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68 members have voted

  1. 1. Which would you buy?

    • Stolhman 4 1/2" Damascus Knife
      11
    • Osborn 5" Knife #70
      23
    • Other (please explain)
      34


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Posted
  On 6/26/2011 at 3:33 AM, WinterBear said:

I I am disappointed about the Tandy knife especially--I was hoping for some modicum of quality, but it sure sounds like that isn't the case.

I certainly understand your disappointment with the Tandy knives! I'm with you on that. At the same time it's probably only fair to remember that Tandy is primarily an entry level provider. I'm confident that they just can't produce or carry professional quality tools profitably or they would do it. There just aren't many people walking through their doors who are willing to spend $200 on a head knife. The market for professional quality tools is tiny compared to the entry level and craft market. I think a lot of people think of Tandy as being the place where everyone including the pros go for tools and that just isn't the case. In this instance, everyone is discouraging you because the learning curve on a head knife is so steep and because sharpness is such a critical part of being able to learn to use a head knife. If we were talking about rivet setters, or punches, or shears, etc., you wouldn't have heard so many objections. So I just wanted to defend Tandy a little bit and while I don't use some of their products, I understand why they carry what they do and I am glad they are there.

Just my viewpoint....

Bobby

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Posted

Hi Bobby,

I too am glad that Tandy is there, but a little more attention to quality and a lot less on hype would be appreciated. Osborne makes a knife that is made, as far as I can determine, of 1065, which is a helluva lot better steel in the hardness department than that etched Stholman stuff. I guess they stopped carrying Osborne tools because of the margins that were compromised by other sellers. It is a shame that Al's name is being associated with less than a high quality product. Tandy is however a good entry level place, and a good place to further the craft. I just have problems with serving up a tool that is ultimately a wall hanger. They would provide a better service serving up quality utility knives and blades than a head knife that is going to be a PIA forever.

Art

  On 6/26/2011 at 7:08 PM, hidepounder said:

I certainly understand your disappointment with the Tandy knives! I'm with you on that. At the same time it's probably only fair to remember that Tandy is primarily an entry level provider. I'm confident that they just can't produce or carry professional quality tools profitably or they would do it. There just aren't many people walking through their doors who are willing to spend $200 on a head knife. The market for professional quality tools is tiny compared to the entry level and craft market. I think a lot of people think of Tandy as being the place where everyone including the pros go for tools and that just isn't the case. In this instance, everyone is discouraging you because the learning curve on a head knife is so steep and because sharpness is such a critical part of being able to learn to use a head knife. If we were talking about rivet setters, or punches, or shears, etc., you wouldn't have heard so many objections. So I just wanted to defend Tandy a little bit and while I don't use some of their products, I understand why they carry what they do and I am glad they are there.

Just my viewpoint....

Bobby

For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!

Posted
  On 6/27/2011 at 6:29 PM, Art said:

Hi Bobby,

I too am glad that Tandy is there, but a little more attention to quality and a lot less on hype would be appreciated. Osborne makes a knife that is made, as far as I can determine, of 1065, which is a helluva lot better steel in the hardness department than that etched Stholman stuff. I guess they stopped carrying Osborne tools because of the margins that were compromised by other sellers. It is a shame that Al's name is being associated with less than a high quality product. Tandy is however a good entry level place, and a good place to further the craft. I just have problems with serving up a tool that is ultimately a wall hanger. They would provide a better service serving up quality utility knives and blades than a head knife that is going to be a PIA forever.

Art

I'm with you on every count, Art! I never understood the point of offering a damascus knife that isn't damascus. When they first introduced the the Stohlman line of products I thought they were going to be much higher quality line than they turned out to be. That certainly was a disappointment! I have a friend/student who bought one of the Stohlman head knives and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised at how sharp it was. The problem of course is that it won't stay sharp! The last time that I recall Tandy carrying a professional grade tool was when they sold the "Extreme Alloy" (Henley) swivel knives. Of course no one bought them because they were too expensive and so they dropped them.

:deadsubject:

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Posted

Mostly, I am happy with much of what I get from Tandy. I've managed to get some good leather and tools that do what I ask them to so far from them. But I guess I just equated something being called damascus being actual damascus/pattern welded steel, and I seem to have equated Stohlman in my mind with high quality, probably due to the Stolhman books. I guess I just got excited, and was let down when I found out both knives were essentially overhyped. I'm on the way to buying a good Osborne or Gomph, or something in the same class, as soon as I scrape more money together.

I used to be an Eagle, a good ol' Eagle too...

