Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives

[LongBlade]

Bringing this thread back to the top with something abit different...

Burkinshaw Fruit Grafting Froe - Measures 6 7/8" and no doubt a sharp cutting edge... Interestingly Burkinshaw advertised back in the 1800s that horticultural knives were one of their specialties... The stamp of A Burkinshaw's Sons probably indicates that is was made post 1880 or 81 after aaron passed away and the sons took over the business. These tools were used for grafting a branch of one fruit tree to another (though I would assume it could be used for any type of tree) - whether to add additional branches of same variety or to create new varieties if I am not mistaken...

(PS - I may just have to put this in the metal handle knife thread too )....

[Miller Bro's]

Nice find Lee!

[FRJ]

That is a very neat tool, Lee.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dimitri and Joe ... I didn't see any other fruit grafting froes on this thread so figured it would be nice to have at least one

[Miller Bro's]

I got a couple somewhere but never posted them

[LongBlade]

I posted this Burkinshaw Hawkbill under General Knife Discussion where the full story is written and great information was provided by Dimitri as to the interesting pile side tang stamp of symbols. Please see the following link for the information rather than copying and pasting it again : http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 35#p560735

To keep this Burkinshaw Hawkbill archived under Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives the following are photos of the knife:

Thanks for looking!!

[steve99f]

Just got this C F Wolfertz from Sauconian at a local show this weekend. Great snap and stamp.

[LongBlade]

Nice hawkbill Steve ... it is amazing to me how many retain great opening and closing snap given they were used hard for pruning (even the one I posted above from Burkinshaw which is probably 150 years old with a few metal mite bites and was obviously used hard still snaps like a bear trap - it would no doubt do some major finger damage if I was careless in closing it ... than again the springs on hawkbills are thick and strong so perhaps that is the reason...

[FRJ]

Very nice knives, Lee and Steve.

[steve99f]

I haven't run into one yet that wasn't hell for stout either Long Blade. Nothing broken of course. I wouldn't normally have bought this but its a Wolfertz, my 3rd one and the first that doesn't have cell handles. Very pleased with it. Need to find something to prune.

Thanks for the kind words Joe.

[cato]

Nice pruners posted...

Got this vintage PUMA MUSKRAT PRUNER

[FRJ]

WOW!
That thing is pretty neat, cato.

Reminds me of a Japanese trim saw.

[ratlesnake75]

Hey GUYS, I LOVE this pattern!!!
I have a Nice Holley to add to this thread and a Cool looking American Shear
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey GUYS, I just couldnt help myself this morning!!! Gotta post this BIG FAT STAG Hawk
Stamping says Baker Salop,,,,Integral Bolsters & Liners,,,Civil War era or earlier
Kind Regards,
Mark

[FRJ]

Wonderful old knives Mark.

Here's an old Schrade Walden NY .............

[LongBlade]

Nice old pruners Mark and Joe ...

Mark - love the scratted handle on that American Shear!!

Joe -that Schrade has beautiful wood and the blade is so full - sweet!!!

[dcgm4]

Awesome knives, guys!

Mark,that stag is gorgeous!

[JohnR]

Mark, Joe, really nice pruners guys. Picked up this NYK Co Walden this week, pretty close to full blade.

[LongBlade]

Awesome John ... You just don't find too many pruners with such a full blade as they were worked hard as a "tool" - I would say more than pretty close to full ...

[FRJ]

That's a real keeper there, John.

Good ol' New York Knife!

[JohnR]

Thanks for the comments on the NYK guys, appreciate it.

Here is an unusual one, a small Winchester 3 3/8", really a pleasant surprise when I opened the box. I was expecting a normal size pruner, did not even know anyone had made small ones back then. Pictures show it next to a normal size Cattaraugus and an Ulster capped end for comparison.

[steve99f]

I wasn't aware pruners were made on a smaller frame either John, Nice knife. Even has the shield, not that common on a pruner I don' t think.

[JohnR]

Thanks Steve, until this one I also wasn't aware that they made small ones in this shape and like you state the shield is unusual on a pruner.

[LongBlade]

Nice old small pruner Dave .... I have probably 2 among my hawkbills - a Walden Knife Co and a LF&C... I think they were made for the possible user be it a child, woman or man who just needed a small pruner ...

[JohnR]

Added this Maher & Grosh capped end, don't think it saw much use, has some etch left and I think factory edge, has suffered some sandpaper abuse, also I think it's a little unusual to have brass liners. I have several capped end pruners and this one is the only one with brass.