Guardians of The Lambsfoot!

[Prester John]

The other morning I spent at least 10min looking for mine until I realized I had them on.

I've done that!

 

[JohnDF]

Good Morning Guardians

 

[Prester John]

LOL Dwight! I've often been accused of making folk swear but never of making them break out into song . Those are great words by the way.
Glad you've enjoyed the Pearl adventure. Depending on my plans it may be Liverpool tomorrow.

Taking Pearl to the Liverpool match? Maybe she can sing You'll Never Walk Alone with the crowd.

 

[screened porch]

I had a senior moment the other day. I tried to stand up from a footstool without pulling or pushing anything. I got maybe 2/3 up before pitching sideways into the fireplace. No fire, mercifully. It took me a while to crawl out over my dumbbells.
But I can't be old yet because my only injury was a minor scrape on one thumb-knuckle!

 

[pjsjr]

Good Friday morning, Guardians. Hope all is going well and you're getting ready for the weekend.

I like it too Vince I like Damascus generally, but there are a few patterns which I think look too uniform. There is plenty of interest in this pattern I certainly never imagined I would own a Damascus Lambsfoot

You're right Jack, this Damascus is varied, very good looking and well done.

This is one of the reasons we are moving from our home of 18 years. They are building two 5 story apartments right off our back deck Obstructing our view and peace and quiet. As you can tell the forest is gone and as a result, the squirrels, chipmunks and nesting birds are gone as well.
And of course, my trusty Lambsfoot will carry us through,
View attachment 1117330 View attachment 1117331
View attachment 1117333

Sorry about the encroachment on your view and peace and quiet. It's the way of the world in today's time. Money talks and...

My two oldies:

Nice work, Barry

What a fantastic lamb Barry.

Just a gorgeous dam serpent lamb Taylor.



That is sad Dave. Sorry to see that matey. No way could I have stayed after that. Rather be in a tent. I am glad you won't be having to endure it.

Common sense is most definitely on the endangered attributes list.

Have a great weekend Guardians.View attachment 1117545

Wonderful photo, I first thought of worms, also. Great looking Damascus and stag.

Thank you, Jack. Its time for a change, I think we will be pleased once we get settled. The first place I'm going for a beer is the old Rocky View Hotel.

Haha, keys between your teeth! I most defiantly will do the Lambsfoot Ale shots the second pub will be The Half Hitch Brewing Company.
View attachment 1117743

Those two places look inviting and being close by will make the move a little less painful.

The weekend is upon us. Going to the range to qualify to renew my concealed carry license today. Y'all have a great weekend.View attachment 1117759

I too will be making a range trip...but not over the weekend, it's just to busy. The weekdays are when I go and have most of the place to myself and can run Dutch on marks and blinds without disturbing anyone else.

Good Morning Guardians

Good morning, great shot of the DI Lambsfoot.

I had a senior moment the other day. I tried to stand up from a footstool without pulling or pushing anything. I got maybe 2/3 up before pitching sideways into the fireplace. No fire, mercifully. It took me a while to crawl out over my dumbbells.
But I can't be old yet because my only injury was a minor scrape on one thumb-knuckle!

Wish I could say that never happens to me, Jer, especially after being 'cramped up'.

 

[Jack Black]

Top o' the mornin' Guardians! Here is a recent acquisition from an earlier period in the lamb foot timeline:

They are not integral, nor do they match up side to side as one is shorter than the other. I'll get some close-ups of it and post them when I'm able.

Right, let's have a look at Barry's Johnathan Crookes knife.

First some history (I'm afraid I can only make this fairly brief, as I don't have enough spare time to do more digging around): Crookes is a common surname in Sheffield, and confusingly there were two cutlers by the name of Jonathan Crookes, who used the heart and pistol mark. The first Jonathan Crookes was based in Scotland Street, on the edge of the area once known as Cutler's Hill, because of the high preponderance of small cutlers living and working there. He was listed in local trade directories in 1774, 1787, and 1797, as a maker of 'common pocket and penknives'. The second Jonathan Crookes was very probably the grandson of the the first one, the son of Marmaduke and Martha Crookes, and baptised in 1788. Having served his apprenticeship, he became a Freeman in 1810, which means he now owned his own work, and had registered a mark with the Cutler's Company.

