Spider Report post Posted January 15, 2008 Just wondering. What swivel knives do we use out there. I have (1) adjustable and (1) non-adjustable Crafttool knife. I was thinking of dishing out for the Al Stohlman aka: fancy one. Any advice? http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/product...number=35049-00 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Report post Posted January 15, 2008 Just wondering. What swivel knives do we use out there. I have (1) adjustable and (1) non-adjustable Crafttool knife. I was thinking of dishing out for the Al Stohlman aka: fancy one. Any advice?http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/product...number=35049-00 I know I'm gonna get in trouble on this one. IMHO, stay away from the Tandy made Stohlman line. Robert Beard, Chuck Smith, Henley (I think), and others make fine knives. Hidecrafters have some nice less expensive ones. Whichever brand you choose, please look at what's out there before buying one. Me, I have a Craftool Pro-Line made several years ago that I like. I also have a couple of Chuck Smith knives that I use and like. I have blades by Beard and Henley and others. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillB Report post Posted January 16, 2008 My recommendation is if at all possible go to where you can actually hold the knife and do some practice cuts. I have tried all of the Tandy knifes and I prefer my Al Stohlman one that I have because it fits my hand. However, I WOULD NOT recommend it to anyone because it fits my hand and I really don't think anyone else has my hands. Hand tools are exactly that, made for the hand that hold them. I have yet to find a hand tool that one size fits all except for when I was in the Army and they gave me an hand grenade, now that is a dangerous hand tool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck Report post Posted January 16, 2008 Just wondering. What swivel knives do we use out there. I have (1) adjustable and (1) non-adjustable Crafttool knife. I was thinking of dishing out for the Al Stohlman aka: fancy one. Any advice?http://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/product...number=35049-00 Spider, I will through in my opinion for what its worth, my favorite knives are three old tandy brass with full finger ring with Henley various blades. I do like the Henley knives I prefere the medium barrel knives and fairly short as I have short fat little fingers. I have a Smith that I like real well too. I still think a lot of knives will work fine if you have a good carbon steel hardened blade in them. Good Luck in your search. Chuck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Report post Posted January 16, 2008 My recommendation is if at all possible go to where you can actually hold the knife and do some practice cuts. I have tried all of the Tandy knifes and I prefer my Al Stohlman one that I have because it fits my hand. However, I WOULD NOT recommend it to anyone because it fits my hand and I really don't think anyone else has my hands. Hand tools are exactly that, made for the hand that hold them. I have yet to find a hand tool that one size fits all except for when I was in the Army and they gave me an hand grenade, now that is a dangerous hand tool. I agree with BillB. Try before you buy. Another thing to consider, get some practice with a swivel knife if you're just starting out. If you have a knife that feels good, you can always just upgrade the blade. Adjustable knives will help you fit the knife to your hand. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted January 16, 2008 My oponion is that if you are going to spend some money spend as much as you feel you can afford on the swivel knife. It is the one tool that will pay for it's self over and over. When picking a swivel knife you must take each for a test drive. Some like small barrels some like big, some in between. Get one with a good ball bearing system in the yoke, not so you can twirl it as see how long it will spin. But put your finger in the yoke, push down firmly and make sure the barrel does not catch or drag. It should turn smoothly as you apply pressure. That is the purpose of the ball bearing system so that it turns smoothly as you cut. I can tell you what I like and if you buy that it you may not like it. Go to a show and try them. My suggestions are starting at the lowest cost and moving up are, Barry King, Henly, (I have two of these) Old smoothy great knife but expensive IMO. Knife blades are a whole nother subject. Narrow, wide, angled or not. Buy the best you can afford. Randy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spider Report post Posted January 16, 2008 Rock on people. Thank you for your info. I do have 2 knives now but was just considering the Al one since I do have the 50% coupon from Tandy. I don't really need a new one I guess but I wouldn't mind having such a purdy knife in my collection....lol Actually, I will try it out this weekend and see how it feels. My