Anyone Know of Jack Black Knives (UK)??

[Big John]

About 10 yrs ago I recall a Guns Review article on Jack Black knives of Sheffield. The mag reviewed a utility knife (think it was called U1) and I remember being very impressed with the (apparent) quality and design of the knife. Anyone know anything about JB knives??

[Guycep]

I remember the article and was similarly impressed. I tried to get hold of one about six/seven years ago from Framar, who I believe were the distributers, but was told that Jack had fallen off the face of the Earth and he had no knives left. I was a bit gutted 'cos they seemed like a very well thought out and constucted blade, made in our very own Sheffield.

If anyone out there got hold of one of these knives I would be very interested to hear an unbias opinion??

[Bex]

I am near 100% sure these knives were made by Pat Mitchell of Sheffield:

http://www.patmitchell.com/

The Jack Black design is not listed on their website though I have no doubt you could get one made up by them.

As an aside, wasnt the JB knife featured in one of the later incarnations of SWAT magazine? That is where I remember seeing it.

The Pat Mitchell hunting knives were featured in a two parter in Guns Review and were very highly recommended.

I dont remember the prices then, and they are not listed on the website, but they were quite reasonable for the quality-starting at around the 40 quid mark.

Hope this helps,

Regards

Mike

[waldorf]

The Pat Mitchell knives mentioned were highly rated, but sadly Pat and her
husband Stuart died a few years ago, so I`m not sure if the website and knives are being produced by somebody else using the Mitchell name.
If anybody remembers the magazine "THE GAME GAZETTE" there was a feature
in the Dec94/Jan 95/ issue featuring knives by Alan Wood, Geoff Hague, Howard Hitchmough, and Pat Mitchell

[Bex]

As I understand it, there was at least one son who was part of the company. I would assume that it is the family who are now in charge, but I dont know.

The website has been altered in the last 12 months, so someone has still been maintaining it recently.

[MushiSushi]

I got shown a jack black today . serial number 009 ... by pat mitchell ... ... heavy knife. ..... belongs to a friend

[Jack Black]

Well, if there's anything else you want to ask...

Hi guys.

[Stephen63]

Hi Jack, and welcome to BB.

How about some pictures or a website link?

[ANDYLASER]

Welcome Jack. Kudos on a spooky arrival.

[Jack Black]

Thanks fellers. I don't have a website I'm afraid, doing different stuff now. Still got my U1 serial number 001 (and a sackload of other knives of course), I'll try and post a pic when I figure out how to!

[Danzo]

Hi Jack, welcome to BB!

Danzo

[Rogan-J]

I'm confused if Jack Black knives were made by Pat Mitchell ......who is Jack Black:huh:

[lemoneyewash]

Welcome Jack :)

Be great to see your stuff ;)

[Bogflogger]

Hello Jack. Welcome to BB.

[Jack Black]

Thanks a lot guys. You're probably going to be disappointed though.

I used to review and test knives for a number of publications, and being from Sheffield, I've been around them my whole life. When I first started writing for SWAT it was full of publicity puffs being passed off as knife tests for companies like Scalemead, who sold all sorts of junk. The first knife I wrote about was the comparitively diminutive Victorinox Mauser Officer's Knife!

The market back then was saturated with bad combat-style knife designs, but there were few designs that were of much practical use. As I was turning out so much ink at the time I guess it was inevitable that I'd get asked to put my name to a particular knife, and that happened quite a lot, but I didn't. I wanted to produce something which for it's time was different, and which was of the very highest quality. Also I wanted it made in Sheffield, and preferably from Sheffield steel.

Earlier on in this thread someone remarked that if they wanted one of my designs they could simply get Pat Mitchell to make them one, well even if Stuart Mitchell Snr was still alive I'm afraid that wouldn't have been possible. The U1 may have looked like a simple knife, but it took a year to develop, and most of that time went into developing the heat-treatment. There were a lot of other factors that made the U1 (and my other knives) very different to other Mitchell knives. Any copy of the U1 would have been a very poor one.

I hope that everyone who bought one of the knives was very happy with them, and from those I know who had them I know that is certainly the case. It's unfortunate that through no fault of my own the venture was not able to continue, not least because back in 1993/94 the knives were the only ones still being handmade in Sheffield from Sheffield steel.

I've been away for a long while since then, and as I said before I do other stuff now, but I'm pleased to see you have a community here. It would have certainly made things a lot easier if BB had existed years ago. I'm just dipping my toe a bit here, but it's nice to be among friends.

[Roger Gregory]

I've been away for a long while since then, and as I said before I do other stuff now, but I'm pleased to see you have a community here. It would have certainly made things a lot easier if BB had existed years ago. I'm just dipping my toe a bit here, but it's nice to be among friends.

You're definitely amongst friends Jack. Good to have you here.

If you ever decide to dip your toe into the knife scene again you might find there's a little more support than there was back then.

Now, what are you up to? We dn't just talk about knives here you know :D

Roger

[Rogan-J]

Thanks a lot guys. You're probably going to be disappointed though.

As I was turning out so much ink at the time I guess it was inevitable that I'd get asked to put my name to a particular knife, and that happened quite a lot, but I didn't. I wanted to produce something which for it's time was different, and which was of the very highest quality. Also I wanted it made in Sheffield, and preferably from Sheffield steel.

Earlier on in this thread someone remarked that if they wanted one of my designs they could simply get Pat Mitchell to make them one, well even if Stuart Mitchell Snr was still alive I'm afraid that wouldn't have been possible. The U1 may have looked like a simple knife, but it took a year to develop, and most of that time went into developing the heat-treatment. There were a lot of other factors that made the U1 (and my other knives) very different to other Mitchell knives. Any copy of the U1 would have been a very poor one.




Ah enlightenment, I am ignorant no more.:D

Thanks for the info Jack and welcome to BB:happy72:

[Wayne D]

When I first started writing for SWAT

I thought the name was familiar ! Loved that Mag and still have some copies kicking about under the workbench :D

come on work out the photo thing and show us some piccies :D

[Jack Black]

Thanks again for a very warm welcome. I had hundreds of knife photos, but lost them years ago I'm afraid (still have some of them reproduced in magazines, but the quality probably isn't that good.) So have to start again from scratch. I'm away for a few weeks, but after I get back I'll try to post a few pics. Merry Christmas to you all.

Jack

[t'solid]

Hi, This is my first contribution so please don't critisise too much.

I have a Jack Black knife serial number 025 which was bought from 'Pat Mitchell' about 18month ago. 'Pat Mitchell' is indeed still in business being run by Stuart (Jnr). I spoke with him only a couple of weeks ago.

My JB is a modified design using original blade stock which has been mildly reshaped to my requirments. The blade was 're-discovered' on the workshop floor under a bench and offered to me!

I also have an older, larger knife similar to one recently on ebay based on the gerker pattern which was made by Stuart (senior) to my design about 10+ years ago.

Both these knives are in daily service in my job as a Park Ranger so are not 'factory fresh', they are honest working tools of supreme quality.

I will try to post some photos if anyone is interested

Cheers
'solid

[Bogflogger]

Photos are absolutely essential!

[Jack Black]

Hi, This is my first contribution so please don't critisise too much.

