Farmer's Jacks

[wlf]

Thanks Dave,Mel,Charlie ,and Jerry for looking.I've seen a lot of Schrades Jerry,but otherwise they seem rare,especially in nice shape. Those curves got me from the first.

Mel,some of the Tina horticultural knives with horn handles sell for about $220!!

Here's a link to a seller of them:

http://www.orchardsedge.com/tools/tina/knives

Hey Jerry,how do you know to remove all after those symbols? And thanks for your help and patience.

[jerryd6818]

I just keep hacking at it until something works. Usually it's a case of, "It did work. What's different about this one."

[philco]

Lyle,
Have you given any thought to displaying your collection at one of the shows ? (Like maybe Dalton) I think there'd be a lot of folks who would enjoy seeing what you've put together.

[wlf]

Thanks for looking guys,I have a few more later.

The thought has occurred Phil,but the cost of a table,lodging ,food,and time has deterred me.

Bill Howard at GEC has spoken to me about maybe displaying at the Rendezvous,if they can make room??

[Miller Bro's]

3rd

You don't have to surmise who made this H A Dreer,it's marked both sides of the blades,one side H A Dreer Phila, one side Walden Knife Co. Both blades...

You won`t find many Walden made knives with stag handles, very rare knife Lyle!

[wlf]

Thanks Dimitri,you always have good information.Thank you for taking the time to look and respond. I appreciate your expertise.I hope we can always stay in touch,as with the other friends I've been afforded here.Thank y'all for what you do for this community.

[Miller Bro's]

Thank you Lyle, I am just a phone call away anytime you want to talk

[wlf]

This one's appearance belies it's age.Most of the early Shapleigh's and there relatives were made by Empire I believe. Such is this rare find.Apparently a sales sample that somehow survived these approximately 100 years.

You've seen her face before,now she's unveiled,a Shapleigh diamond edge etched.I expect this one was made c. 1920's, before Schrade took over the manufacturing of this pattern from Empire for Shapleigh. Unlike the other old A F Shapleigh shown earlier, which I think was made sometime between 1888 - 1902( by the construction[it's very heavy],stamping, and John Goins).

[wlf]

Here's another relative, stamped S Norvel St Louis.Saunders Norvel began as a clerk for E C Simmons Hardware in the late 1800s,and later became president of the Shapleigh Company.I had thought it was Empire made,but I think maybe Schrade now,don't know?. Seems the Schrades have almost imperceptible slimmer frame and smaller,more rounded lower bolsters.Then again it may just be heavily worn down??

[Dinadan]

Lyle - that Norvel is beauty. At first sight I thought that the main blade must be really worn down by sharpening. However, I see that it still has a choil, so now I am not so sure.

[jerryd6818]

Lyle, you have the most marvelous collection of Farmer's Jacks. I admire your focus and tenacity.

[1967redrider]

Now that's what I call pick bone. Gorgeous find, Lyle!

[peanut740]

Lyle, that etched Diamond Edge is hard to beat.Well done my friend.

[wlf]

Thanks for looking my friends,Mel,John,Jerry,and Roger.

Roger it is an extraordinary example of old cutlery.

Mel it is well worn,but a rare mark,you can't always choose when looking for examples of a specific pattern. Thank you for looking.

[thegreedygulo]

NICE ones Lyle!! Congrats.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Lyle, those two are great additions.
I particularly like that Empire/Shapleigh.
What's not to like on that one, eh?

You know, display tables at the Oregon Knife Collectors show are free, it's the greatest show there is for vintage knife displays (The entire outer perimeter and a stage is all display) and an award there for your collection would be icing on the cake.

Contact Dennis Ellingson and request a display judging sheet. That way, you can dot all the i's and cross all the t's re' a display.

Plus, a trip to the Oregon coast would be a nice trip.

Charlie Noyes

[wlf]

Thanks for looking Charlie and Roger.

Charlie,I've been considering the trip. A friend up there said he would pay my hotel expenses,you can't beat that.I really never considered setting up,but I would enjoy showing the collection.I think this pattern is going to be relevant to that area this year too.

Maybe we could get Roger to bring the Bokers too,that would be great.I've been trying to get John Lloyd(custom knife maker and a great guy) to go also.I've been seriously considering it.You being there makes it more intriguing.I hope you're taking the collection.

Thanks very much for the invitation,that means a lot.

[Dinadan]

Here is a Parker Cutlery pruner, not sure if it is current production, but quite new. I do not recall seeing one in this thread. Notice the jigging, it looks as if someone free hand jigged over a saw cut pattern.

[wlf]

Thanks for posting that Mel,I've never seen one.Looks like one of his Japan era knives. What's the length closed.

After viewing the 2nd picture I'm sure it's Japan.

[Dinadan]

The Parker is exactly 4" long closed. A pretty beefy knife.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Lyle, I'm not going to Eugene this year. Sorry if I left that impression.

I would, indeed, like to take The Robeson Collection out there and display it one last time before I divest myself of it, just not this year.

Charlie

[wlf]

Another nice example of this pattern,in almost unused shape.I don't know what happened to the pruning blade,it's been reprofiled for some reason?? Otherwise the knife seems unused ,with some exquisite old bone , which some call pick bone.The handles are very crisp.

NYK Hammer Brand etched

[wlf]

That Parker has ,what looks to me,typical Japanese production jigging on the bone.

[Dinadan]

I like that Hammer knife. If someone reprofiled the pruner blade they were careful not to damage the etch. I see the few big scratches on both sides, but nothing like I would leave if I were reprofiling the blade!

Regarding the Parker, I do not recall seeing another knife where I thought that the jigging was done freehand. Mind you, I have no idea how it is actually done in any factory, I just think it looks odd, as if a second jigging was applied after the first sawcut jigging.

[wlf]

We'll ask Dimitri,he'll know.