Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

Jack Black said:
I'm sure one of our cutlers could give you some advice Dylan. With the right equipment you should be able to smooth those rough edges and polish the horn at the same time :thumbsup: Not that you should have to do that :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Will Power said:
Padruig if the brass pins are proud on that horn handled knife, I'd suggest using a leather strop with green compound. It polishes the pins down and buffs the horn at the same time, no scratches just an improvement all round. Horn is very fussy about dry air, this can cause shrink and the pins may be left standing as it were. Or, it could be they weren't driven in correctly for fear of flaking or splitting the horn....:(

Thanks, Will
Click to expand...

Cambertree said:
A commendable attitude, my friend. I second Will's advice - he's achieved some very aesthetically pleasing, pocketworn effects with this technique on bone covers as well.

As Jack and Will said, the horn covers have likely shrunk, so as well as blending the pins, bolsters and liners back, it may help to 'moisturise' the scales with oil or humidity a bit, too.

There's a couple of things I've also found very useful for this kind of work. The first is a good loupe - I use a Belomo Triplet 10x which has good optical quality and field of view, and is practically indestructible. It might seem a bit OCD, but I find it an indispensable tool for sharpening, and shaping.

Having a shoebox collection of different 'substrate materials' with varying amounts of 'give' in them to sit under your fine sandpaper is very useful as well. Old mousepads, thin packing foam sheet, strips of old denim, thick glass or stone benchtop offcuts can all be used for various blending and finishing stages. I keep leather trimmings and offcuts, too, so I can always use a fresh, clean piece to put compound, or diamond pastes on for the final polishing.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of the great advice, fellas. I will keep you posted on my progress. Of course, I need to actually start, which may be a bit before I have the extra time to expend...

Here is a lambsfoot trifecta.

XtHu8Wy.jpg
 
Jack Black said:
Hilarious! :D :thumbsup:



You wouldn't believe how much kit I have Chin! :rolleyes: Probably not quite as much as when I got it all for free, and got a couple of postal deliveries a day, but now I compensate for my waning abilities with better kit! :D The Kelly Kettle is good, but I'm not sure it boils water significantly better than the soot-blackened camping kettle my granny gave me when I was about seven, and which accompanied me on many a childhood adventure (and a few adult ones too ;) ). Yes, give it a go, it's cheap, easy to carry, and it makes a great 'nest' :thumbsup:

View attachment 757612


I also use a loupe! :D :thumbsup:



Thanks a lot my friend :D :thumbsup: I lost all my original photos from that time, and before, years ago unfortunately. I only have a few of the printed ones :( That's actually one of the first locking Vic SAKs, the Hunter I think, with the gutting hook (which I recommended they use as the basis for an Emergency Release Knife). That's a limpet I'm prying off. I was doing a series on living on the seashore :thumbsup:

View attachment 757621



I noticed this while I was snooping round the internet earlier...

Michael%20May%20Rams%20horn%20FSS.JPG


Pricey, but I think the oxhorn looks pretty good, and the frame is a lot nicer than that dreadful 'ergonomic' pattern :thumbsup:

By coincidence, I will be calling in at the A.Wright factory tomorrow ;) :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


Send greetings and if you see any of those Red Blonde Horns on the smaller Swayback....:D;)
 
On the whole, I go for Platinums more...:) but it depends on the individual horn I suppose. Unusual is often remarkable...
 
Will Power said:
On the whole, I go for Platinums more...:) but it depends on the individual horn I suppose. Unusual is often remarkable...
Click to expand...

:D I never used to go for horn at all, but it changed when I spotted this one on the bench at Wright's. They seem to have had a whole lot of interesting horn recently. I don't know why all of a sudden :confused:

AW SB Lambsfoot 1-1.JPG
 
Horn has very nice transluscence and it seems to me that it doesn't matter at all if the pile/mark sides are different, they will be!

