What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

[Amir Fleschwund]

Carrying an Ettrick today!! This one is a No-Name brand knife, somewhat crudely but sturdily made!! Note; instead of being tommied* on, the bolster is pinned with a brass pin!! Walnut handles (I think!)!!View attachment 3111468View attachment 3111469
*Note: a tommy pin is forged into the bolster, and used to fasten it to the liner!

I learned something today.
If I read that right, the tommy pin goes through the bolster and liner, and is peined to tie them together. That makes me wonder what acts as the hinge pin connecting the spring and blade? A Swinden Key type thing?

 

[waynorth]

I learned something today.
If I read that right, the tommy pin goes through the bolster and liner, and is peined to tie them together. That makes me wonder what acts as the hinge pin connecting the spring and blade? A Swinden Key type thing?

The tommy pin is forged as part of the bolster! It projects out the bottom of the bolster. It goes through a hole in the liner and is peened! This holds the bolster onto the liner! It is not visible on the finish surface of the bolster!! The pivot pin goes through the bolsters and liners, allowing the blade to open and close. Two different pins!!
(Crappy drawing - hope it helps!)

 

[waynorth]

Instead of a "tommy", my Ettrick bolster has a brass pin through the bolster!! You can see it in the pictures above!

 

[waynorth]

Instead of a "tommy", my Ettrick bolster has a brass pin through the bolster!! You can see it in the pictures above!

Fragment of cutlery language:
That forged pin on the bolster has been known as a "tommy" or "tommy pin" for centuries!!
When the cutler peens on the bolster with it, it's called "tommying on"!!!

 

[Tyson A Wright]