I have a Jack Black knife serial number 025 which was bought from 'Pat Mitchell' about 18month ago. 'Pat Mitchell' is indeed still in business being run by Stuart (Jnr). I spoke with him only a couple of weeks ago.

My JB is a modified design using original blade stock which has been mildly reshaped to my requirments. The blade was 're-discovered' on the workshop floor under a bench and offered to me!

I also have an older, larger knife similar to one recently on ebay based on the gerker pattern which was made by Stuart (senior) to my design about 10+ years ago.

Both these knives are in daily service in my job as a Park Ranger so are not 'factory fresh', they are honest working tools of supreme quality.

I will try to post some photos if anyone is interested

Cheers
'solid

Thanks for this information t'solid, it means that once again I've been ripped off, as you have I'm afraid. If your knife bears my name and stamp it's because both have been stolen. Your knife is not original blade stock since only 20 U1's, and even fewer variants were made. Nor has your blade been hardened in the way the others were. I'd also guess the handle material is different and that the sheath isn't my original design (though that was the first part of the design to be pirated.) I've been reluctant to criticise someone deceased, but I regret that young Stuart is still carrying on like this. I'd be grateful if you could post photos t'solid, and would be interested to hear from anyone else who has also bought one of my knives directly from Pat Mitchell, and how much they paid (I'd guess you paid 'cash' for yours t'solid.) Unfortunately, this company has a long history of ALLEGEDLY copying other people's designs, and often machine-grinding knives and passing them off as handmade (Stuart Snr tried doing this with the first batch he made for me, which went in the bin, and all the PM skean-dhus, mainly produced in blade form for other companies, are machine-ground), but this really is too much.

[Danzo]

Jack, sorry to be a legal pain in the backside but I've just edited your post to include the word 'allegedly' in nice big letters. Without proof your allegation could lead BB and Martyn, the proprietor, open to an action for libel.

I sympathise if the situation is as you describe.

Danzo

[Jack Black]

Jack, sorry to be a legal pain in the backside but I've just edited your post to include the word 'allegedly' in nice big letters. Without proof your allegation could lead BB and Martyn, the proprietor, open to an action for libel.

I sympathise if the situation is as you describe.

Danzo

Please accept my apologies for potentially causing problems for BB. All I'd say to people on that particular issue, is that unfortunately if they walk into many small firms with a knife and some cash and ask to have it copied (the knife that is, not the cash) they may not have too many problems.

[Danzo]

No worries Jack, we just have to be careful about allegations made on a publicly accessible forum.

It must be extremely upsetting to have things passed off as your own work when you have put much time and effort into developing it.

Danzo

[Jack Black]

No worries Jack, we just have to be careful about allegations made on a publicly accessible forum.

It must be extremely upsetting to have things passed off as your own work when you have put much time and effort into developing it.

Danzo

Thank you Danzo. I understand entirely.

It really is very upsetting. I'm sure that others in the same position will be able to empathize. Ironic, that Sheffield cutlers used to complain that the Sheffield cutlery industry was ruined by inferior quality knock-offs.

[Tantalus]

wasnt there a time when just stamping "Sheffield England" on a blade meant quality, service, and reliability ?

This thread has only deepened my mistrust

Are there any makers on these forums that actually stamp England on their blades, or any other country for that matter?

Tant

[Danzo]

Are there any makers on these forums that actually stamp England on their blades, or any other country for that matter?

Guycep does.

Danzo

[Jack Black]

wasnt there a time when just stamping "Sheffield England" on a blade meant quality, service, and reliability ?

Yes indeed. It used to be the case that Sheffield cutlers would blame everyone (mainly the Japanese) except themselves for the demise of the industry. I think one of the mistakes made was trying to compete on price instead of maintaining quality, and apathetically resting on the reputation their forefathers had earned instead of keeping up to date, with tempering processes for example, and developing innovative designs. It saddens me the amount of sloppy work that has been sold under the Sheffield name, to the point where it no longer meant anything. I tried to play my own small part in redressing things, but you can probably get an idea from this thread how things went, and believe me that's only the tip of the iceberg. Colin Pearse from Attleborough was also someone who wanted to sell more quality Sheffield knives years ago, but he also got messed around, and I could name others who were similiarly treated and/or ripped off.


This thread has only deepened my mistrust

I think it's particularly objectionable to sell machine-ground blades as handmade, because it undermines and undercuts the true craftsmen this country still has. Yet I know of one well-known 'bladesmith' who used to purchase factory-made Norwegian blades, grind the original makers name off, and sell them as his own handmade knives.

I have to say that with BB around today, forgeries like that would be highlighted sooner because you have plenty of people on here intelligent enough and experienced enough to spot them.

[t'solid]

Hi,
Just to let everyone know, I have contacted 'Jack Black' by pm re the possible fraudulent activity of the previously mentioned company.
If there is indeed some wrong doing, I intend to pursue it as It would seem that both myself and 'Jack Black' have been ill treated and/or misled.

Because of this I have chosen to continue this conversation with 'Jack' in private so as to prevent any possible comeback to the BB.


PS Hell of a first post, I almost wish I hadn't bothered now!!!!:mad:

Cheers
'solid

[Jack Black]

Hi,
Just to let everyone know, I have contacted 'Jack Black' by pm re the possible fraudulent activity of the previously mentioned company.
If there is indeed some wrong doing, I intend to pursue it as It would seem that both myself and 'Jack Black' have been ill treated and/or misled.

Because of this I have chosen to continue this conversation with 'Jack' in private so as to prevent any possible comeback to the BB.


PS Hell of a first post, I almost wish I hadn't bothered now!!!!:mad:

Cheers
'solid

Thanks a lot t'solid. I've just got your post, but as it's going to take me quite a while to reply, I hope you won't mind me leaving it until tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Jack

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hello to everyone on the forum... Stuart Mitchell Jnr. here of Pat Mitchell (Cutlers) of Sheffield.

I had a very interesting conversation today with a customer in the workshop!

This particular customer bought from me a Jack Black U1 Knife about 18 months ago... He is still very happy with the build and quality.

I personally feel a little late for the party and would like to ask Jack where my invitation was... Jack, if you are in some way unhappy with the service that myself and my father offered to you then it would have been nice if you had come to me after your re-appearance from obscurity, we could have discussed your disappearing act and maybe business could have flourished?

Right then Jack, I am now here to defend my reputation along with the reputation of my parents before me. Please tell me of our wrong doings towards you, I will do my utmost to correct them. Please be careful what you say here Jack, I have read listings posted by you so far and am fully prepared to let them go. If you persist to slander the name of my ongoing business I will utilise every power at my disposal to correct the situation.

Just so everyone is fully in the picture... Pat Mitchell (Cutlers), which at the time was operated by my parents Stuart and Pat along with me Stuart jnr, was approached by Jack to help him design and produce a fine quality, Sheffield produced Utility Knife.

The Knife was developed and Jack was charged with putting it to the general public...

Unfortunately matters arose that prevented him from doing so...

I, after the death of my father in 1996, found myself at the helm of Pat Mitchell (Cutlers). I am still at that helm today.

