What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

[SteveC]

#72 today

 

[Jack Black]

Very nice Drew

Thanks Jack! Your starting off the week with two great knives my friend!

I’m Totin these two this morning. Hope everyone is off to a great week!

Thanks Ron, you too my friend!

Picked this up a couple of days ago from a second hand tool vendor. In fact I saw this a few weeks ago and wasn't going to buy what I thought was a pretty standard rosewood handled, sheep foot with an odd shaped blade. But now, having re-profiled the blade and polished the handle to reveal what I think is either green horn or possibly stained bone, I'm really glad I did. Interestingly one side of the tang is marked Joseph Allen & Sons, Sheffield and the other GPO 1960. From the research I've done it appears the company made knives for the GPO since the 1930s when they also owned the telephone services in Britain as well as the postal service. The majority of these knives were used for stripping cable but few of the examples shown are of this quality and none of this particular pattern which I think would have started life with a larger sheep foot blade which, I suppose, would have done the job. Anyway, I'm very glad I went back for this one, the blade has a lovely patina and I love the green scales.
Untitled by Blake Blade, on Flickr
Untitled by Blake Blade, on Flickr

Nice find I have three GPO knives, one from the 60's, two from the 70's. Here are the two styles. There might even be a thread about them here somewhere

 

[GunGraber]

Mom used to let me open cans for her in the kitchen with my scout knife for ptactice.

That's awesome.

 

[Blake the Blade]

Nice find I have three GPO knives, one from the 60's, two from the 70's. Here are the two styles. There might even be a thread about them here somewhere

View attachment 923002[/QUOTE]

Thanks Jack. Mine could have started out like your pruner type (above), it had been sharpened into a bulbous mess until I reshaped it into something more satisfactory. Anyway, a nice user with an interesting bit of history. I'll have a look for that thread.

 

[Jack Black]

I'd like to see it.
I first heard of them in an article in Knives Annual 1991, by someone other than you. (Just checked.)
Just these two so far today.

Nice Sunday choices there Jer I'm sure I have it somewhere (though perhaps not scanned yet). I still have all 3 of the Swedish Army models, which I was actually sent by Frost's - plus their complete Lapplander range and a nice Wetterlings axe! I did find a pic of this one on my computer. I was mistaken in saying the military models didn't have the embossed handles. This one does at least

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack. Mine could have started out like your pruner type (above), it had been sharpened into a bulbous mess until I reshaped it into something more satisfactory. Anyway, a nice user with an interesting bit of history. I'll have a look for that thread.

Yes, possibly Blake, nice work on it I couldn't find the thread, maybe it was just some discussion in one of my table threads, I do remember posting about them

 

[Blake the Blade]

Yes, possibly Blake, nice work on it I couldn't find the thread, maybe it was just some discussion in one of my table threads, I do remember posting about them

Yes, think I saw it during my recent researches Jack. You know I would have liked to have thought Postmen were issued with these for dealing with parcels and such, but I do think it more likely that the telephone engineers had them. Do you think it's bone or horn handled Jack?

 

[Jack Black]

Yes, think I saw it during my recent researches Jack. You know I would have liked to have thought Postmen were issued with these for dealing with parcels and such, but I do think it more likely that the telephone engineers had them. Do you think it's bone or horn handled Jack?

Yes, I think they were just issued to the GPO engineers. Apparently the big ones were designed to be used liked a folding Hacking Knife (or a Rope Knife) for cutting through lead-covered cables by bashing down on the spine of the blade. I imagine a lot of them got scrapped if they saw that sort of use! I think that is horn, you may be able to polish it up if you want to

 

[pmek5]

 

[Amir Fleschwund]

Micarta Monday!

View attachment 923040

 

[Amir Fleschwund]

What is this?

Zieg

It’s a Willem O’Kelly (K’Roo Knives) “Chunky Frank” in boar’s tusk.

I was wondering too.
When you get time, I’d love to see more pics of her.