Jonathan Crookes was a skilled cutler, and did work for Joseph Rodgers & Son, and it was claimed that he was the 'Inventor and Sole Maker' of the famous Year Knife, which can still be seen in Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield, today. At the time of manufacture, it contained 1821 separate blades and 'accessories' (the other implements).

Crookes had a brief partnership with James Bingham in the 1820's, which was dissolved in 1827. They had manufactured penknives and razors. In 1828, Crookes established himself as a pen knife cutler in Rockingham Lane, moving to Bailey Lane in 1833, and Broad Lane in 1837. His residence was in Rockingham Lane, where he lived until 1817, with his first wife Ann, who died that year, and his son Henry, who joined the business. By 1839, Jonathan Crookes & Son had moved to Eldon St, where they stayed until the end of the nineteenth century. The firm specialised in 'superlatively finished Pen, Pocket, and Sporting Kives, Razors, etc.' In the 1830's and 1840's they made 'fly open knives' and Bowie knives. Crookes found a market for his high quality knives in the USA.

In 1841, father and son dissolved their partnership, and Jonathan Crookes is thought to have retired to live the life of a gentleman, dying in 1866, having been predeceased by his second wife Mary, in 1856. He left nearly £5,000.

While prestigious, the company never sought to become a large one, claiming in the census, to employ 30 workers in 1851, 25 men and nine boys in 1861, 36 men, 8 boys, and 6 girls in 1871, and only 15 hands a decade later.

Thomas Crookes continued the business after his father's death, and while American trade was in decline, the firm continued to produce quality cutlery, with Thomas preferring not to extend the firm's capacity beyond what he could supervise himself. He was still attending to business only days before his death in 1892, leaving more than £83,000 to his widow Ann. The couple had no children, and Ann died 4 years later, after which the firm's workshops at 95 Eldon Street were vacated, and the contents presumably sold off, or pillaged.

The prestigious mark itself was was acquired in 1893 by James Hibbert, and then, in 1907, by Joseph Allen, who continued to use the Crookes mark as a stand-alone brand on razors and pocket-knives pocket knives until at least 1951 (the advert below is from 1945). In the 1950's, H.M.Slater took over the mark, and owned it until they folded just a few years ago, using it on both pocket knives and Bowies.

Now to the knife, it appears to have a pre-1892 tang-stamp, but as happens in Sheffield, a pre-1892 tang-stamp could have been used many years later, by the later firms who owned it, or by a cutler who had access to it. The manufacture of the blade and the hafting of that blade may not have been at the same time, there are still antique blades being hafted in Sheffield today. As Levine tells us, accurately, it's the knife itself, not the stamp we must read. It may have deteriorated with age and with use, but does the knife look like it was produced in the heyday of Sheffield cutlery manufacture by one of its finest small cutlery houses? Bearing in mind what Barry says about the mismatched bolsters, possibly not. Perhaps it is more likely that the knife was manufactured at a later date when the Lambsfoot pattern had become more established, and when the firms that owned the mark produced more ordinary pocket-knives? An interesting Lambsfoot knife, and a nice one Barry

 

[Jack Black]

The other morning I spent at least 10min looking for mine until I realized I had them on.

I've done that!

It's only a matter of time before I do it too gents!

LOL Jack! Maybe the camera is like computers that learn your internet browsing habits except this one has learnt what it's usually being used to take pictures of...

LOL! Perhaps mate I seem to spend half my time trying to get my camera to focus in the right place

Glad you've enjoyed the Pearl adventure. Depending on my plans it may be Liverpool tomorrow.

Taking Pearl to the Liverpool match? Maybe she can sing You'll Never Walk Alone with the crowd.

Let's not forget Pearl has her own thread gents

Dave, I've got you beat. The other day I briefly put my car keys 'down' then couldn't find them again. It took me almost a minute of frantic searching to realize I was gripping them in my teeth....

Good morning Guardians.

