Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

Wow! Great pic mate

Thanks for the kind comments on the action finessing tips I posted earlier, folks.

Great Lambsfoot knives being shown. Does anyone have more information about the maker Humphreys Radiant?

Dylan, I hope you're on the mend and feeling better, mate.

Thanks for that info on Don Whillans, Jack - I notice The Villain is available in ebook form.

You climbers have probably already seen this, but I was captivated while reading of Alex Hennold's free solo climb of El Capitan, in Yosemite recently.

These are what I had with me this past weekend.



(Picked up a bit of potassium permanganate to darken the stag handles of Lefty - seemed to work ok.)

Jack Black said:

Wow! Great pic mate

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Thanks jack. I get lucky sometimes.

I am happy to report that I have made some progress with the ebony Lambsfoot. The binding is gone and the pull is now even. Now I can proceed with smoothing out the action .
Chin & Jack , thank you for the climbing links. I enjoyed the reading very much.
Chin, Lefty looks great.

Thanks for all the well wishes, fellas, I am doing much better, aside from a persistent cough now and then.

Some rather fine knives being displayed, I love seeing them. I am thoroughly enjoying Rosie, she is proving to be an exceptional companion. I plan on doing an in depth review and write up here real soon, I'll be sure to post it here.

In the meantime, here she is yet again.

Cambertree said:

Great Lambsfoot knives being shown. Does anyone have more information about the maker Humphreys Radiant?

Thanks for that info on Don Whillans, Jack - I notice The Villain is available in ebook form.

You climbers have probably already seen this, but I was captivated while reading of Alex Hennold's free solo climb of El Capitan, in Yosemite recently.

These are what I had with me this past weekend.

(Picked up a bit of potassium permanganate to darken the stag handles of Lefty - seemed to work ok.)

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The good Prof. Tweedale tells us that W.R. Humphreys & Company Ltd was established around 1879, by an Irishman (County Cavan), William Robert Humphreys, who was an ironmonger and cutlery traveller. He had some legal issues, being sued for bad debts, and fined for imitating the marks of George Butler & Co. In 1904, Humphreys' became a limited company. They manufactured and/or marketed a wide range of table and pocket knives. Mr Humphreys died in 1911. The firm was liquidated in 1933. However, in 1948, the firm was again listed in trade directories, moving to Portland Works (home of Jack Black Knives! ) in the 1960's. Humphreys was last listed in the 1970's.

Glad you found the info on Don Whillans interesting Chin El Capitan always fills me with awe

Nice work on Lefty my friend I like the tang stamp too

flatblackcapo said:

I am happy to report that I have made some progress with the ebony Lambsfoot. The binding is gone and the pull is now even. Now I can proceed with smoothing out the action .
Chin & Jack , thank you for the climbing links. I enjoyed the reading very much.

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That's good to hear Kevin Glad you enjoyed the climbing stuff

Pàdruig said:

Thanks for all the well wishes, fellas, I am doing much better, aside from a persistent cough now and then.

Some rather fine knives being displayed, I love seeing them. I am thoroughly enjoying Rosie, she is proving to be an exceptional companion. I plan on doing an in depth review and write up here real soon, I'll be sure to post it here.

In the meantime, here she is yet again.

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Glad to hear your health is improving Dylan, that's a wonderful pic of Rosie Looking forward to reading your review

I'm carrying my ebony Lambsfoot today again



Old pic as I need to take some more

Thanks very much for the info on Humphreys, Jack.

Interesting that he was from County Cavan. I recall you mentioning how Sheffield had quite a large Irish population. Imitation of other cutlers' marks seemed to be rife too, or at least, not uncommon.

I don't believe I've ever heard the tale of your foray into knife production, Jack. Have you written an account of it anywhere? It sounds like you're 'once bitten, twice shy', the few times I've heard you refer in passing to the experience. Off topic, I know, but I'd be fascinated to see what knife styles you offered, sometime.

Ron, Half/Stop , I wonder whether we could see that beautiful knife with the blade fully open, if it's not too much trouble?

Kevin, I'm glad to hear your ebony Lambsfoot's breaking in ok.

Dylan, it's good to hear you're getting better. That's cool that you play the fiddle. One of my mates plays, he's in an Appalachian old timey band - and a couple of other bands too. I always enjoy hearing the fiddle played in person.

This one in pocket today - and I'm pleased with the effect of the potassium permanganate solution on the stag antler. I can definitely recommend the stuff.

Cambertree said:

Thanks very much for the info on Humphreys, Jack.

Interesting that he was from County Cavan. I recall you mentioning how Sheffield had quite a large Irish population. Imitation of other cutlers' marks seemed to be rife too, or at least, not uncommon.

I don't believe I've ever heard the tale of your foray into knife production, Jack. Have you written an account of it anywhere? It sounds like you're 'once bitten, twice shy', the few times I've heard you refer in passing to the experience. Off topic, I know, but I'd be fascinated to see what knife styles you offered, sometime.

...

