Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

Pàdruig said:
I completely understand what you are conveying. I grew up on a farm so it was very, very rare to have to call on somebody else to come out and fix something. We were used to fixing or making stuff ourselves and knives were a big fixture in our upbringing. When I took a job in the nearby city, I soon discovered that it was not unusual for my co-workers to not have a knife in their pocket. They just didn't see the same value in a cutting tool like I did. What I find bizarre and more than a little amusing is that many of these co-workers have become very good friends of mine and despite 15 years they still frequently ask to use my knife when we hang out, as opposed to simply getting one of their own.... I keep threatening to buy them all a solid pocket knife but sadly I think it would simply end up in a drawer somewhere, never to be used...
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I was raised in a more urban environment, but we were raised to tinker with things back in the day so my experience is quite parallel to yours. As I worked my way through school prior to entering the teaching profession, I learned a lot of little skills that come in handy. What amazes me is that many of the colleagues will let things literally go to pieces for want of turning a screw tight.
 
Carrying this one with me today.

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Bonzodog, could you please give us a review in words and photos of that IXL? It definitely looks interesting. Congrats.

Jack, what do you think of the IXL knives? I did see one for sale at Sheffield Trading.

These knives are addictive, but lacking in variety. Since the blades cannot be changed, how about working on the bolsters and handles? If they would only just venture out into more options of wood, that step alone would add some interest. Cocobolo, Bocote, or Ironwood are just three example that readily come to mind. The bolsters could also very easily be made to look a lot better by just adding some detailing.

Granted, GEC has many more patterns, but they have shown that changing things up a bit, while staying true to tradition, can keep people interested, (and buying).

I’d love to buy more Lambsfoot knives, but not the same one over and over. Jack, maybe the next Guardian Knife could be used to open the eyes of the Sheffield manufacturers to new possibilities in the bolsters and handle materials?
 
Yes my friends

Mr Knife’s amazing generous gift came home to Daddy. :D :thumbsup::thumbsup:
I love the Horn how it is so Translucent in the Sun.
Thank you Paul - The Knives were waiting for me at work when I popped into work yesterday - Paul Thank You for sending these to me!

Thank you again Jack matey - it’s a Stunner - I can’t wait to be able to photograph it with Jack Blacks amazing gift of a A Wright Horn handled Pruner - two horned beauties at once!!!!!
Posts to come in a few days!
Thank you SO MUCH once again everyone:) :thumbsup:
 
Leslie Tomville said:
Jack, what do you think of the IXL knives? I did see one for sale at Sheffield Trading.

These knives are addictive, but lacking in variety. Since the blades cannot be changed, how about working on the bolsters and handles? If they would only just venture out into more options of wood, that step alone would add some interest. Cocobolo, Bocote, or Ironwood are just three example that readily come to mind. The bolsters could also very easily be made to look a lot better by just adding some detailing.

Granted, GEC has many more patterns, but they have shown that changing things up a bit, while staying true to tradition, can keep people interested, (and buying).

I’d love to buy more Lambsfoot knives, but not the same one over and over. Jack, maybe the next Guardian Knife could be used to open the eyes of the Sheffield manufacturers to new possibilities in the bolsters and handle materials?
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I like carbon-steel Leslie, and today's IXL knives are all stainless. I'm sure bonzodog bonzodog can give us a good perspective :thumbsup:

How many have you got Leslie?! :D Wright's alone do 37 standard Lambsfoot patterns, not including the 'Special Buffalo' upgrades, regular specials, and SFOs. They have 3 blade lengths, several 2-blade models, different bolster configurations, different blade shapes, various types of fancy file-work if you want it, and use snakewood, ebony, and rosewood, as well as ironwood (I've seen other woods too, including walnut and oak). I think we are probably a very small market for them though, I would imagine most customers only buy one knife, and along with the other patterns they do (all in continuous production), their customers seems to have a fair few to choose from. However, they do keep adding more varieties, and seem more than happy to work with those who want something a little different, turning round the Guardians Lambsfoot in a couple of weeks :thumbsup:

Gratuitous pic of my Snakewood Lambsfoot (this one was a 'Second') ;)

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herder said:
Old school versus modern world.
Love em' both!!! :)

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Fantastic pics my friend, hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, and all the best for 2018 :thumbsup:

Campbellclanman said:
Yes my friends

Mr Knife’s amazing generous gift came home to Daddy. :D :thumbsup::thumbsup:
I love the Horn how it is so Translucent in the Sun.
Thank you Paul - The Knives were waiting for me at work when I popped into work yesterday - Paul Thank You for sending these to me!

