Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thats a great find Lee, congratulations!
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
djknife13 wrote:Here's a better picture of the fat IXL scales. The second picture contains (top to bottom) Winchester with secondary saw blade, a Thomas Turner with smooth horn scales, a Harrison Bros. and Howson also stamped Cutler to her majesty, This one reminds me of a Rogers hawkbill and they were neighbors at No.45 Norfolk St. and Rogers were at No.6 Norfolk St. The bottom is a Northfield. I've probably posted some of these before. ____Dave
Dave, love that fat Wostenholm, only one I have seen from them. I have a Shirley's that has stag that fat, originally posted it in the vintage stag thread.
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Nice Shirley Hawkbill John ... Nothing like that fat old stag ...
Here's one I recently found on a local shop hunt which I couldn't leave behind and my only duplicate though this one is ebony rather than cocobolo (I'll add the photo of my other from many pages back for convenience at the end of this post) - Snapped some photos today but at the same time I realized I never took photos of a number of my Hawkbills from past scores ).... So on a different note more photos of other Hawkbills to come ...
H&B - New Britain CT - Ebony handles and 4 & 3/4" closed - Nice deep blade stamp and crisp tang stamp (interestingly it looks like the die used had the bottom of the B missing )... Brass end cap and liners as does my other... Bear trap snap... No doubt sharpened but mainly towards the tip or bill - on these blades there was not a large "bill" as on some others according to viewing the H&B catalog cut below which I attached (and I believe posted by Lyle on the Farmers Jack thread) - Not all makers made Hawhkills with big sweeping "bills"....
Anyway very rarely do you find unused or unsharpened Hawkbills and most were used hard - as a result its always interesting to me how Hawkbills were sharpened over the years by the original owners who used them - it gives them great character ...
My other H&B Hawkbill (All the same except I believe Cocobolo handles - the blade was sharpened differently but believe they were both the same as the beginning (although this one is 4 &5/8"
Catalog Cut from 1900 - See right hand page bottom though that Hawkill with same characteristics is listed as 4 & 1/4" but believe the same overall including blade shape
Here's one I recently found on a local shop hunt which I couldn't leave behind and my only duplicate though this one is ebony rather than cocobolo (I'll add the photo of my other from many pages back for convenience at the end of this post) - Snapped some photos today but at the same time I realized I never took photos of a number of my Hawkbills from past scores ).... So on a different note more photos of other Hawkbills to come ...
H&B - New Britain CT - Ebony handles and 4 & 3/4" closed - Nice deep blade stamp and crisp tang stamp (interestingly it looks like the die used had the bottom of the B missing )... Brass end cap and liners as does my other... Bear trap snap... No doubt sharpened but mainly towards the tip or bill - on these blades there was not a large "bill" as on some others according to viewing the H&B catalog cut below which I attached (and I believe posted by Lyle on the Farmers Jack thread) - Not all makers made Hawhkills with big sweeping "bills"....
Anyway very rarely do you find unused or unsharpened Hawkbills and most were used hard - as a result its always interesting to me how Hawkbills were sharpened over the years by the original owners who used them - it gives them great character ...
My other H&B Hawkbill (All the same except I believe Cocobolo handles - the blade was sharpened differently but believe they were both the same as the beginning (although this one is 4 &5/8"
Catalog Cut from 1900 - See right hand page bottom though that Hawkill with same characteristics is listed as 4 & 1/4" but believe the same overall including blade shape
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
John, that Shirley is gorgeous. I've never heard of them. Lee, I like all the H&B knives I've seen and yours is really nice. I have two, one with the blade stamp and one without. I have a nice big coke hunter too that I bought years ago at a gun show along with 4 other hunters for $10 each. I really like dealing with gun dealers who don't think old knives have any real value. Let's not tell them.____Dave
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks Dave ... sounds like you have some nice H&Bs - I did see a jumbo H&B Hunter last weekend at the NCCA show which had a massive blade - biggest Hunter I ever seen but I let it slide (but know where it is if I ever decide on it)...
I agree Dave - I always say knowledge is king in buying knives ... on the other hand I’ve seen dealers over price them as well thinking the complete opposite extreme - they think they are more valuable than their real market worth ...djknife13 wrote: I really like dealing with gun dealers who don't think old knives have any real value. Let's not tell them.____Dave
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Wow Lee, you are on a roll, those are some great H&B's.
