Pocketknife Feedback

[Rick Keating]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Very nice looking knife! Put me on your list, I'd like a couple of them. It's difficult to find a good knife.

Rick Keating

[dahoude]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Comrades;

Your response has been very pleasing to say the least. I appreciate all of your kind feedback and enthusiasim. I am going to order up on supplies and materials and start hammering away. Understand that these are a labor of love and take time, and I do not want my other hobby to turn into work, but I will make a limited few, at least for now. I'll put some together over the next few months and show you what I come up with and what I figure they should cost. I've saved the usernames of those who would like one. A lot of hand work goes into one, so give me some time and I'll get to work. Thanks again everyone.

Regards;

Dan Houde

[rick atwood]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Mr. Houde,

Like many others, I would love to have a knife like this in my collection and would be willing to spend the money. I hope you do produce these in the future. A hand crafted knife such as this would truly be an heirloom I would pass along to my son. Now to a question. You obviously possess the skill and craft to produce a complex creation such as this, is there any chance you might try your hand at reproducing a correct Enfield bayonet one day? You would certainly have the field to yourself.

Thanks,

[DixieLand1859]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

All I can say is.....nice :).....something I would defiantly add to my personal wish list.

[KentuckyReb]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Sweet toad-stabber, Dan. I've got pocketknives runnin' out my ears but I still really like the looks of yours.

[Possum Skinner]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

As a good ole Southern boy, I am of the opinion that one can never have enough knives or guns. That is one fine looking whittlin tool, and I would love to have one as well, but from the looks of this thread, it might be a while. I suggest you start training some apprentices, grab a whip, and get em going.

I have one of the single-blade, wooden handle variations of questionable steel and would love to have a quality blade instead.

[rebyank]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Sir, that knife looks beautiful. Please put me on the ever growing list for one. I've started saving money for an original musket, but I'll gladly delve into that cash for one of these.

[MassPvt]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Dan,
If you could add my name to your growing list, I'd appreciate it. Best of luck with the project.
Thanks,

[johnyreb62]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

It is the little things that we do that I feel enhance the hobby. Carrying a correct pocketknife is one of them, even if no one but you know it. You have made a very handsome knife, and I would encourage you to make them to sell. I will certainly be in line when you do. Keep up the good work.

Brad W. Amend

Moderators feel free to move this post if it is not located correctly, I just want some informal feedback on a personal project.

Greetings all,

I have been an avid collector of pocketknives for 25 years, and have a collection that currently numbers over 750 knives from 100's of makers both old and new, with many CW vintage. So it was only natural for me to enter into the next phase and begin biulding my own knives. I solicit your feedback on my latest creation, I made this for myself to tote in my pocket at reenactments and living histories. I felt I could do a better job creating a period correct knife that represented a typical pocketknife of the 19th century than what is currently available on the commercial market, (at least as far as a good bone handled knife, Jim Kindred does offer an accurate wood handled knife). For the pattern I chose a very common and time tested two bladed swell end jack. meaning both blades pivot from the same bolster. The knife is somewhat of a forerunner to the trapper pattern but smaller, and totally correct for the period. For handles I used dyed jigged bone, I fancied dark green for some reason. In keeping with the period style, the bolsters are of German silver as are the pins and nails, linings are of brass. The blades are of carbon steel, one clip point and one spey blade, not the shiney stainless steel. The only 21st century liberties I took were to use cyrogenically treated blades, they have been quenched at -320 degrees F., this lines up the molecules so that they hold an unbelievable edge, I chose to do this as it is in no way detectable in the appearance and thus would not detract in visual appeal, but would certainly add in performance. Again in keeping with the period, you will note too the absence of any tang stamp. Most of the construction was done by hand using simple hand tools and bench work, but obviously some power machinery was used as well. All assembly and finishing was done by hand. While not overly large, she is a hefty little beast. Built solid and strong. Made here in the good old USA by yours truly, and built with my own hands to be the kind of knife that can be handed down to generations to come.
I ask for your feedback as I am considering making a few for a few close comrades and perhaps in the future a very limited few for the the general masses. My next one will sport handles of natural undyed smooth bone. I'm also considering a three bladed equal end.