Thank you again Jack matey - it’s a Stunner - I can’t wait to be able to photograph it with Jack Blacks amazing gift of a A Wright Horn handled Pruner - two horned beauties at once!!!!!
Posts to come in a few days!
Thank you SO MUCH once again everyone:) :thumbsup:
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Glad you have your Guardians Lambsfoot Duncan, look forward to seeing it :) :thumbsup:
 
Been asked about my George Wostenholm IXL Lambsfoot.This is not an expensive knife £62.25 plus shipping,but it’s well put together at this price point.Stainless blade 67mm long,85mm long closed,rosewood scales,brass liners.Blade is centred and no blade play present,came fairly sharp out of the box but not hair shaving sharp,no problem to remedy when time permits.
Blade pull is 5 I’d say,easy to pinch open,no half stop but opens with a nice snap.All in all very pleased with it.
 
Jack, I suppose I am just spoiled by the options we have with GEC, Case, and others. I did not mean to say that Wright has no variety at all, only that it seems they could easily expand the line a bit without much difficulty or cost. You raise a great point, I wonder how significant a market collectors are for them? GEC seems to respond quickly to the suggestions of collectors. For that reason, I assumed we must be an important part of their market.

It is also hard for us on my side of the pond to identify trusted dealers. Returns are expensive. I was able to locate an Ironwood premium that looks great, but it is priced at about 150£! They also usually seem to combine nicer woods with filing which does not really appeal to me. With other manufacturers, the type of wood does not change the price of the knife significantly, unless it is something extremely rare. Your Snakewood looks incredible. That’s one I would snap up for sure.

Bonzodog, thanks for the review. I might just have to get one of those.
 
Jack, your snakewood's blade profile is VERY much like Solingen sheepfoot blades on so many of my German stockmen, rounded down from the spine. All the other lambsfoot blades have a sharp angled downturn to the point. What gives!?!
 
Have a great weekend fellow Guardians! :D I dropped a little Sambar Stag AW in the pocket today along with another from Titusville that won’t appear here. :eek:
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Leslie Tomville said:
Jack, I suppose I am just spoiled by the options we have with GEC, Case, and others. I did not mean to say that Wright has no variety at all, only that it seems they could easily expand the line a bit without much difficulty or cost. You raise a great point, I wonder how significant a market collectors are for them? GEC seems to respond quickly to the suggestions of collectors. For that reason, I assumed we must be an important part of their market.

It is also hard for us on my side of the pond to identify trusted dealers. Returns are expensive. I was able to locate an Ironwood premium that looks great, but it is priced at about 150£! They also usually seem to combine nicer woods with filing which does not really appeal to me. With other manufacturers, the type of wood does not change the price of the knife significantly, unless it is something extremely rare. Your Snakewood looks incredible. That’s one I would snap up for sure.

Bonzodog, thanks for the review. I might just have to get one of those.
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GEC have lots of great options, but if you're after a particular model, you may have to wait years for it to go into production again, and it may never be reproduced. The Wright patterns are in continuous production. Don't see what you want? They seem to be amenable to doing limited runs in small numbers. For example, I wanted five ebony Lambsfoot knives, but with polished blades, it wasn't a problem. The initial Guardians run was only 25. But collectors are not a significant market for Wright's, their main market is farmers and gardeners, guys who want an inexpensive working knife. I'm not sure about GEC, but I think collectors are probably a bigger part of their market. Nonetheless, there are always complaints from some folk here that they can't get this or that pattern, they want more stainless options, etc. I guess you can't please everyone, and personally I think Wright's are right to concentrate on providing the bulk of their customers with the knives they want, even if it doesn't always suit me as a collector. Why on earth would they keep expanding their range to please a few collectors, who compared to their normal customer base, may well prove hard to please? I'm grateful that they accommodate us to the extent that they do :)

If you want to discuss individual dealers Leslie, that's something we'll have to do by PM. I'm always happy to try and help folks out, and I know many of our other Guardians are too, but this forum, and certainly this thread, exists for the purpose of discussing knives, not the BUYING of knives. Personally, I'd stay clear of a lot of UK dealers. Thanks for the compliment on my Snakewood knife, I'm not too keen on that pattern otherwise, and it has a couple of filled cracks, which is why it was a second, but I couldn't resist it at £30 :thumbsup:

black mamba said:
Jack, your snakewood's blade profile is VERY much like Solingen sheepfoot blades on so many of my German stockmen, rounded down from the spine. All the other lambsfoot blades have a sharp angled downturn to the point. What gives!?!
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It's perhaps the angle of the photo Jeff. Despite the fancy file-work, and rounded 'nose', the blade is a Lambsfoot with non-parallel edges. I prefer an angular point myself, but lots of Lambsfoot knives have the same blade profile, the entire Taylor's Eye Witness Lambsfoot range for example :thumbsup:

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