World War I Navy Issue Knife

Wow Charlie, great old knifes and new, can't wait for the Northfield. Gev, Lyle, really nice originals also.
 
I particularly like that turned bolster on the sketch, gives a kind of 'braid' effect - very fitting for the Navy.:cool:

Brick Red Bone sounds like Knirvarna too:D:D

Regards, Will
 
I hasten to add that the "top knife" that has so impressed some, in re' to its bone handles, is a Robeson.

I have one of those:



A Camillus with very nice old picked bone handles and Charlie's favorite Camillus tang stamp sold on Ebay a week or two ago:



These knives can be found with a pen blade as secondary, but the manicure is the most common.

LG-IV lists more makers for these knives than does Silvey, fourteen in all.

I've thought often how difficult, but rewarding and impressive, it would be to accumulate a nice example from all the known makers. I'm speaking specifically about the American made WWI Navy issue knives with which Charlie started this thread.

Charlie, you just might tempt me with that particular SFO knife.
 
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I like the shield, Charlie. Specifically the "Northfield Diamond Series" wording. Bodes well for the future. :)
 
I would love a power shaper, if for no other reason than to make my own files.

[video=youtube;wpLiheOY338]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpLiheOY338[/video]

EDIT: changed machine name to shaper, Hope the video isn't too much of a derailment.
 
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Great looking piece Charlie, always great to see the fruition of your period correct knives.
 
You would have to bring this particular subject up, wouldn't you Charlie???
As I have been waiting patiently for over a year for a replacement blade to show up somewhere, to cover the one I broke while "straightening out" this one!! :eek::eek::mad:
What a Dummy !!! :rolleyes:
She's a Catt.

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Dave
 
Thanks for posting your NYK, GEV!:thumbup:
And for your pics, Charlie N!:thumbup:
A mournful verse, Jack!!:(

Jack Black said:
Not for the first time, I went to sleep last night looking at pictures of old Rope Knives. Looking at the dimensions of the WW1 US Navy knives, I was slightly surprised by how small the dimensions were compared to the older (and indeed more recent) Sheffield-made knives , such as the one recovered from USS Cairo (sunk 1862), as well as other US-made Rope Knives. Charlie, do you think that the more pocketable WW1 knives would have been used in the same way as the larger Rope Knives, ie to cut rope by batoning, or perhaps not?

Anyway, congratulations on getting GEC to make another historic pattern, and thanks :thumbup:
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The size differences are indeed amazing, Jack. I am not sure why. I think the two types existed side by side for a goodly spell.
Maybe it had something to do with rope technology - it's hard to imagine batoning a 3 1/4" knife through a 1" hemp rope!

Thanks everyone for the kind words! I can't wait to get one of these in my hands!!
 
Here is another of the larger old Rope knives that Jack was talking about - sort of the ancestor of the WWI knife. This one is nearly 4 3/4" long, with big gnarly stag for grip!
Navy%20Hunter%204_zpsswu5pjex.jpg
 
Surprised to see a more 'luxury' material such as stag on a rope knife but man does it look amazing!
 
waynorth said:
The length is 3 1/2", based on the #15 frame.
That's about 1/4" longer than the old issue knives!
The handles will have three choices of nice jigged bone,
Antique Amber, Antique Yellow and Brick Red.:)


- sorry Philllll!:eek:
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Charlie, I'm really looking forward to this run. It's like an early Christmas present! Some of the old rope knives were cocobolo. I suppose it's too late to drop the red knife and swap it for cocobolo? I have a question about the "rogers jigged bone". I know the term is loosely used for a number of different covers and was wondering if you can tell us how you think the jigging is going to turn out on these? Below is my WWI Camillus with an ancient for size reference.





 
I asked for some jigging that looked like Rodgers bone cbr, but depending on how sharp the cutters are, and the person operating the jigging machine, the appearance can vary. Usually it looks great regardless!
I will be as surprised as you will be, to a certain extent!
 
Jack Black said:
Humble Gev?! :eek: It's a stunner! :cool:

They were hand cutting (or 'hewing' files in Sheffield well into the the twentieth century! Machining was always more advanced in the US however. A bit of trivia:

THE FILE-HEWER'S LAMENTATION, by JOSEPH MATHER (a Sheffield file-hewer himself)

Ordained I was a beggar,
And have no cause to swagger;
It pierces like a dagger,
To think I'm thus forlorn.
My trade or occupation
Was ground for lamentation,
Which makes me curse my station,
And wish I'd ne'er been born.
Of slaving I am weary,
From June to January;
To nature it's contrary,
This, I presume, is fact.
Although, without a stammer,
Our Nell exclaims I clam her,
I've wield my six-pound hammer
Till I am grown round-backed.

. . . . . . . . . . .

An hanging day is wanted;
Was it by justice granted,
Poor men distressed and daunted
Would then have cause to sing:
To see in active motion
Rich knaves in full proportion,
For their unjust extortion
And vile offences, swing.


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File-hewers were also known as Nicker-peckers.

Some further info for anyone interested: http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/matshef/unwin/MSfilecutter.htm
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That account of the file cutters of Sheffield, technique and history and customs, was absolutely fascinating. Not for the first time, I'm glad I don't have a job like that.

Thanks very much for posting the link.
 
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