Why the Seahorse?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on June 10, 2009 at 0:11

I can't wait till the "Caped Cruisaders" get to answer this.

I first saw an ad for the Seahorse in a woodcrafting catalog. thought that it looked kind of neat. When I started carving more peach pits, I wanted a cood pocketknife that would hold up to that kind of material.
I got my first one at Lowes, sometime in 2002 or 2003, and fell in love with it.
I was particularily impressed with the wharncliffe blade. It was strong and stout and the point really helped with carvings. The pen and coping secondary blades are almost the perfect sizes for various detail work too.
I was not a collector, back then. I used what I had, but I wanted a second Seahorse, as a spare. Got it and then started from there.

I have doubles of many of them, for my daughters, after I'm gone.
I really hope that they wait till then. (Really hope they don't try to "rush it along" either.)

Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on July 14, 2009 at 10:08

Because it's just SEXY!
I have been collecting knives for a lot of years, and never paid much attention to the Wharncliffe Whittler. I collected Fightin' Roosters, Winchesters, Doctor's knives, a lot of case knives, etc. I was not a pattern collector, perse`, just a collector. Until 2002 when Case introduced the Seahorsie. I bought my first one and was hooked! I bacame a pattern collector. Since then, I have tried to get every variety of handle material, and every variation of that particular bone material. IE: Did you know that there are 4 different variations of the Barbed Wire Jig? Two different engraved bolster patterns, and a large badge and a small badge version. There are two different John Deere Patterns. One is not listed in the catalog. I think Ed Olson has the odd one, and he won't let it go. I was fortunate enough to be presented with Rod Neep's John Deere tractor set, and his personal carry Case Brothers Stag.
I have several "one of a kinds", some prototypes, and a couple that Case made especially for me. I feel very close to the Case family of employees, and I hurt when they hurt. I pray that business picks up and everyone gets back to work soon!
I found it rather strange that I didn't become enamoured with the Classic patterns in the 90's. But I just wasn't interested. Now I try to get all of them. I'm still not real wild about the Classic with the slanted bolsters, but that's OK.
Of course, anyone who knows me knows what my "Holy Grail" is. Some day I'll find it. Some day! But until then, I'll just keep getting every Seahorse that comes down the pike.
Oh, and it might interest you to know that I have never sold a knife. Nor have I traded knives. If someone is missing a particular knife, and I have a spare, I have been more than willing to pass it along to them. It always makes a new friend. And friends are what I strive to collect most in life.
Love to all... UJ

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 14, 2009 at 10:57

Well said there Uncle Jim, well said.

The Seahorse is a sexy knife.

Up until I got into the Seahorses, I never really considered myself as a collector. I was a user of what I had. Even got into CASE later in life too. Most of my knives had been BUCK's and Schrades with a smattering of assorted Barlows when I just wanted a handy knife.
I'm still known to pick up another pattern because I like the looks or the way it feels when I hold it.

I'll never be able to aquire the great variety that you have, but envy is not in my nature.
There are many Seahorses that I have passed up because I did not like the handle material.
It's not important, to me, that it's a Seahorse alone, I have to like it also.


And Jim, from what I hear, you've got the friend collecting down now, thanks.

Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on July 15, 2009 at 16:03

Friends are my VERY favorite! And you're one of them. And that's a cool feeling! It's better than a good BM, and at my age, you just GOTTA' know how good that is!

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on July 15, 2009 at 23:22

I was going to make a "Warm and fuzzy" analogy, but I'll be good.
Gonna be off the grid till the 26th, so take care of things here.
Play nice.

Permalink Reply by Frank Plant on October 18, 2009 at 15:14

J.J. got me hooked on the Seahorse Whittler..I just finished my first attempt at installing new scales on a horsie. I used antique slow growth Southern yellow pine; my favorite wood. The shields are brass ends of 9mm cartridges. I made mistakes, but I'm relatively pleased with my first attempt. Some day, I want to try to install fossil scales on a horsie.
frankplant

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Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on October 18, 2009 at 17:33

What a GREAT job, Frank! You've got a great future ahead. Starting out like Bob Picklesimer, Kaleb Reynolds, Michael Hoover, and so many others that I have seen start out and keep going because of our encouragement! Here's some GREAT work!

Bob Picklesimer. Black Lip Pearl.

Kaleb Reynolds. AKA, "Muskrat Man"

My friend, Ed Olson. This is "Cottonwood Seed". Yes, stabilized cottonwood fuzz!

How about Fossilized Coral, by Michael Hoover. This requires the use of lapidary equipment, lots of talent, experience, and patience! Michael has all those requirements!

This is fossilized Dinosaur Bone. Again, by the lapidary talents of Michael Hoover.

Some VERY intricate engraving by my dear friend and partier, Paul Fleming from New Zealand.

Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on October 18, 2009 at 17:47

You can see some more of my knives at these links...

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Unclejim/Seahorsies/?start=all

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Unclejim/?start=all

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y15/Unclejim/Bradford/?start=all&a...

Permalink Reply by Frank Plant on October 18, 2009 at 21:00

Thanks Jim, and thanks for the horsie pics....what a great way to spend a cold Sunday evening; drooling over Seahorses.
frankplant

Permalink Reply by J.J. Smith III on October 19, 2009 at 8:43

Frank,
Great job you did on the rehandle.

Some of Jims knives make you get teary eyed don't they?

Permalink Reply by Jim Prather on October 19, 2009 at 11:03

JJ... You ALWAYS make me feel better when I leave than I do when I get here!

Permalink Reply by Frank Plant on October 20, 2009 at 21:52

Hey J.J.,
Was that a compliment that Jim just gave you???? :+)
frank

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