It doesn't behave well here in the winter, our heating is so hot that you get about 11% humidity and horn protests. So I take the horn knives to the country house which has minimal heating and good humidity. Stag is not too far behind in disliking arid conditions either.

Impala Horn or very rough Ram's Horn would look something on a Lambfoot, and Ram's Horn would be very appropriate:D

Thanks, Will
 
Aside from the proud (and sharp) brass pins on my horn covers, I really like the feel of horn. It provides a warm, smooth, almost comforting experience. It is everything I had hoped it would be aside from the aforementioned issues, and I will very much look forward to carrying and using it, provided I do not mess up the knife completely. I very well might attempt to acquire another to have and hold until such a time that I can devote to the restoration of this current example I have.

But yes, I have discovered that I like horn, as I had hoped I would. Not only is it a tactile pleasure, but it can be very visually appealing too.
 
herder said:
Sorry to hear about some of the quality problems with Wrights knives. I believe Jack makes a valid comment that the quality of their knives has gotten much better recently.
Click to expand...
+1. I would think perhaps the poor QC ones are NOS from several years back. I picked up one that almost put me off them a few years back, and I recall reading a thread on their QC at about the same time about one that was underwhelming.
 
Will Power said:
Horn has very nice transluscence and it seems to me that it doesn't matter at all if the pile/mark sides are different, they will be!

It doesn't behave well here in the winter, our heating is so hot that you get about 11% humidity and horn protests. So I take the horn knives to the country house which has minimal heating and good humidity. Stag is not too far behind in disliking arid conditions either.

Impala Horn or very rough Ram's Horn would look something on a Lambfoot, and Ram's Horn would be very appropriate:D
Click to expand...

I'd never considered that Will, I have central heating, and am inclined to whack it up a bit in the winter. I'll need to keep an eye on mine :thumbsup:

r8shell said:
:eek:
Click to expand...

:D :thumbsup:

Pàdruig said:
...I have discovered that I like horn, as I had hoped I would. Not only is it a tactile pleasure, but it can be very visually appealing too.
Click to expand...

Hopefully you will get a 'fresher' example next time Dylan, and I'm sure the one you have will smooth out OK :)

herder said:
Sorry to hear about some of the quality problems with Wrights knives. I believe Jack makes a valid comment that the quality of their knives has gotten much better recently. I would agree after seeing several groups of folders at their shop over the Summer.

A proper knife for a proper gentleman. :)

View attachment 757741
Click to expand...

Great pic of your Lambsfoot my friend :) I really like the tang stamp they are using now :thumbsup:

Bartleby said:
+1. I would think perhaps the poor QC ones are NOS from several years back. I picked up one that almost put me off them a few years back, and I recall reading a thread on their QC at about the same time about one that was underwhelming.
Click to expand...

I agree, I think that horn has been stored badly. Others may even have been seconds sold on by an unscrupulous dealer :(

flatblackcapo said:
36509614630_7fc99cbc40_h.jpg


Lots of great Lambsfoot knives posted since last I dropped in here.
Dylan, I see you picked up a few more. It's a sickness ....a wonderful wonderful sickness. :D
Jack , I really dig those hiking pics and your survival write ups.
Click to expand...

Thanks pal, that's a fantastic pic! :) :thumbsup:

I have one of those mad, crazy busy weeks, but I got back from my trip to Sheffield a few minutes ago, and quickly snapped these pics of some of my new acquisitions. Sorry for the terrible quality of the pics, I'll try to get some better ones soon. The snakewood is a second, but I got it at a bargain price. Sambar stag on two of the others, and one has the 'Real Lamb Foot' etch, which I'm very pleased about, even though it probably won't stay there long :thumbsup:

Wright's Lambsfoot Group 1.JPG

Wright's Lambsfoot Group 2.JPG

Wright's Lambsfoot Group 3.JPG

I passed on everyone's best wishes to John Maleham at Wright's, and we had a very productive discussion ;) :thumbsup:

What do folks think of this Super Duper Special Buffalo I got a peek at?

