where to buy skiving knives?

[AEBL]

I'm right handed, and I am looking for a tool that looks like a wood plane blade with an angle on it. I'll probably cover it with leather for a handle.
I like economy tools, but I'd rather not buy junky Asian tools ...

I have a round knife, but I'm having trouble using it on the small stuff I'm making (wallets, card holders, small knife sheaths, etc.) Perhaps I should just figure out some way to hold it safely ...

[DieselTech]

23 minutes ago, AEBL said:

I'm right handed, and I am looking for a tool that looks like a wood plane blade with an angle on it. I'll probably cover it with leather for a handle.
I like economy tools, but I'd rather not buy junky Asian tools ...

I have a round knife, but I'm having trouble using it on the small stuff I'm making (wallets, card holders, small knife sheaths, etc.) Perhaps I should just figure out some way to hold it safely ...

What kind of budget did you have in mind? Then maybe others can give some advice. 

Thanks.

[AEBL]

I've bought $100 knives before and not passed out ... I understand that quality tools often have pricetags to match ... I guess since I'm new at this, I don't know enough yet to know what I like.

[DieselTech]

7 minutes ago, AEBL said:

I've bought $100 knives before and not passed out ... I understand that quality tools often have pricetags to match ... I guess since I'm new at this, I don't know enough yet to know what I like.

Yeah I am kinda that way on knives. Some knives work better for others versus the next. 

[DieselTech]

13 minutes ago, AEBL said:

I've bought $100 knives before and not passed out ... I understand that quality tools often have pricetags to match ... I guess since I'm new at this, I don't know enough yet to know what I like.

Are you looking for something like this? Or something similar with a less aggressive angle?

[AEBL]

yes - something like that, but I was thinking that I might find something less expensive if it were like a plane blade (just a beveled piece of steel).
That said, I'm not opposed to buying something like that.
I'm also assuming that RH skiver is for RH people?

[DieselTech]

12 minutes ago, AEBL said:

yes - something like that, but I was thinking that I might find something less expensive if it were like a plane blade (just a beveled piece of steel).
That said, I'm not opposed to buying something like that.
I'm also assuming that RH skiver is for RH people?

Well as far as I know. Yes a RH skiver is for a right handed person. I think C.S Osborne makes a knife similar, think it is around $50

I will say Shaun Woodsum are hand made knives & are exceptional to use. His knives kinda made me enjoy cutting leather with them. 

[SixAB]

I bought a pair of skiving knives, two different sizes, from George Barnsley in the UK.

https://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/product-page/paring-set

I am extremely happy with them, they look far nicer than they do in the photo.

Including shipping to Canada, they cost me £35.74 (about $43 US) I received the knives 4 days after placing my order online.

The knives are also available individually if you don't want both sizes.

Six

 

Edited January 13 by SixAB
Added a proper website link

[TomE]

This cheap knife works surprisingly well. https://a.co/d/hzd8kRF  I did use a coarse stone to decrease the angle of the bevel.  I also use Osborne knives and several round and head knives for skiving but I still reach for this tool for some jobs.  Here's a review by Harry Rogers. 

 

[zuludog]

Have a look at Rocky Mountain Leather Supply, they have some Charter Made knives that might interest you, though they are expensive. Vergez Blanchard have similar knives, but I don't know where they are available in the USA

I use Japanese Leather Knives for both cutting and skiving - shop around for a supplier or try Etsy. They usually have straight across edges, but you can get them with angles edges if you wish. As with most things price is as good an indication of quality as any, but these are good mid priced makes - Seiwa, Kyoshin Elle, Craft Sha

Yes, you could make one from a plane blade or similar. I had a cheap box plane that was difficult to adjust so I hardly used it, but the blade was fairly good, so I turned it into a JLK and it works well

I also have that cheap JLK with the red handle - it needed a lot of sharpening to get the correct bevel & cutting edge, but once done it was OK and only needed routine sharpening & stropping

You can use JLKs bevel up or down 

Here's an example of them in use, but there are several YouTube Videos about choosing, using, and sharpening JLKs

 

 

Edited January 13 by zuludog

[Pan5N3]

Sounds like you want an English pairing knife.  These are common in book building / binding.  You may be able to find a local provider but if not, you can try the link SixAB provided or the on below.  The don't mention shipping to the US, but they are only $22 CAD, which is about $16 USD.

https://georgehigllco.com/leather-paring-knife-english

 

[AEBL]

Hey, thanks for the feedback folks! Looks like there's lots of options out there.
I've been watching a lot of YT vids of Asian bag makers (Navico, Hahn's Atelier, Bitchen, KKomeda). They make the Japanese leather knife look like such a natural tool.
Also appreciate the English paring knife - sometimes just knowing what a thing is called helps to find it.

[RidgebackCustoms]

23 hours ago, AEBL said:

yes - something like that, but I was thinking that I might find something less expensive if it were like a plane blade (just a beveled piece of steel).
That said, I'm not opposed to buying something like that.

Check out talasonline.com.  It's a book binding website, but they have leather tools, including an assortment of decent skiving knives for decent prices.  They also have good deals on bone folders.