Loomfixer Love: Show them if ya got them.

[cudgee]

A thought has come to me reading these posts, and i do not get them very often. If you look at all the old knives that were designed for hard work-Loomfixer, Sailors Knives, Sheepsfoot and Horticulture knives, they all have the same shape blade. When i was a kid, i asked a farmer why he carried a sheepsfoot knife, and he explained to me that the straight blade was just a good all round knife that stood up to hard work and was easy to sharpen at the end of the day. Those working people that went before us knew what they were talking about, and liked practical no frills tools that did the job. Just a thought. Someone mentioned Tobacco bone, i am going to post a Cotton sampler that i have with Tobacco bone, just to show how good they look. Wish someone would bring out a Loomfixer in Tobacco bone, i would be in for a couple. Have a good week everyone.

[Colonel26]

A thought has come to me reading these posts, and i do not get them very often. If you look at all the old knives that were designed for hard work-Loomfixer, Sailors Knives, Sheepsfoot and Horticulture knives, they all have the same shape blade. When i was a kid, i asked a farmer why he carried a sheepsfoot knife, and he explained to me that the straight blade was just a good all round knife that stood up to hard work and was easy to sharpen at the end of the day. Those working people that went before us knew what they were talking about, and liked practical no frills tools that did the job. Just a thought. Someone mentioned Tobacco bone, i am going to post a Cotton sampler that i have with Tobacco bone, just to show how good they look. Wish someone would bring out a Loomfixer in Tobacco bone, i would be in for a couple. Have a good week everyone.
IMAG0044.jpg

I agree completely. The sheepsfoot blade is my favorite and most used blade whether I’m working in the farm, in the shop, or just about anything else. Mostly I pack a stockman, out of tradition and habit, but the first blade I reach for on it is the sheepsfoot.

And that is some nice looking bone.

[bighomer]

[Colonel26]

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Good looking look fixers there neighbor! My son has a red one like that. They’re right pretty.

[LongBlade]

Cool thread and nice array of loom fixers by all ...

Here's another New England Whaler made by a New England company - Humason & Beckley (H&B Mfg Co) New Britain CT (1852-1912) - Horn handle and 3 & 1/2" closed.. As an aside H&B was bought by LF&C in 1912 which is when LF&C began producing pocket knives... I imagine similar to a loom fixer where one can see their utility based on the blunt tip for cutting I understand many were used on whaling ships as rope knives as well...

[eveled]

Wow! Great old knife. Any idea about the weird protrusion at the base of the blade? I wonder what function it served.

[Colonel26]

Nice New England Whaler. I wonder if they were all that size, as it’s about half an inch shorter than what would come to be called a loom fixer? Either way, that’s a real nice addition to a loom fixer collection!

Eveled, that kick looks an awful lot like the kick on an IXL knife I have. I always thought a kick like that really dressed up a knife.

[LongBlade]

Wow! Great old knife. Any idea about the weird protrusion at the base of the blade? I wonder what function it served.

Nice New England Whaler. I wonder if they were all that size, as it’s about half an inch shorter than what would come to be called a loom fixer? Either way, that’s a real nice addition to a loom fixer collection!

Eveled, that kick looks an awful lot like the kick on an IXL knife I have. I always thought a kick like that really dressed up a knife.

Thanks eveled and Colonel26 ...

eveled - The protrusion is an old style kick made for the blade - often referred to as a stovepipe or top hat kick - and interestingly mostly seen on old Sheffield knives - but along those lines many of those British cutlers came to CT to work at all the cutleries and I know some continued making them with those kicks - I have seen them on a few old CT made knives but mostly Sheffield as Col26 noted on his IXL knife...

Col26 - I agree with you Col26 on those old kicks - they add style ... Regarding the size - New England Whalers were made smaller - here's a clip quoted from Blades Guide on New England Whalers included with Rope knives: "Smaller curved jacks with a stout sheepfoot blade are called New England Whalers.They may have gotten their name from being a handy size for working with light harpoon line. New England Whalers may be drilled for a lanyard, but they have no bail."

[Colonel26]

Wow! Great old knife. Any idea about the weird protrusion at the base of the blade? I wonder what function it served.