 

[Peregrin]

Happy Monday, Porchsters!
I had breakfast in our 3 season room this morning, that overlooks the Onondaga Valley, with my Cramer LCJ. It'll be in my pocket today.

In the background I'm listening to what is almost a roar of 17 year Cicadas that emerge on and in the close vicinity of the Onondaga Indian Reservation, just south of me. The sound is constant and can be distracting, although we're getting used to it. What's cool to me personally is that these insects have emerged only 5 times in my lifetime. I doubt I'll see the sixth, but I'm optimistic.

Some interesting history. During the Revolutionary War the Onondagas sided with the British and it cost them dearly after the war. In 1779 their village was destroyed, crops burned and those that couldn't run away were killed. All on direct orders of General George Washington. The ensuing winter was even more devastating to them, as they had no winter stores. They were starving when the Cicadas emerged. They gathered them in huge quantities and for that summer they were a major part of their diet and remain something they enjoy seeing return. They are attributed to saving the Onondagas from near starvation. Their belief is that God sent the Cicadas to them. There's a considerable amount of info on the Onondaga Cicadas on the web, if anyone has more interest.

Sorry for the ramble folks!
Breakfast at Peregrin's roost.

I haven't added Cicadas to my diet yet, though who knows!

Looking out over the Onondaga Valley from my perch.

 

[kenspen]

Back from vacation and about 20 pages behind on this thread

 

[Gevonovich]

 

[Gevonovich]

Happy Monday, Porchsters!
I had breakfast in our 3 season room this morning, that overlooks the Onondaga Valley, with my Cramer LCJ. It'll be in my pocket today.

In the background I'm listening to what is almost a roar of 17 year Cicadas that emerge on and in the close vicinity of the Onondaga Indian Reservation, just south of me. The sound is constant and can be distracting, although we're getting used to it. What's cool to me personally is that these insects have emerged only 5 times in my lifetime. I doubt I'll see the sixth, but I'm optimistic.

Some interesting history. During the Revolutionary War the Onondagas sided with the British and it cost them dearly after the war. In 1779 their village was destroyed, crops burned and those that couldn't run away were killed. All on direct orders of General George Washington. The ensuing winter was even more devastating to them, as they had no winter stores. They were starving when the Cicadas emerged. They gathered them in huge quantities and for that summer they were a major part of their diet and remain something they enjoy seeing return. They are attributed to saving the Onondagas from near starvation. Their belief is that God sent the Cicadas to them. There's a considerable amount of info on the Onondaga Cicadas on the web, if anyone has more interest.

Sorry for the ramble folks!
Breakfast at Peregrin's roost.

I haven't added Cicadas to my diet yet, though who knows!

Looking out over the Onondaga Valley from my perch.

Great post, Gary !!

 

[JTB_5]

You’re a daisy if you do.

 

[Gevonovich]

Great stuff Gev, nice-looking knives and I love the pic my friend

Thank you, my friend !! Two lookers for you today. Have a great week !!!

 

[Beard&Owl]

I hate to admit it, but I do, Ted!


Woah! Very nice Rob! How about some details? What are the dimensions? Is it Ivory? What blade steel? Looks to be an exceptional knife.

Thanks Gary! This one was made by John Howser. Integral bolsters, Ivory, ATS34 and 3 7/8. I think he referred to this pattern as the ODB Old Dog Billy. Very unique one and a very well made knife.

 

[Peregrin]

Great post, Gary !!

Thanks, Gevo! I was inspired this morning! Thank God it has passed!

Thanks Gary! This one was made by John Howser. Integral bolsters, Ivory, ATS34 and 3 7/8. I think he referred to this pattern as the ODB Old Dog Billy. Very unique one and a very well made knife.

That's a great looking knife, Rob. Great specs too! Thanks!

 

[McFeeli]

73 today, which also reminds me of 3 letters that I've really taken for granted with this guy, STL. It's become my favorite set up for all GEC's now.