Why would a mechanical ring turn knife have a nail nick?

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
Now I have 3 Mechanical Ring Turn knives one from the 30s, one from the late 50s early 60s and the Canal Street Cutlery 2006 forum knife.

Of the many I've seen and handled, and the ones I have, (which I think I'll be increasing 'cause I forgot how handy and fun they are) my question though would be is it a common practice to put nail nicks on such knives or were they regular knives that were made into ring turners and eventually they started manufacturing blades without the nicks after they caught on?
 
Just a guess, but I would bet that the knife blades were made in large batches and then when ready for assembly, some guy went over to a bin of knife blades (all with nail nicks) and put the tray on benches where craftsmen assembled them.

That's my story and 'm sticking two it until someone more educated in knife assembly tells me the real truth. :D
 
Good questions all. I support Bastid's hypothesis. Besides, if the ring breaks one can still open the blades the 'traditional' way.
 
Really Erdelyi...that question is wayyy too deep for a Friday afternoon...a guy with a Crumb cartoon, a Garcia tribute, and a Skynyrd lyric in his sig block should know better.

You're blowin' our minds, man!

Now I need a beer.
 
Here is one with both nail nick and brass turn mechanism. The Humphrey's Radiant c 1920/30s. Has 'genuine' faux ivory scales.

Knives035.jpg
 
Both Bastid and Smiling-Knife, are right. Certain size blades are made in huge batches, so I bet the blades in a ring opener will fit other folders. Also If you check out enough of them, the ring mechanism breaks down(sometimes on just one of the blades), mostly from people over turning them.
 
bronze4u2 said:
Most of my ring turn collection:
I am open for trading my other type knives for ring turns.. I also purchase ring turns should any of you want to part with them...I do have #600 Canal Street I will trade for an older ring turn as well. Plus vintage straight razors and autos!
Click to expand...

There are sub-forums in The Exchange for Buying and Trading knives, http://www.bladeforums.com/categories/the-knife-exchange.672/.

Offers to purchase or trade don't belong in the discussion forums. You'll find this all detailed in the forum guidelines, http://www.bladeforums.com/help/exchange-rules/. Please take the time to read them.

I removed your email link
 
@T.Erdelyi
The same question comes to mind about knives with EO notches.
 
10-year old thread, I am amazed the original image link still works.
 
Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii???

Another question that has always bothered me.
What is the Foo that the Foo Fighters fight?

Rich
 
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I like the option of using the nail nick instead of turning the ring. Take a look at my 2006 BF Ring Turner.
I asked Canal Street if they could add a nail nick to mine and they said one of their senior cutlers was willing to try. I got back with a perfect nick and a note that it was harder than they thought and to please not tell anyone who did it as they did not want to do others. LOL I have kept this request but with Canal Street no longer in business I guess it no longer applies.

It may have hurt it's collector value but I actually carry this one as part of my EDC Rotation

Canal_St_patina_logo_side.JPG

Canal_Street_patina_main_blade.JPG
 
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