Looking for the right knife

[Frodo]

Knives like any tool have different uses. You are not going to find a blade that will do everything. It is a tool, blades can be ground on the left or the right so you need one of each. Thin blade? Thick? Pointed? Round?

A blade is as personal as a pair of shoes. You have to try them on to see what you like.  My advice?  Snap off utility blade at any lumber yard for 6 bucks

[bvdv]

For those curved shapes I use  a snap off blade, where the blade  can be locked like this.

 

 

As for the blade I use the 9mm black 30 degree tajima.  Be sure to take a 30 degree  blade. They are much sharper and easier  to cut curved shapes. There is a slight difference in sharpness between the black and the metal coloured regular ones, but not profound. The main difference  is the angle of the blade. You can see the difference in the 2 attached pictures.

Greetings

 

 

[TomE]

This little round knife has been a handy addition for cutting and skiving in tight places.  It seems to hold an edge.  https://www.abbeyengland.com/abbey-round-knife-68mm-fs0480

[seabee]

Hi all,  I use a few wood carving knifes.

Howard

 

 

 

[jcuk]

Most of my cutting and skiving is done with a Round knife for some lighter weight leather i may use a clicker knife for cutting. So i know you have said you have looked at knife makers across the pond and the waiting time to get one, he is my take on that its is well worth the wait i have had mine around seven years it has never seen a stone yet still cuts as well as the day i got it, but with all my cutting tools i will strop before use and strop again when i am finished for the day a good polished blade will cut a lot better.

Here is the maker i got mine from https://leathertools.net/shop/ i have the Texas Rosebud Round knife only mistake i made was i should have got the full fat version, very good people to deal with. The only thing is i believe he had a fire at his workshop sometime ago so not sure if he is up and running again hopefully someone on here will know if he is like i said it is well worth the wait.

Here is a link to a Clicker Knife i have plus the blades i use with it the curved blade is good for cutting tight curves.

https://www.abbeyengland.com/barnsley-extension-clicker-handle-fe0192

https://www.abbeyengland.com/barnsley-clicker-blade-curved-fe0194

https://www.abbeyengland.com/barnsley-clicker-blade-straight-fe0193

He is another link to a members site on here from time to time he has some nice used Knives and yes he is across the pond but don't think the wait  time would take to long.

https://brucejohnsonleather.com/leather-tools-sale/knives-and-handled-cutting-tools-sale/

 

Hope this helps

JCUK

Edited November 11, 2022 by jcuk

[doubleh]

I just purchased a new el cheapo wood whittler for a specific wood project. After truing the grind on the blade and some sanding on the handle to make it more comfortable I believe it might make a good leather slicer also. It seems to have decent steel and took a very keen edge. 

[BlackDragon]

I use different knives for different things.

The Fiskars I use on thin flimsy leathers like 1oz suede. The utility knife on 5-10oz vegtan. Xacto knives for small areas. The round knife I recently acquired and am still learning to control properly.

 

[DocJrzz]

I use scalpels.. Heck, that's what they are made for. Far superior to xacto blades and can be stropped for long life. And cheap! I ordered the plastic handles from amazon.

The #11, #23, #24. #25 blades work great!