Some Old Knives I Have

[Stuart Mitchell]

I was responding to a few FB Messenger messages this morning before work and a request popped up in one of the FB groups that I am member of asking for any info on this knife...







He'd already had a few incorrect responses and I do know a bit about it, so I thought I'd help out with the below...

I know a bit about that knife, I have a couple in my own collection.
It was made by my dad, Stuart Snr and is exactly the same as a pattern that we also made for George Ibbersons at that time, all were made 'white label'.
We are probably talking around 1980 and at that time I recall making many trips to the Halesowen Horn Company with my dad to deliver knives and also sift through piles of both antler and buffalo horn that we would bring back to Sheffield for our own use, it would not surprise me if those knives that we were delivering were payment for said horn, at the age of 10 though I wouldn't have been aware of that.
I'll get some photos of mine if you like, some are marked as Ibberson with the violin and Double Sharp ## logos, some still totally unmarked as I recall.

That inspired me to dig out one of my knife stashes, these are part of a load of knives that I bought back from Ibberson a few years ago, all my dads work, well before my time, mid to late 70's, very early '80's these, some still sterile (no markings), some already have the George Ibberson Double Sharp ## logo in place.

I'll dig out the rest.

 

[Klenchblaize]

It looks kind of familiar:

customknife.co.uk - Hunting

website of custom and handmade knives by top uk makers, Alan Wood, Geoff Hague, Stu Mitchell, etc.

www.customknife.co.uk

K

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

It looks kind of familiar:

customknife.co.uk - Hunting

website of custom and handmade knives by top uk makers, Alan Wood, Geoff Hague, Stu Mitchell, etc.

www.customknife.co.uk

K

That is a good spot @Klenchblaize , although very different because of the way the blades are made they are also very similar in their construction and shaping.

Look at the quality of the Sambar on not only the knife in this thread but also the examples used on those '1897' that Colin has, where is Halesowen Horn Co. when you need it

I have a couple of the '1897' knives too

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

The third knife down on the left always makes me smile, all that fuss between the big corporate knife making Co. and that chap who took the money and ran, the butt end of the one in that fist photo goes a bit 'gothic' but it essentially it is the design they were arguing over who made it first, from decades before either even thought about making knives. I'm not sure some of them were even born?

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

The knife at the bottom there, with the shackle key cut into the blade (and I am not sure what is going on with the pommel on that particular one, I wonder of it was some type of crude prototype hammer version?) but, hammerless versions of that knife were marked with the name LIRAKIS.

Obviously at that time supplied by Ibbersons to these guys; stephenlirakis.com

Lirakis Sailing Knife Shakle Multi Tool with Belt Sheath Safety Line Handle | #1910527468

Lirakis Sailing Knife Shakle Multi Tool with Belt Sheath Safety Line HandleSee photo of actual item for features/conditions.Used good working/cosmetic condition.Please email all questions prior to Bid

www.worthpoint.com

 

[Mungo]

The knife at the bottom there, with the shackle key cut into the blade (and I am not sure what is going on with the pommel on that particular one, I wonder of it was some type of crude prototype hammer version?) but, hammerless versions of that knife were marked with the name LIRAKIS.

Obviously at that time supplied by Ibbersons to these guys; stephenlirakis.com

Lirakis Sailing Knife Shakle Multi Tool with Belt Sheath Safety Line Handle | #1910527468

Lirakis Sailing Knife Shakle Multi Tool with Belt Sheath Safety Line HandleSee photo of actual item for features/conditions.Used good working/cosmetic condition.Please email all questions prior to Bid

www.worthpoint.com

What’s the purpose of the hole in the blade?

In fact, I don’t really understand the design at all. Can you explain it?

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

What’s the purpose of the hole in the blade?

In fact, I don’t really understand the design at all. Can you explain it?

I have no idea about that big, heavy pommel, as I said I can only assume it is a hammer of sorts, it is the only Lirakis I have ever seen with it on there, all the others were as the one in that link that I posted.

That pommel is just a sold lump of brass, very heavy.

The hole in the blade is a shackle key, for loosening/tightening D type sailing shackles, the flat part of the screw sits inside the hole.

This type of thing, the hole being tapered to fit various size shackles.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I have no idea about that big, heavy pommel, as I said I can only assume it is a hammer of sorts, it is the only Lirakis I have ever seen with it on there, all the others were as the one in that link that I posted.

That pommel is just a sold lump of brass, very heavy.

The hole in the blade is a shackle key, for loosening/tightening D type sailing shackles, the flat part of the screw sits inside the hole.

This type of thing, the hole being tapered to fit various size shackles.



View attachment 325626

Just can’t see this catching on!

K

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Just can’t see this catching on!
View attachment 325645
K

You know the blade is the sharp bit?

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

Well would you look at this, this was sent to me by a very knowledgeable chap from the UK, in fact worldwide knife scene...

The brochure mentioned is for Malcberry Limited.

Compare the knives featured here and the top three in my photo in post #1, 1976 means that Ibberson and Malcberry were taking the same, or at least very similar, knives at the same time.

I have more pages that feature the '1897' range too...

 

[Taff]

The third knife down on the left always makes me smile, all that fuss between the big corporate knife making Co. and that chap who took the money and ran, the butt end of the one in that fist photo goes a bit 'gothic' but it essentially it is the design they were arguing over who made it first, from decades before either even thought about making knives. I'm not sure some of them were even born?

I think it shows how great minds think alike,

 

[Stuart Mitchell]

I think it shows how great minds think alike,

I suspect you are probably correct.

I often say there is nothing new, it has all been done, if a particular blade shape does a job then it will likely have been doing it for years.

 

[Klenchblaize]

From the days when a bolster/guard was not frowned upon by UK knife makers.

K