Asbell Wool Haversack

[todd smith]

Yeah, I made one before too.  It turned out fine, but a  bit small.  Teresa's looked big to me at first, until I started putting all my gear in it.  It ended up just right...

Hers is very well made and designed.

Here's the one I made:







todd

[Ron LaClair]

I have my order in to Teresa for one of her bags. I'll evaluate it when I get it...  

[mt-dew10]

I just ordered one today.  After reading this thread, I was convinced it was worth a try.  I'm pretty much tired of the very noisy backpacks (zippers & velcro), hopefully this one will do the trick.

[ronp]

Mine arrived today.  It looks to be very well made, as expected from Teresa.  I am very pleased with the haversack.  Nice size for my day trips up to the Adirondack Mountains.  I will definitely have it with me this week-end.

[Sam McMichael]

Is there a website that feature's these items from Teresa? I go out to the G. Fred site here on the gang and see the wool pull overs, knives, etc., but have never seen the possible bags till this thread. does Teresa have her own site?

[Gerardo]

Price?

[ronp]

I don't think they are on the website yet.  I called and spoke with Teresa and ordered mine.

[GingivitisKahn]

Lol - that doesn't answer the question. If they were on the website, we wouldn't need to ask here.

How much are they asking for these?

[David Mitchell]

Price is $39.95....I have one on the way  :D

[GingivitisKahn]

Oooh - not bad!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Waaaaay good value. I'm amazed at the price

[mmisciag]

Well, I saw the price and had to have one. Teresa said she would make it in brown. So I will have one on the way.

I did see them at ETAR and wish I had bought one at that time. I didn't even ask the price because I had seen others that appeared to be expensive. Never thought that $39.95 would be the price. She told me that the ones she had at ETAR were cheaper! This version is the one that Fred likes so that is what she is making.

I can't wait!

Martin

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Guys - I have used mine since September. Looking at my journal, I have 12 hunts under my belt since September 15th. If you could see my wool pants and shirst you would laugh.....I pretty much STAY in the thick stuff.

I have had my Asbell Haversack along on every trip, and it shows absolutley NO wear (well, it is a little bloodstained    )

[Ron LaClair]

Roger if I don't get mine before we leave for deer camp later this week can I put some of my stuff in your bag?  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Sure, like a couple of those Randall knives? I'll take good care of them for yu....

[Ron LaClair]

I'm gonna get rid of my Randal knives, I like my new "LaClair Skinner" better..    :cool:
http://shrewbows.com/laclair_skinner/index.html

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Then think of my haversack as a Christmas stocking and load 'er up!!!

[Mike Orton]

Here's a bit of info on the Schrade Honesteel mentioned previously.  Probably more info than anyone ever wanted to know but a well written history from the Bladeforum by Codger 64

HS1 Honesteel Research


The Schrade HS1 Honesteel was a unique knife sharpener which came boxed with a sheath, leather thong, and use instruction sheet. According to the Schrade instructions, its uses are; General sharpening on most cutting tools, Cracking Deer Pelvis, Wood Splitting and as a fish "billy". Touted by Schrade as "The Lazy Mans way to Sharpen", they were designed to be used without the need for oil or wetting agent. The unique sheath is designed as a handle for easier sharpening.

The Honesteel was patented by Henry B. Baer ("Uncle Henry"), and assigned to Imperial Knife Associated Companies. The design patent was filed in June of 1971, and issued in July of 1973. The patent expired in 1984, fourteen years. The design claim allowed was "The ornamental design for a combination whetter and sheath". The patent does not mention the tapered end, nor show the sheath deployed as a handle, or claim that it can be used as such. The patent drawings also show the finial as the bottom part of the female snap portion, though no claim for it's use is mentioned. Neither is there mention of the honesteel's surface texture or material, or uniqueness of it's use. Those details would have been subject matter for a utility patent which evidently Henry's patent attorney advised against, probably based on a search of prior utility patents. The patent issued July, 17, 1973 as #D-227733. The name "Honesteel" did not appear in the patent, where it was referred to as a "combination whetter and sheath". "Honesteel" was a separate copyrighted trademark name.

