Splitter Or Skiver?

[ShortBBL]

I'd like to know what is recommended for the following needs.

1) I want to be able to take some 7/8 or heavier leather straps and split them down to maybe 4oz to use for making bullet loops on gun belts. (Corect me if that's not a decent way of going about making loops!)

2) I need to be able to make differant size welts for knife sheaths.

3) I would like to be able to make some lap (I think thats the right term) skive's.... I'd be tappering (skiving?) the leather for instance, where I will attach a belt loop to the back of a heavy sheath. Tapered would work best and is what I have seen several makers do.

So... is there a skiver that would work GOOD for all these needs? Am I better off with a splitter?

What Skiver or splitter is a good one to get? What do YOU use and/or prefer?

Thanks a lot for the help!

[bruce johnson]

For one thing to do all of what you probably want a handled splitter. Good ones to looks for are either an old Osborne #84 splitter or one of the new Keystone ones from Campbell-Randall. You can do level splitting with these and lap skives with a little practice.

[ShortBBL]

<br />For one thing to do all of what you probably want a handled splitter. Good ones to looks for are either an old Osborne #84 splitter or one of the new Keystone ones from Campbell-Randall. You can do level splitting with these and lap skives with a little practice.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Thanks Bruce.

If you were to get seperate machines for these operations, would you recommend something differant?

I prefer to buy once...... if two machines is better, then I'd just as soon get it over with!

Thanks again! I'm just learning and this is a super place to do just that!!

[Frank]

Whatever you decide, I would recommend two different things: Make sure you purchase 2 blades for the machine, that way you can put a new one on while you are sharpening or sending the other blade out to be sharpened. The other is purchase a side of leather already split to 4-5 oz for the cartridge loops and possibly hammer tabs or thongs, depending on what type of holsters you might make. This will definitely save the sharpness of the blade. I purchased 4 different sides of English bridle leather consistent with the colors of Veg. Tan that I use for belts and holsters. I had them split by Wickett & Craig, to use strictly for that purpose.

Frank

[bruce johnson]

If I had got a good Osborne #84 to start with, I wouldn't know as much as I do know. I started off with TLF's knock-off version that a manager sold me for probably close to cost on a "I need to cut inventory drastically by the end of this month" deal. An old friend sold me a Landis crank skiver and an American crank splitter. I bought a Chase pattern splitter and it was a dream for a pull through splitter. After that I sold the TLF to a guy who has some machining expertise and he corrected some of the issues with it. Since then I have developed an interest in splitters and have bought and sold several different splitters.

For lap skives I sure like the crank skiver. I have a Landis and it has smooth wheel on top so it doesn't mark the grain of the leather. American has two versions, I think the original version has a milled wheel on top, and the American "B" has the smooth wheel. There is a version that has a wider blade, but mine is the regular 1-3/4" blade and is fine for my needs. There is a skiver on the 3-in-1 and 5-in-1s and they sometimes sell for less than a crank skiver, just watch the feedwheel on top and make sure it is smooth. I like doing longer laps on an old Spittler pattern splitter, it was Osborne's #83 splitter with the plier grip handle.

For splitters, I am torn here. I really like the Chase style splitters. The blades are thinner, there are rollers top and bottom to feed the leather square into the blade, and they are pretty safe. There is no exposed blade in use. I have two bolted down - a 10" Osborne left at an 8 oz setting and a 12" Hansen that I adjust for other thicknesses. There is no dial or setting for splitting, you adjust the top roller position kind of by trial and error. My other favorite splitter is the Krebs style. I have a Randall Krebs style right now I like alot. I think there were three manufacturers of them. Osborne called theirs the "#85". They have top and bottom rollers for good feeding and safety too. The bevel on the blade is pretty good. The real plus is they have a pointer and dial on a drum that sets the height. You can write down a measurement and 6 weeks later go back to that position and split the same. Some guys do laps by moving the setting handle as they pull. I have some other oddities and variations of splitters, but the two Chase styles, the Krebs, and an American crank splitter are my users.

Like I said earlier, either a good #84 or a Keystone should do you fine. They can tightern down to level split or push the handle as you pull for laps. I just went another way because of how I fell into things. I have had a couple #84s since and liked them well enough. The only real problem is sometimes a strap can hit a hard spot or flip up, ride the bevel of the blade, and chop off. I am not a fan of the #86. The blade has no guard and you can't really do a decent lap on it without making a tapered jig to stick under the piece you are skiving. This is my least favorite type of splitter and the only one Osborne sells now.

[ShortBBL]

Thanks again Bruce! Good info there!

Jon

[rawhide1]

Jon

I agree with Bruce. I have a old Osborne #84 and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's nice to split a piece and then be able to skive it on the same machine. I don't have a lot of room so the least amount of stuff I have to have around the better.

Mike

[KathrynHD]

What about this one?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275030817581?hash=item40091d3b2d:g:ZM8AAOSwyNdhgpwD

Says the spring metal opener  is broken and missing??  for the pliers. Is this fixable? Is it mad to buy an untested machine?  Certainly looks nice. I would want for splitting and skiving

Edited November 18, 2021 by KathrynHD
Punctuation

[KathrynHD]

Another option I am considering is a new #86a....it seems to have addressed the problem of the lap skiving with the addition of the little wheel.  Nigel Armitage does a good review.  I have been asked what I want for Christmas and am thinking if everyone just puts a bit towards instead of buying a gift it brings the cost down a bit.  Some have dissed the new #84 as not as good as the old ones ??  And they seem very expensive here in the UK and from the videos of Nigel Armitage on both the #86a and #84 the 86a seems a little more straighforward to use.    If I could get a good vintage one I would prefer that.

[KathrynHD]

The other which sounds good is the Randall Keystone Splitter.  Very pricey like the new Osborne's but would be a new blade and sounds like it is set up well and going by Bruce Johnston's review