Just got a tin of Jack Knife Plug, thanks to Duncan for the trade. It made me think of my good old trusty Green River patch knife.
If any of you rope or plug smokers have been looking for the perfect tobacco knife, this is it.
Its a super thin blade, takes a razor edge with little effort, very durable, made in the USA since 1834, and its really cheap too.
How cheap ? Less than $10 !
I have used this website to order in the past, they sell the kits (bare blade, plus two wooden scales and rivets that you put together and shape yourself)
https://rangersupplystore.com/c-322-green-river-knives-kits.aspx
You can also buy the knife already together for more money,
https://rangersupplystore.com/c-303-green-river-knives.aspx
I just use mine as a bare blade, no handle scales (been meaning to put it together for a few years though)
I like the patch knife for its shape and utility, but I have 3 or 4 other Green River blade styles. They are all made from the same steel, and they would all serve well for slicing ropes or plugs to any thickness with little effort
I highly recommend a diamond hone for keeping these blades insanely sharp with just a few passes. You can order a diamond sharpener online, or most outdoors stores will carry something like Smiths brand for about $15.
In case you were wondering about the history of these knives, they go back to the early 1800's, and the charting of the west. The Green River was THE knife to have on your waist whilst trapping beaver, exploring the unmapped west, fighting indians or waiting for more tobacco to show up from back east.
The Mountain Men had a saying, "Up to Green River".
It was meant as a question of quality (Is it up to Green River?)
And a good rule of thumb on how deep to stab your adversary (Up to the "Green River" stamp at the base of the blade)
Theres lots more history behind these knives too, but all you really need to know is how beautifully they slice through ropes and plugs with little effort at all.
Well worth the price
If any of you rope or plug smokers have been looking for the perfect tobacco knife, this is it.
Its a super thin blade, takes a razor edge with little effort, very durable, made in the USA since 1834, and its really cheap too.
How cheap ? Less than $10 !
I have used this website to order in the past, they sell the kits (bare blade, plus two wooden scales and rivets that you put together and shape yourself)
https://rangersupplystore.com/c-322-green-river-knives-kits.aspx
You can also buy the knife already together for more money,
https://rangersupplystore.com/c-303-green-river-knives.aspx
I just use mine as a bare blade, no handle scales (been meaning to put it together for a few years though)
I like the patch knife for its shape and utility, but I have 3 or 4 other Green River blade styles. They are all made from the same steel, and they would all serve well for slicing ropes or plugs to any thickness with little effort
I highly recommend a diamond hone for keeping these blades insanely sharp with just a few passes. You can order a diamond sharpener online, or most outdoors stores will carry something like Smiths brand for about $15.
In case you were wondering about the history of these knives, they go back to the early 1800's, and the charting of the west. The Green River was THE knife to have on your waist whilst trapping beaver, exploring the unmapped west, fighting indians or waiting for more tobacco to show up from back east.
The Mountain Men had a saying, "Up to Green River".
It was meant as a question of quality (Is it up to Green River?)
And a good rule of thumb on how deep to stab your adversary (Up to the "Green River" stamp at the base of the blade)
Theres lots more history behind these knives too, but all you really need to know is how beautifully they slice through ropes and plugs with little effort at all.
Well worth the price
