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Speaking of U.K. legal knives, historically, most old U.K.-made pocket knives are still legal, because they tend to have fairly short blades, and they don’t have a locking mechanism, which is a more recent development.
Someone on here recently sent me an old knife that had been found stashed away somewhere, and thought I might like to have a go at restoring it. It wasn’t really that badly rusted, more surface corrosion, and fairly easily cleaned up with a Scotchbrite pad, leaving it patinated but usable. I’ve sharpened it, and it takes a pretty good edge, the steel Sheffield turned out was very highly regarded, and this particular knife was made by one of two makers, who were considered the very best in North America, George Worstenholm, who sold knives with the I*XL trade mark, and Rogers. Unfortunately, I didn’t think to take some ‘before’ photos, but it wasn’t that bad, all things considered.
It’s believed that the knife that became known as the Bowie knife after its most famous user, and was found by his body after Santa Ana took the Alamo was an I*XL knife.
No idea how old the knife in the photos is, but it could easily be a century old, I can’t find one like it through searches, but it’s not a modern knife; still perfectly legal and a very handy little knife, and I’m delighted to be its new owner.
For no other reason than I'm bored at home with Rona and decided to get my neglected camera out to do some product shots, here's my Leatherman Charge tti+
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770719687_a033643739_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770719687_a033643739_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kmrd8Z ]DSC00004-4[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
Just spent a happy 1 1/2 hours sharpening my Leatherman and Mora 106 wood carving knives.
The blade on the Leatherman had a couple of nicks in that one just about got out and the Mora just needed doing.
Got a couple more to go - a nice Morton Bowie and a Kasumi chef’s knife but they can wait. The Morton needs a fair amount of work as it has some corrosion.
Then to dig the old hatchet out of the garage and get a really good edge on that-see if I can dust off my carving skills 🙂
I’m delighted to be its new owner.
I'm rather glad I didn't just chuck it in the bin.
What an unfortunate attempt at humour…
But also quite a telling one?
My point, in a roundabout fashion, was really to shine a light onto a bit of casual white privilege. I don't know Scotroutes from a hole in the ground but I would guess that on a scale of "19-year old black lad in a hoodie" to "reasonably turned out middle-aged white bloke" he's probably somewhat closer to the latter end of that scale. In which case it would be somewhat naive at best to assume that just because you, personally, haven't been randomly turned over by the police for the crime of merely existing, that your experiences are representative of society as a whole and that anyone in that position must therefore inherently be a wrong 'un and have a "problem" which needs "addressing."
Needed a new knife for taking netwrap off bales so banged this up out of an old circular saw blade and a beech kitchen worktop offcut. Bit rough and ready but only took an hour to make and will do the job just fine.
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My little collection of 'knives', albeit most of them are more than knives. Waiting on a SAK Alox Farmer to add to the fold
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50807529068_bf577377aa_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50807529068_bf577377aa_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kpFShu ]2021-01-06_09-04-47[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
Because you can cut a porkpie with a creditcard
I would never cut my cocaine with pork pie, that would be a waste of pork pie.
Bit rough and ready but only took an hour to make and will do the job just fine.
That's the reality of many real homemade tools. They are made to save time on a specific job so made quickly. To me that's the beauty, it's real and it used.
I have been arrested ( not in the UK) for having a knife on me. I had been camping and indeed that day had used it for my lunch. I was in a city centre and 18 at the time
@Cougar, the steel used is very good, and the small blade is now seriously bloody sharp!
The larger blade has been worn back into the thicker part of the spine at the tip, and has a bit of a hollow in the mid-edge, so more difficult to get a good edge, but I’ll keep working at it.
It’s a great little knife, and it’s a real part of Britain’s industrial heritage, indeed a part that was globally admired for its quality.
Thanks again, I’m very proud to be it’s new owner.
That makes me happy. Thank you.
Welshfarmer.
Would a hooked blade not be even better? Also what do you use on the sheep's feet? My dad always used the thinnest Swiss army knife I've ever seen, two blades maybe 5mm total thickness.
Not read past page 1 (guessing it descends in to a battle of opinions between a few people who won't concede), but now I have learnt that my trusty SAK that I bought in 2004 is now illegal because of the little locking tab on the back. Like this one:
Currently lives in the car door pocket where it gets used for various tasks where it's convenient especially while camping. Guess it's going to be coming inside to the toolbox now though.
You should have read on, locking is only illegal insofar as you need a reasonable excuse for carrying it. Just in case isn't but if you have a specific task to perform then that would be fine.
Waiting on a SAK Alox Farmer
Ive got of of those, if I could mod a posi driver onto it itd be perfect..
Going back a bit combining this thread with how long have you had a MTB thread
Manbag at least that doesn't sound bad I used a "fannybag" constantly for tools,tube, food on runs and I don't even have a fanny
You very rarely see them now maybe fairground dogem money collectors
I used a “fannybag” constantly for tools,tube, food on runs and I don’t even have a fanny
You didn't, you had a bumbag.
And if you are American you do have a fanny.
My one was imported from USA definitely a fannybag, zztop got away with the words she's got hair down to her fanny I thought was a bit rude at the time
My newly acquired SAK Alox, with my Victorinox Inox watch
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50817949946_ef1e3e5fc3_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50817949946_ef1e3e5fc3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kqBh3N ]2021-01-09_05-27-32[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
I regret not picking up a knife this morning. My neighbour's farm had a big fire, in a mad rush to alert him i ran past two knives. I was not able to release some stock. Seeing silhouettes of sheep and cattle trapped by the flames will be with me for some time.
Not good. That must have been shit. Hopefully not too many lost.