Having read the posting of Melonfish about acquiring traditional tools it occured to me that in all the years I'd been going to boot fairs in England I doubt I ever saw a drawknife in a "box o' rust" going for a couple of £. Yes, those antiquey type stalls always have them all black-leaded up and it comes with a stupid price tag too. The converse of this is over here in France we have things called Vide Greniers, it means "empty your loft" I visit these whenever I can, they're just like a boot fair but the advantage of these is that they're an annual thing for a village and sellers just do it to get rid of a lot of good stuff they simply don't need. Unlike those regulars you see at UK bootfairs flogging the same old tut, week in week out.
Anyway getting back to drawknives. I often see them for sale here, they go for anything between €3 to €8 depending on the condition. They're also old which means good steel
. Obviously for a really good one you pay more but more often it's someone having a shed clear out of their late uncle and want to make a bit of fag money. Knowing this my best mate's asked me to look out for a drawknife for him. So here's my offer:
Would you like me to do the same for you?
No promises, it's purely pot luck. But since I go to vide greniers and rummage through the tool boxes it's no bother for me to hook out a decent one, bag it and post it to you. I'm not looking to make a profit out of this. Just cover the initial price and postage etc and we'll be happy. I'm not sure what the postage is, but I can find out and let you know.
Also. I bought a 300mm drawknife for a mate I work with for €4 (£3.50) but the handles were rotton with woodworm, so I knocked him up a basic pair and fitted them gave it a clean and a sharpen up and it's just peachy now. He loves it and uses it whenever he can find an excuse to. So if you'd like I could even offer a basic no frills refurbishment deal with this too. Your call, no pressure. The offer's there.
So if you're interested in me looking out for something drop me a PM. The vide grenier season kicks off soon, but the summer's the best time. If you're over here on holiday in France be sure to have a look out for them.
I could easily send you photos of any I buy so you can see what you'll be getting, fair enough?
Aaron
PS Billhooks are another item I often see, axe heads large and small, scicles, slash knives for clearing undergrowth etc etc they're always there. Send me your wish list. I'll see what I can do.
Anyway getting back to drawknives. I often see them for sale here, they go for anything between €3 to €8 depending on the condition. They're also old which means good steel
. Obviously for a really good one you pay more but more often it's someone having a shed clear out of their late uncle and want to make a bit of fag money. Knowing this my best mate's asked me to look out for a drawknife for him. So here's my offer: Would you like me to do the same for you?
No promises, it's purely pot luck. But since I go to vide greniers and rummage through the tool boxes it's no bother for me to hook out a decent one, bag it and post it to you. I'm not looking to make a profit out of this. Just cover the initial price and postage etc and we'll be happy. I'm not sure what the postage is, but I can find out and let you know.
Also. I bought a 300mm drawknife for a mate I work with for €4 (£3.50) but the handles were rotton with woodworm, so I knocked him up a basic pair and fitted them gave it a clean and a sharpen up and it's just peachy now. He loves it and uses it whenever he can find an excuse to. So if you'd like I could even offer a basic no frills refurbishment deal with this too. Your call, no pressure. The offer's there.
So if you're interested in me looking out for something drop me a PM. The vide grenier season kicks off soon, but the summer's the best time. If you're over here on holiday in France be sure to have a look out for them.
I could easily send you photos of any I buy so you can see what you'll be getting, fair enough?
Aaron
PS Billhooks are another item I often see, axe heads large and small, scicles, slash knives for clearing undergrowth etc etc they're always there. Send me your wish list. I'll see what I can do.
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