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks John ... actually some are an old roll and some a new roll ... a few coming up including the previous cocobolo H&B above were found awhile back - some 2-3 years ago but for some reason I never took pics... Now I am on a mission to get more up on this thread including a Southington, Conn Cut Co, Waterville, Challenge etc ...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Here's another to share now that I am checking through them, definitely a few more as I get time
Southington Cut Co - 4 & 5/16" closed - Cocobolo handles - Aged in terms of some staining though blade still retinas a nice shape - and the blade still is a bear trap and tight - not bad for a knife often used hard and to me speaks somewhat to quality ... Another pattern not seen too often from Southington imo.. at least I haven't seen many on the hunt...
Southington Cut Co - 4 & 5/16" closed - Cocobolo handles - Aged in terms of some staining though blade still retinas a nice shape - and the blade still is a bear trap and tight - not bad for a knife often used hard and to me speaks somewhat to quality ... Another pattern not seen too often from Southington imo.. at least I haven't seen many on the hunt...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Very nice Lee, I've only seen one Southington in person and was able to get it, even though it had metal handles. It is a very well made knife. I really like your pruner
Bill
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks Bill ...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
That is a great knife, Lee. I love that curved Southington stamp.
Looking forward to your other pictures.
Looking forward to your other pictures.
Joe
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks Joe ...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Another great one Lee, Southington's are very well made knives and not easy to find in good condition.
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks John ... Agree with you 100% - I think this knife in the wrong hands could have suffered the dreaded “buffer” ..
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Here's an oldie for the thread -
Conn Cutlery Co / Naugatuck - Company dates 1867-1883... This ebony hawkbill is an old warrior - definitely well used and still snaps hard with an age of 136 years to 152 years based on company existence ... 4 & 3/8" closed... The ebony handle has a slimmer feel to it than many of mine but a comfortable shape... Blade has a deep gray patina (actually some heavy black staining in parts - no doubt sharpened having been used extensively ... However a tough old CT stamp to find so was happy to add it which was 3 years ago now... I have never seen another Conn Cut Co Hawkbill... You need to look closely at the tang stamp but under Conn/Cutlery Co are Naugatuck letter remnants - a few of which can still be seen.. Interestingly from a historical perspective Homer Twitchell was a Principal of the company and knives with a Twitchell stamp do exist but are very rare..
Conn Cutlery Co / Naugatuck - Company dates 1867-1883... This ebony hawkbill is an old warrior - definitely well used and still snaps hard with an age of 136 years to 152 years based on company existence ... 4 & 3/8" closed... The ebony handle has a slimmer feel to it than many of mine but a comfortable shape... Blade has a deep gray patina (actually some heavy black staining in parts - no doubt sharpened having been used extensively ... However a tough old CT stamp to find so was happy to add it which was 3 years ago now... I have never seen another Conn Cut Co Hawkbill... You need to look closely at the tang stamp but under Conn/Cutlery Co are Naugatuck letter remnants - a few of which can still be seen.. Interestingly from a historical perspective Homer Twitchell was a Principal of the company and knives with a Twitchell stamp do exist but are very rare..
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
What a great old knife that is, Lee. I really like that handle.
An honest old knife that makes my HSB look downright modern.
An honest old knife that makes my HSB look downright modern.
Joe
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Very nice Lee,excellent find and another good looking old knife,with the rare stamp!!!
Bill
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks Joe and Bill ...
Nice HSB Joe ...
Nice HSB Joe ...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
I like those curved blades Lee and Joe.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]
GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf
May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf
May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Thanks Lyle ... Good to see you online .. hope all is well!wlf wrote:I like those curved blades Lee and Joe.
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
Here's Challenge Cut Co - Cocobolo - 3 & 7/8" closed so on the smaller side... Decent condition and stamp is crisp ..
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Lee
Lee
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Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
I found this BUCKINGHAM MFG. CO., INC. 7089 pruning knife while doing some digging
years ago. It looks a 100% better now.
years ago. It looks a 100% better now.
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Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
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Skip
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Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
My goodness! What an appropriate way to find a pruning knife,while you are digging. Great find NW and a good job at restoring it!
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Greg
IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.
PROUD MEMBER AAPK, NRA.
Greg
IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.
PROUD MEMBER AAPK, NRA.
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
That is a classic looking pruner NW NY ... looks like it survived well - that is literally a cool find in the dirt ..
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Lee
Lee
Re: Old Pruning and Horticultural Knives
I think I've posted all of these before but the group shot shows a range of sizes, a T.Hague, Challenge Sheffield, Wostenholm and a Saynor.