That's a good one David! Nice pic too

Haha, keys between your teeth! I most defiantly will do the Lambsfoot Ale shots the second pub will be The Half Hitch Brewing Company.
View attachment 1117743

You look like you're going to be spolit for choice Dave

LOL! Yip, I'd rather go there than have you come here. I think you'd be grossly disappointed with the north-west of England as a vacation spot.

Surely not!

(It took me 15 minutes to find a family-friendly image of Blackpool! )

The weekend is upon us. Going to the range to qualify to renew my concealed carry license today. Y'all have a great weekend.View attachment 1117759

I'm sure you don't need anyone to wish you Good Luck Dwight Thanks for another great pic

Good Morning Guardians

Looking good John

I had a senior moment the other day. I tried to stand up from a footstool without pulling or pushing anything. I got maybe 2/3 up before pitching sideways into the fireplace. No fire, mercifully. It took me a while to crawl out over my dumbbells.
But I can't be old yet because my only injury was a minor scrape on one thumb-knuckle!

Yikes! You should have seen me trying to get up from a low concrete bench with my bad back the other day (no hand-rail or back-rest) Jer, it was a pathetic sight!

Good Friday morning, Guardians. Hope all is going well and you're getting ready for the weekend.

You're right Jack, this Damascus is varied, very good looking and well done.

Superb pic Preston

 

[pjsjr]

Right, let's have a look at Barry's Johnathan Crookes knife.

First some history (I'm afraid I can only make this fairly brief, as I don't have enough spare time to do more digging around): Crookes is a common surname in Sheffield, and confusingly there were two cutlers by the name of Jonathan Crookes, who used the heart and pistol mark. The first Jonathan Crookes was based in Scotland Street, on the edge of the area once known as Cutler's Hill, because of the high preponderance of small cutlers living and working there. He was listed in local trade directories in 1774, 1787, and 1797, as a maker of 'common pocket and penknives'. The second Jonathan Crookes was very probably the grandson of the the first one, the son of Marmaduke and Martha Crookes, and baptised in 1788. Having served his apprenticeship, he became a Freeman in 1810, which means he now owned his own work, and had registered a mark with the Cutler's Company.

Jonathan Crookes was a skilled cutler, and did work for Joseph Rodgers & Son, and it was claimed that he was the 'Inventor and Sole Maker' of the famous Year Knife, which can still be seen in Kelham Island Museum, Sheffield, today. At the time of manufacture, it contained 1821 separate blades and 'accessories' (the other implements).

Crookes had a brief partnership with James Bingham in the 1820's, which was dissolved in 1827. They had manufactured penknives and razors. In 1828, Crookes established himself as a pen knife cutler in Rockingham Lane, moving to Bailey Lane in 1833, and Broad Lane in 1837. His residence was in Rockingham Lane, where he lived until 1817, with his first wife Ann, who died that year, and his son Henry, who joined the business. By 1839, Jonathan Crookes & Son had moved to Eldon St, where they stayed until the end of the nineteenth century. The firm specialised in 'superlatively finished Pen, Pocket, and Sporting Kives, Razors, etc.' In the 1830's and 1840's they made 'fly open knives' and Bowie knives. Crookes found a market for his high quality knives in the USA.

In 1841, father and son dissolved their partnership, and Jonathan Crookes is thought to have retired to live the life of a gentleman, dying in 1866, having been predeceased by his second wife Mary, in 1856. He left nearly £5,000.

While prestigious, the company never sought to become a large one, claiming in the census, to employ 30 workers in 1851, 25 men and nine boys in 1861, 36 men, 8 boys, and 6 girls in 1871, and only 15 hands a decade later.

Thomas Crookes continued the business after his father's death, and while American trade was in decline, the firm continued to produce quality cutlery, with Thomas preferring not to extend the firm's capacity beyond what he could supervise himself. He was still attending to business only days before his death in 1892, leaving more than £83,000 to his widow Ann. The couple had no children, and Ann died 4 years later, after which the firm's workshops at 95 Eldon Street were vacated, and the contents presumably sold off, or pillaged.