18 months ago I was approached by a client I had worked for previously as he wanted to commission a new knife for himself. We looked through my tin of patterns and he picked out a Blade, that Blade was a Jack Black U1, it was numbered as 25 and a remnant from the first and only order of such Blades.

Jack had not been in touch since before the death of my father and I made the decision to make up the Knife for my client. Maybe I should at this point make clear that the U1 was NOT the property of Jack, we as a gesture of good will offered to him the rights to market it as his own. I was kind of getting the impression after nearly a dozen years of no contact that he wasn't that bothered. Yes, I agree jack that you were very much involved in development and for many years we honoured our word to you. Not from that day to this has a single U1 Blade been produced, we still hold your Blade Stamp to this day Jack. The only knife that has left my workshop is the one in question and I make no apology for supplying it!!!

Jack, you were a decent fellow and it saddens me that you resort to on-line forums to vent the anger you feel for different things. Some of the things you have said about the reputation of my company... Please explain yourself!!! You know where to find me Jack!!!

Finally... Pat Mitchell (Cutlers) is still very much alive and well... True, we have had ups and downs especially over recent years but we are here to stay!

"Roll up...!!! Roll up...!!! Get your U1's Here..."

only kidding Jack,

Regards,

Stuart Mitchell.
Pat Mitchell (Cutlers)

ps. In conclusion... After a full and frank explanation of the situation my client decided to hang on to his U1... Jack, I ask you... Cheap imitation!!!

[Danzo]

Hi Stuart.

This is clearly something which will take either lawyers or more sensible people to sort out.

I'm a lawyer, of sorts, and I will just ask you both to be civil on these forums. Jack has been so already, so I trust you will respect that.

Feel free to post any verifiable disagreements with Jack.

We will draw our own conclusions.

Danzo

[Hepotec]

Does anyone have photos of this knife? It would be nice to see what all the discussion is actually about.

[Danzo]

Does anyone have photos of this knife? It would be nice to see what all the discussion is actually about.

Indeed.

Danzo

[Ski]

This is why I love forums.

Not because people are stressed and possibly hurt and offended, but because a frank and honest discourse is taken place regarding a much respected and by the sounds of it rare blade.

Facinating history and insight and I am sure the gentlemen involved are 'sensible' enough to communicate and work things out.

Who knows maybe we will see the rebirth of an old favourite.

[Jack Black]

Seems like I picked a bad time to go away on holiday.

It’s been a number of years since I was part of the UK knife scene, and to some extent I wish I’d stayed away, it would certainly have been better for my blood pressure! As I said in an earlier post, I was only ever intending to dip my toe here, and I do other things now. I came across BB quite by chance, clicking on a link on another forum, and was very surprised to find my name, former company, and my U1 knife, a subject on one of the recent threads.

Readers of this thread must be finding the flurry of spectacular first-postings a little alarming. I intend to PM Stuart about some of the issues raised in his post, but there are a number of things I think I need to say publicly.

First all, my sincere condolences to Stuart on the death of his father, Stuart Snr. I was very sorry to learn of his death, something I only learned about on BB. When I first met the two Stuart’s I supplied them both with some outdoor equipment, and instead of asking for payment, asked them if they would each make me a Bowie knife (Stuart Jnr was also going to make me a different knife, a design of his own in 01 – I hope you remember Stuart.) The purpose of this was to compare their two styles of knife-making, and I said that I would have them mounted in a glass case and give them back to them for donation to Sheffield museum. It’s a shame the knives were never made because I think that would have been a fitting tribute to Stuart Snr.

I always found you a very likeable lad Stuart, which is part of the reason this affair has saddened me so much. I’m a bit of stickler for hanging onto things, and while I’ve lost a lot over the years, I still have a good deal of the paperwork relating to Jack Black Knives, and the U1, which as you know Stuart, was only ever intended to be one of a range of knives.

Jack Black Knives was an independent company, run by myself as a sole-trader. The idea for what eventually became the U1 originally came from Colin Pearce of Attleborough, for whom I acted as an informal consultant. Colin, with whom I first visited the Mitchell’s workshop, had been pushing me to design a knife for a year or so, and we’d originally intended to produce the knife as a joint venture. The amount of work involved in producing a suitable knife meant that I eventually decided to go it alone and established Jack Black Knives. Bearing in mind the amount of trouble and hard work it was to eventually prove I was glad not to have dragged Colin into it. It was so much trouble that at one point Colin kindly referred me to another knife-maker, Rory Connor of Ireland. I also spoke to Ray Mears about Alan Wood, but while Rory and Alan are both excellent knife-makers I preferred to have the U1 made in Sheffield, the city of my birth.

It is ridiculous for Stuart to suggest that the U1 was somehow given to me as a favour for me to market. Without me there would not have been a U1, the design, specifications, the materials used, and most importantly the standards of manufacture were strictly laid down by me, which is one of the reasons I paid more than 3 times the going rate to Stuart and his dad for their work. The important development work on the U1, which originally had 3 different prototypes, was carried out by me, and I consulted closely with the heat-treatment specialists who helped to make the U1 such a special knife. I designed the unique U1 sheath, the company logo, the blade stamp, and also co-ordinated the field-testing, some of which was carried out by Scandanavian reindeer herders, under the direction of my Scandanavian agent, survival expert David Hay-Jones. I oversaw the production of every single blade, which I also personally tested.

Stuart and his dad eventually did a beautiful job of producing the knives. The sheaths were produced by a Birmingham company, and the accessory dog-tag by another Sheffield company. The knives came with a guarantee and registration card, complete with the Jack Black knives phoenix logo, and signed by myself. Some customers also got a free Jack Black Knives T-shirt!

Thanks to the personal contacts and good reputation I had built up in the outdoor and survival world over the preceding years, the U1 quickly generated a massive amount of publicity, with double-page spreads in Gun Mart, Survival & Outdoor Techniques, Combat & Militaria, and Guns Revieew (copies of which I still have.) Sweden and America were seen as important export markets, and I quickly appointed David Hay Jones as Swedish agent, with several people vying to market the knife in America. Framar were appointed UK Midlands agent, and a number of other companies, including Attleborough of course, wanted to market the knife in other areas. A number of knives were also sold directly, and the response was terrific, it was being publicised by word of mouth, as well as in the outdoor press. I spent long hours on the telephone talking to customers about the U1, sending samples out to be tested, etc. The only complaint was by one distributor who said he thought the knife was too inexpensive! Shops and customers were literally clamouring for the U1, I should have been able to sell hundreds.

So what happened? Well around the time the publicity about the U1 exploded, Stuart and his dad hit a snag. The scales on the U1 were made from a resin-bonded wood-laminate I had dubbed ‘Titanite’, it was so tough you could actually grind a chisel out of it! I’d been assured that there was plenty of this material, but at the crucial time, because no stocks had been kept, it suddenly became unobtainable. Even though it wasn’t my job, I phoned round the country trying to find a replacement stockist, but none of the samples I was sent were anything like acceptable. Without the ‘Titanite’ I had no knives, and there was also an ongoing problem with the sheaths.

