William Scagel's knives, though the closest I've ever been to one is my 6" Scagel by John Greco (which is a great knife in it's own right:thumbup, and the Marble's Woodcraft is a style that stirs my imagination. In fact, this last week I cleaned up what I believe was an old, re-handled (in elk) Marbles for a guy at work, and it really got me interested in that style. And of course, that old jigged-bone (plastic) 4 or 5" Western bowie that seemed to exist in everyone's garage when I was growing up got plenty of woods time along the way:foot: Maybe not the height of metallurgy (even then) or fit and finish, but they got it done.

Wood, stacked leather, and antler seem to have a feel of timelessness, of quality, and friendliness and comfort, even when new, that I don't feel with micarta or G10. Though as a maker, I recognize the strength and dependability of modern materials, and even appreciate the 'sheen' and smoothing my well-used micarta handled knives get, it seems modern materials make the knife more a tool (which it is, as it is intended to be, and that's not meant to be disparaging in any way), and less a work of art (which is sometimes what a knife is, also):foot: I wonder if I could stabilize elk antler and get the best of both worlds

Sorry for the rambling post, it's about hunting season and the guys at work are wanting hunting knives, and my research has me yearning for the good ol' days (back before I was born) So tell me, or show me, what those older knives mean to you:thumbup:

 

[ratamahatta]

well talk about old knives and hunting got me thinking about a knife I use to have when I was barely a teenager, it was the uncle henry golden spike, I beat the hell out of that thing not knowing what I was doing, cleaned alot of deer and small game with it, I'm thinking about getting another one just for the great feeling it brought me!!!!!!!! Thamks for bringing this up.......:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[RescueRiley]

Love 'em

 

[fishiker]

Although not a "stick tang" I still carry a Schrade Sharpfinger in my hunting pack. It is a great no-nonsense, no-frills design that works.

 

[Diomedes Industries]

Here is a Kabar Hunter from the 1960's. My dad's. We used it for nearly everything a hunter needed when I was a kid. No problems.

TF

 

[dipbait]

I love the old knives. Someone lifted my faves from the truck.

 

[Daniel Sycalik]

I had a sharp finger as a kid, and still have my golden spike. The golden spike holds a good edge, going to pass this one on to my son soon. Cheers, Dan

 

[Foilist]

I remember frequently eyeballing a Golden Spike like that in the display case of a sporting goods shop when I was a kid.

 

[Coldwood]

My Dad had a pre-WWII Case sheath knife, black stacked leather handle, aluminum butt cap. Best way to describe it, it was much like the Navy Mark-1 made by PAL Cutlery. But the handle and sheath were well worn from many years of use by his hand. It was the only sheath knife he owned - he never felt the need for another, or 10 or 100

(I never got the knife after he died. His second wife never sent me that or a lot of other mementos I wanted)

 

[JK Knives]

My favorite "old school" knife, an early Buck Personal.

 

[kgd]

I think it is discontinued now. One knife I always really liked, even though it was stag (I'm super picky about stag) was the Northwoods Knives - cowboy bowie. I always thought it was gorgeous and nicely proportioned with a 5" blade and a guard that didn't draw your attention too much. If it had an as forged finish or at least very heavy patina instead of the mirror polish it would be perfect.

 

[BarberFobic1992]

I am a huge fan of old knives as well. The only think I don't like about them is that the handles on cowboy knives and stuff are usually very uncomfortable.

 

[Ed Fowler]

You make me feel a little old when you admire 'old' knives that were made after I was born. Not that they are not worthy of appreciation, many just came to be after the knife was man's primary tool.
My love is old knives from the 1700's to somewhere around 1950. Times when knives were used until they were no more. I look through Gordon Minnis's book "American Primitive Knives", Madison Grant's book, The Knife in "Homespun America" and others and enjoy times when knives were real. Maybe not the classic lines, but made to use and depend on. Most are unsigned, some may be fakes but there is a lot of learning that awaits us.

The unsigned knives of yesterday are not without merit, my grandfather had no birth certificate, still he contributed and was a part of what we are today.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Dissenter here! I am not a fan of the classic leather washer, half or whole guard, or leather/antler combinations. The very poor condition of most that I have seen is a big factor in this (mobile guards, cracked or shrunk washers, badly tarnished brass....). Sad to say I can appreciate but do not care for much of what Scagel, Morsieth and Moran made either (shoot me if you want but aesthetically they do not do it for me). Many of the shapes of the classics I have are not my cup of tea. I must say that old school puukos are right on with me though. Other than that I do prefer the newer designs while understanding that the old designs (and limitations within) have led us to what I use today.

 

[RoyalM]

well talk about old knives and hunting got me thinking about a knife I use to have when I was barely a teenager, it was the uncle henry golden spike, I beat the hell out of that thing not knowing what I was doing, cleaned alot of deer and small game with it, I'm thinking about getting another one just for the great feeling it brought me!!!!!!!! Thamks for bringing this up.......:thumbup::thumbup:

I had one of these, still got it in some toolbox somewhere. Was a better knife than I was able to sharpen so it became a bit neglected through my lack of knowledge or skill. Maybe i'll dust it off and resharpen it, see how it performs now I know a little more.:thumbup:

 

[hiwa]

A real fine post, Walter. I agree with the sentiments regarding the "old school" knives. I would guess that the thoughts and emotions in some cases would depend on when and where one was raised and, perhaps, how positive that exposure to the outdoors was with these earlier tools.

I started using the Marble's knives back in the 50's under the watchful eye of 'grampa' as we hunted and explored the northwoods countless times. Whenever I pick up one of my stacked leather handled Marble's knives, I can't help but reflect on those early deer and fish camps and those great times spent with dad and grampa doing what I loved to do best. And, I have found over the years that, if you have to explain these thoughts and feelings to someone, they don't usually get it. Such is the way of things.

Many of the knives of yesteryear had handles that were too short for big hands like mine, or even my dads and grandfathers hands that were larger still! Those early Marble's (and a few other popular models) knives were at best only a 3-fingered knife in my dads or grampa's hands. People were generally shorter then, but the farmers I grew up with usually carried around a good-sized working mans hand.

I had the privilege a while back to make two sheaths for two knives made by Scagel. Really a couple of fine knives to ponder and wonder about as they seemed to be full of so many secrets. I REALLY didn't want to send those two back to the lucky owner!

IMHO, we have carried this 'full-tang' needed for 'survival' knife thing much too far. As we do so, we literally ignore centuries of successful stick-tang use. The stick-tang has many advantages over the full-tang that I won't bother listing here and now. All too soon, we seem to forget our history.

A very old, rock solid, super sharp, Marble's Woodcraft. This knife should faithfully serve my grandchildren throughout their lives!

Awesome tools you have there. And great hand-me-downs. Must be fun to use in the bush, no doubt.

 

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[WVHILLS]

I am really into "old school" knives right now, the Hudson Bay patterned knife that I purchased from you and an old style belt knife from ML knives are my two latest purchases.

 

[Big Mike]

I was always a big fan of the Marbles Idael.

These heavy field tools with their wide fullers was the type of knife favored by my grandfather and my uncles.

I few years back Mike Stewart made some wide fuller Bowies and I could not resist.



With the saber handle and A2 tool steel, this knife is the best of both worlds to me. :thumbup: :thumbup:




Big Mike

”Scaring the tree huggers.”

Forest & Stream