Wright's Super Special Buffalo S.JPG
 
Jack Black said:
Hopefully you will get a 'fresher' example next time Dylan, and I'm sure the one you have will smooth out OK :)

I agree, I think that horn has been stored badly. Others may even have been seconds sold on by an unscrupulous dealer :(

I have one of those mad, crazy busy weeks, but I got back from my trip to Sheffield a few minutes ago, and quickly snapped these pics of some of my new acquisitions. Sorry for the terrible quality of the pics, I'll try to get some better ones soon. The snakewood is a second, but I got it at a bargain price. Sambar stag on two of the others, and one has the 'Real Lamb Foot' etch, which I'm very pleased about, even though it probably won't stay there long :thumbsup:

I passed on everyone's best wishes to John Maleham at Wright's, and we had a very productive discussion ;) :thumbsup:

What do folks think of this Super Duper Special Buffalo I got a peek at?
Click to expand...

Good morning, Jack! Well, it is morning here anyway... A beautiful grey morning at that, such a glorious respite from the blazing heat.

In regards to my horn, it appears I just need to dive in and get it done, it sounds like I am being cautious unnecessarily. After all, it certainly isn't an expensive knife that I should worry about spoiling too much.

It looks like you brought some lovely new introductions into your family there, Jack. They all look wonderful, especially the stag. Snakewood is such an interesting wood, I wonder how it is up close and personal versus gazing at pictures of it. I will need to put it on the list. By the way, the snakewood and one of the stags seemed to have lost their sway! :(

The special Buffalo looks quite the treat! All contoured and polished up, it has got to look particularly fine. Which brings me to a question, though it may be better suited for a conversation. I have looked at several online vendors and have not seen any listing for "Special Buffalo". Is that a Factory or Store exclusive? Feel free to tell me to take that to a conversation if you wish, I do not want to muddy the waters too much here.
 
flatblackcapo said:
36509614630_7fc99cbc40_h.jpg


Lots of great Lambsfoot knives posted since last I dropped in here.
Dylan, I see you picked up a few more. It's a sickness ....a wonderful wonderful sickness. :D
Jack , I really dig those hiking pics and your survival write ups.
Click to expand...

Completely neglected to respond to this one. I always love seeing this horn, Kevin, it has remarkable character. And yes, if it is indeed a sickness, I am in no hurry to find a cure :D.
 
Pàdruig said:
It looks like you brought some lovely new introductions into your family there, Jack. They all look wonderful, especially the stag. Snakewood is such an interesting wood, I wonder how it is up close and personal versus gazing at pictures of it. I will need to put it on the list. By the way, the snakewood and one of the stags seemed to have lost their sway! :(

The special Buffalo looks quite the treat! All contoured and polished up, it has got to look particularly fine. Which brings me to a question, though it may be better suited for a conversation. I have looked at several online vendors and have not seen any listing for "Special Buffalo". Is that a Factory or Store exclusive? Feel free to tell me to take that to a conversation if you wish, I do not want to muddy the waters too much here.
Click to expand...

Thanks Dylan, I've barely had time to look at them yet! I was very pleased to find some Sambar :) I have always been put off by the sudden price jump for the Wright's snakewood models, it's certainly nice stuff though. Mine is definitely not the best example, but it was relatively inexpensive. In terms of the buffalo, Wright's rely on buffalo horn dealers in India and Pakistan, and almost everytime I've been into the works, they've had something different. Coming across the feathered 'Special Buffalo' was amazing, but many dealers may be put off by the higher price. Then, the last time I was there, there was that beautiful red stuff. There was still some of that, but now they have more classic black coming through, along with some blonde. I think only one local dealer took some of the feathered 'Special Buffalo', and that may have all gone now. As for the Super Duper, that had been put away because it was more pricey, but it's even more exclusive. In fact, it's 'ours'! ;) Hoping it looks amazing when it's polished :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top