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A pleasure my friend, I am grateful to Geoff Tweedale! Yes, correct on both my friend, a couple of my great grandfathers were Irish, and at least one a Sheffield cutler. As for the forgery, some of those old cutlers were rascals, even illustrious firms like Thomas Turner were not without their transgressions

I posted something on British Blades many years ago, but that site is gone now of course. It was in many ways a very frustrating period. The knives were all fixed-blades, and received a very good reception. I put a great deal of work into them (my avatar is from the business). Unfortunately, I discovered that there were still some rascals in the trade

Lefty is looking good my friend, nice work

Jack Black said:

CALLING ALL GUARDIANS! HELP ME WITH A BIG & DIRTY JOB!

The recent Photobucket shenanigans has inevitably caused some ugly gaps in this thread. These things happen from time to time, but I'd like to keep the Guardians thread as complete as possible, while it's still of manageable proportions. So I'm asking for your help. Please consider re-editing any affected posts you've made in this thread, so that your pics show again. As a reward, I'll do a giveaway. Your name goes in the hat once for each Lambsfoot photo you've posted here prior to this post - for each photo that can be seen! I'll do a draw in a month, and the winner gets a prize. How's that?

Thanks everyone

Jack

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Thanks to all the Members in Good Standing who have taken the time and trouble to go back and re-edit their posts. I very much appreciate you making the effort, and hope that we can maintain this thread between us. A Mention in Dispatches to Cambertree, who had a lot more photos to re-post than most. If you still have photos which aren't showing, it'd be great if you could re-post them, and as stated above I'll be doing a giveaway to say thanks. I'll go through the thread again towards the end of next week, and then do a draw

Jack

My Lambsfoot of the Day

Without our Chief High Guardian, the Lambsfoot knife might be relegated so some obscure annal somewhere!! This lowly honorary guardian is ever grateful!!
Good on ya, Jack!!

Wonderful pictures, Jack, Cambertree, and Padruig!!!
And thanks Jack for the additional information.

waynorth said:

Without our Chief High Guardian, the Lambsfoot knife might be relegated so some obscure annal somewhere!! This lowly honorary guardian is ever grateful!!
Good on ya, Jack!!

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I agree, and am also curious why the "Lambsfoot" model had such little presence (if any) in the U.S.?
We seem to have imported a great variety of "Sheepfoot" models from Sheffield, but virtually no "Lambsfoot" models???

herder said:

I agree, and am also curious why the "Lambsfoot" model had such little presence (if any) in the U.S.?
We seem to have imported a great variety of "Sheepfoot" models from Sheffield, but virtually no "Lambsfoot" models???

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Thanks for the kind words my friends, I am so pleased that a few more folks have taken to the Lambsfoot As to why the pattern didn't cross over the pond earlier, it's a question that several of us have pondered many times, there's even a whole thread (of Carl's) about it if I remember correctly. Perhaps it was partly to do with the seemingly comparatively late appearance of the pattern, at a time when the US cutlery industry was very well established, compared to in the past, and import tariffs were taking effect, with Sheffield cutlery firms looking to other markets (eg Australia)? I've previously hypothesised that, compared to Britain, there was perhaps a greater need for a bellied blade in the US, but Sheepsfoot blades were certainly favoured by some. The lack of US Lambsfoot knives is something I have pondered for several years now.

Jack Black said:

Thanks for the kind words my friends, I am so pleased that a few more folks have taken to the Lambsfoot As to why the pattern didn't cross over the pond earlier, it's a question that several of us have pondered many times, there's even a whole thread (of Carl's) about it if I remember correctly. Perhaps it was partly to do with the seemingly comparatively late appearance of the pattern, at a time when the US cutlery industry was very well established, compared to in the past, and import tariffs were taking effect, with Sheffield cutlery firms looking to other markets (eg Australia)? I've previously hypothesised that, compared to Britain, there was perhaps a greater need for a bellied blade in the US, but Sheepsfoot blades were certainly favoured by some. The lack of US Lambsfoot knives is something I have pondered for several years now.

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That's as good an answer as any.
I wish there were more examples available in the U.S. to get and study.

Cambertree said:

Ron, Half/Stop , I wonder whether we could see that beautiful knife with the blade fully open, if it's not too much trouble?

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Chin, I have a busy weekend ahead but I will try to work in some new photos. Always happy to oblige a fellow Guardian!

herder said:

That's as good an answer as any.
I wish there were more examples available in the U.S. to get and study.

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Thanks I had a pull pics off the net, but here's a vintage Parker Space Shuttle souvenir knife that comes close! Made in Japan rather than the US though, so the search for a US-made Lambsfoot continues!

Jack Black said:

Thanks I had a pull pics off the net, but here's a vintage Parker Space Shuttle souvenir knife that comes close! Made in Japan rather than the US though, so the search for a US-made Lambsfoot continues!

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OK, I think I found my new grail!

r8shell said:

OK, I think I found my new grail!

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Carrying this one today Have a great weekend Guardians

Cambertree - Ask and ye shall receive! Maybe not the best of photos but hurriedly taken none the less. Mark side and pile side with blade opened. Also I decided to snap a comparison shot with my large Rosewood A. Wright and Son.

Half/Stop said:

Cambertree - Ask and ye shall receive! Maybe not the best of photos but hurriedly taken none the less. Mark side and pile side with blade opened. Also I decided to snap a comparison shot with my large Rosewood A. Wright and Sons.

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Looks like your beautiful old Humphreys was the model for the A. Wright .
I hope that you bring Humphrey to Titusville Ron so I can get a picture of it and my TEW together .

Harry