Old hickory..

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I own several CaseXX, K-bars and several other knives I'vd accumulated over the years, including a couple of Randalls. Fine tools all of them, but it seem's like the older I get the more I find myself reaching for one of my Old Hickory's. It seem's to always get the job done with no problem.Sometimes I feel like I'vd wasted a lot of money. Does anyone else on here use an Old Hickory now and then?..Great White Hunter...

 

[Piraticalbob]

Sure, I have some. The smaller butcher blades (6") make good utility sheath knives, though you have to get a sheath made for them. I've used the Cotton Sampler as a lightweight camp knife, and the double-edged sticking knife makes for an inexpensive self-defense knife. They're easy to sharpen without the need of diamond sharpeners, are inexpensive, and don't cause you to cry like a baby when you lose one.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Yeah, I don't really have a sheath made for any of them, but they are easy to sharpen and they hold a pretty good edge. I skin my game (when I get some) my fish (again when I get some) and use them in my cooking. I live by myself and do for myself. Yes, I like my Old Hickory knives pretty well. I'vd got several different sizes. Two of them I swear are as big as machetes. Like you my favorite go to is the regular 6 inch butcher. Maybe a 4 inch parer for like peeling potatoes. Well, at least I'm not alone in this world..Great White Hunter...

 

[Smokey Joe]

Old Hickory...

Have several OH kitchen knives myself. Like best the old ones that say "1843 Shapleigh's Hammer Forged" on the blade, not the newer "Ontario Knife Co."

Once I had a deer head mount to prepare, & asked a taxidermist what he'd recommend for a knife for the really fine cutting stuff--He said all he and his workers use was OH paring knives, sharpened REALLY well for the first inch or so of blade starting at the point. Followed his advice and the OH did the job great. Deer head is long gone. Still have the knife. It's dedicated for that kind of usage--took an edge really well for a factory knife.

 

[Carl Levitian]

"Sometimes I feel like I'vd wasted a lot of money."


I used to collect custom knives a long time ago. Some Randalls, a few Henricksons, a Hastings, others. One day I realized they didn't really do a better job than my Russell's butcher knife that I'd made a mountain man sheath for. Ended up selling the high dollar knives off and went to using a Russells butcher knife, a Victorinox paring knife I made a sheath for, a mora, Opinels, and Victorinox bantams for the bulk of my cutting. Never looked back and I'm happy.

 

[Black Toe Knives]

I am custom Knifemaker. I use my old hickory Boning knife, if i don't have one of my customs handy, for everything. I test lot of my knives in the kitchen.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

I can answer all 3 posts in just this one post. Yeah, a kitchen , just working with large pieces of meat and/or some vegetables is a good way to learn about a knife.
I don't have any of the real old Old Hickory knives. All I'vd got or ever seen are the Ontario's. Those others must be real old because I'vd just seen and heard of Ontario's since I was a boy I reckon. (pretty good while ago)..
Hey, I just brought up AGR knives about 4 hours ago and added it to my favorites list. I misplaced my catalog. I'm going through some of the website later tonight and I'll make it a point to look for the butchers. I don't need one but I'd like to see them..Great White Hunter..

 

[sm]

Yes.

<Reads PM ...hey stupid, don't make me kick your butt, reply to this thread...with link to this thread, and this quote:

Does anyone else on here use an Old Hickory now and then?

*smile*

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Okay! Okay! I can take a hint!
Hey, I just came off of AG Russel knives website. I was looking at a lot of the kitchen knives. Some real nice ones on there I guess. I didn't check the prices because I'm not going to buy one. I was just looking.
I didn't know Old Hickory knives were so popular. (didn't see any on his site of course) I thought I was about the only one around who really used them anymore. Most people nowadays have all gone over to the flimsy serrated edged pieces of junk, don't you agree?..Great White Hunter..

 

[Carl Levitian]

" I'm going through some of the website later tonight and I'll make it a point to look for the butchers."


No, not A.G. Russell, but Russell like in Russell-Dexter. The evolution of the John Russell knife company that made the original "Green River knife" of the fur trade era. The John Russell Company was located on the Green River in Massachusetts.Now they are Russell-Dexter, makers of great kitchen knives. No relation to the A.G. Russell of Ark.

 

[Piraticalbob]

You can find a selection of Russell Green River blades at Texas Knifemaker's Supply, by the way, in the section on carbon steel blades. I have one myself, a small butcher knife about 5", it's one great knife.

 

[sm]

GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL,

I am going to be honest with you, the older Old Hickory are better, than the current offerings*
Not sure what OH has done, but they have. In free hand sharpening , it feels to me, the heat treat is not what it once was.

So, my suggestion, would be to hit some yard , garage and estate sales. Check the newspaper ads, as folks get new knives, or part out, and get rid of good used stuff.

Now I do not know what the current Dexter line is offering, still these carbon steel knives, as Carl shared are great.


Case, also made some good ones back in the day, so when hitting the yard, garage, and estate sales, keep your eyes open for these as well.


>drift.

Tom Krein shared with me, the Victorinox paring knives.
We were discussing the new OH offerings, and our "concerns". He suggested the Vic paring knife instead of my old favorite, the OH paring.

While I prefer carbon and tool steels, I must admit, Tom is onto something and his suggestion is a good one.

These are not expensive, and work great for emergency kits, and for wet environments, especially around salt water.

I have used the Vic, but do not own one.

*I do have a new OH paring, and it was like the older OH, or it is to me, based on feel during freehand sharpening, and use.
Just my feel based on having grown up with OH, and decades of use.
So maybe, OH had a bad run, or read Internet "displeasure" or something, and have gone back to what they were, dunno.

One of these days...
I am going to get a carbon steel Mora.
Never had one, still too many folks have shared, if you like OH, Dexter, Case, you will really appreciate the Mora.

Dirty Bob just did an excellent thread on Mora's , here in non-firearms.


Sending best,

Steve

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

Yeah, I'vd never had a Mora either, Truthfully I probably never will. I don't reckon I need any more knives. Never can tell though, just depend's on what kind of mood I get in and how many pennies I can scrape together..I'm glad he told me about Russel Dexter. I spent all that time on a counterfeit website..I'll check out Russel Dexter later tonight..Great White Hunter...

 

[Deltaboy1984]

I love old hickory knives and I have 1 green river skinner. Mora are getting alot of love in the Hunting and Survivor sites.

 

[GENTLEMAN OF THE CHARCOAL]

DeltaBoy..Do you have a photo of the Mora you could post for me?..Great White Hunter..

 

[messerist]

GOC. I like the earlier OH as well but the last website I visited looking for a butcher knife said they are thinner and have stopped putting the old "roll marks" on them. I just bought a 12" butcher knife from Dexter Russell (I use it when I BBQ. Makes me look cool!) I like the knife and am saving pennies to buy some other Russells. Good luck in your search. Are you back in the high lonely of WY?

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Here you go ! http://www.ragweedforge.com/

I order a Carbon Steel Green Military Issue one from Amazon.com.

I pick up old hickory from garage and estate sales.