The Old Bear Classical range from Antonini are classic woodsman’s knives with one hundred years of history behind them, writes Mike Gormley.
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Disclaimer: Firstly we must advise our UK-based readers that under current legislation there can be serious repercussions if one possesses and carries in public without a valid reason what almost everybody else around the world would term an ‘Every Day Carry’ (EDC) work knife. Knives are inanimate objects which require a person to turn them into a weapon capable of harming another person but it is, of course, much simpler for politicians to just legislate against everyone carrying the tool rather than against the type of person most likely to use it to cause harm.
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While at the OTS event this year I was introduced to the Old Bear range of pocket knives. There is just something nice about these, or at least about the Classical Walnut Line which is the model I have been trying out.
Old Bear are produced in Italy by a very longstanding company, Antonini srl, that has been making bladed tools for 100 years and covers most end-users you would expect to have a need for a cutting tool. The Old Bear range is their general purpose folding knife aimed at a very wide range of users.
The Italians always seem to have a flair for design and this shows through with these knives. The handles of the Old Bear range stand out as they are made from quality wood, either oiled Walnut or Olive, finished to a smooth and easy to hold well-shaped handle into which the clip point stainless steel blade folds safely away.
The stainless steel used is W 1.4060 high quality food grade and able to hold an edge extremely well; it most certainly comes with a very keen edge. To keep everything safe there is a rotating lock that is positioned in the brass safety ring. The blade pivot is adjustable to keep it just right and to take up any slack as the years pass by; a Torx tool being supplied to make this adjustment.
The Old Bear Classical is available in a variety of sizes. The model I have is the Medium of this range, measuring 7½ inches or 190mm overall. These tools are hand finished and give that smooth hand-friendly feel, perfect for a regularly used work knife.
[images © Mike Gormley]
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