Show off your fixed blades!
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Yeah Steve, it's certainly different. And works well, too. The patent was issued in 1976 and the tool went on the market in California in August 1977. I came back from my first WestPac cruise in January 1978 and bought it in February 1978 the first time I walked into a California dive shop - I already knew I wanted to try lobster and abalone fishing. It was pricey for back then, about $20 as I remember it. The other ab-irons were only $8 or $9, but I could immediately see the usefulness of the tool.
They came in black and orange. I went orange for visibility.
They are rarely seen outside the west coast, since that's the only place that has abalone in the US. Anyone who has one most likely lived in California in the late 70s or early 80s.
There was no sheath. You carried it in you abalone/lobster bag or used a lanyard around your wrist. You could also take a # of lead off your weight belt.
They came in black and orange. I went orange for visibility.
They are rarely seen outside the west coast, since that's the only place that has abalone in the US. Anyone who has one most likely lived in California in the late 70s or early 80s.
There was no sheath. You carried it in you abalone/lobster bag or used a lanyard around your wrist. You could also take a # of lead off your weight belt.
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
That would explain why I've not seen one over on this side. Very briefly held a diving certification but discovered I couldn't clear my ears but with great difficulty and gave it up. One open water dive was enough to know.
Just googled abalone. Didn't realise the amount of regulation.
Just googled abalone. Didn't realise the amount of regulation.
steve99f
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
They used to be regulated only as to size, time of year and quantity in possession.
They are currently prohibited from being collected through at least the 2021 season all along the US Pacific coast.
The problem seems to have started back around 2013 (probably before that) when a virus hit the sea stars (aka starfish) populations along the Pacific coast. Especially hard hit were the sunflower sea stars started, the primary predator on the purple sea urchin. That allowed the purple sea urchin population to skyrocket, since sea stars were the primary predator of the sea urchins. The urchins destroyed the giant kelp forests that the abalone fed on.
In reality, the prohibition will be decades, since first the sea stars need to be re-established so that the sea urchins can be brought under control enough to allow the kelp beds to regrow, and then the abalone population will have to re-establish itself and grow to harvestable size - that will take 10 to 15 years by itself.
In 2018, scuba divers removed over 1.2 million sea urchins in certain areas in an attempt to lower the urchin population enough to allow the kelp beds to begin regenerating in those areas. The removed sea urchins are crushed and composted. There are also plans being developed to breed surviving sea stars to replenish the population, based on the theory that the survivors have a resistance to whatever disease killed most of them off.
They are currently prohibited from being collected through at least the 2021 season all along the US Pacific coast.
The problem seems to have started back around 2013 (probably before that) when a virus hit the sea stars (aka starfish) populations along the Pacific coast. Especially hard hit were the sunflower sea stars started, the primary predator on the purple sea urchin. That allowed the purple sea urchin population to skyrocket, since sea stars were the primary predator of the sea urchins. The urchins destroyed the giant kelp forests that the abalone fed on.
In reality, the prohibition will be decades, since first the sea stars need to be re-established so that the sea urchins can be brought under control enough to allow the kelp beds to regrow, and then the abalone population will have to re-establish itself and grow to harvestable size - that will take 10 to 15 years by itself.
In 2018, scuba divers removed over 1.2 million sea urchins in certain areas in an attempt to lower the urchin population enough to allow the kelp beds to begin regenerating in those areas. The removed sea urchins are crushed and composted. There are also plans being developed to breed surviving sea stars to replenish the population, based on the theory that the survivors have a resistance to whatever disease killed most of them off.
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Well I finally picked up my G.C.Co. Buffalo Hunter from the antique shop.Ten inch long blade with a long sharpened false edge similar in shape to a Woodcraft pattern.Two piece buffalo(cow?)horn handle and aluminum pommel.Sheath is marked Edge Brand and the blade has a number 349 stamped in the pile side.Some slight surface rust which is removing nicely and a small chip in the pile side handle which I think I can fill.Cost me $55 which I don't think was too bad a price.
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Thought I would try a GEC fixed blade knife so got this H10 with antiqued cherry wood handles earlier this week. Picked this one because at 7" oal it fell within a size range I didn't have. Made an attempt at antiquing the leather with some dye, rubbed some gray dye and black powdered earth pigment into the handle to darken it some and forced a patina on the blade with mustard. Had to personalize it.