It was a disaster, and by this point you and your dad Stuart, seemed to have lost interest, putting your energies into launching your own range of knives. Having reduced the amount of writing I was doing substantially during the past year in order to concentrate on the U1 and the other proposed Jack Black knives, I also had to think about making a living. I bought all the knives the Mitchells were able to finish and posted them off to customers who already had them on order, except for my 001 serial numbered U1 – 4 inch model, which I left in your workshop Stuart, as it didn’t have a sheath. For me it was a sad end to what could have been a great knife project.

As I say, I still have a deal of paperwork relating to Jack Black Knives and the U1, and others can verify that it was my knife: The satisfied customers who bought the knife, many of whom I spent long hours talking to on the phone; Colin Pearce of Attleborough; Denise Jenkins, Andy Howell, Richard Lewis, and John Boston of BCB International, who considered taking on the knife; Hamish Hamilton of Buffalo Systems; Rory Connor; Ray Mears possibly; David Hay-Jones; the outdoor writer John Fenna; the SBS Operational Research Team at RM Poole; Colin Greenwood at Guns Review; Peter Moore of Guns & Shooting; James Marchington at Gun Mart; Jeremy Wells of Aceville Publications, Colin Westgarph of Penrith Survival; Richard Olivier of Snowsled; Sten of Stencraft Custom Leather; Stuart Bater and Derek Alty of the Thermal Proccessing Group; possibly Stuart Hopkins of Tecvac; Mr Trotman of Tufnol possibly; Dave Kidd of UK Knife Collectors if they’re still around; and numerous others.

I hope and trust that you’re only joking about supplying other knives with my name and blade stamp on Stuart. In this case though, you have taken a knife with my name and blade stamp on, ‘modified’ it to a different design, which if it involved grinding the blade will have damaged any hardening it had, and presumably sold it with different handle furniture and a different sheath – that is not a Jack Black Knives U1. Come on Stuart, give your customer his money back, and grind my name off the blade.

Despite this, and the past, wishing you all the best Stuart, and hoping that you have more ups than downs in the future. If I’m over in Sheffield sometime maybe I’ll call in for a chat, and in the meantime I WILL PM you.

I arrived back from 2 weeks away to a pile of work, but for those wondering what the hell the U1 looked like, I’ll try to post photos asap, and I can also scan in the reviews and articles from the time if anyone wants to read them. It’s certainly a real shame BB wasn’t around in the early 90’s, because things would have been an awful lot easier!

[Hepotec]

I definitely want to read the articles and see the pics. I'm even more interested in this knife now. And I can hardly wait to see a titanite handle.

[ZDP-189]

I'm glad you two sound like you're making an effort to smooth things over. It sounds like a 60's band reunion!

More's the question ... where can we get titanite today? :)

[Kevin]

Hi Jack.

The handle material that you named (a resin bonded wood laminate) sounds like Dymond wood (tm) or Parkawood (tm).....are you familier with those products?

I too would love to see pictures of the knife....

I am also curious to know what steel you used as I havent seen it mentioned... ?

Thanks.

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hi Jack,

Stuart here... Good to see (well at least read) you are back!

Jusr read your posting and I could not agree more fella, you put a tremendous amount of work into the launch of the U1, that cannot be denied.

I did not mean suggest that it was given to you as a favour but what I will say is that after many years of no contact I cannot see how you could possibly have a pronblem with me putting a handle, which is black 'Titanite' by the way, onto a remnant Blade and selling it to one of my valued clients.

I know that we have readers who are more legally inclined than myself so if I am wrong here please correct me, is there a law in place in this country that could stop me gpoing into my workshop tomorrow morning to make and ultimately sell a batch of knives made by me to the exact specification and using the exact same materials as a U1 from 12 years ago.

Please let me point out thatthe Steel used in the original was supplied by us... We still utilise that Steel today! The vacuum/cryogenic hardening and tempering process has been used for many years. You did not invent that Jack! The standard of the leatherwork (any fans of Don Smith out there?) we use today is substantially greater than the original U1 sheath ever was. And the "Titanite" how much would you like to buy because I have loads! Lets not forget the original Blade Stamp... How does it go...? "Jack Black Knives Hand-Made by Pat Mitchell, Sheffield England!

Seriously Jack, the only reason I do not make and sell a knife identical, apart from the mark mate as that is yours, in every way to the U1 is simply respect for you!!!

Also, after all this fuss I offered him his money back, he decided to keep the knife!

Anyway, myself and my wife are going out for the evening and the tapping on the floor behind me is getting very loud... More later!

Best regards, Jack and thank you for your sentiments!

Maybe we could meet up one day?

Stuart.

[Jack Black]

OK 'Titanite'....This stuff is amazingly tough, and also makes a very good looking handle, but you WILL have difficulty getting hold of a resin-bonded wood lainate under that name I'm afraid...When I was in the process of developing the U1 it involved some awesome destruction tests - leaving the knife in salt water for weeks, cutting through corrugated and galvanised iron, chopping nails and bolts, bending the blade back in a vice to 45 degrees, hammering it into a tree and jumping onto it, exhaustive edge-retention tests, basically all kinds of crazy stuff (as well as the more mundane tests) to make sure I had got the knife as good as possible and was using the best materials. The handle material got the same sort of treatment, I even boiled up one knife in a saucepan! I was very happy with the 'black resin-bonded wood laminate', but it was a bit of a mouthful, so a friend of mine suggested giving it a name. I suggested 'Ebonite', but he reckoned that was already in use, eventually he suggested 'Titanite'! The funny thing was that afterwards when I was telling people about it, loads of people said things like, "Ah, Titanite, I've heard of that, it's supposed to be very good." Indeed it was!

[Andy]

Maybe we could meet up one day?

Stuart.
we had a meet up last summer at the fat cat pub, we might meet again in sheffield

[ZDP-189]

So Jack coined titanite, but Stuart has stocks of the material? Sell us some, somebody, please!

[Colin KC]

So Jack coined titanite, but Stuart has stocks of the material? Sell us some, somebody, please!


Me too:)

[WhiteWolf]

Now don't shout at me, cos I might cry.

But if there is interest in these blades and your two guys are talking again (sort of ;) ) why not relaunch the U1?

There might be one or two peeps on here who might like to own one :D

Andy 8)

[MotorbikeMan]

Now don't shout at me, cos I might cry.

But if there is interest in these blades and your two guys are talking again (sort of ;) ) why not relaunch the U1?

There might be one or two peeps on here who might like to own one :D

Andy 8)
Andy has a good point, if you guys could sort things out, it would be good to see something good coming from Sheffield :D

[Jack Black]

Stuart here... Good to see (well at least read) you are back!

Thanks Stuart, we must have been posting at the same time. Hope you had a good night out with the WIFE (Blimey, how time flys, I didn't even know you were courting!)


Please let me point out thatthe Steel used in the original was supplied by us... We still utilise that Steel today!

The steel used came from Stocksbridge! And it was one of a number of steels under consideration. Stuart and his dad had been using the steel before the U1, but at a much lower hardness - the first prototype knife made for me was between 51 and 53 RC. Nobody, including the feller from Stocksbridge (can't remember his name Stuart), the heat-treatment plant, and Stuart's dad thought that steel would go to 57 RC without being too brittle. I think I proved that was possible Stuart, and I'm sure you've (rightly) capitalised on it since. Personally, I'd still have liked to have tried the version with the slightly higher carbon content of which I was sent some samples, did you ever try it out Stuart?


