Crooked Knife

[hso]

Another treasure from Bob Neal.

 

[SteadyD]

What are the common uses for such a knife? I have a similar carving knife for spoons but the blade is probably only 1 or 1.5 inches

 

[hso]

Remember those are folders

 

[SteadyD]

Remember those are folders

Are they more so just to showcase the incredible skill of the maker? Because that is pretty impressive.

 

[hso]

Yep

No one does this. Bob is well into his 80s and still making remarkable knives in remarkable numbers.

I have a pair and they're treasures to me.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Definitely neat but also definitely a vanity piece.

 

[rabid wombat]

The metal work is OK, but how about those scales!

Incredible work!

 

[hso]

a vanity piece

Wellll, I've watched Bob reach into his pocket, open the crooked knife he was carrying, and peel an apple on more than one occasion.

The fact that they're so masterfully constructed to be working folders that "walk and talk" perfectly could make a maker vane (or an owner).

 

[dh1633pm]

Like always someone posts about a cool knife and I have to go looking. I found many a knife that looked excellent. Might have to pick up one, if I can find one. Those are pretty cools knives. Thanks for posting.

 

[hso]

Might have to pick up one, if I can find one.

That can be a challenge since most of Bob's are sold before they're made. Best chance is to reach out to his wife on FB.

 

[Coyote3855]

The metal work is OK, but how about those scales!

Incredible work!

Yes, must have been a challenge to get the stag that would fit the curves.

 

[Spats McGee]

What are the common uses for such a knife? I have a similar carving knife for spoons but the blade is probably only 1 or 1.5 inches

If I were looking for a use for them, I'd go with "peeling apples."

 

[hso]

Yes, must have been a challenge to get the stag that would fit the curves.

Other way round. Bob forms the liners and blades and all the metal to fit the natural curve of the stag.

Think about that for a bit. Making the metal fit the curvature of the stag and doing it so the knife works, and not just works, but works perfectly. They have what enthusiasts call "walk and talk" with crisp half and full stops opening and closing.

 

[Speedo66]

Interesting as a curiosity and to showcase ability, and maybe that's enough, but I personally don't see much practical use for them.

But I'm more a user than a collector anyway.

 

[bannockburn]

hso

Neal Knives make some fine looking knives!

 

[sgt127]

Those look delightfully wrong.

Is anyone else, in their mind, opening and closing one trying to figure out how everything lines up?

 

[hso]

trying to figure out how everything lines up?

They line up perfectly. That's the amazing thing. They are perfectly functional.

 

[Zygodactyl]

From the title I thought I was going to see the crooked knife Herter's used to sell. The Bob Neal knives are works of art. The Herter's knife was advertised as a superior skinning knife.