The prestigious mark itself was was acquired in 1893 by James Hibbert, and then, in 1907, by Joseph Allen, who continued to use the Crookes mark as a stand-alone brand on razors and pocket-knives pocket knives until at least 1951 (the advert below is from 1945). In the 1950's, H.M.Slater took over the mark, and owned it until they folded just a few years ago, using it on both pocket knives and Bowies.

Now to the knife, it appears to have a pre-1892 tang-stamp, but as happens in Sheffield, a pre-1892 tang-stamp could have been used many years later, by the later firms who owned it, or by a cutler who had access to it. The manufacture of the blade and the hafting of that blade may not have been at the same time, there are still antique blades being hafted in Sheffield today. As Levine tells us, accurately, it's the knife itself, not the stamp we must read. It may have deteriorated with age and with use, but does the knife look like it was produced in the heyday of Sheffield cutlery manufacture by one of its finest small cutlery houses? Bearing in mind what Barry says about the mismatched bolsters, possibly not. Perhaps it is more likely that the knife was manufactured at a later date when the Lambsfoot pattern had become more established, and when the firms that owned the mark produced more ordinary pocket-knives? An interesting Lambsfoot knife, and a nice one Barry

Splendid write up Jack, you must have an extensive library of Sheffield cutlery history to be able to come up with that much info in a short amount of time.

 

[cigarrodog]

dc50 The look and layout of where your moving to is still quite splendid, Dave. Cheers.

@donn That is such a nice image of your Lambsfoot, David.

@Foddering If your range test is as outstanding as your images, you’ll have no trouble retaining your CC.

JohnDF Very Nice table shot.

screened porch Glad the scrap was minor. Beautiful cane.

pjsjr Even in the low light, you can see how beautiful the D Snake looks.

Jack Black “Family Friendly Image” was an awesome slice of life. Hearing the various histories makes for a much richer experience than simply buying a knife. Thank you, get back to 20 20 soon, and enjoy your weekend.

Good Morning Guardians.

 

[Prester John]

Splendid write up Jack, you must have an extensive library of Sheffield cutlery history to be able to come up with that much info in a short amount of time.

Or a good memory!

 

[dc50]

I've done that!

Vince sometimes a fella can embarrass himself even when no one else is around crikey.

I had a senior moment the other day. I tried to stand up from a footstool without pulling or pushing anything. I got maybe 2/3 up before pitching sideways into the fireplace.

Jer, I did something similar the other day just getting out of my swiveling office chair I ended on the floor.

Those two places look inviting and being close by will make the move a little less painful.

Preston, I will sit there until the pain goes away.

You look like you're going to be spolit for choice Dave

I'm thinking your right Jack there is a brand new neighborhood pub that just opened 1/2 block from our new residence.

(It took me 15 minutes to find a family-friendly image of Blackpool! )

haha, I've watched a fair few videos on YouTube of the goings on when the pub closes in Blackpool WOW!

 

[Prester John]

Good morning, Guardians!

(Pic from earlier this week.)
Spring is here! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

 

[cigarrodog]

Good morning, Guardians!

(Pic from earlier this week.)
Spring is here! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Your Lambsfoot looks splendid along with everything blooming.

 

[Prester John]

Your Lambsfoot looks splendid along with everything blooming.

Thanks, Harvey. April is one of my favourite months. I love the Spring!

 

[dc50]

dc50 The look and layout of where your moving to is still quite splendid, Dave. Cheers.

@donn That is such a nice image of your Lambsfoot, David.

@Foddering If your range test is as outstanding as your images, you’ll have no trouble retaining your CC.

JohnDF Very Nice table shot.

screened porch Glad the scrap was minor. Beautiful cane.

pjsjr Even in the low light, you can see how beautiful the D Snake looks.

Jack Black “Family Friendly Image” was an awesome slice of life. Hearing the various histories makes for a much richer experience than simply buying a knife. Thank you, get back to 20 20 soon, and enjoy your weekend.

Good Morning Guardians.
View attachment 1117907

Harvey that Players button instantly brought back a memory of my mother's one and only cigarette brand, Players Plain. That was back in the day when cigarettes were supposed to be good for what ales you.