The vacuum/cryogenic hardening and tempering process has been used for many years. You did not invent that Jack!

I hope I've not suggested that, but it was not being used by Pat Mitchell or any other Sheffield cutlers. Some of the big kitchen cutlers were using vacuum hardening, but only hardening their knives to 53 RC. I made 2 visits to the heat-treatment plant prior to them even touching a knife, where we discussed the project at length, and where they agreed to offer their services for free during the development period. They heat-treated knives to varying hardnesses for me to test, and we also experimented with one-stage and two-stage cryogenic treatments. Such was the rapport that I was able to build up with this company that they did 100% hardness testing of every single Jack Black knife, something not even British Aerospace got, and they put my publicity posters around the plant saying that my work was to be prioritised!


The standard of the leatherwork (any fans of Don Smith out there?) we use today is substantially greater than the original U1 sheath ever was.

I'm glad to see you're getting quality leatherwork Stuart, but the design of the U1 sheath was mine, and very different to the slip sheaths you were using at the time. You may remember that your dad didn't like it at all when I first showed him the design on paper- But it didn't stop you pinching it after it was executed!


Lets not forget the original Blade Stamp... How does it go...? "Jack Black Knives Hand-Made by Pat Mitchell, Sheffield England!

How could I forget Stuart (though it actually says, "JACK BLACK KNIVES, Handmade in Sheffield, England by Pat Mitchell"!), I produced the design on my typewriter! I'm sure you'll recall that your dad wasn't bothered whether it had the Pat Mitchell name included or not. I thought it should...out of respect.

But the U1 was very different to anything previously produced at Randall Works, you only have to look at the knife to appreciate that. When I came into your dad's workshop for the first time with Colin Pearce, Stuart, you were producing good quality traditional designs for £15 including sheath. If I'd realised the time and effort that was going to be involved in producing the U1, and the trouble it would eventually cause me, I'd have walked right back out again. I'd hope that there are 20 or so knife owners, and at least one knife maker, who are glad I didn't.


Maybe we could meet up one day?

I WILL PM you Stuart

Apologies to everyone else reading this thread who must feel they're listening to a private conversation about the Holy Grail. Photos and articles will eventually come!

[Bogflogger]

It's good to see that gentlemen do still exist. Hope something positive develops from your meeting.

[Mr_Yarrow]

Wirelessly posted (Nokia6230/2.0 (05.35) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

Holy crap, i have worked out how to reply on my phone. Amazing thread guys. I recognised the knife name and many of the names you (Jack) mentioned as having been involved. SaOT was a great publication, not around anymore is it? Anyone remember Wilderness Times? Jack get those pictures up soon and keep posting as you seem a diamond bloke.

[Jack Black]

Wirelessly posted (Nokia6230/2.0 (05.35) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

Holy crap, i have worked out how to reply on my phone. Amazing thread guys. I recognised the knife name and many of the names you (Jack) mentioned as having been involved. SaOT was a great publication, not around anymore is it? Anyone remember Wilderness Times? Jack get those pictures up soon and keep posting as you seem a diamond bloke.

Thank you very much Mr Yarrow (and you too Bogflogger and everyone else whose taken an interest in this thread.) Sadly SAOT was wound up about 12 or 13 years ago, it's a shame because it was beginning to win respect among the more mainstream outdoor community, and I think could have had a good future. Unfortunately, some of the 'crankier' advertisers didn't like the way things were going, and the owner decided to ditch the title and establish 'Combat & Militaria'.

[ronan]

Any pictures of the knife yet ? :confused2

[Ski]

I hope this isn't all a very clever ploy to get loads of interest in this mysterious knife.. All the drama, all the excitement, all the background tech specs and history.

If it is.. It's worked, i am sold. Put me down for one.

If it isn't... Like I said, what would you like.. cash or cheque... :D

[Martyn]

Very interesting story and great to see things comming to light and hopefully hatchets buried.

I'm, curious about a couple of things though; as said above, this is all looking a bit mysterious - what is this steel? Is it a custom composition or a mainstream alloy?

Also, what's special about the heat treatment - aside from double cryo cycled?

C'mon man, we want technical details? We want specs. :)

[lemoneyewash]

I hope this isn't all a very clever ploy to get loads of interest in this mysterious knife.. All the drama, all the excitement, all the background tech specs and history.

If it is.. It's worked, i am sold. Put me down for one.

If it isn't... Like I said, what would you like.. cash or cheque... :D

:lol:

Just thinking EXACTLY the same thing meself!! :D

Totally fascinating thread and it WOULD be tremendous to see something positive for UK cutlery to come out of it.

There's an opportunity here that shouldn't be ignored.

[WhiteWolf]

But would the members of BB get a huge discount for gettting these guys back together?:D :D :D :D

WW 8)

[Ski]

But would the members of BB get a huge discount for gettting these guys back together?:D :D :D :D

WW 8)

How about we all put our input in to design a new Jack Black!? :)

[lemoneyewash]

I want to see the U1 first!!!! :P

:D

[ANDYLASER]

I am sure if the right knife appeared, there would be plenty of takers here. It would also be an excellent boost to the UK cutlery industry.

[Roger Gregory]

I am sure if the right knife appeared, there would be plenty of takers here. It would also be an excellent boost to the UK cutlery industry.

But people would want to know a few things first, such as:

What exactly is this wonder handle material? It is strange that given the collective knowledge here at British Blades, nobody has heard of it. I for one would be sceptical of a new and untested handle material.

Exactly what steel is being used We'd need to compare it with all the good stuff in use today, not whatever is in some Sheffield stockholder's supply.

Still....we shall see ;)

Roger

[Martyn]

I would still like to know what steel the original knife was made from?

[waldorf]

I put one of these knives up for sale a while back , I`m sure someone here still has it. I`ll try to find a pic;)

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3081&highlight=jack+black+knife

Cheers

[MotorbikeMan]

No pictures in the thread Waldorf :S :(

[waldorf]

Had to delete a while back to create space:rolleyes:
But I`m sure I have one somewhere.

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hello All,

The original Knife was made from SF77, the Steel was produced at the then Avesta Precision Strip Plant at Stocksbridge in Sheffield. SF77 is a surgical grade Stainless Steel, it has a higher that average Carbon content for a Stainless, it offers superb edge retention whilst maintaining a degree of stain resistance.

Avesta which is now Outokumpu is the only place in the World this Steel can be obtained, it was never released to stockholders.

The Steel is in constant use mainly by both Gillette and Wilkinson Sword in the manufacture of their razor Blades.

I know that to a lot of the fellow makers out there SF77 will be pretty much a mystery! We, at Pat Mitchell's have been using the material since 1993 and in that time manged to convert most of our regular clients to the cause.

I know that Avesta/Outokumpu have been approached by some of the makers in the country with a view to buying the Steel but they are not the easiest company to deal with. Their ordering and payment policy are not the most user friendly... Order minimums in tons, money up front and delivery whenever suits them!!!