You can see some pics here;

http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/knife3.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/knife4.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/knife5.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/knife6.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/knife7.jpg

Regards;

Dan Houde

[K Bartsch]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Dan,
Since your knife has elicited such an enthusiastic response, here's a thought. Make one. Then, post a minimum bid and state that you are accepting sealed bids. Have folks mail you a check in the amount they wish to bid plus a seperate check for five dollars -- or for that matter, with a five dollar shinplaster tucked into the envelope, which would be the fee for playing in the Dan Houde Authentic Pocketknife Preservation Auction. After a reasonable interval, announce the winner, cash his check and send the proceeds, less your expenses, to CWPT. Losing bidders could include a SASE for return of their uncashed check, or simply state in a note enclosed with their bid that it would be fine if you simply destroyed the check. Of course, you retain everyone's five buck entry fee and send that along to CWPT too.

Might just raise a pretty good wad of cash for preservation! :wink_smil

[dahoude]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Gents,

Your response has been overwhelming! Rather than continue to lengthen this thread with requests, please contact me off the forum at my email; dahoude@earthlink.net.

Thanks again for all of your feedback. I've made a list, I need to get crackin!

Kindest Regards;

Dan Houde

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Gents,

Your response has been overwhelming! Rather than continue to lengthen this thread with requests, please contact me off the forum at my email; dahoude@earthlink.net.

Thanks again for all of your feedback. I've made a list, I need to get crackin!

Kindest Regards;

Dan Houde

I'd like to see some period documentation/ knife examples which support your pocket knives authenticity (original examples, sketches, etc)...

[dahoude]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

I'd like to see some period documentation/ knife examples which support your pocket knives authenticity (original examples, sketches, etc)...

Ryan,

Happy to share such, please bear with me though as my collection is not housed here where I live. With over 750 knives I felt it was safer to store them rather at my parents house. I will be out there on Saturday, and will retrieve some good examples of my own and post some pics. In the mean time I refer you to some excellent and recommend reading, I'll refer you to "The Standard Knife Collectors Guide", Fourth Edition, by Roy Ritchie and Ron Stewart, 2003. There are also prior editions of the same written by James Parker, and Jim Sargent, Jim Sargent also wrote "American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors, Identification and Value Guide", 5th Edition, 1999. Bernard Levine is another expert that has written some guides as well, "Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values, 5th Ed", and "Identifying Pocket Knives". All are equally excellent and informative. In particular you'll want to look into knives by John Primble, The American Knife Co., Henry Sears and Son, Holley Mfg. Co., and there are literally hundreds more from Solingen Germany and Sheffield England such as Joseph Rogers. I will scan some drawings when I get some time as well. The patterns that this most closely resembles are the "Dogleg Jack", as well as the "Swell Center Jack", both have a similar appearance, the swell center tends to have no bolster on "swelled" end, and many times features a rounded cutout where the nail pull of the blade is located on the main blade, when this occurs they are referred to as an "Easy Opener Jack". "Dogleg Jacks" tend to have a bolster on both ends and are sometimes referred to "Capped Doglegs". Doglegs also tend to have a serpentine curve where the swell ends tends to be more straight. Bone, both jigged and smooth, where one of the most common and prevailant handle materials. It is inexpensive, readily available, easy to work with, and most important it is stable, meaning it does not desintigrate and deteriorate much over time, thus we have some fine examples from Great great granddad today. The colored dyed bones are probably not real accurate for CW era, I did mine because I'm a sucker for green bones, but an undyed bone would be best, or a dark black bone or brown or amber bone. Jigging was very common, as well as smooth, some different makers were actually known for their own distinct type of jigging, Joseph Rogers for example had what they called "Rogers Bone", and a jigging known as "Winterbottom Bone". I'd avoid red bones and the real colorful stuff. Early plastics known as celluiods where being developed and used but are not stable and deteriorate over time and can even be combustable. Wood was a common material, again cheap, easy to work with and prevailant. Ivory was very common, but more expensive, in fact Mr. Lincoln carried an ivoried handled penknife of what is known as the "Congress" pattern. Metal handled knives where very common and where used on inexpensive "boy's knives", as well as gold and silver expensive gentlemans fruit knives and nail or grooming knives. Mother of Pearl is one of my favorite, very common but again expensive. I have a Joseph Rogers small pen knife of M.O.P. dating back to the 18th century. Stag (deer antler), was another common handle material. As far as blade types, I must admit that the spear point type blade would be more accurate, as it was more common during the CW era, but... the clip point was indeed quite common and can readily be seen in examples of the "Barlow". As for the spey balde, I can't honestly say for sure? The spey blade was developed for skinning, and probably saw more post war 1880's use, but I am only speculating. The wonderful thing about pocketknives is there are Sooooooooo many!!!! I have over 750 and no two are alike! I have examples from 100's of makers, and I still am only scratching the surface. Many makers came and went in less than a years time. During the CW era, most knives were being imported from Germany and England, there were very few American cutlery firms at the time, and... many that were established at the time were merely importers, not makers. American cutlery did not really take off until around 1880-1890. That's when you see the beginnings of the big names, W.R. Case and Sons, Camillus (Adolf Kastor/Charles Sherwood), Cattaragus, Robeson, (many of which were actually family members of the Case clan that started their own), Schatt and Morgan, etc... However, there were a few established American makers during the CW era such as The American Knife Co., Holley, John Primble (Belknap Hardware Co.), Maher and Grosh (actually post war 1877, but close) for example. Many of these major players would find their demise after the stock market crash and Great Depression. Okay... back to Civil War... bolsters of the period were typically German silver, which is really nickel silver said in a polically correct manner today. Steel was also a common material for bolsters. Brass bolsters should be avoided as it is not correct, I've seen not one CW era original with such.
The bottom line with pocketknives is there are literally 100's of variations of patterns, blade types, handle materials, jigging, styles, etc. You could start another whole conversation on Shields alone, (the small metal inlays found on some knives). What I can tell you from my own 25+ years of research and prove later with actual pics and/or drawings is the following; the pattern is of an available known type of the period, the handle material is certainly correct, but I'd not go with a dyed bone, jigging is accurate, German silver bolsters are correct, clip point blades are correct, spey blade is debatable as I've not the info on spey blades but I will dig and see what I can find out, brass liners are correct, pin and nail construction is correct. Give me some time and I'll dig up some of my guides and get some pics and drawings.
I LOVE talking knives!


