Blade Nail Nicks and Long Pulls – Old and New

[Rookie]

hmmm, I always just assumed that since nail pulls are kinda round shaped, they were put in with a grinding wheel. I have no idea though. When I was in high-school I worked at a tool/die shop and ran a surface grinder, so that's just the first thing that popped in my head.

[terryl308]

Example of two Western folding hunter knves with the same model number (062) but different nail nicks. I always thought the match strike were older but I'm not so sure now. These are both made in Boulder, Co and both have delrin handles. The catalog page in Harvey Platts book still shows what I believe to be the match strike nick on the 1978 page. So I'm still confused! Catalog pages from the 50's show they used both the plain nick and the match strike. Anyone have any further info? thanks, Terry

[LongBlade]

Nice knives Terry - great example of the same exact knife pattern with 2 different nail nicks... I prefer the matchstriker nick myself ... After Rookie's example of the Eye Brand and Cripple Creek knives with matchstriker nicks I was wondering if older companies made any such as those... Sorry I can't help you in terms of one outdating the other but if both knives were shown in the same catalog I am guessing just aesthetics choices... Is there a noticeable difference in pulling either type of blade with those nicks? If they weren't pictured in the catalog as such I would guess just the cutler grabbing whatever nick was available to him... and thanks for explaining in your previous post your way of stamping your blades!!

[Rookie]

Well, guess I lied. I found a few more that I thought were interesting and should be shown.

This 2001 Schatt & Morgan barlow jack has the nail pull inside the blade swedge.

Giant teeth in this 2006 German Eye baby toothpick.

This 2011 Buck 55 lockback has the nail pull half in the grind, and half out.

[LongBlade]

Nice Rookie ... Keep'em coming ...

I am going to throw this old Wostenholm up again from initial thread as it is the shortest matchstriker "straight" long pull I have seen (thats a mouthful ...

[terryl308]

That is one classy old Wostenholm! I would call that a "mini matchstrike" LOL. I love the old stag, too bad we can't buy old stag like that. You just can't make that type of color in newer stag. Nice knife! Terry

[FRJ]

Great contributions on this thread.

Nice example of an unusual pull, Lee.

I have handled this knife. One of the most beautiful knives I have seen.

[galvanic1882]

My favorites are the ones that go all the way through the tang, early English and New England knives mostly. Here are 2

[LongBlade]

Nice Mike and have to agree - no doubt something special about long pulls through the tang ... Just as a friendly aside Ulster was NY as I am absolutely sure you know - not New England

[galvanic1882]

Oh a geography lesson!!! Thanks funny.

[gsmith7158]

Mike I thought anything north of Virginia was New England

[LongBlade]

I thought Virginia was west of Ohio

[galvanic1882]

You guys are too much, but yes New England has always been north of Virginia!!!

[dcgm4]

Mike I thought anything north of Virginia was New England

New England is made up of six states: Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.

[galvanic1882]

Oh my another lesson!!

[dcgm4]

Best write that down, Mike. It will be on tomorrow's quiz.

On another note, I never got short long pulls. Why not continue on to the tang? Laziness?

[galvanic1882]

Don't worry I am taking notes! Interesting about the short pull on that knife. I have to look and see if I have any like that. Might be the first time I have seen that or maybe never noticed it before?

[Mumbleypeg]

Best write that down, Mike. It will be on tomorrow's quiz.

On another note, I never got short long pulls. Why not continue on to the tang? Laziness?

Dave, if it bothers you too much you can send it to me! Nice knife, rare stamp.

Ken

[LongBlade]

RE: Geography - AAPK University provides all levels of education.. ...

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Nice short long pull and knife Dave ... I can see the point on why not carry down to the tang on that knife... on the Wostenholm I posted I guess there was little choice for that short long matchstriker pull based on IXL etch and blade design... on your knife - not sure it was laziness but maybe the punch available... you have any examples from that company with "longer" long pulls??

[dcgm4]

Ken, I'll keep that in mind. Ah, the thoughtfulness of AAPK members knows no bounds!

Mike, this Valley Forge also has a short long pull. The only other knives I recall seeing with this feature are Schrades, but surely there are others.

Lee, I can see why your Wostenholm needed to have a short long pull (gorgeous knife, btw ) but can't see a necessary reason for it on the U.S. Cut Co. or the Valley Forge. I do have a U.S. Cut Co. tear-drop with a full long pull. These knives were made by Schrade, most likely on contract.

[galvanic1882]

Here are a couple that I have with shorter pulls, I believe that for a couple of them it's because of the profile of the blade that dictated it but the others???

[Dinadan]

Interesting thread so far. That Tickler with the long pull going into the swedge is an unusual design. I have seen photos of knives with pulls like that, but I have never come across one in person.

Here are three old fish knives with short long pulls. Ulster, Hammer Brand, and Imperial.

Ulster, Hammer Brand, Imperial

I like the pull on this old Kutmaster - that is a real long pull.

Here is a double pull from the Olbertz factory in Germany. That long pull is cut deep and wide!

[djknife13]

I'll toss a couple of mine into the pot. The top one is a Robeson 132102 with standard short pulls on the two blades facing up, and a long pull on the little sheepsfoot blade, the 2nd knife is a HS&B with 2 long pulls including a match striker on the spea

r point. The 3 rd knife is a H.Sears 4 inch sleeveboard whittler with very fine small double pulls on the master blade. The 4th , also a whittler has a massive short pull and is a Robeson 13296. The other blades have tiny short pulls. The bottom knife is a Clay from Andover NY and it's short pull is framed nicely in a false edge. This one I believe started out as a two blade and the guy I bought it from liked to remove broken blades to make the knife a usable thin profile single blade, espically when the chances of finding a correct replacement secondary blade was remote. ____Dave

[deltaboy]

Give me a nice matchstricker pulls over any other.

[Rookie]

Give me a nice matchstricker pulls over any other.

Definitely the most pleasing to the eye. The striker pull really turns the Pinto into a Cadillac.