These knives are not needed around here anymore....

[jltrent]

Using one of these I paid for my first vehicle, tractor, equipment, BS, etc. etc. Their days of being used in this part of the country are about gone.


A lot of people want know what they originally were used for. Anybody else used one?

 

[Bigfoot]

Using one of these I paid for my first vehicle, tractor, equipment, BS, etc. etc. Their days of being used in this part of the country are about gone.


A lot of people want know what they originally were used for. Anybody else used one?

Wish I had a dollar for every swing I’ve made with one of those.

Ever notice how many farmers have their right shoulder replaced?

 

[SBMF 2015]

Haven't seen one quite like those before, but I'm going to guess they're some type of hedge knife, used to trim hedge rows?
The hedge knives I've seen around here look more like corn knives.
I've heard stories from several old guys around here about how they couldn't wait to go back to school from Christmas break, cause all they did was trim hedge for their dad's the whole your they were home.

 

[Nesikep]

Given your location, I'm going to guess they're for tobacco? I've grown some and dang it's tough to cut!

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Glad I didn't grow up in tabacky country, clearing rose bushes, and doing square bales was bad enough.

 

[jltrent]

Cuttin' & Stackin' Tobacco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhshbS1xQv8

 

[SBMF 2015]

That's cool. I was way off. We live to far north I've never seen that done.

 

[jltrent]

That's cool. I was way off. We live to far north I've never seen that done.

Ten to twelve+ hour days laying 600 to 700 sticks on the ground, at the end of the day you are beyond tired. Also a few times working in tobacco when it was extremely wet I ended up with green tobacco sickness. (I did not smoke and was not use to the nicotine) A couple times I spent the night in the ER as I was throwing up, could not walk and out of my head.(was dizzy, worse headache I ever had in my life and cramps) I was a sick puppy, but had to hit it the next day.


Green Tobacco Sickness

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/green_tob_sickness/index.html

 

[kentuckyguy]

I’ve had one in my hand a many days. It was hard work but honest. When I was young a tobacco field taught me what work really was.

It’s a shame that there is nothing to take its place. Where I’m from pretty much all the wealth came from tobacco fields. Even poor people were able to buy a piece ground with a tobacco base and pay for it with hard work.

 

[kenny thomas]

Using one of these I paid for my first vehicle, tractor, equipment, BS, etc. etc. Their days of being used in this part of the country are about gone.


A lot of people want know what they originally were used for. Anybody else used one?

3 of those haven't been used much. Blade is still too square. After wear and sharpening several times a day they will
Become rounded on the corner.
Yes I have used one of them a lot. Bought one with a metal handle. Put it behind the truck seat in 1992 and it's still there as a horrible reminder of how things were.

 

[SBMF 2015]

That's cool. I was way off. We live to far north I've never seen that done.

Ten to twelve+ hour days laying 600 to 700 sticks on the ground, at the end of the day you are beyond tired. Also a few times working in tobacco when it was extremely wet I ended up with green tobacco sickness. (I did not smoke and was not use to the nicotine) A couple times I spent the night in the ER as I was throwing up, could not walk and out of my head.(was dizzy, worse headache I ever had in my life and cramps) I was a sick puppy, but had to hit it the next day.


Green Tobacco Sickness

https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/green_tob_sickness/index.html

You guys are just tough! Non of these young people could or would work that hard.
It's really sad that type of work ethic is gone.

 

[jltrent]

Using one of these I paid for my first vehicle, tractor, equipment, BS, etc. etc. Their days of being used in this part of the country are about gone.


A lot of people want know what they originally were used for. Anybody else used one?

3 of those haven't been used much. Blade is still too square. After wear and sharpening several times a day they will
Become rounded on the corner.
Yes I have used one of them a lot. Bought one with a metal handle. Put it behind the truck seat in 1992 and it's still there as a horrible reminder of how things were.

I found a few more as they still have wax on them. Mexican labor did not use these. I tried to sharpen several knives and spears before the day started to go as non stop as possible. THese things are getting to the point they are desirable to sell for apparently wall hangers. I don't want one for a wall hanger.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Tobacco-Knives-Hatchets-Ax-Primitive-Tool-Set-of-2/174266310371?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225085%26meid%3Df5af9c735dfb4d07a61301a49fd4a08c%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D293665264676%26itm%3D174266310371%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A750e20de-d007-11ea-9765-74dbd18078d0%7Cparentrq%3A905123af1730a9c5660a6b50fffb0da2%7Ciid%3A1


These were some of my latest equipment, I was proud of these.

 

[Ky cowboy]

1st time my granny let me cut, I wore catcher shin guards she was worried I'd hit my leg so I found some old catcher gear. I spent all day on 1 row.

 

[jltrent]

1st time my granny let me cut, I wore catcher shin guards she was worried I'd hit my leg so I found some old catcher gear. I spent all day on 1 row.

To really be able to cut you had to have some ability and experience. I always like to back through, keep three stalks in and only have to take one step in each directions. If the patch was on a little slope it sure cut down on the bending also. That spear always worried me as I have seen some people have some pretty horrible scares from it. When you get tired you can get careless.

 

[Ky hills]

Got a few of those knives and spears out in the garage haven’t been used for around twenty five years probably. We sold our sticks to somebody in TN years ago, think he was making something with them.

 

[HDRider]

I never did it. Did not grow up around 'backer.

It sounds tough. Not sure I ever did anything comparable. Chopping beans and cotton sounds easy compared to what ya'll say.

Is anything today that hard? Nothing comes to mind

 

[kenny thomas]

Got a few of those knives and spears out in the garage haven’t been used for around twenty five years probably. We sold our sticks to somebody in TN years ago, think he was making something with them.

I have around 10,000 tobacco sticks if someone has an interest.

 

[Lucky_P]

Never had any experience with tobacco, but we found that they were 'the thing' to cut CBC/floral hemp with last year. Our #1 cutter had one his grandfather had used... and gave to him in 1976 when he retired from working tobacco... cut several acres with that one, but the blade broke off. Bought a new one at Southern States... lasted through about 6 plants before the blade was cracked & buggered up... they just don't make 'em like they used to, I guess.

 

[Ky hills]

Got a few of those knives and spears out in the garage haven’t been used for around twenty five years probably. We sold our sticks to somebody in TN years ago, think he was making something with them.

I have around 10,000 tobacco sticks if someone has an interest.

I saw some for sale on Craigslist the other day. See some wood craft stuff ever once in a while made out of them.

 

[kentuckyguy]

Got a few of those knives and spears out in the garage haven’t been used for around twenty five years probably. We sold our sticks to somebody in TN years ago, think he was making something with them.

I have around 10,000 tobacco sticks if someone has an interest.

We held on to ours. I figure I am set for life with tomato and pepper stakes.

As far as anything else being as hard as working in tobacco I can only think of one thing. Picking up and stacking square bales.
The square bales might be easier due to not starting till noon when the dew is off. We usually started cutting tobacco before daylight and went till dark. I think it would be good for these kids now a days to spend a few weeks in a tobacco field.