Punch Varieties

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Miller Bro's
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by Miller Bro's »

Owd Wullie wrote:Reckon all those later patented punches were just an attempt to "re-invent the wheel"? With that hole made by the punch you just showed working, doesn't seem like you could get a lot better result with anything made later.
Willie, It looks that way to me. To prove it I took out an old Cattaraugus scout knife with a punch blade and tried it out.

It was harder to push through, it took more turns to make the hole, and it left some leather material behind. It was not as clean or fast as the early punch on the horseman`s knife. ::huff::
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by knowtracks »

Thanks for the demonstration MB ::tu::
I suppose then back in the day a nail would be just about as effective once sharpened the tip, and if was large enough to handle. Even by the turn of the centry there were no round nails they were still square hand forged tools.
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

It's all about how sharp it is. Tony Bose knows how to sharpen an edge. He did this experimental punch, and gave it to me to try out.
It is dead flat on the face, and has two converging flats on the back.
The reflection on the edge view makes it look thinner than it is.
Very simple to grind, and sharpen. It slips into the leather, and when you get the desired depth, it cuts out a neat hole of your chosen size!
I just cut these, a few seconds each. (I lost the small plug! It's so tiny, it flew off into the junk in my knife room - I'll find it when I sweep!) The big hole is 3/8" the small one is 1/8".
Any of those punches will work well if sharp. That's why that triangle works, although it's too thick to be optimum. If you sharpen a pen blade on one side only (chisel grind), it'll cut a nice hole! The narrower the blade, the smaller the hole.
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knowtracks
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by knowtracks »

Very cool Charlie! ::tu::
Thanks for demonstrating that punch also.
It appears from the donut holes that were cut out that where you push the punch in is not going to be the center of the hole. But to 1 side or the other depending on which way you turn the punch. Is that correct?
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

Yes, exactly. If you need it to be precise, you just lightly scratch the circle on the surface first. I "wiggle" the point in, because if you push real hard, when it breaks through, your fingers are on the other side!!

Don't ask me how I know this :roll: !
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by ea42 »

Charlie, I think that's why MB's got a big 'ol piece of foam under his leather ::idea:: :lol:

Great demo's guys!!!! I can see that they likely developed the newer thinner punches so they could be folded into any knife like a blade, rather than having that big wedge stuck to the outside of a knife, kind of limits it to the horseman or utility style knives only.

A number of the NYK Co. patents incorporated a locking mechanism into the punch and handle to prevent the blade from closing on a digit or two.

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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

Here's one of those locking punches from NYK. Kinda fragile, I'm lucky this one is intact and works.
The spring tab locks into the notch in the underside of the bolster and liner.
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by woseyjales »

Duck UnLaminated Greenwing 36OT
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

Not a new punch style, but a new tang stamping for me. I suspect it is rare, and only used from 1906 to 1911.
The knife is pure Empire IMO, so a contract knife to McIntosh Heather.
I've added some pictures of the knife with some Empires. The MH is on the right in each case.
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EmpContractHJplusBoneEmps.jpg
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by gmusic »

Charlie it appears MH was into their knives, here is a Toenail from same.

http://www.elephanttoenails.com/home/Th ... tion=false


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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

They had tools made on contract. I don't know if they were wholesale, retail or both?? I saw a picture of a plane, stamped with their name that was identical to a well known make.
That E-toe is not an Empire IMO, so I think they used several cutleries.
They may have tendered a lot of individual contracts, as a cost control.
See you in Oregon, Gary?? ::nod::
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by Miller Bro's »

Charlie,

No doubt about Empire making that MH knife.

Empire was the only company to use that shield.


I agree on the E-toe, the bone jigging is not what Empire used.


It`s a nice old knife ::tu::
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by Mossdancer »

Have a punch on a pliar knife that belongs to a buddy of mine. Rather than a punch it looks more like a reamer. If you view it from the point it grows to near a 1/4" thick at the bolster. Although it is a neat punch the JC Lewis Pliar knife is pretty neat itself. I thought Charlie would really appreciate the whole thing. Once you know what it says the stamp on the pliar handle is viewable. J.C. LEWIS over NOV. 20 1900.
All comments are welcome. I wonder if this was before the handle was in a bend at the end. It does not appear broken nor does there seem to to be a place for the bend to tuck in the bolster. The wire stripper and cutter are great. The easy opener for the punch is a nice feature. First one of these I have ever seen and held. Nice screwdriver opposite the pliar jaws when its all closed up.
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by gmusic »

moss......an early multi tool if I have ever seen one!
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

Boy, the things you miss when you are asleep at the switch!!! :roll:

Thanks for posting that punch, moss!
I've never seen that one before. ::tu::
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by thegreedygulo »

MRB: Here's a couple with nail nicks on the punch. Both are H. Boker & Co's Improved cutlery.
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by orvet »

How about this punch on the Schrade Walden 906, it looks like a Marlin Spike that has been quartered.
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Schrade Walden 906 punch.jpg
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by upnorth »

Dale, I like everything they do - nice looking punch.
Great Eastern has revived the Napanoch/Winchester punch! (At my request 8) ), and have done a good job of it! Works beautifully!
Just got these babies into my grubby paws. Nice fit and finish, and the blade is sharp enough to incise the surface of the leather with initials.
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by FRJ »

An old and interesting thread. ::tu::
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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Does it help with your mystery knife?

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Re: Punch Varieties

Post by FRJ »

Charlie, I can't say that it does but I might be missing something.

I am curious to know who made that knife but as it is it's a grand little knife no matter who made it.
I'm glad to have it.
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