What's a "spey" blade and a "doctor's" knife?

You might want to check out the traditional knives forum for more info. As I understand it, the spey blade was originally used to castrate livestock and it is usually the third blade included on a traditional stockman pattern pocketknife. I believe that the doctor's knife was a folder with a long equal-sided blade that was useful for sorting pills and sometimes one bolster would be flattened so you could smash pills.
 
I can identify a spey blade but i can't really describe one. Now a Doctor's knife as I understand it is a long thin slipjoint folder that normally has two blades and a square butt. The long thin blades could be used to count pills and the flat square bottom would be used to crush pills so they can be dissolved in water easier. I'm sure someone much smarter than I am will come along and give you a more complete answer.
 
APS and Easyrider both have done good... the spey blade is basically a scalpel shaped blade, as it's intended use is for castrating. They are traditionally found on stockman pattern knives and also sometimes the second blade on a trapper pattern.
The doctors knife is a slipjoint pattern with a little variety in blades... usually a spearpoint main blade, sometimes alone or with a smaller pen blade. My personal favorite variation, and perhaps the "traditional" variation, is with the spearpoint and a spatula. The butt end of the knife is usually flattened... used for crushing pills into powder. I have occasionally seen this pattern with a clip point as the main blade, but not often.
Hope this helps,
Mongo
 
I've seen certain Stockman's knives with the Spey blade etched " Flesh Only". Also have seen Dr.'s knives with concave bottom bolsters for breaking pills in half for Half doses.tom.
 
Back in the OLD days when doctors made housecalls and carried that top-opening doctor's bag they carried that knife.

They used the knife, edge-up, to count pills out. They used the long thin blade to shovel out powders from bottles to mix with liquids.

The spey blade could be used as a scalpel in a pinch.

The ass end of the handle was used to grind pills up into powders.

I like them. They have a nice, long, thin 3" blade but have a really thin overall shape that carries easily and is easy to fish out of a pocket full of other things.

They're handy! With such a thin profile and an over-all length of a little over 6" they're good for when you want a long reach. (Like fishing your keys out of a urinal, poking at something to see if it's dead, or anything else you might not want to use your fingers for.:D )

I also like them because I bite my fingernails and I can pinch the knife open without using the nail nick.

They fit perfectly into a watch pocket with enough sticking out so you can easily get it out.

Buy one and try it. Everyone should have one and most of them can be had for less than $40.

I have a Yellow Delrin handled CASE for sale or trade cheap if you're interested. (I have 3 and I don't need that many.)
 
The spey blade is often found on the stockman pattern knifes accompanied by sheep foot and clip point blades. As I understand it the stockman is a traditional cattle knife.
I find the combination excellent for EDC-carry too.
The sheep foot for cutting leather, plastic, cables or magazine adds.
The clip point for opening letters, preparing lunch, etc.
The spey I save sharp for my castrating work ;-)
Actually the spey blade is an excellent little skinning tool for small game and other things that needs a sharp edge.
/Martin.
 
I had ....thought....the spey blade might be the castration blade, but all our vets have always spelled it ..."spay."

The pill counting I....guessed....as I know a pharmacist but had not thought of the other end for mashing pills.

It all makes sense.

Now.....what's the "gut sticking mugging" blade?

heh heh

:D
 
One of my favorite subjects, since one of my specialties is collecting Doctor knives.
As stated they were used for prep and counting of medications.
Blades were long spear, pen and sometimes the pen blade was replace by a spatula.
Never have seen a spey blade on a doctor pattern.
Here are some pics. (antique, modern and handmade)

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As I understand it the spey was often made thin, tempered hard and sharpened at a small angle to make a good scalpel, it was marked "For Flesh Only", because the edge might chip easily if used on something hard.
 
Don,
Have you ever seen a spey blade on a DR. pattern., I have only seen them on Canoes, Stockmen and the like.
 
Originally posted by Bastid
Don,
Have you ever seen a spey blade on a DR. pattern., I have only seen them on Canoes, Stockmen and the like.
Click to expand...

I have only seen doctor´s knives in pictures, mostly here in the forums, none with a spey. I have had a whole bunch of stockmans since the 60´s, most of them with speys, some with a pen blade instead.

The comments on the "For Flesh Only" I also saw here in Bladeforums somewhere.
 
Thanks for posting some of your collection... real beauties! I favor the ones with the spatula. My teeny collection of Dr. patterns so far consists of two stag handled productions with the spatula. I always have my eye out for that combo. One day, I hope to have the $ for a custom with those specs.
 
"Spey" blades I don't have a problem with, regardless of intent. When they start making blades with "Neuter" blades I'm getting nervous....

:D
 
Doc's are my favorite EDC s/j's. But I've never seen one w/a spey blade either. I've read somewhere that the traditional doc had the spatula for sorting/counting pills and depressing tongues and the long spear-point for emergency surgeries. The flat-ended bolster for mashing pills. I've found the 2-bladed version (no spatula, please) to be a great utility knife, with the bolster usefull for light tamping, and eg. tapping out pins, etc. The sleek, simple lines make them quite attractive, too. Make mine Queen/S&M.
 
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