- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
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I received a "white box" Winchester (Queen) sowbelly today and would like to share some photos and comments with you guys. I have a few knives from the "black box" series but this is my first from the "white box" series... I think they call it "Rifle Shield Series". It's also my first 4-blade sowbelly.
The date on the back of the tang is 1996. I think the general specifications for the "white box" knives is the same as the older "black box" knives. The "Burnt Orange Bone" isn't as complex as on the old Utica jigged bone that's on the old "black box" knives... and in my opinion, it's not as attractive as the "Pennsylvania Brown Berry Worn Worm Groove Bone" on the knives from Schatt & Morgan Series 18. The shield is sort of fun. The shield does stick out a lot more than the shields on the other knives. I'd prefer the shield to be flush or close to flush... and a "sowbelly shield" (bodice, barbie) would be my preference for this sowbelly pattern.
I was expecting that the main blade would be shorter on a 4-blade sowbelly compared two a 3-blade sowbelly but I was pleasantly surprised that they are actually the same length.
The main blade on the 4-blade sowbelly is slightly thinner than the main blade on the 3-blade sowbelly. A "catch bit" (learned about these from Ken!) is used to allow the main blade and the spey blade to pass eachother on the 4-blade sowbelly. It's a close fit but Queen did a good job making it work. The blades don't rub unless you fail to lift them straight up.
Here's a comparison of the wells of 2-, 3- and 4-blade sowbellies.
Queen also made a 5-blade sowbelly but I don't presently have one to include in the photo. Here's an old photo for comparison.
There are some differences between the Queen-made sowbellies. The placement of the nail nick and the shape of the blade is slightly different on the 4-blade sowbelly. I like the blade shape the best on the 4-blade. The long pull on the Schatt & Morgan sowbelly is also pretty cool. I do prefer the carbon steel on the Winchester sowbelly over the 420HC on the Schatt & Morgan sowbelly.
The blade shape and nail nick placement is also similar to this vintage sowbelly...
It's also similar to the shape of the blade on my Ryu sowbelly.
This is where I start meandering (or did it happen earlier?!)
I think this 4-blade sowbelly or one like it might be fun to modify into a two blade sowbelly similar to this premium double end jack.
It's a project that I've spoken about with one of the talented members of Bladeforums. Originally, I had thought that it may be possible to use the main blade and the sheepfoot blade but now that I've had a close look at the well I think it will only work with the main blade and the spey blade like the old Remington. I think it will be a fun project for the future.
The date on the back of the tang is 1996. I think the general specifications for the "white box" knives is the same as the older "black box" knives. The "Burnt Orange Bone" isn't as complex as on the old Utica jigged bone that's on the old "black box" knives... and in my opinion, it's not as attractive as the "Pennsylvania Brown Berry Worn Worm Groove Bone" on the knives from Schatt & Morgan Series 18. The shield is sort of fun. The shield does stick out a lot more than the shields on the other knives. I'd prefer the shield to be flush or close to flush... and a "sowbelly shield" (bodice, barbie) would be my preference for this sowbelly pattern.
I was expecting that the main blade would be shorter on a 4-blade sowbelly compared two a 3-blade sowbelly but I was pleasantly surprised that they are actually the same length.
The main blade on the 4-blade sowbelly is slightly thinner than the main blade on the 3-blade sowbelly. A "catch bit" (learned about these from Ken!) is used to allow the main blade and the spey blade to pass eachother on the 4-blade sowbelly. It's a close fit but Queen did a good job making it work. The blades don't rub unless you fail to lift them straight up.
Here's a comparison of the wells of 2-, 3- and 4-blade sowbellies.
Queen also made a 5-blade sowbelly but I don't presently have one to include in the photo. Here's an old photo for comparison.
There are some differences between the Queen-made sowbellies. The placement of the nail nick and the shape of the blade is slightly different on the 4-blade sowbelly. I like the blade shape the best on the 4-blade. The long pull on the Schatt & Morgan sowbelly is also pretty cool. I do prefer the carbon steel on the Winchester sowbelly over the 420HC on the Schatt & Morgan sowbelly.
The blade shape and nail nick placement is also similar to this vintage sowbelly...
It's also similar to the shape of the blade on my Ryu sowbelly.
This is where I start meandering (or did it happen earlier?!)
I think this 4-blade sowbelly or one like it might be fun to modify into a two blade sowbelly similar to this premium double end jack.
It's a project that I've spoken about with one of the talented members of Bladeforums. Originally, I had thought that it may be possible to use the main blade and the sheepfoot blade but now that I've had a close look at the well I think it will only work with the main blade and the spey blade like the old Remington. I think it will be a fun project for the future.
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