Winchester Knives from Blue Grass Cutlery Inc., Ohio

Walk & Talk are they smoothness of blade opening and strength of spring on closing, giving a loud 'snap'. This is very likely a single-spring 2 blade knife so half-stops are shall I say, less likely. Half-Stops are a matter of taste and debate anyway. On a single-spring knife, the way the blades are spaced apart and krinked (bent to fit in literally) are crucial, you do not want them touching the liner and handicapping walk&talk or rubbing against each other, sometimes it's referred to as 'nesting' the blades. It shows workmanship and finesse too.

If you like these large Sunfish patterns you should check over Great Eastern Cutlery's (GEC) offerings and those of the budget but by no means poor Rough Rider (RR) as well.
 
"Walk & Talk":
Walk is the action of the blades opening and closing against the backsprings. How smooth, how firm, how positive, how even throughout the pull and from one blade to another. Doesn't really have to do with half stops (square tangs) or no half stops (cam or round tangs). Either one can have good or bad "walk".
Talk is the sound of the blades snapping open and closed against the spring pressure. Generally strong springs mean good talk, while weak springs mean poor talk, although there can be extremes at both ends of the scale that are not good.

Spacing & Rub:
Spacing is the space between blades on a multi-blade folder, and can also be space (unwanted, not good) between liners and springs, or between covers and liners or bolsters.
Rub is blade rub one against the other, or against a liner. Often can be mitigated by opening technique, by pulling up not pushing the blade back against the liner or other blades. Spacing and Rub are also referred to as Fit, as in Fit & Finish.

Edit: Will, you must type faster than I do! :D
 
Jeff You should see me, real one finger slow-worm :D Anyway, you explained it better:thumbup:
 
Will Power said:
I'll let you know when mine arrives here in Europe, hopefully next week

I have a 3 5/8" Stockman on its way with carbon blades and some nice looking Rodgers type bone. Forum member mcgreg collected the whole series as far as I recall, with some very nice looking scarce ones such as Whittler and Pens. Made at the end of 80s early 90s .Some years back, I think they were more in vogue and prices were higher than now, but put it this way, I paid less than a quarter of your quoted price and that includes shipping to Europe. I have no massive expectations but I think they could be decent and the steel good, let's see..

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

It arrived today and I got it after a long and slippery drive home....:eek:

Initial impressions: after giving it a good wipe over with a miracle type cloth it looks very good. As it is new old stock, 30 year in fact, it was naturally tarnished and a bit lacklustre on the scales&bolster.

Plus Scale slabs are thick, this is nice bone too which may become interestingly lighter coloured in time. Strong snap and tough springs. Minimal gaps, no rub. Well inlet shield. Proportions are very good, it's a comfortable knife in hand and although sturdy, not a dead weight in the pocke. Seems to have very good build quality and finish. I like the two tiny pins and the centre domed one being bigger, looks very much the Old School part.

Minus Very slight play on the Spey but really slight, also very slight raised spring on open with this blade too. But I am being very strict here.

Overall A good looker and user, for about 50 USD I think it represents astounding value with no compromises really. As I wrote earlier, very convenient size, something GEC has yet to manage with its Stock knives, too heavy. Pleased with this and would really like to find some of the single-spring patterns....I read somewhere that this bone was old stock too at the time, being 50 years old then. But this could be just sheer internet tittle-tattle :D Nice though and it's certainly impressively thick.

One other downside was the discovery (using a loupe) of a minor crack at the bolster pin, first thought it was jigging but unfortunately not. It may have been there from the start but the less than diligent seller put the Stockman in its Winchester Black Box inside a larger mailing box with no extra padding..Result, it was rattling when I picked it up, such idiocy! :grumpy: So, that might've generated the crack as the knife was out of its presentation box banging about free in the delivery box aaaaarrghhh Complained about this but I suppose they'll just shrug their shoulders Just incompetent and an invite to thieves. Here's a picture that kind of shows this nice bone off, needed a drink after that long icy and stormy drive:cool:

IMG_4339.jpg
 
Will Power said:
It arrived today and I got it after a long and slippery drive home....:eek:

Initial impressions: after giving it a good wipe over with a miracle type cloth it looks very good. As it is new old stock, 30 year in fact, it was naturally tarnished and a bit lacklustre on the scales&bolster.

Plus Scale slabs are thick, this is nice bone too which may become interestingly lighter coloured in time. Strong snap and tough springs. Minimal gaps, no rub. Well inlet shield. Proportions are very good, it's a comfortable knife in hand and although sturdy, not a dead weight in the pocke. Seems to have very good build quality and finish. I like the two tiny pins and the centre domed one being bigger, looks very much the Old School part.

Minus Very slight play on the Spey but really slight, also very slight raised spring on open with this blade too. But I am being very strict here.

Overall A good looker and user, for about 50 USD I think it represents astounding value with no compromises really. As I wrote earlier, very convenient size, something GEC has yet to manage with its Stock knives, too heavy. Pleased with this and would really like to find some of the single-spring patterns....I read somewhere that this bone was old stock too at the time, being 50 years old then. But this could be just sheer internet tittle-tattle :D Nice though and it's certainly impressively thick.

