The edged wonder

by

A jackknife is as much a part of country life as stock or crops and the individual not carrying one

is a rarity indeed. Having a sharp edge handy is vital for anyone working the land be it cattle, canola or cauliflower. There’s not much you can’t do with a jackknife and in farm country you can’t do without a jackknife.

A knife is a knife, right?

Double enders, Texas points, Barlow, Trapper and Stockman are just a few of the jackknife models riding in bib overalls. Blades come in an equally dizzying number of choices too. Sheepsfoot, spey, clip, razor or pruning there is blade style for any and every job. Choose one that fits your work world. Fancy is nice in the store but mostly useless so leave it in the display case. An honest jackknife is natural in the hand. Just watch a farmer fix a frayed rope or work a stubborn fence staple out and you’ll see what I mean.

A tiny penknife is cute but struggles on a country spread. Non folding hunting knives are handy but that long sheath can hook into machinery. Not that a big knife isn’t useful but a flat jackknife slips easy into a pocket never noticed despite being carried daily. Country folders come in locking or non-locking models. Some folks like a large lock blade and many stockmen wear a folder sheath on their belts. It’s a big piece of iron for heavy work around bulls or broncs. But for versatility the classic two- or three- blade pocketknife has been the homesteader’s choice and still works.

A pointed blade of 3 ½ inches is nice with one or two secondary edges of slightly over 2 inches.

The camper’s knife is too fussy and many of the multi tool models look like they could endanger

your anatomy. When laying down silver always go for low cost. Farm jackknifes see hard unrelenting use and a scratched up $300 piece of artisanal cutlery is tough to justify. It isn’t being cheap as much as sensible to keep cost low and likely as not won’t get lost if it didn’t cost too much.

No other tool folds up and stores so slick ready for duty. A jackknife is just the ticket for shining up a grimy battery post and lost or snapped off key disasters can be salvaged with a jackknife substitute pounded into the switch. Sure, it might take a bit of jiggering but once it works it will never fail. Just remember not to pull it out and lose it too! Farm tools often require some sort of modification and few jackknifes don’t have aftermarket alterations. One of the slickest is grinding off the tip of a short blade to make a flat screwdriver and do it right it will work for a Philips screw as well. Most modifications are for some daily need and fixing up a jackknife saves carrying more stuff.  Rural folks are never afraid to modify factory specs or improve usefulness.

Edged etiquette

Jackknives have their share of country folklore and superstitions. In case you don’t know it is supremely bad luck to close a jackknife opened by another. Pass it back and let them fold it or risk all sort of dire results. Always pass a knife by holding the blade with the handle towards the person. Otherwise this is interpreted as a challenge. Never apologize for scratching or dulling a jackknife since the owner naturally understands once offered you are going to use it mighty hard as they would expect. Finally never insult a jackknife offered and finding it dull as your spouse’s relatives. A dull knife is a busy knife and pointing this out is very poor manners.

Getting that first pocket knife was big—like getting to drive the tractor alone. Maybe even bigger because a jackknife meant you were grown up and every farm kid wants to be considering part of the operation.

Christmas was the time a new pocket knife might show up or your birthday when an indulgent bachelor Uncle might send over a rough wrapped box containing a shiny new pocket folder.  Never quick to abandon a working piece of steel most farm jackknifes reach a sorry looking state ground nearly to the quick, dull beyond redemption or down to a single bent blade. A faithful jackknife is hard to toss aside and many a metallic wreck rides in someone’s bedside table.

Few sounds are as satisfying as a jackknife closing. That solid click signals another farm job done and over. Wise farm folks keep a jackknife handy secure in the knowledge they’re ready to face any country challenges. Keep ‘er sharp!

Keeping it sharp

Some of the harshest jackknife treatment comes from “making ‘er razor sharp”. Folks sometimes go for a coarse flat file shearing off the wrinkles and rubbing a fresh edge. One thing no steel deserves is the torture of the electric grinder. High speed sharpening never works out well so don’t go burning off the cutting edge and then complain how they just don’t make good jackknives anymore.

For a quality edge it pays to get a fine grain carborundum stone not some gritty old rock. Jackknife steel is not too hard and can be easily worked back to good condition. Sharpening begins with wiping the blade with light oil then angle the stone at the cutting edge and slide it down to the tip. Match the stone’s angle to the factory grind along the edge and maintain this. Never force the motion and apply the same number of strokes on both sides then test carefully. Work slowly, pause often and reflect on life’s big questions. Late in the evening is the best sharpening time with the stock looked after and the woodstove crackling merrily. Once the desired cutting edge is reached wipe the blades clean add a drip of oil in the slots where the blades rest as well as the joints and Bob’s your Uncle. The edged wonder is ready for tomorrow.

—Cary Rideout 

— Images: Lorain Ebbett-Rideout