The HS1 first appeared in the 1972 catalog with a stamp of SCHRADE - WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL over PAT. PEND. Most of these came in a "Schrade-Walden" stamped sheath. These early ones had a single face bevel, later changed to a double bevel. Patent Pending stamps are more commonly seen with the Schrade tang stamp, indicative of the patent issue after mid 1973 when Schrade Walden became Schrade Cutlery. The Schrade-Walden (and early Schrade) HS1 Old Timer Honesteel appears with two holes in the handle. The first, smaller hole (0.262), is a thong (or lanyard) hole. The second, larger round hole (0.274), is for handle attachment into the finial when the Honesteel is reversed into the sheath. The first thongs were tied in a square knot, or included loose in the box. Later it was permanently attached with a metal cylindrical clamp band near the joined ends.

The Honesteel was listed in the 1973 Schrade Cutlery catalog as HS1 Hone Steel, patent pending, and sold for $10.00 with sheath/handle and thong. In 1975 it is also called the HS1 Hone Steel (picture notes still pending, though this may have just been an oversight) and sold for $11.00 with sheath/handle and thong.
By 1980, the name in the catalog was made one word, Honesteel (as it always was when stamped on the tool), the thong hole had been eliminated, and the second hole made teardrop shaped to facilitate the included thong while still allowing handle attachment, and the price was $15.00. The thong was shown permanently attached with a metal clamp band. Since the Honesteel this was seen on was mint and complete in the brown woodgrain folding box with the accompanying paperwork, this was a factory installed item.

In 1988 the price was $20.95 (thong not illustrated now), $22.95 in 1989, and $24.95 in 1991, and $25.95 in 1992. In the 1999 catalog it listed for $36.95, and the single hole for handle attachment was made round. The price was $37.95 in 2000, when it appeared alongside the new SK-1 diamond sharpener which sold for $9.99. Schrade dropped the HS1 Honesteel from the catalog in 2001, and from then until the closing, the SK-1 was the only hone offered by Schrade.

The sheath style stayed the same for the full production period, though variations in finish paralleled those of production knife sheaths. I have one circa 1980's with a tan suede sheath. Most I have seen have been either smooth brown polished leather or natural undyed polished leather like the replacement knife sheaths. It is a rectangular tubular folded sewn sheath with a small rivet at each end of the brown or white stitching for reinforcement. A male stud (sometimes called a finial) affixed to the interior engages the hole in the Honesteel when the sheath is used as a handle, and a bifold lateral flap has male and female snap studs for closure. The back of the sheath is folded over the back and riveted with two small rivets midway down the sheath back forming a belt hanger. The first sheaths were stamped "SCHRADE-WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL", though most of the sheaths seen are embellished with the identifying emboss "SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL"

The true composition of the Honesteel is, according to the included sheet, "high carbon cutlery steel" (I occasionally see one with rusted spots) and impregnated with chromium carbide. It seems to be several times harder than common steel, as I have never seen one worn out. They are seven inches long, 1" wide, and the end opposite the stamp and hole is tapered to a chisel shape, purportedly for splitting deer pelvis.

The aggressive surface texture is a modified file, striated lengthwise. It works well with most blade steels, but I find the handle contrivance to not be rigid enough to be of any help in actual use. Often when I see an older used unit, the back of the sheath shows signs of stropping, which is a good use. Schrade sold a good many of these over the years, and whether or not there were repeat customers for them, they are a useful tool. A set of the three main types makes for an interesting addition to any Schrade knife collection.

Type 1
Stamp: SCHRADE-WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL over PAT. PEND.
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE-WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: Tied
Holes: 2 round
Bevel: Single (front)

Stamp: SCHRADE-WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL over PAT. PEND.
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE-WALDEN over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: Clamped
Holes: 2 round
Bevel: Double

Stamp: SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL over PAT. PEND.
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: Clamped
Holes: 2 round
Bevel: Double


Stamp: SCHRADE over HS-1 PAT. NO. Over D-227,733
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: Clamped
Holes: 2 round
Bevel: Double

Type 2
Stamp: SCHRADE over HS-1 PAT. NO. Over D-227,733
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: Clamped
Holes: 1 teardrop
Bevel: Double

Type 3
Stamp: SCHRADE over HS-1 PAT. NO. Over D-227,733
Sheath Stamp: SCHRADE over OLD TIMER over HONESTEEL
Thong: none
Holes: 1 round
Bevel: Double

[BobW]

FWIW - Bison Gear also has been offering a very nice Haversack, and is a sponsor to this forum too......

[Wannabe1]

BobW: I'm a little confused. I went to Bison Gear's website and the one they are showing says, GFA Haversack. Is this the same one? If so, they are selling for $119.00 as apposed to $39.99.