One other downside was the discovery (using a loupe) of a minor crack at the bolster pin, first thought it was jigging but unfortunately not. It may have been there from the start but the less than diligent seller put the Stockman in its Winchester Black Box inside a larger mailing box with no extra padding..Result, it was rattling when I picked it up, such idiocy! :grumpy: So, that might've generated the crack as the knife was out of its presentation box banging about free in the delivery box aaaaarrghhh Complained about this but I suppose they'll just shrug their shoulders Just incompetent and an invite to thieves. Here's a picture that kind of shows this nice bone off, needed a drink after that long icy and stormy drive:cool:

IMG_4339.jpg
Click to expand...

That's neat. Do you know the year and pattern number for that one?
 
Really nice looking bone, Will, too bad about the pin crack. Hopefully it doesn't grow.

Very nice proportions to the clip main. :thumbup:
 
Rookie82 said:
That's neat. Do you know the year and pattern number for that one?
Click to expand...

Thank you. It's 3964 from 1987

Jeff Thanks too. I was thinking about the Clip myself, it's a kind of Clip/Turkish Clip hybrid But a nice long slim Clip anyway.

The crack was only confirmed by using a loupe, but it kind of annoys...:roll eyes: These bone slabs are impressive though.:thumb: Kind of tree trunk-like...:cool:
 
Will Power said:
Thank you. It's 3964 from 1987
Click to expand...

I have a sheet from Clarence Risner that gives some info about them. The W15-3964 was the 2nd released pattern, listed as Old Rogers jigged bone handles. They made 4 versions of it.
1. High polish blade etching, with Large Heraldic shield, they made 2,578 pieces.
2. High polish blade etching, with Small Heraldic shield, they made 150 pieces.
3. Satin finish blade etching, with Large Heraldic shield, they made 600 pieces.
4. Satin finish blade etching, with Small Heraldic shield, they made 800 pieces.
Original selling price in 1987 for all 4 types was $49.99.
 
Thanks very much for that useful information:cool:

It certainly is satin but not sure how the shield size is judged, looks small to me.

As for price, that would've been I suppose, right for a more decent knife 30 years ago? But reasonable, these are well finished not some beater banger. :D I only paid a couple more than that price so that's why I feel very pleased, these are worthy.
 
Rookie82 said:
I have a sheet from Clarence Risner that gives some info about them. The W15-3964 was the 2nd released pattern, listed as Old Rogers jigged bone handles. They made 4 versions of it.
1. High polish blade etching, with Large Heraldic shield, they made 2,578 pieces.
2. High polish blade etching, with Small Heraldic shield, they made 150 pieces.
3. Satin finish blade etching, with Large Heraldic shield, they made 600 pieces.
4. Satin finish blade etching, with Small Heraldic shield, they made 800 pieces.
Original selling price in 1987 for all 4 types was $49.99.
Click to expand...
Do you have similar information on other models?
 
Will Power said:
It arrived today and I got it after a long and slippery drive home....:eek:

Initial impressions: after giving it a good wipe over with a miracle type cloth it looks very good. As it is new old stock, 30 year in fact, it was naturally tarnished and a bit lacklustre on the scales&bolster.

Plus Scale slabs are thick, this is nice bone too which may become interestingly lighter coloured in time. Strong snap and tough springs. Minimal gaps, no rub. Well inlet shield. Proportions are very good, it's a comfortable knife in hand and although sturdy, not a dead weight in the pocke. Seems to have very good build quality and finish. I like the two tiny pins and the centre domed one being bigger, looks very much the Old School part.

Minus Very slight play on the Spey but really slight, also very slight raised spring on open with this blade too. But I am being very strict here.

Overall A good looker and user, for about 50 USD I think it represents astounding value with no compromises really. As I wrote earlier, very convenient size, something GEC has yet to manage with its Stock knives, too heavy. Pleased with this and would really like to find some of the single-spring patterns....I read somewhere that this bone was old stock too at the time, being 50 years old then. But this could be just sheer internet tittle-tattle :D Nice though and it's certainly impressively thick.

One other downside was the discovery (using a loupe) of a minor crack at the bolster pin, first thought it was jigging but unfortunately not. It may have been there from the start but the less than diligent seller put the Stockman in its Winchester Black Box inside a larger mailing box with no extra padding..Result, it was rattling when I picked it up, such idiocy! :grumpy: So, that might've generated the crack as the knife was out of its presentation box banging about free in the delivery box aaaaarrghhh Complained about this but I suppose they'll just shrug their shoulders Just incompetent and an invite to thieves. Here's a picture that kind of shows this nice bone off, needed a drink after that long icy and stormy drive:cool:

IMG_4339.jpg
Click to expand...
Will, if the slight crack is near the center pin, near the spring, I have the same, not an issue, but maybe these knives were seconds, thus the "NOS"? ;)
 
Jolipapa said:
Will, if the slight crack is near the center pin, near the spring, I have the same, not an issue, but maybe these knives were seconds, thus the "NOS"? ;)
Click to expand...

JP It was on the mark side front pin near the main bolster. But, after careful introduction of superglue you can hardly see it and after 2.5 years of frequent use and patina it has not got worse, my favourite Stockman.

Thanks, Will
 
Lt. = light, referring to the color of the bone. The normal Rogers bone was a medium/dark brown color, where the Light Rogers is more of a honey colored.
 
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