What is the Definition of Ettrick??

[smiling-knife]

This Ettrick has a slight curve to the blade; similar to a peach pruner.

I've seen Duncan and pocketknifejimmy's knives with the larger swayback handles called Tackler's knives. Tacklers being workers in the weaving industry. That brings me to this knife advertising buffalo pickers. Pickers were used to weave cloth by moving the shuttle from one side of the loom to the other. Pickers were made from water buffalo hide due to its toughness. Hide pickers were used up to the 1950s when they were replaced with more durable synthetic materials. Charlestown, Todmorden and Eastwood located in Yorkshire just inside the border with Lancashire seemed to be the picker making capital of the UK. I hope this is of interest and not too much of a digression.

 

[Jack Black]

Sorry guys, trying to do something else at the same time!

Email sent!

Replied!

Interesting topic... and strange for me because a few hours ago I placed an order for the following knife.... Does it fit into the catagory you folks are discussing?

P.S.... It seems the one I ordered has a curved edge... so it likely does not fall into the discussed knife pattern. Just 'pruner' is probably the pattern

It's similar, but that's known as a Peach Pruner (that's how it's listed by Arthur Wright). I have to say, the only peaches I saw as a kid in Sheffield came out of a can! Hope you get a good one.

 

[Jack Black]

Jack if you go back to that place, buy up all those Ablett Etrricks will you/ye?

I will!

 

[Jack Black]

That's a beautiful knife S-K :thumbup:

I thought a Tackler was more like this though.

 

[Jack Black]

I see Trevor Ablett is selling this as an Ettrick.

And this as an Ettrick Pruner.

 

[waynorth]

O.K!
So we have slightly diverging versions. The main variation is a gently curving Pruner blade - still shorter than the handle like a straight edged version.
Can we call them both Ettricks?
Pure Ettrick, and sub-variation Ettrick Pruner?

 

[Jack Black]

Here's the Arthur Wright & Sons Ettrick (top) compared to the same firm's Peach Pruner.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Here's the Arthur Wright & Sons Ettrick (top) compared to the same firm's Peach Pruner.

Yeah, I believe that bottom one looks pretty much identical to the one I placed the order for today... well, except that the one I ordered has buffalo horn scales. Thanks for the info... I guess I will be receiving a "peach pruner" knife very shortly

I guess getting an Ettrick someday, would be appropriate too ;-)

 

[Jack Black]

I came across this on an Australian site:

The Ettrick pocketknife came into being sometime in the 1700's and found fame during the halcyon days of Sheffield-made cutlery during the 1800's. Popularised as the Wharncliffe pocketknife by Joseph Rodgers & Sons of Sheffield early in the nineteenth century, the same pocket knife appeared in old knife catalogues of Taylors Eye Witness as an Ettrick knife .... and Taylors Eye Witness, along with other Sheffield manufacturers (such as A.Wright & Sons and Littlemester Trevor Ablett) continue to manufacture the original blade and handle configuration.


When the blade is open the whole knife concept is serpentine in profile from the tip of the blade to the butt of the handle. The blade must have a straight (angled-down) edge, the back of the blade must follow a serpentine curve flowing on from the handle, and the back of the blade towards the tip is after the style of sheepfoot. The curve, though, is longer to provide a more pronounced tip to the blade.

Ettrick/Wharncliffes have been made with multiple blades such as horseman’s knives and sportsman’s knives, but the flowing master blade-handle shape must faithfully follow the serpentine concept. (In modern times, there has been a tendency, particularly in America, to call any pocketknife with a serpentine shaped handle a Wharncliffe, irrespective of the blade shapes. Correct terminology for bastardised Wharncliffes should have been properly observed, for example, serpentine jack, serpentine pen, and so on, the second half of the name being determined by the shape of the pocketknife blade. There is only one definitive Wharncliffe/Ettrick style pocketknife!)

 

[pertinux]

An "ettrick" appears to be a type of traditionally styled Pruning knife. It is also a place name (many places), and the name of a river in Scotland.
Can anyone refine the definition?

In hockey, an ettrick is when one player scores three goals in a game.

-- Thanks for the question, Charlie, and this ongoing discussion (complete with thoughtful contributions from others, and always helpful pictures). :thumbup:

~ P.

 

[Jack Black]

Here's some old Thomas Turner Ettricks (Pic is Wellington's in the Catologue sticky thread):

 

[Jack Black]

Few more here:

 

[sitflyer]

Great thread, love all of the pics. In the Saynor Cooke & Ridal scan, I am strangely drawn to the 310, 309 and 309C patterns. Something very graceful about these knives is quite appealing to my eye.

 

[Jack Black]

Great thread, love all of the pics. In the Saynor Cooke & Ridal scan, I am strangely drawn to the 310, 309 and 309C patterns. Something very graceful about these knives is quite appealing to my eye.

Those are the Ettricks Duane, it is a nice looking pattern

There are more pics from the catalogue in the sticky.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Interesting Thread, and great input - sk-that is a real interesting knife ( Buffalo Picker ), and a real good question in your op Charlie.
I simply thought my Joseph Rodgers was a Sway-back Jack, but you are indeed right Jack, it most definitely is a Ettrick from what you have shown us-thank you kind Sir!
So this being a Larger version, and a farly old one by Johnathan Crookes (with the pistol symbol) - still described an Ettrick?

 

[Casares]

I love the Ettrick pattern. It is very elegant and very traditional.
I think Trevor Ablett is still making them. I was in Sheffield yesterday. Next time, I will try and make time to visit him and find out.

 

[Jack Black]

Hi Duncan,

That's a beautiful knife, lovely covers (where do you get all these things?!) I wouldn't say it's an Ettrick pattern though.

Jack

 

[Jack Black]

I love the Ettrick pattern. It is very elegant and very traditional.
I think Trevor Ablett is still making them. I was in Sheffield yesterday. Next time, I will try and make time to visit him and find out.

Hope you had a good day in Sheffield Casares. I'm afraid Trevor recently had an accident at work, so he is away at the moment. He should be back at work before Xmas though I believe. He's still making the Ettricks.

Jack

 

[Will Power]

Here's some old Thomas Turner Ettricks (Pic is Wellington's in the Catologue sticky thread):

Extraordinary knives from that catalogue, Jack. Thanks for drawing attention to it. Significant it talks about Ettrick blade rather than knife.

They all share variation, many having relatively long blade/handle ratio unlike contemporary ones. 1312 doesn't really display much curve or swayback at all. What catches my eye is the triple Rat-Tail bolster-can't find another word-never seen this before but I'd be in ecstasy if I found this on a modern knife. Note also the GS (German Silver) small bolster model being the costly one, together with the coloured horn.

Another source of ecstasy would be the price, I take it it's per dozen? Twelve or fifteen 'bob' eh, nice one! :thumbup:

 

[Esav Benyamin]

In hockey, an ettrick is when one player scores three goals in a game.

~ P.

For shame!