I cannot complain though, as said previously I ahve dealt with them for 13 years now, since they supplied me with the Steel for a Blade after I was commissioned to make "The City of Sheffield Centenary Sword", we got on famously and they bend over backwards to help me!!!

As for the Handle Material, as Jack has said the name Titanite was coined by him... There is no such material really which is why you will not have heard of it. It is a Resin Bonded Wood laminate and we still use it to this day. It comes in a mid Brown and Black and is very durable. If you would like to have a look at some drop me a line and I will certainly send some off for you to test!!! No worries!!!

I do not know it's correct name and our brochure lists it simply as Laminate.

More later,

Stuart.

[Jack Black]

Just putting in my twopennorth (instead of getting on with my work!)

As Stuart says the U1 was made from SF (Silver Fox) -77, in 5mm stock, made at Avesta's Stocksbidge plant (formerly British Steel.) When Stuart and his dad first introduced me to SF-77 I was sceptical, particularly as at the lower hardness then being used it didn't quite have the edge retention I was looking for. Different heat-treatments and hardnesses were experimented with, and eventually I was absolutely won over. As Stuart says, correctly treated, SF-77 has superb edge-retention. A U1 will cut a radiator off the wall, but it'll shave the hairs off the back of your arm like a lawn-mower all year long. In practice, I found that some of my customers weren't actually having to sharpen their knives at all. Two particular chaps, who worked on estates in Cumbria and Devon respectively, and who used their U1 knives on deer on a daily basis, had a running competition to see who would have to sharpen their knife first. The last I heard, they were well into double-figures (of deer) and both their knives were still razor-sharp!

I also consider SF-77 to have extremely good resistance to corrosion and staining, though the real key to that was the superb mirror-polishing Stuart's dad used to put on the U1. I left a knife in a thick saline solution for 2 weeks and there was no sign whatsoever of corrosion, even to the edge.

As Stuart says SF-77 is in use by both Gillette and Wilkinson. It's also used by Richardson for their Lazer range of knives, though obviously in much thinner stock, and also it's only to 53RC, and doesn't have the 2-stage cryogenic treatment the U1 had.

Do you know if the SF-77 is still made in Sheffield Stuart, and did you ever try out the SF-100 (higher carbon content) I got Avesta to send samples of?

The laminate used for the handle wasn't Pakkawood, it has more layers in it, which I think is one of the reasons it's tougher, and it also looks better. Is the stuff you're using today still the same Stuart, as I recall you had to use a less multi-layered laminate when the original source dried up? 'Titanite' was certainly amazingly tough stuff. Why don't you grind a few chisels out of it Stuart?!

I was surprised to hear of you selling your knife Waldorf, and for such a low sum, what serial number was it?

In temperary lieu of photographs, just to briefly describe the U1: It had a 5 inch flat-ground, drop-point blade, with an intergral guard, and bolsterless 'Titanite' handle, held on with 3 stainless steel bolts, and featuring a stainless lined lanyard hole. Sounds very ordinary doesn't it, but it wasn't, certainly not back in the early 90's when people seemed to think any serious knife had to have a double-guard, a heavy sabre-grind, and maybe saw-teeth and a 'blood-groove'.

While the standard U1 had a 5 inch blade, it was also available with a 6 inch blade, and with a 4 inch blade, the latter having a slightly smaller handle. I regret not having a 4" model, do you still have my 001 by any chance Stuart, I left it in the top-drawer of your small filing cabinet awaiting a sheath?

As I said in an earlier post I have a number of articles (with photos!) about the U1, which I'm sure would impress people, but I'm not sure how to post them. How about if I scan them in and e-mail them to one of you computer-literate youngsters, or am I being lazy now?!

[metalbudgie]

Pooooooooooooooooooosssssssssssssssssssssttttttttt tttt Phhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooootttttttttttooooooooossss ssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hi Jack,

Yes still made in Sheffield, I still work with it everyday! Did try the SF100 and it proved a very versatile Steel... In all honesty though Jack pairs of knives were field tested one in the SF77 and it's partner in the SF100. Results were mostly identical... The 100 was slightly worse at resisting stains and corrosion! Edge retention et... Nothing to choose!

Are you sure Richardsons were using the 77 Jack, I think their Steel of choice was a 420L grade Stainless, again made at the Stocksbridge plant and similar in spec to the 77 but not as much carbon???

4" U1 in the top drawer awaiting sheaths... Sorry Jack, no idea! I can assure you that it is not there now... The filing cabinet has been gone 10 years!


Stuart.

[Roger Gregory]

SF77 ......a surgical grade Stainless Steel, it has a higher that average Carbon content for a Stainless, it offers superb edge retention whilst maintaining a degree of stain resistance.

Titanite..... There is no such material really which is why you will not have heard of it. It is a Resin Bonded Wood laminate and we still use it to this day. ...I do not know it's correct name and our brochure lists it simply as Laminate.

Thanks for that information Stuart.

I still haven't heard of SF77, except now I have been told it is "Sheffield surgical stainless". Do you have a materials sheet for it? I'd like to see the chemical composition to compare it to the better known steels. I suspect that if anyone has extracted good performance from this steel it will have been in spite of and not because of the material and that there are better steels available with less trouble. But, why be a cynic? :D

Who makes the resin bonded wood laminate? It still sounds like a pakkawood/dymondwood type of material but it would be interesting to see a different variant.

Thanks

Roger

[Jerseyman]

Sounds very ordinary doesn't it...

I like ordinary. And I like flat ground drop points!

[mojofilter]

As I said in an earlier post I have a number of articles (with photos!) about the U1, which I'm sure would impress people, but I'm not sure how to post them. How about if I scan them in and e-mail them to one of you computer-literate youngsters, or am I being lazy now?!


I would love to see the pictures, so I have PMed you my email address and will get them up for you if you like ;)

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hi Roger,

I will get hold of some information for you regarding the composition of the SF77...

The laminated wood comes to me from a "middle man" I don't even know who manufactures it... Let me do some research into this for you also...

More later!

Stuart.

[Jack Black]

Yes still made in Sheffield.

Hi Stuart. That's good news!


Did try the SF100 and it proved a very versatile Steel... In all honesty though Jack pairs of knives were field tested one in the SF77 and it's partner in the SF100. Results were mostly identical... The 100 was slightly worse at resisting stains and corrosion! Edge retention et... Nothing to choose!

Interesting, and as I recall the SF-100 was only available in 3mm stock.


Are you sure Richardsons were using the 77 Jack, I think their Steel of choice was a 420L grade Stainless, again made at the Stocksbridge plant and similar in spec to the 77 but not as much carbon??? .

That's what I was told in 1993 by Torvac who were treating their knives, we discussed it at some length because they didn't think the SF-77 would go beyond 53RC, largely based on what they'd been told by Avesta. I also discussed it with the feller at Socksbridge whose name I forget. Maybe Richardsons were only using SF-77 temperarily, or have since changed steels, or maybe it was a mistake, I have to say I was surprised.


4" U1 in the top drawer awaiting sheaths... Sorry Jack, no idea! I can assure you that it is not there now... The filing cabinet has been gone 10 years!

:(


I thought you supplied the sheaths Jack???

