Most Iconic Leatherworking tool

[AndyL1]

Hey All,

I've been really thinking about having a maker's stamp made but I wanted it to be a logo I have designed for myself. I wanted to incorporate a leather working tool in the design and I can't nail down which one to use.

My question is:

What leather working tool is considered to be the most iconic?

Edited February 8, 2009 by AndyL1

[tonyc1]

The Roundknife.

Tony.

[David]

Probably the round or head knife, but since I hate 'em; I'll choose the swivel knife

David Theobald

[TroyS]

Headknife....

[Greybeard]

Probably the round or head knife, but since I hate 'em; I'll choose the swivel knife

David Theobald

+1 I think Leather I think Swivel Knife, But the Head Knife is Probably more universal to All Leather work not just Carving.

[Ian]

I'd say a head knife too, even though I've never owned or used one, although, I doubt whether one in a thousand people outside of leather craft would know what it is.

[Johanna]

Well, I picked the mallet. Not all of us use a swivel knife or a head knife, but every one of us has a hammer or three. One of my favorite leather logos belongs to steveb.

Johanna

[AndyL1]

I'd say a head knife too, even though I've never owned or used one, although, I doubt whether one in a thousand people outside of leather craft would know what it is.

That's sort of my concern too. If I make stuff for the average joe, they may not understand what that tool is and...

Well, I picked the mallet. Not all of us use a swivel knife or a head knife, but every one of us has a hammer or three. One of my favorite leather logos belongs to steveb.

Johanna

...based on what you have said I'm leaning towards a mallet. I don't use a head knife as I don't have one and my folding box cutter works perfect for me. But I use the heck out of my mallet.

Bottom line:

Mallet = recognizable tool, used a lot in leather work.

Head Knife = says "leather" but a majority of people don't know what it is. Some use it, some don't.

Decisions, decisions. I'll let this poll go for a while more and then just flip a coin I guess. Thanks for chiming in!

[Randy Cornelius]

What the He** does "Iconic" mean you people are useing those big words again.

[kiwidownunder]

The swivel Knife. But the poll does not include it so I have to say the Head Knife.

Kiwi

[CitizenKate]

Definitions of 'iconic'

(ī-kŏńĭk)

Dictionary.com · The American Heritage® Dictionary - (2 definitions)

(adjective)

1. Of, relating to, or having the character of an icon.

2. Having a conventional formulaic style. Used of certain memorial statues and busts.

(derivatives)

íco·nići·ty

noun

For purposes of this discussion, I believe Andy is looking for a symbol that is most universally recognized to represent leather work.

I think a head knife comes the closest, since part cutting is something that is in common with virtually every leather project, even though many of us do not use a round knife for cutting. All the other tools mentioned (including the swivel knife) may or may not be required.

Whether the general public would recognize that as a symbol for leather work is unsure. But since the general public knows little about leather work, that could be questionable with whatever you use.

Kate

[AndyL1]

Thanks everybody for the feedback. With much thought and considering the poll and your replies, I'm going with a Head Knife. I think it says "leather work" more so than a mallet. I decided to shy away from a mallet because... well... there's already an ARM and HAMMER company out there:

That said, here is the logo I've bee producing for myself. I will get this made into a stamp as well. The ARM is my initials, I am left handed, do all my work by hand, and I love medieval/celtic/heraldry styling in my work so I think the mark kind of says all of these things.

Thanks again.

-Andy

[Daggrim]

Hey Andy,

I dig your logo. Very graphic, very clear, and a good use of black and white. I like the power of the woodblock print look. I've been working off and on for a logo for Leatherhelms too, in a similar graphic style.

Doug

[jbird]

got be swivel knife but head knife next.

Josh

[wildrose]

I'dve said swivel knife too, honestly.

[Go2Tex]

WEll, if you can't decide, put them both on there, a head knife crossed with a rawhide mallet or saddlemaker's hammer..... then again, considering how the country is headed, maybe a hammer and sickle?...... be more patriotic.

[KAYAK45]

WELL, I saw a lot of wordS for swivel knives, but NO pictures. HMMMM, wonder what that means about ICONIC?

How about a hand held mallet over a hand held stamp?

Sorry, no picture or drawing. Back to the stone I go.

TaTA

Kevin

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Yea, leather working isn't like blacksmithing where everyone thinks of an anvil. I had never used, nor really heard of a round knife till I got on LW. My Mom, the one who taught me, used a razor knife. She did a lot of tooling, so I always think of a swivel knife when I think leather. I also chose the mallet, as that is what Mom used , as opposed to a maul. It probably just comes down to what you do the most. Tooled items use different tools than say cut, and stitched items. I would say the most iconic item in leather working is the leather itself, a stretched out hide perhaps would be better.