I like the blade size, shape and how thin it is. I feel like the handle would feel better in my hand if it were just a 1/4' longer and a 1/4" taller (spine to belly that is, not thicker). I'll put it to use though camping and hunting.
I like the blade size, shape and how thin it is. I feel like the handle would feel better in my hand if it were just a 1/4' longer and a 1/4" taller (spine to belly that is, not thicker). I'll put it to use though camping and hunting.
Greg
- Quick Steel
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Congratulations Greg. Very handsome. And with your personalization this knife is going to "speak" to you more fully with the passage of time.
I'm expressing that awkwardly but you know what I mean. Well done.
I'm expressing that awkwardly but you know what I mean. Well done.
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Ray, that is a big knife, the Buffalo Hunter. Looks like a Gutmann marking so a good quality knife. $55 for a knife with a 10" blade in that good condition is almost a steal.
kj
kj
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Thanks Roland.The stag handled hunter I got last week I like even better.Pics on page 180kootenay joe wrote:Ray, that is a big knife, the Buffalo Hunter. Looks like a Gutmann marking so a good quality knife. $55 for a knife with a 10" blade in that good condition is almost a steal.
kj
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Gotcha QS, I know what you mean. I'll take it camping in a few weeks and hopefully after I get some honest use out of it the knife and I will bond.Quick Steel wrote:Congratulations Greg. Very handsome. And with your personalization this knife is going to "speak" to you more fully with the passage of time.
I'm expressing that awkwardly but you know what I mean. Well done.
Greg
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Yes, bond is precisely the word.
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
anyone recognize this one? Sheath say's BOWDEAN HIDE WORKS, MONTANA. NOT SURE WHAT THE HANDLE IS AND on The sheath is a tooth, not hollow for a root. blade is 4 1/8th and 8 7/8th overall. snake over hand made and possibly a ram or big horn sheep.
Thanks, Bob
Thanks, Bob
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Hey Bob, need a picture, eh !
And Ray, Wow ! i just saw your large British Hoffritz Bowie. Need to be a strong younger man to pack this one around.
You find Great knives, almost every week !
kj
And Ray, Wow ! i just saw your large British Hoffritz Bowie. Need to be a strong younger man to pack this one around.
You find Great knives, almost every week !
kj
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
just found this, online auction. June 2014. Group - Categorymrwatch wrote:anyone recognize this one? Sheath say's BOWDEAN HIDE WORKS, MONTANA. NOT SURE WHAT THE HANDLE IS AND on The sheath is a tooth, not hollow for a root. blade is 4 1/8th and 8 7/8th overall. snake over hand made and possibly a ram or big horn sheep.
Thanks, Bob
Miscellaneous
Lead Bob Schopp Knife and Bodean Sheath Helena, MT This
Description
This lot shows two knives made by Bob Schopp of Helena, Montana. The knives are in a Bodean Hide Works Hand Crafted in Montana leather sheath that is hand made and tooled. The knives both have stag horn handles and brass hilts. This is marked with the coiled rattle snake logo.
blade forums, The late Bob Schopp and Jay Dean of Bodean hide woks.
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Mr W. that is an exceptional knife. What great looks. Very well done. Glad you have it.
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
This is my DR. Ray Rantanen railroad spike knife. Amboyna burl wood dyed blue Dr. Ray told me that there are 30 different kinds of railroad spikes. This spike knife came from the curve with higher carbon.
- New_Windsor_NY
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Good looking Railroad Spike knife. You should share it here:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62751
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=62751
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Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
I got this Imperial at a gun show yesterday. A guy had it on his table for $20 so I offered him $10...and got it. It's in pretty decent shape.
If the thunder don't get you then the lightening will!
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
I have been gone over a year. A tale of woe and sadness to be related on a bleeding heart forum.tongueriver wrote:This thread needs a bump. This Vic Hangas (Ruana, 1990ish) bowie is in the mail, I hope.
vic6.jpg
I sold off most of my knives, including two out of three of my Ruana's. I always thought my camping knife was a one off of some other design. Notice the similarity Now I am curious about the knife but do not have the experience to search out the information. This is a two year old thread I found the picture in but it is the only mention of this knife I have ever found. I may have to sell a another sword or knife and more knowledge can only help.