What a nightmare, I'm glad to hear you've got things sorted out now! Well your dad budgeted for the sheath in the quote he originally gave me, but then couldn't get hold of them, which is why I ended up ringing Sten (I'm sure you remember our trip Stuart!) I have to say, the quality of the sheaths was never quite as good as I'd have liked them, but as you'll remember we were having difficulty getting hold of good leatherwork then, and I ended up ringing all over the country, even tried to persuade a leather worker I know to move to Sheffield! The problem with the 4 inch and 6 inch models was that the sheaths had to be made to order, and when I paid for the last lot of knives, I didn't fancy carrying an unsheathed knife home in my bag!

[Jack Black]

I like ordinary. And I like flat ground drop points!

Me too!

[Jack Black]

I will get hold of some information for you regarding the composition of the SF77...

It used to be included in the Avesta catalogue Stuart.

[Jack Black]

I would love to see the pictures, so I have PMed you my email address and will get them up for you if you like ;)

Thanks a lot! I'll PM you in a minute mojofilter.

[The General]

surgical grade Stainless Steel at Rc 53?:rolleyes: My that ought to hold a terrific edge a long time...:rolleyes:

Unless someone has re-writen the laws of knife making?:lol:

There's me thinking it sounded like a promising knife. Tell you what, if you ever decide to sell and make these knives, send me one and I will give you the benifit of my experience. Till then I will remain sceptical.

[ZDP-189]

You old skeptic, you. Maybe it's had some sort of magical treatment, like Shiva Ki's?

[Stuart Mitchell]

You are correct jack, the 100 was (sorry is) only available in the 3mm!

His name was (is) Barry King! It has not been Avesta for a good few years now... It is now Outokumpu, another Swedish producer taking over one of the oldest Sheffield Steel producers I am afraid. Still the same stuff but no brochures!

In all honesty Jack, I cannot remember what the sheath was like... I seem to remember a few differing designs... One of them had a triangular 'strap' system over the back of the handle!

In one of your earlier posts you claim we 'pinched' it after your departure... Well it cannot have been for long jack and it cannot have been overly succesful or i am sure you will agree we would still be using it.

Of course I remember our trip... We at Pat Mitchell went on to do a great deal of business with Stencraft, we shared trade stands at different events and further to our mutually succesful business relationship became good friends!

Stuart.

[Roger Gregory]

It has not been Avesta for a good few years now... It is now Outokumpu, another Swedish producer taking over one of the oldest Sheffield Steel producers I am afraid. Still the same stuff but no brochures!



Outokumpu is an international stainless steel and technology company.

Outokumpu operates in some 40 countries and employs 13 000 people. Annual sales is over six billion euro, of which some 90% is generated outside Finland. The Group’s headquarters is located in Espoo, Finland. The parent company, Outokumpu Oyj, has been listed on the Helsinki stock exchange since 1988.

What's the current product code? I'll look up the steel on Outokumpu's website. I'll bet some of our Finnish friends have heard of it.

Roger

[Jack Black]

surgical grade Stainless Steel at Rc 53?:rolleyes: My that ought to hold a terrific edge a long time...:rolleyes:

Unless someone has re-writen the laws of knife making?:lol:

There's me thinking it sounded like a promising knife. Tell you what, if you ever decide to sell and make these knives, send me one and I will give you the benifit of my experience. Till then I will remain sceptical.

The U1 was 57RC General.

[Ropeman]

Outokumpu show SF-100 on their website but not SF-77. They presumably have small runs.

[Roger Gregory]

Outokumpu show SF-100 on their website but not SF-77. They presumably have small runs.

What is the chemical composition, or do you have a link?


Roger

[Jack Black]

In all honesty Jack, I cannot remember what the sheath was like... I seem to remember a few differing designs... One of them had a triangular 'strap' system over the back of the handle!

Photos will eventually appear Stuart!


In one of your earlier posts you claim we 'pinched' it after your departure... Well it cannot have been for long jack and it cannot have been overly succesful or i am sure you will agree we would still be using it.

Your dad was quite open about it! It wasn't after my departure, but around the same time as the first batch of U1 knives were made. You did your first trade show in ages (on my encouragement I think), and Sten had sent your dad a few of my sheaths, but in brown rather than black. He told me that at the show everybody insisted they wanted their Pat Mitchell knives in my sheath, and so your dad asked Sten to make up more. My understanding was that you had used that sheath when you relaunched your own range of knives in early 1994.

[Stuart Mitchell]

Very sorry I posted Swedish didn't I... I think that Avesta were Swedish, later becoming Avest Polarit which were Finnish and now Outokumpu, Finnish. I could be, and am probably wrong though!

I do know they still use tha SF100 standard but I believe the SF77 has been swallowed up in their own codes.

I will get in touch with my contact there tomorrow and find the appropriate details.

And Jack, regarding the sheaths, if it were under your encouragement, and maybe you did not mean it as it read but I don't think pinching was the correct choice of word! Especially after some of the suggestions in your earlier posts!

Stuart.

[mojofilter]

http://img1.yoxio.com/img/219379.jpg

[Jack Black]

Very sorry I posted Swedish didn't I... I think that Avesta were Swedish.

I think they were.



And Jack, regarding the sheaths, if it were under your encouragement, and maybe you did not mean it as it read but I don't think pinching was the correct choice of word!

It wasn't at my encouragement Stuart! But I used the word 'pinching' in the light-hearted way it's generally meant in Sheffield.

[Jack Black]

Thank you mojofilter. I'm afraid the photo scanned out of an old Guns Review doesn't really do the knife justice, but I'll try to get better photos taken later in the week.

[Stuart Mitchell]

I am sure you will understand Jack, if I did not receive your comments in the light-hearted way... after some of the allegations you have made in previuos postings!

The knife is looking good!

Stuart.

[Hepotec]

Can Stuart, or anyone else for that matter, tell me if the guy who used to work from the Kelham Island museum, in Sheffield, is still there. Called Morton, maybe, something like that?

[Andy]

I like the look of both the knife and the sheath. However I somehow doubt that the steel used even ith a good heat treat would be as good as some other steels which aren't hard to come by in sheffield.

How about a rerun in D2 (or M2 I want to try that)?

[Jack Black]

I am sure you will understand Jack, if I did not receive your comments in the light-hearted way...

OK Stuart, and after 12 or 13 years I'll take the 'borrowing' of my sheath design in a light-hearted way too! Looks like you're going to come out of this with plenty of new business, so good luck to you.

[Jack Black]

Can Stuart, or anyone else for that matter, tell me if the guy who used to work from the Kelham Island museum, in Sheffield, is still there. Called Morton, maybe, something like that?

I think he was there when I was last at KIM about 2 years ago. You been there more recently Stuart?

[Jack Black]

I like the look of both the knife and the sheath. However I somehow doubt that the steel used even ith a good heat treat would be as good as some other steels which aren't hard to come by in sheffield. )

I'm also a fan of D2, and it was the steel I'd originally considered for the U1. The SF-77 won me over though.


How about a rerun in D2 (or M2 I want to try that)?


It'd certainly be an interesting project, but maybe read the test reports on the U1 in SF-77 first.