Nice New England Whaler. I wonder if they were all that size, as it’s about half an inch shorter than what would come to be called a loom fixer? Either way, that’s a real nice addition to a loom fixer collection!

Eveled, that kick looks an awful lot like the kick on an IXL knife I have. I always thought a kick like that really dressed up a knife.

Thanks eveled and Colonel26 ...

eveled - The protrusion is an old style kick made for the blade - often referred to as a stovepipe or top hat kick - and interestingly mostly seen on old Sheffield knives - but along those lines many of those British cutlers came to CT to work at all the cutleries and I know some continued making them with those kicks - I have seen them on a few old CT made knives but mostly Sheffield as Col26 noted on his IXL knife...

Col26 - I agree with you Col26 on those old kicks - they add style ... Regarding the size - New England Whalers were made smaller - here's a clip quoted from Blades Guide on New England Whalers included with Rope knives: "Smaller curved jacks with a stout sheepfoot blade are called New England Whalers.They may have gotten their name from being a handy size for working with light harpoon line. New England Whalers may be drilled for a lanyard, but they have no bail."

Thank you for the information! Now the search begins! Again, very nice knife.

[eveled]

Thanks for the education on those old kicks. Also that New England’s Whalers are smaller. I never realized that. Makes sense about the lanyard hole around water you would want a safety to prevent loosing it. Conversely around a loom a lanyard would just get tangled up.

[eveled]

A new Green bone Rough Rider Half hawk. It has a pocket clip on the opposite bolster.

[jwwood]

Those half hawks or loom fixer are the work horse of the Rough Rider line. I like yours.

[jerryd6818]

3C044D48-7F74-4BDB-A9E1-174FAAD267C4.jpeg

A new Green bone Rough Rider Half hawk. It has a pocket clip on the opposite bolster.

I bought one of those. When I got it, it was fug-ugly so I sent it off for some new clothes. I'll post it when it returns home.

[eveled]

3C044D48-7F74-4BDB-A9E1-174FAAD267C4.jpeg

A new Green bone Rough Rider Half hawk. It has a pocket clip on the opposite bolster.

I bought one of those. When I got it, it was fug-ugly so I sent it off for some new clothes. I'll post it when it returns home.

Be sure to post pictures when it comes back.

[jerryd6818]

Actually Jeff took and sent pictures once he finished so I can provide them now.

These are the choices I had. Plus some synthetic materials.

[Papa Bones]

Actually Jeff took and sent pictures once he finished so I can provide them now.
P1020878.JPG
P1020879.JPG
P1020883.JPG
P1020882.JPG

These are the choices I had. Plus some synthetic materials.
Handle choices.JPG

Whooooooo-Weeeeeee that turned out nice Jerry.

[jerryd6818]

Actually Jeff took and sent pictures once he finished so I can provide them now.
P1020878.JPG
P1020879.JPG
P1020883.JPG
P1020882.JPG

These are the choices I had. Plus some synthetic materials.
Handle choices.JPG

Whooooooo-Weeeeeee that turned out nice Jerry.

You betchum Red Ryder. I'm tickled pink with it and it's not even on it's way back to me yet.

[QTCut5]

Boy Howdy...that's a snazzy makeover alright. You certainly chose the right material, jerryd, and Jeff did a bang-up job indeed.

Congrats to both of youse.

[Colonel26]

That’s purty!

[jmh58]

Very Nice jerry!! Great job Jeff.. Nicely done Gents!!
John

[edge213]

Actually Jeff took and sent pictures once he finished so I can provide them now.
P1020878.JPG
P1020879.JPG
P1020883.JPG
P1020882.JPG

These are the choices I had. Plus some synthetic materials.
Handle choices.JPG

Good choice Jerry. Much improved.

[bighomer]

A beautiful knife for sure.

[TPK]

A beautiful knife for sure.

I do agree with ya bighomer!

Looks beautiful!

[eveled]

Thanks for sharing it’s beautiful.

[jerryd6818]

While scrolling through another thread, I realized I have another "Loomfixer" but it's not called "Loomfixer". It's a GEC 563211 and they called it a "Weaver Jack".

By the way, there are several listings on eBay for Rough Rider Half-Hawk Coal Miners. All listed for $16 & change.