I acquired the knife in 1982. The two skinning knives I sold were from the '40's, I had skinned moose with them as a youngster.
Anyway, the knife is pretty beater, ten full seasons of camping with children. Yeah, I let them play with knives.
Another of the reasons I considered it a one off, it has a slight bend from quenching. At least that is my guess, there is a twist, small but discernible when sighting down the blade. 36 years of use, it has no cracks and holds an edge evenly along its full length, but the twist is there.
At least the signature puts a date on it. But why would a production knife be signed?
- tongueriver
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- Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:01 pm
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Welcome back, Phaeton. Your knife is a 29A and it appears to have a stacked leather handle? If so, that would be rare. Mike and Mark Hangas (R.H. Ruana's grandsons) are still making these for something like $850. They also re-furbish heavily used knives (only in the Spring months) for a reasonable fee, and can furnish correct sheaths, if necessary. If your knife was cleaned up by them and a sheath (if needed), it could easily compete with their newly-made version, because yours was made by the old man, and because of the rare handle. If you go to the Ruanas for sale on ebay you will see some crazy prices, but they are not usually actually bringing those sums. Here are some URLs, possibly of interest.
https://www.ruanaknives.com/catalog-bowies
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... r+Form.pdf
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat= ... na&_sop=10
and here are Ebay completed listings. Many did not sell but you can tell that by noting carefully.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat= ... Complete=1
Meanwhile, Rudy signed many of his knives in his last years, but I don't know why. As far as 'production' knives definition goes, Every one of his knives, and of his son-in-law Victor Hangas, and of his grandsons Mike and Mark Hangas---- They are ALL made from scratch, hand forged custom knives, regardless of how prolific they are.
https://www.ruanaknives.com/catalog-bowies
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... r+Form.pdf
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat= ... na&_sop=10
and here are Ebay completed listings. Many did not sell but you can tell that by noting carefully.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat= ... Complete=1
Meanwhile, Rudy signed many of his knives in his last years, but I don't know why. As far as 'production' knives definition goes, Every one of his knives, and of his son-in-law Victor Hangas, and of his grandsons Mike and Mark Hangas---- They are ALL made from scratch, hand forged custom knives, regardless of how prolific they are.
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Thank you, this is a lot of information I had no idea about.
My daughter still likes to do the camping thing when she can, and unlike her older brother, does not have a history of chopping branches held against a rock.
Her D2 camp knife fits my stiff hands better anyway so we swapped. Sheath is broken in just right.
Again, thanks for your post.
My daughter still likes to do the camping thing when she can, and unlike her older brother, does not have a history of chopping branches held against a rock.
Her D2 camp knife fits my stiff hands better anyway so we swapped. Sheath is broken in just right.
Again, thanks for your post.
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Case Rio Grade Camp Knife.
A GOOD KNIFE IS LIKE A GOOD FRIEND, IT'LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
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Charlie (Squach)
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
~ John Wayne ~
Charlie (Squach)
Re: Show off your fixed blades!
Charlie that one has me pondering at just what size does it cease being a fixed blade knife and become a sword.
Beautiful knife.
What is the overall length ?
Beautiful knife.
What is the overall length ?
Phil
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Re: Show off your fixed blades!
It's 15" OAL. But it's not as big as this one. This one was actually designed as a "knife" to be carried in place of a sabre and has an OAL of 17 1/2"! It's a Cold Steel reproduction of the 1849 Rifleman's Knife. I'm pretty sure it could qualify as a short sword! Maybe someone out there will be able to tell us where the length of a blade officially ceases to be a knife and becomes a sword. There must be a standard somewhere.philco wrote:Charlie that one has me pondering at just what size does it cease being a fixed blade knife and become a sword.
Beautiful knife.
What is the overall length ?
A GOOD KNIFE IS LIKE A GOOD FRIEND, IT'LL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
~ John Wayne ~
Charlie (Squach)
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
~ John Wayne ~
Charlie (Squach)