Whittler - A Dying Pattern?

I have some pictures of one of the "true splitsprings" made in the depths of time by WS Horvath (at least I think that's what it says) -- if anyone would like to post the images for me, PM me with your email address and I'll email the images to you (note: this one has a unique main blade also - interesting pattern).

I also have a true splitspring that was made by Ashton & Jackson (IIRC - will need to dig it back up and take a look) -- a large wharncliffe whittler with birdseye rivets, stag scales, and iron rattail bolsters. Unfortunately I have no pictures of it and no way to make any at the moment -- I just wanted to tease you with it right now. :D

Most of the true splitsprings have no liner between the two secondary blades. They are also darned rare. Even BRL said once that he'd only ever seen a small handful of them.

-- Dwight
 
zerogee said:
I have some pictures of one of the "true splitsprings" made in the depths of time by WS Horvath (at least I think that's what it says) -- if anyone would like to post the images for me, PM me with your email address and I'll email the images to you (note: this one has a unique main blade also - interesting pattern).

I also have a true splitspring that was made by Ashton & Jackson (IIRC - will need to dig it back up and take a look) -- a large wharncliffe whittler with birdseye rivets, stag scales, and iron rattail bolsters. Unfortunately I have no pictures of it and no way to make any at the moment -- I just wanted to tease you with it right now. :D

Most of the true splitsprings have no liner between the two secondary blades. They are also darned rare. Even BRL said once that he'd only ever seen a small handful of them.

-- Dwight
Click to expand...

Here are the pictures:

WSHorvath115.jpg

WSHorvath215.jpg

WSHorvath315.jpg
 
Thanks thawk! I wouldn't necessarily say that this is how a whittler *should* be built -- however, this is where the whole terminology of "splitspring" whittlers got started.

-- Dwight
 
Thanks very much for posting photos of that knife zerogee/thawk. What a beauty. Great stag and a rare split-spring.
 
wow!
how would one go about splitting that spring in the manufacturing process?
it seems like simply sawing it would remove too much material between the two halves.
is it actually split using a wedge and then hammered back into shape before tempering?
 
mito0 said:
wow!
how would one go about splitting that spring in the manufacturing process?
....
is it actually split using a wedge and then hammered back into shape before tempering?
Click to expand...
I assume so - bit of a tricky operation. I would think all the splitting and shaping would be done "in the red". The need to get the split dead center and perpendicular (so both split springs move up and down without binding) all by hand and eye would be a real pain. I don't know of any records that tell any details of the actual process though.

-- Dwight
 
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