UGLY DUCKLINGS!

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 pm

Like most of you folks, I have a number of safe queens (see the barlow thread!), knives beautiful to own. I imagine carrying beautiful knives in my pocket, and indeed do carry my Bose HJ, and others. Here is a knife that has been replaced in my Schrade collection, by a more perfect example. So I could sell or trade it, but the bone is flawed. It's not chipped or cracked, but it has "off" areas that are quite porous, and the bail is missing. The porous areas absorbed dye excessively, and soak up oil, keeping them dark and gnarly. This knife may even have been labeled a "second", but the Cut. Co. tang stamps are perfect, and haven't been x'ed out.
What to do? Since it had been used slightly, I honed it up on my new EZ-lap, and it takes a great edge - both blades! The knife may have been stored with a deteriorated celluloid knife, judging from the uneven patina at the exposed areas.
I've been looking for a Schrade Cut Co to carry, to satisfy my need to "walk the talk". Why collect something great if you don't carry/use one? It indicates your belief in its greatness! It feels nice in my right front pocket, and I will rotate it with a couple of others. I won't polish it, because I like its character. I'm going on 63 in a month or two, and this knife is about the same age (or older) so it's a good fit.
I might get in trouble for saying this, but when you are my age, you say what you like: This knife is like a good wife, not so beautiful you have to square off with a bunch of mutts all the time, but it has lots of inner beauty and strength, just what a grizzled old guy needs!
Show us YOUR ugly ducklings!

woseyjales · Post by **woseyjales** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:27 am

Sounds like by 'ugly duckling' you mean the knives that are used (but hopefully not abused).
I have carried a Case 22087 since 1978 as my daily user. My first one had the tip broken from master by wife (ex now) so I reshaped the tip but got a replacement anyway. #1 stayed lost for about 10 years til I found it while looking for something else.
So both fit the ugly duckling tag but both still sharp with smooth action and even smoother surfaces. A couple of true genUwine Pocket worns!
Recently sent #1 to a fellow collector up North that was an 087 pattern fancier. With two of them around, no way I'd wear them both out before I'm gone. So spread the fun out some, right?
I did have a Schrade-Walden 708 in the EDC rotation but haven't seen it in a few months.

I liked it since it was lighter than the 22087 on those days when I just didn't have the energy to lug that 087 all day.

(pretty pitiful, huh?)
Haven't found a replacement yet, figure the first one won't come back til I do get another. Seen a few on eBay, but not quite the same. Heck, a nw one won't work the same as the one found in a parking lot run over and missing a bolster. Cleaned up fine and a little oil and honing put it back to work. Sure looks better when they have 4 bolsters tho!

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:19 am

i got this old johnny muskrat club knife with a rusted tip. just broke in my hand. no shield(damn case glue). reshaped blade, made a shield and now it's a great carry. cv steel sharpens great. bone handles are barely pocketworn. butt ugly though!

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:32 am

This one is not mine but she belongs here in this post.

This one looks like she had acid thrown in her face...

To me she is the UGLYEST Knife I have ever seen.

All most evil ...

I wounder how many knives she took to the grave yard with her.

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:50 am

That "gas-out" looks like it could be saved! New handle, and some cleaning, and it's a good user.
Maybe I wasn't clear. In the classic story, the ugly duckling turned out to be a swan! I think of my knife as imperfect looking, but quite functional. A pleasure to carry.
I agree that "johnny muskrat" ain't too purty but it works like a good knife. Even the "bolsterless" knife has redeeming qualities. I'd probably try to rig a bolster though.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:11 pm

Yep, it can be rescued with the right tools. It really doesn't have any value as is. So, you can do pretty much whatever you want to make a decent carry knife and not worry about affecting value.

Even though the canoes are a mess, even those are candidates. You will have to clean everything and might have have to make a few parts or so.

stancaiman · Post by **stancaiman** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:48 pm

some knives which would require a repair. (it is of old knives recovered in my grandparents houses)

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:47 pm

Interesting old knives Stancaiman. It would be nice to have a closer look!

stancaiman · Post by **stancaiman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:58 am

upnorth wrote:Interesting old knives Stancaiman. It would be nice to have a closer look!

i will (but not now, i'm in work

)

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:14 pm

This is a Wostenholm gardening knife with cocobolo handles. The blade shape is not what it once was and there is no snap left, but it takes a very sharp edge. A great user indoors and out

s-k

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:49 pm

S-K,
Nice one!

That looks like it could be reworked to put some snap in the spring & re-profile the blade into a killer Wharncliffe.

Then it would go from ugly duckling to killer swan!

It should make a dandy Wharnie!

Dale

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:58 am

Thanks Dale. I might try that one day.

s-k

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:35 pm

I think this one fits into this catergory.

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 12:14 pm

Your rescued Schrade, from the Barlow thread. A true ugly duckling, now a swan!