Who sells a good head knife?

[greg gomersall]

Jordan; H. G. Gomph was a U.S.company in Albany N.Y. They went under in approx. 1929 and Ellis Barnes now owns the naming rights of the company. Greg

[Jordan]

I stand corrected, I wasn't real sure because I had seen the name on a german site awhile back, probably got it mixed up with another name when I was researching the rebuilding of my R69S BMW awhile back.

[cjbleather]

Hilly, For my money, you can't beat a Bill Buchman knife. Especially if you like a thin blade and sharp out of the bax. You are looking at more than $100. But, in MHO, it is well spent. Carl

[Art]

Hi Hilly,

I'll show and tell with about half of what I have.

I like Buchman knives and I have Five.

The BB6 is a large head knife that I use a lot especially for long straight cuts.

The BBX1 is a little skiving knife with a larger handle that I use as much as the BB6. I do not "palm" this knife.

The BBX3 is another head knife that is smaller with a smaller handle, you can "palm" this knife easily and it turns easier.

The BBXV is a pattern that Bill made for Verlane Desgrange, a long tail oval knife with a small handle for palming.

The BXV2 is a very small knife Bill also made for Verlane and is great for tight places, sometimes you just have to have a knife like this.

This is the standard CSO Head Knife that has been around for years, and so has this one. Nice knife but needs work out of the box.

And of course this is the CSO Round Knife dull as a piece of straw out of the box.

This is a knife made by Duey Peters and is quite good, sharp as hell out of the box and around $60. It is a little smaller so it is better than the big knives around curves.

Here is a picture of a Don Carlos (I couldn't find my DC head knife that looks somewhat like a cleaver) straight (sorta) Knife, A Clicker knife (Blue Handle) which works on everything if you keep it sharp, this thing and a Utility knife could get you through your leather career, and last but not least the surgical scalpel (No.10 on this one).

The old skiver tried and true and indispensable.

Last but not least the Utility knife, the only knife you can do most anything with. You do really need to sharpen them for serious work but for general stuff the blades work out of the box. For serious leather cutting, you need to at very least strop these blades.

Bill Buchman is over 70 now and doesn't take new customers, Big Sky Tool and Die might still handle them but you may have a hard time getting the X versions which are not in his regular lineup. Also it may be harder to find the smaller handles if you like to "palm" the knife. If you are lucky enough to get a Buchman, don't expect exotic handles, there is Black Walnut and maybe if you are lucky Black Walnut.

If I were on a budget, I could get by easily with a Scalpel, Utility Knife, and Clicker Knife and stay under $50. If really on a budget, three utility knives of varying sharpness from out of the box to scary is a good choice.

Good Luck,

Art

I ordered a head knife a while back from Montana Leather, and it was on backorder, so I've decided to look elsewhere. I understand that some head knives do not come sharpened. I want one that DOES come sharp from the box. I figure it's the best way to see what a properly sharpened head knife should feel like.... Anyway, does anyone know where I can get a decent quality head knife without taking out a second mortgage? I feel that anything over say.... $125 would be paying waaaaaay too much, cuz I'm che - I mean thrifty. Also, are skiving knives the same way? Do some come sharp and others don't, because I'm sorta looking for one of those, too.

Thanks,

Hilly

[cjbleather]

Art, It sure looks l;ike you have a nice collection of Bill's knives. I want to get a small one like your BXV2. last year I bought his skiving knife to go with the straight Buckman head knife that I already have. (I can't remember the model). Hopefully as a past customer, he will still make one for me. Carlb

[Art]

Hi Carl,

Best way to find out is to call him direct; Bill Buchman's number is 541-382-8851. Mention to him that you ordered from him before. Also mention if you want the smaller (lady's) handle.

Art

Art, It sure looks l;ike you have a nice collection of Bill's knives. I want to get a small one like your BXV2. last year I bought his skiving knife to go with the straight Buckman head knife that I already have. (I can't remember the model). Hopefully as a past customer, he will still make one for me. Carlb

[David Genadek]

I have had nearly every brand and I my favorite are Bill Buchmans. My second favorite was one I got from Ellis but it was a bit different than what I'm seeing here. It was one that we used in the Belt company. It had a really nice handle for skiveing. Some one stole it though.

David Genadek

[howardb]

Modifying Hilly's post: I'm also on a budget, but I'm not afraid of putting my own edge on something. Hide crafters has Osborne & ALS for $60 ish; and Danny Marlin for $100 ish. Tandy has Al Stohlman (same as ALS??) and Osborne.

Q #1 - why is Tandy's osborne knife twice the price?

Q #2 - What's the better choice for an under $100 knife? keep in mind I'm as green as they get and not really sure when this would be required over other knife options.

Oh and to brag a little... I have a SWEEET Bob Beard knife (I think its a skiver?) that is just ded sexy. It's wicked sharp. Pic attached - tell me what it is supposed to be used for! Another inherited tool...

[bruce johnson]

howardb,

I can't answer how companies price the same goods. The #70 CSO knife is $35.95 from Siegels website, it has been at that price for a while. TLF used to carry a more complete line of CSO tools, but have scaled back. Isn't the TLF price 90 something? I have a CSO knife. It is OK, and will sharpen up well. I have a few old Clydes, and they are my favorites. I batch my sharpening, use a knife for a while, grab another, until I have a few to sharpen. MY anecdotal impression is that the Clydes go a while longer than the CSO before the need to strop and sharpen.

Brings me to my thoughts on buying a knife. I think that the original post about buying a sharp one ready to go is a good idea. Remember that feel, because it won't be that way in a week, and maybe not in an hour. First skill is to maintain the edge. There seem to be several new knife makers coming on the scene. Some new ads in ShopTalk and LCSJ. Some of the old line makers like Linneman, Jolly, and Buchmann are not making many/any. The guys making knives for other uses have seen the void, and the need for quality tools that has always been there. There are some new or old-but-new-again steels, and steel treatments being used. You will need to talk to the maker to see what they recommend for stropping compound and sharpening. Some of the knives come sharp and hold a an edge quite a while. They also require a lot more effort to bring back to original. You can't afford the downtime to ship one back for resharpening, and many local knife sharpeners have no clue what we need. Some put a very thin fine edge that immediately rolls, and others leave a chiseled edge and hone marks that aren't close to sharp. Herb French put out a pretty good little book on sharpening leather tools. I think Sheridan Leather Outfitters sells it for around $11. Worth it.

[Hilly]

Modifying Hilly's post: I'm also on a budget, but I'm not afraid of putting my own edge on something. Hide crafters has Osborne & ALS for $60 ish; and Danny Marlin for $100 ish. Tandy has Al Stohlman (same as ALS??) and Osborne.

Q #1 - why is Tandy's osborne knife twice the price?

Q #2 - What's the better choice for an under $100 knife? keep in mind I'm as green as they get and not really sure when this would be required over other knife options.

Oh and to brag a little... I have a SWEEET Bob Beard knife (I think its a skiver?) that is just ded sexy. It's wicked sharp. Pic attached - tell me what it is supposed to be used for! Another inherited tool...

Hide Crafter no longer carries Danny Marlin head knives