[Stuart Mitchell]

I think the fellow you are after from Kelham Island is Graham Clayton! Could that be right?

He used to work from the museum but packed in about 2 years ago now... Not enough work! He left to become a van driver!

Stuart.

[Stuart Mitchell]

Also... How do you do that thing where i can add a little of someone elses previous posting to my new one so we all know what that particular bit concerns?

HELP!!!

[Hepotec]

Also... How do you do that thing where i can add a little of someone elses previous posting to my new one so we all know what that particular bit concerns?

HELP!!!


Click on the quote button in the bottom right of the post you want to quote.

Thanks for the info about Graham. Shame. I still have one of his knives.

[Jack Black]

He used to work from the museum but packed in about 2 years ago now... Not enough work! He left to become a van driver!

:X

[Roger Gregory]

Also... How do you do that thing where i can add a little of someone elses previous posting to my new one so we all know what that particular bit concerns?

HELP!!!

Use the "quote" button from the bottom right of the post you want to reply to ;)

Roger

[narsil]

Also... How do you do that thing where i can add a little of someone elses previous posting to my new one so we all know what that particular bit concerns?

HELP!!!

Also if you press 'go advanced' in stead of 'post quick reply' there is a botton just above the text box (to the immediate left of the #, looks like a square speech bubble) cut and paste the text you want to quote, highlight it and press that button to automatically make it a quote.


like this

OR to do it manually: (QUOTE=insert username of quotee ) paste text to be quoted here (/QUOTE)

just replace the round brackets () with square brackets [] to make it work

[Jack Black]

Stuart, I've just sent some pics to Mojofilter which will hopefully bring back some happy memories for you (and be of interest to everyone else.)

All the best

Jack

[mojofilter]

Here they are!

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1900&stc=1&d=1136849133

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1898&stc=1&d=1136848700

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1899&stc=1&d=1136848700

[Stuart Mitchell]

Stuart, I've just sent some pics to Mojofilter which will hopefully bring back some happy memories for you (and be of interest to everyone else.)


All the best

Jack

Cheers Jack... Happy memories indeed!!!

Stuart.

[mojofilter]

I must say that I like the design of the knife and sheath, but O1 would be my steel of choise!

[jungle_re]

Hello to Jack and everyone else.

I own number 016 Jack Black U1 which is different to all the rest i belive as the blade is a couple of inches shorter than the norm. My father gave it to me on my 13th birthday. It is testiment to the exceptional craftmans who made it 14 years on and after teenage years of abuse and tours of duty in Iraq it still manages to hold an edge good enough to be used to feild dress deer.

My old man also had one (full sized version) put gave it away to a friend and bitterly regretted it. I was luckly enough to conveince Stuart to make a copy for me for a present for the old man. I'm sure his work is well known on here so needless to say it is everybit as good as the orginal but with a far more practical sheath. Thanks again Stuart.

Do you remember the small version at all Jack?

[Stuart Mitchell]

Hello to Jack and everyone else.
How are you doing fella? Long time no speak.....

[jungle_re]

Very well thank you. I was just trying to have a look at your website but it wouldn't open for me and found this forum.

How are things with you?
The old man is still chuffed to bit with the knive

[jungle_re]

I have some photos of the orginal knive and was going to upload them.
Not sure how to do it. If anyone is interested and can enlighten me i will put them up.

[jungle_re]

f:\dcim\139canon

[JohnnyG]

I have some photos of the orginal knive and was going to upload them.
Not sure how to do it. If anyone is interested and can enlighten me i will put them up.


See if this post helps you mate....it sorted it out for me...:)

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43787

[jungle_re]

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_3907.jpg

Thank you finger crossed this works

[jungle_re]

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_3902.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_3901.jpg

[Stuart Mitchell]

Very well thank you. I was just trying to have a look at your website but it wouldn't open for me and found this forum.
It's now: www.stuartmitchellknives.com

It needs content but it's getting there :)

[CaptainBeaky]

Can Stuart, or anyone else for that matter, tell me if the guy who used to work from the Kelham Island museum, in Sheffield, is still there. Called Morton, maybe, something like that?

Wasn't Morton the little cutler's shop on West Street, opposite the DHSS offices?

Met Graham Clayton at KIIM back before I got married - he made me a small folder from the parts bin while I watched. Still got it somewhere. Also have one of his carving sets - a wedding present from a mate who still lived in Sheffield, and still in use.

[jungle_re]

Knife came back from Stu after knives UK so will get some updated photos.
Soem good stuff in this thread.

[metalbudgie]

Is this knife in existance now?
Need more photos!
But I said that 2 years ago....

[Stuart Mitchell]

Is this knife in existance now?
Need more photos!
But I said that 2 years ago....
Afraid not...

I do have this in my Photobucket, a little small to read me thinks...?

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/stuartmitchell/Reviews/File0102.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f344/stuartmitchell/Reviews/File0103.jpg

Stu.

[dougster]

Had a good look at this knife today.

Why the hell didn't I get good 13th birthday gifts?

Fantastic knife and rightly well loved by it's owner.

Shame they are unavailable as it's superb.

[Stuart Mitchell]

Had a good look at this knife today.

Why the hell didn't I get good 13th birthday gifts?

Fantastic knife and rightly well loved by it's owner.

Shame they are unavailable as it's superb.
I know where you have been today :)

[Big John]

Thanks Stu - really great to see that old Guns Review article again; I was wrong, not 10 years, but 14 years ago! A memorable and inspiring knife.

[jungle_re]

And still serving strong Big John :D , still the knife all the others i have gey measured against. Its gettig a companion made with by Stu to his UBK pattern but with SF77 and the same handel material which is quite exceiting, hoping to take it with the U1 to put through it paces in Finland next year

[Noddy]

nice one Stuart :)

easy to read - I love that opening tins was seen as an expected task of a knife - I have to say that is a pretty good looking knife that one

[jungle_re]

Sorry about the wait, photos of the knife post Stu M refurb and original sheath refurb (full re sitch, mink oiled and waxed). Pic also of the replacement sheath, not sure who made this.

Cracking job Stu. The original state can be seen on the page before.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_0439.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_0440.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG_0443.jpg

[screaming skull]

Thats a real work of art ptiy I didn't get stuff like that for my 13th birthday

[jungle_re]

Been up the old mans today so took the liberty of taking a few pics of the replacement i had Stu make for me/him several years back.

Only picure phone snaps

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG00023-20090213-1329-Copy.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG00024-20090213-1329-Copy.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh247/jungle_re/IMG00025-20090213-1331-Copy.jpg

[pixie]

I own the serial no. 002 knife made by Pat Mitchell. I bought it in 1993 ( I think) and remember speaking to him regarding delivery.I was the first to buy when advertised in GunMart and he sent me the 002SE in recognition.It is original in every way, unused and has been stored in my safe for all these years... a real treasure.

[Iron Hoarder]

Pictures please.:love72:

[Danzo]

I own the serial no. 002 knife made by Pat Mitchell. I bought it in 1993 ( I think) and remember speaking to him regarding delivery.

Pat Mitchell was a lady, the mother of Stuart Mitchell, who is one of our finest knifemakers in Britain today. He'll be along soon.

Danzo