Best Regards;

Dan Houde

Lifetime Member Case Collectors Club
Member Camillus Collectors Club
Member Queen Collectors Club

[Jefferson Guards]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Mr Houde,

I am always in the market for a good reproduction pocket knife. However, do you think it would be easier to document and support a reproduction of a knife (or several different ones) with definite provenence to our period of interest rather than trying to mix and match features and designs from different knives which may or may have not been used in conjunction with each other?

[dahoude]

Re: Pocketknife Feedback

Mr Houde,

I am always in the market for a good reproduction pocket knife. However, do you think it would be easier to document and support a reproduction of a knife (or several different ones) with definite provenence to our period of interest rather than trying to mix and match features and designs from different knives which may or may have not been used in conjunction with each other?

Brian,

Good question. Honestly I never set out to copy a particular knife, but rather as I stated in my initial post, I felt I could do a better job creating a period correct knife that represented a typical pocketknife of the 19th century than what is currently available on the commercial market
I'm satisfied that that is what I've done, I'll certainly enjoy carrying it. Could it be better? Definitely. Right now I'm just enjoying tinkering around, and honing my skill, so I'm not really that focused on a particular individual knife that I wanted to reproduce, I just wanted something representative of the period.
Anyways, I did dig up some drawings that show some of the traits that I mentioned.

Here is a group of Holley's, you can see some clip points, jigged bone, and a swell end serpentine; http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/holley.jpg

Here is a Shapleigh, swell end serpentine with a clip point; http://members.tripod.com/dahoude/images/shapleigh.gif

Both are of CW era vintage, in fact Shapleigh was only in business from 1863-1869.

I'll try to get some actual pics of originals up soon.

I think for my next one I'll use natural smoothbone, and I'm going to round the top of the swelled end a little more, I may even put a cutout near the nail pull as well, and make it an easy opener. I also think I'm going to use a small spear point blade as the secondary rather than a spey, that'll get me closer to what I am wanting.

Perhaps as I get better I'll focus more on a particular knife, but I don't know if I ever really want to try to imitate or copy an actual original "totally", tough call... almost be like taking something that doesn't belong to me. I'd kinda like to maintain my own individualism and develop a personal style, one that is still representative of the period, but is still my own. A good made knife that will be around for years to come, and unique to me. Copying a cartridge box or scabbard or shirt is one thing, but to me pocketknives are very personal.
Thanks for your thoughts. Take care.

Regards;

Dan Houde