Thanks Jerry.jerryd6818 wrote:Dan, do any of the Richards have solid bolsters?
Those picture handles are so colorful. Love 'em.
Most are hollow sheet bolsters secured by folded tabs with thin celluloid covers. (A little out-gassing on some)
Thanks Jerry.jerryd6818 wrote:Dan, do any of the Richards have solid bolsters?
Those picture handles are so colorful. Love 'em.
So all are shell handle knives??Old Folder wrote:Thanks Jerry.jerryd6818 wrote:Dan, do any of the Richards have solid bolsters?
Those picture handles are so colorful. Love 'em.
Most are hollow sheet bolsters secured by folded tabs with thin celluloid covers. (A little out-gassing on some)
All but one Jerry. Posted below, a Barehead with which I believe is also celluloid.jerryd6818 wrote:So all are shell handle knives??Old Folder wrote:Thanks Jerry.jerryd6818 wrote:Dan, do any of the Richards have solid bolsters?
Those picture handles are so colorful. Love 'em.
Most are hollow sheet bolsters secured by folded tabs with thin celluloid covers. (A little out-gassing on some)
Queen Elizabeth did visit Santa Barbara in Feb 1983 which is only an hours drive from my home. However, I have not observed any knife related items relating to her visit.zoogirl wrote:A little?! Oh, my poor old Queen...if it wasn’t for sentiment, I’d have done her up in shrink wrap, encased in her concrete and snuck her into the nearest toxic waste dump!
Thanks for the article! Nice info.
I’ve become quite paranoid about any dark spots on celluloid. I probably have missed a couple of perfectly good knives but after the Queen outgassed and corroded the heck out of my grandmother’s button hook, I don’t want to take chances.
The next thing on my list is a good Mountie. I had my eye on one at a swap (won’t say which)
and after finally deciding to get it, discovered I was just too late. The guy that had it had decided to oil the joints. So much so, that oil had seeped up and under the scales and left a big brown splotch all down the top. No sale! It was a full size one too and otherwise quite nice. In his defence, it’s a general antiques table with just a few knives and he probably just didn’t realize what he’d done. Oh well, they are everywhere around here. I can probably get mine pretty quick if I start looking seriously.
zoogirl wrote:A veritable rainbow of knives! Awesome!
I particularly like the colour on the G&R knife.
I have a picture of the back of Queen Elizabeth’s hat. The motorcade went up Canada Way, only a block from my house, in ‘68.
Thanks for mentioning and linking my Richard/Richartz article, Dan, and you have a wonderful collection of them.Old Folder wrote:Below is my "Richards" stash accumulation from here & there over the years. Most of these are from the 1950s.
I seldom search auction sites. I prefer the hunt and fresh air.
Many knife history articles have been written in reference to Richards over the years. The most current "Richards" article is by Jack Black & Neal Punchard in the January 2019 Knife Magazine http://www.knifemagazine.com If you are not a current subscriber, you can purchase the backorder issue(s).
Not all Richards knives were low cost and inexpensive, many were produced with bone and wood handles with brass or steel handles, and are sought after by collectors, such as myself.
A good example is the British Military army issue knives with a sheepsfoot blade, tin-opener, and marlin spike as standard. Towards the end of WWII and after, they also produced as all-stainless pattern, generally known as the "Burma Knife". As this name implies, it was designated for issue to British and Commonwealth forces fighting in the Far East.
Richards also made good quality hunting knives, food preparation and table cutlery, and scissors. While none were overly fancy, they were well made with good material.
Richards has a cutlery heritage that dates well beyond the century mark.
I refuse to call any Richards knife "Cheap". I will however refer to some Richards knives as "Inexpensive" They have my total respect.
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Thanks Dan, I sure appreciate your kind words. You certainly have a vast collection and a good knowledge about the brand, but if ever need a second opinion on any specific Richards knife, I do have several old Richards catalogs that I could check on for you.Old Folder wrote:Mason;
As I stated above, I have read many "Richards/Richartz" articles over the years, but your current article in the January 2019 Knife World Magazine is the most detailed and thorough ever published pertaining to this historical knife company. Your collection and research is outstanding.
Congratulations and thank you Sir.
You are building quite a nice collection of Richards models, zoogirl. There were quite a few women who worked at the Richards company during and after WWII, so there is a good chance that some talented gals could have made part or all of some of your knives. Enclosed is a picture of mostly women working in a few areas of the Richards factory in Sheffield, England around the WWII era.zoogirl wrote:The Richards du jour. I got this big guy in New Westminster at an antique shop, along with a very nice little watch fob knife, $15 for both,
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Thank you Sir.Mason wrote:Thanks Dan, I sure appreciate your kind words. You certainly have a vast collection and a good knowledge about the brand, but if ever need a second opinion on any specific Richards knife, I do have several old Richards catalogs that I could check on for you.Old Folder wrote:Mason;
As I stated above, I have read many "Richards/Richartz" articles over the years, but your current article in the January 2019 Knife World Magazine is the most detailed and thorough ever published pertaining to this historical knife company. Your collection and research is outstanding.
Congratulations and thank you Sir.
That’s great! As a factory girl myself, I have nothing but respect for the women who stepped in and stepped up during WW1 and 2. It’s nice to know that perhaps one of my knives was assembled by a woman, not much different than myself, who worked hard and did what needed to be done. Of course, I don’t have the worry of the men in my family being in the fight.Mason wrote:
You are building quite a nice collection of Richards models, zoogirl. There were quite a few women who worked at the Richards company during and after WWII, so there is a good chance that some talented gals could have made part or all of some of your knives. Enclosed is a picture of mostly women working in a few areas of the Richards factory in Sheffield, England around the WWII era.
Didn't I see you post one like this?zoogirl wrote:FE507006-9277-4EEC-8991-00FEEAD14D18.jpegToday’s catch! There’s something fishy about this one. Hmmmm...
It now my largest Richards. I guess it’s my ‘King Richards!’BC84A59C-C344-4F34-A26D-D804A35B995E.jpeg