Every once in a while we discuss the subject of gaffs and their various aspects. We don't change any minds and don't really solve any thing but its a fun discussion none the less. This time I would like to take a look at the use of High pointed Gaffs. Now most people know that the great Henry Wortham liked High pointed gaffs and scoffed at the idea of using anything else. Most know too that he won A LOT! Some say he was the wining-est Cocker of all time. Now that part is very debatable but we all know he won a great deal and that he did it with gaffs with very high points. For a very long time Tom Spurrier was his Gaff man and Tom would only make Gaffs with an extremely high point. His rule of thumb was an inch above the socket.
For those who don't Know that is one super high point. In fact most of us would have never considered using such a high pointed gaff. So how did those high points win for Him? Well The heels he used were of a Jagger type that dropped then curved up, but a large portion on the blade was actually real straight. Now in use the right Cock had to merely reach out and get that point in a little flesh and the force of the two Cocks going backward from kicking just pulled the blade in and it pulled it in DEEP. The cock didn't really have to hit to get the gaff buried in. And another thing that was true about Henry was that he wanted the first two pittings, He claimed that that's where the fight was won. Now for him that was true. But Henry was no dummy because he selected Cocks that used those high points well.
Henry liked Good breakers that reached. He liked a good shuffler as opposed to a single stroke bird. Henry liked Straight comb yellow legged reds but would take white leg. But he did not like Pea comb birds. He also did not care for Greys, Blacks, Blues, Whites or most anything but Reds. He is said to have detested Japs or Asils. I can see why as I doubt he would have won 20% with Jap crosses with the heels he used. Now other folks used high pointed Gaffs as well but None were as successful as Henry was. But I doubt many people used them as exclusively as he did. I actually had a set of super high pointed gaffs back in the 90s but I sold them. I never had the guts to tie them on anything. Boy Ol Henry would have thought I was Nuts! And you know I wasn't doing real well then, Maybe I should have tied them on!!
For those who don't Know that is one super high point. In fact most of us would have never considered using such a high pointed gaff. So how did those high points win for Him? Well The heels he used were of a Jagger type that dropped then curved up, but a large portion on the blade was actually real straight. Now in use the right Cock had to merely reach out and get that point in a little flesh and the force of the two Cocks going backward from kicking just pulled the blade in and it pulled it in DEEP. The cock didn't really have to hit to get the gaff buried in. And another thing that was true about Henry was that he wanted the first two pittings, He claimed that that's where the fight was won. Now for him that was true. But Henry was no dummy because he selected Cocks that used those high points well.
Henry liked Good breakers that reached. He liked a good shuffler as opposed to a single stroke bird. Henry liked Straight comb yellow legged reds but would take white leg. But he did not like Pea comb birds. He also did not care for Greys, Blacks, Blues, Whites or most anything but Reds. He is said to have detested Japs or Asils. I can see why as I doubt he would have won 20% with Jap crosses with the heels he used. Now other folks used high pointed Gaffs as well but None were as successful as Henry was. But I doubt many people used them as exclusively as he did. I actually had a set of super high pointed gaffs back in the 90s but I sold them. I never had the guts to tie them on anything. Boy Ol Henry would have thought I was Nuts! And you know I wasn't doing real well then, Maybe I should have tied them on!!