Knurled Spacers. Why?

L

leghog

Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
8,038
This is a LF&C from the 1930s. Note the knurling. Knurled to half way around the bolsters toward the back springs. Why?

LF%2526C%2520Knurled%2520Liners.JPG
 
Last edited:
Earliest known "jimping" on a pocket knife - obviously it was for tactical reasons. haha, J/K . :)

Interesting feature - I hope somebody can enlighten us on this.
 
Neat feature, I have never seen that before! You see the coined edges a lot on liners but not all the way up like that.
 
I'm of the belief form follows function in a utility knife like a scout. Having a hard time thinking it was for aethetics.
 
Last edited:
The "Strike a Match" does make sense.
They still made the "Strike Anywhere" matches when that knife was made.
Maybe they thought the Boy Scouts (and perhaps even some adults?) would prefer to strike their matches on the knife, rather than take a chance of a piece of burning phosphorus or whatever it was they used being stick under the thumbnail?
My younger brother claimed that hurt like a son of a (the proper name for a female dog), when it happened to him. :)
 
afishhunter said:
The "Strike a Match" does make sense.
They still made the "Strike Anywhere" matches when that knife was made.
Maybe they thought the Boy Scouts (and perhaps even some adults?) would prefer to strike their matches on the knife, rather than take a chance of a piece of burning phosphorus or whatever it was they used being stick under the thumbnail?
My younger brother claimed that hurt like a son of a (the proper name for a female dog), when it happened to him. :)
Click to expand...

I remember seeing my dad strike one on his jeans zipper to burn a stump, and thinking that was a little too close for comfort for my taste!
 
Trout Hound said:
I remember seeing my dad strike one on his jeans zipper to burn a stump, and thinking that was a little too close for comfort for my taste!
Click to expand...
Yeah, we used to do them on jeans zippers all the time when I was younger. Not sure about the knife, though.
 
Is it that way on both ends? Was the coining blackened at all, ala soot, etc.? On a Scout it does seem like it would be more purposeful. What type of nail nicks does it have? If crescents it would make sense as a strike plate, maybe less so with long pull, “match strike”(?) type pulls. Just guessing. Wonderful piece L leghog ! Could we see more pictures of the knife itself when you can?:)
Thanks, Neal
PS-looks like it has a shell extractor type can opener ?
 
Regular nail nicks. Not sure I've ever seen a knife from the 1930s with match a strike nick. The knife was fairly clean when I received it. There are pics in the last page of the scout knife thread.
 
I suspect the reason was a little more prosaic than we think.
If you are not going to, or can't, flush grind/finish the end of the knife after assembly, that jimping will hide a lot of sins. i.e. slightly irregular fitting.
Cynically yours,
Charlie
 
waynorth said:
I suspect the reason was a little more prosaic than we think.
If you are not going to, or can't, flush grind/finish the end of the knife after assembly, that jimping will hide a lot of sins. i.e. slightly irregular fitting.
Cynically yours,
Charlie
Click to expand...
Don't think L,F,&C had that problem.
 
Very interesting question. I'm a bit dubious about the match theory though, I mean with those non safety strike anywhere matches you can ignite them on anything rough. So why put that on a knife? Plus it could foul up the joints or even scorch the scales:eek::D

Have a look at some of those English Sportsmans' knives from the end of the c19th they may have similar things? If so, it does mean it has some function then, but what?o_O

It could be that it was some parts left over from a knife with completely coined liners or is a later repair using this feature?
 
Will Power Will Power I've seen english sportsman's knives with coining. As I understand it, liners were coined prior to assembly, with a small roller type device. It remains a mystery as to why :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top