 

[Jack Black]

Splendid write up Jack, you must have an extensive library of Sheffield cutlery history to be able to come up with that much info in a short amount of time.

Thanks Preston, I do, and a lifetime of understanding how the Sheffield cutlery industry functioned. I'm sure I could dig out more info on Jonathan Crookes though

Or a good memory!

It only seems to work for cutlery these days Vince! Even there, it fails me sometimes these days

dc50 The look and layout of where your moving to is still quite splendid, Dave. Cheers.

@donn Jack Black “Family Friendly Image” was an awesome slice of life. Hearing the various histories makes for a much richer experience than simply buying a knife. Thank you, get back to 20 20 soon, and enjoy your weekend.

Good Morning Guardians.
View attachment 1117907

Thanks a lot David, I've got my 'readers' back, but they're only my old ones, as I left the more recent prescription on the train the other week

I'm thinking your right Jack there is a brand new neighborhood pub that just opened 1/2 block from our new residence.

haha, I've watched a fair few videos on YouTube of the goings on when the pub closes in Blackpool WOW!

Great stuff Dave Happy days!

You haven't?!

Good morning, Guardians!

(Pic from earlier this week.)
Spring is here! Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Definitely worth seeing again Vince, great pic

 

[cigarrodog]

Harvey that Players button instantly brought back a memory of my mother's one and only cigarette brand, Players Plain. That was back in the day when cigarettes were supposed to be good for what ales you.
View attachment 1117918

Nostalgia is like a soothing balm.

 

[OLd_gUY]

Thanks Dave, just went to have a shave, and realised I'd be better waiting until I have my specs! I don't want to lose an ear!

The other morning I spent at least 10min looking for mine until I realized I had them on.

Dave, I've got you beat. The other day I briefly put my car keys 'down' then couldn't find them again. It took me almost a minute of frantic searching to realize I was gripping them in my teeth....

LOL Must be a world-wide epidemic goin' around. Just spent 5 min. or so looking for my cigar cutter this morning before I found waiting patiently for me in an ash tray

I had a senior moment the other day. I tried to stand up from a footstool without pulling or pushing anything. I got maybe 2/3 up before pitching sideways into the fireplace. No fire, mercifully. It took me a while to crawl out over my dumbbells.
But I can't be old yet because my only injury was a minor scrape on one thumb-knuckle!

Wish I could say that never happens to me, Jer, especially after being 'cramped up'.

It's amazing how suddenly you fall at this age, isn't it? When you're a kid, you have time to think "Oh-oh, I'm falling" and have time to try and catch yourself. Now, it seems like one instant you're upright and the next you're on the ground wondering "How did I get here?"

That's just fascinating. Everytime I see a pic, I'm amazed. Can you imagine oiling that thing? It would be like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you get to one end, go back to the other and start all over again Very interesting info - thanks.

(It took me 15 minutes to find a family-friendly image of Blackpool! )

That is just plain SCARY

Happy Friday, Guardians. Hope your weekend is a great one.
OG

 

[dc50]

You haven't?!

Just look at those Hooligans!

 

[Jack Black]

LOL Must be a world-wide epidemic goin' around. Just spent 5 min. or so looking for my cigar cutter this morning before I found waiting patiently for me in an ash tray




It's amazing how suddenly you fall at this age, isn't it? When you're a kid, you have time to think "Oh-oh, I'm falling" and have time to try and catch yourself. Now, it seems like one instant you're upright and the next you're on the ground wondering "How did I get here?"


That's just fascinating. Everytime I see a pic, I'm amazed. Can you imagine oiling that thing? It would be like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. When you get to one end, go back to the other and start all over again Very interesting info - thanks.


That is just plain SCARY

Happy Friday, Guardians. Hope your weekend is a great one.
OG
View attachment 1117928

I think it's called 'old age' OG!

Stan Shaw has taken the Year Knife apart TWICE to oil the blades! It took him 2 weeks each time, and he said he's never cut himself so much, those old blades are razor sharp!

Isn't it just OG!

Thank you for the Friday tunes my friend I was reading an account about Buddy Holly in Sheffield recently, a guy was recounting how, in 1958, he had asked them the way to the City Hall