  • 3 weeks later...
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Posted

I`ve always had a G Dixon & sons Head knife very old English steel and damn hard to work, but holds a razor edge very well. Then 2 years ago I literally stumbled upon a rusty old Round knife whilst helping clean a friends shed, I took it home and cleaned it up only to find it was made by T Dixon and sons also made in England, this knife is a cracker it now holds a great edge after a considerable amount of stonework ,as the cutting edge was quite pitted. I use this one for both stripping and cutting and refer to it as Tom, the G Dixon knife I call George and have never had a smoother skiver. I believe that the early Saddlers/ Bootmakers circa 1850- 1920 that came to New Zealand were probably all of English descent and consequently this explains these two. I do also have a stainless Tandy solely for cowboys who pop in to repair their own gear, after they are gone it is a case of stoning out the chipped blade and wiping up the bloodstains. Really enjoyed reading this Thread.

  • 3 months later...
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Posted

I brought my pre-1906 Osborne round knife into a Tandy store recently to compare it against the managers own modern Osborne. I noticed right away how paper thin the blade of the modern one was and I didn't like the feel of the cut. Mine was much thicker despite being slightly smaller, I noted that when cutting heavy lathers like 9oz veg tan you have to push down as the blade pushes the leather aside but it cuts very clean and smooth. I think it is much like a traditional japanese katana sword with a convex edge that pushes apart what it is cutting through as opposed to a western style blade with a hollow ground edge. Though I still think there is something cheap and lacking in the modern blade.

MinuteMan Armoury

www.freewebs.com/mmarmoury

  • 2 months later...
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Posted

This seemed like a good place to show off my prized Excalibur of round knives. Bill Burke ABS M.S, forged to shape from 52100. Sheep horn handle and copper and nickel mokume bolsters. I made the sheath from diamondback rattlesnake and horse hide with a dear skin lining.

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  • 1 month later...
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Posted (edited)

Hi,

This is in reply to the three options listed for buying a round knife.

I have no experience of Stolhman knives but I note that they offer s/steel blades and that for me is a real turn off. The only stainless steel I have ever had that took and held an edge was a pocket knife made by Falkniven out of a laminated stainless with a powdered stainless core. But as sharp as it is I am told they are very prone to chipping as it is not a tough steel.

I have several early Osborne knives with stars or "X" or "XX" stamped on the blade. They are all excellent knives. But I have also seen the quality of other Osbourne hand tools decline in recent years and I do not believe the round knives would be exempt from this drop in quality and finish, so I would not buy a #70 round knife.

I would hunt down a round knife with some age on it, through a reputable seller or through ebay.. Makers to look for would include Osborne , Rose, Gomph, Dixon and Collins. With ebay ask direct questions about the knife as I have bought on the basis of the picture only to find the othe side has been in contact with wet card board and was heavilly pitted. All was not lost as the handle was great and I had a nice blade on another osborne with a split handle and an owners initals scratched into it. The only thing that says it is not original is the use of a 1/8 diameter brass pin to compensate for the different hole positions in blade and handle.

If you end up with somthing you are not happy with you can always relist it as what it is. I have sold a heavily pitted knife that I had rust neutralised the blade on, to a lady who wanted the rustic look as she was going to mount it on a board with some other tools to make a "work bench" diarama and set it into the top of a coffee table she was having made. I was honest with her, she got what she wanted and the knife was not going into the trash. A win all around.

All the best.

Edited by labrat7357
  • 3 months later...
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Posted
  On 6/15/2011 at 3:14 AM, WinterBear said:

Ok, a relativity raw novice here, and I'm looking for some good advice. I'm looking at what I want to do, and have determined that one of the things I will need is a round knife/head knife. And which is which, or are the two terms more or less interchangeable?

There are several options in my price range, but it seems to be neck and neck with the Osborn and the Stolhman knives I've listed in the poll above as far as basic reviews and price. So I've come to ask those who are most familiar with these things to help me decide what I should get, or, tell me why I should get neither and get something else!

I'm new to leather making also i have just finished the ruff in of my mag holders before i dye them . I used hobby knives with replaceable blades to do all my cutting.

This method do able but takes a long time and i rather look for other methods like using a round knife. I just ordered a stohlman round knife. yes i am aware of the quality of the blade but its in my budget and im gonna give it a try. I will take it to my buddy who is a blacksmith making knives if it gives me any trouble with the blade he will will make it work right.

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Posted
  On 1/7/2012 at 6:50 PM, Chef niloc said:

This seemed like a good place to show off my prized Excalibur of round knives. Bill Burke ABS M.S, forged to shape from 52100. Sheep horn handle and copper and nickel mokume bolsters. I made the sheath from diamondback rattlesnake and horse hide with a dear skin lining.

413d10be.jpg

I read this thread through once again and i do believe there is an understanding (correct) that most of the older head knives are better than most anything you can buy new...especially that Tandy "damascus". nothing I know of though will beat out this Bill burke 52100 knife. This is made by a pretty special maker and with exceptional steel. Nice!!!

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