hand does tend to cramp up at times from such a narrow barrel. Tendenitus crap they say. Bah Humbug... Anyhow, Thank you for your shared info. It really does give alot to consider. I will look at blades next...just to try some new ones out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete Report post Posted January 16, 2008 check out the Magnum knives from Hidecrafters. I really like it and ANYTHING that I order I get from Springfield leather in MO. I simply tell them that the item was in the hidecrafter catalog(not the Tandy) and they send it- discount and all. I don't know if this is standard or just Springfield Leather's way of doing business but all of the Hidecrafter items are available there. If not the get them and treat them as stock items- sale/discount prices and all. Regarding blades- consider them like violinists do- I paid 4x for my bow than I did for my fiddle. It's the bow that makes the difference. I just purchased my first Henley- LOVE it. So sharp that I went clean through the 4oz leather doing finish cuts on my first project!!! pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted January 16, 2008 since I do have the 50% coupon from Tandy. Didn't that coupon expire on the 12th? Unless possibly differant parts of the country get differant fliers. Aaron Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete Report post Posted January 16, 2008 Didn't that coupon expire on the 12th? Unless possibly differant parts of the country get differant fliers.Aaron I'm not familiar with that one. I am a member of the Springfield buying club- same as the as the Tandy membership but cheaper and more discounts- and ANYTHING that I order from there is discounted including Hidecrafter supplies. Great store and Kevin really understands this business and customer realtions. For your interest- Springfield Leather is the largest mail order in the country for leather stuff. Probably helps that he is almost the exclusive supplier to all of the prisons in the US! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Fields Report post Posted January 16, 2008 I'm not familiar with that one. I am a member of the Springfield buying club- same as the as the Tandy membership but cheaper and more discounts- and ANYTHING that I order from there is discounted including Hidecrafter supplies.Great store and Kevin really understands this business and customer realtions. For your interest- Springfield Leather is the largest mail order in the country for leather stuff. Probably helps that he is almost the exclusive supplier to all of the prisons in the US! Do they have a web site and a catalog? How do I get one? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beaverslayer Report post Posted January 16, 2008 Here it is Springfield Leather Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pella Report post Posted January 22, 2008 Hello, i just finish a carbing project i am HATE my actual swivel knife, i dont carve often but now i think i should upgrade! Ok here the problem, i use the smallest "elcheapo" knife from craftool, it is 2" without blade, but still TOO HIGH! I am not confortable. I have very small hands, they are as small as my 9year old nephew lol! Which company made the smallest handle? For the height i mean... thanks in advance Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimberangel Report post Posted January 22, 2008 I actually use an Al Stolman swivel knife. It is nice. Just as nice as any others i have used. IMHO,any swivel that fits you is what you should use. The most important thing about that swivel knife is how comfortable it fits in your hand. I find that a knife is like the leather, I am not buying it unless i can touch it. To me the more important part of the tool is the blade. I have a steel blade, and a also a ruby tip blade, But i use my ceramic blade for almost every job i do. No finer blade to be found. IMHO.The best thing to do is go to a store that will allow you to play with the blades as well as the knives. Any Tandy store should allow that. Good luck , just don't stop tooling. Psst, I have also found that for the finest of details , a scalpel is the cat's meow! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kimberangel Report post Posted January 22, 2008 Next Month Tandy in Baltimore Md, will be having thier Anniversary sale. Call the store 410-780-9699 and ask what kind of a sale they will have on thier swivel knives. I beleieve they are having a 50% off any one item deal as well. Call now and ask for a flyer as to what thier sale items will be. No, i don't work for the store , but my sister does. LOL. Ask for Pat . I am pretty sure of that sale of 50 % off any one item , excluding leather and machines,and they send it UPS. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjbleather Report post Posted January 22, 2008 Just would like to tyhrow an idea about getting Henley knives which I believe are well worth the money and are great. Cathy Schlim, of the ######, is running another sale on Henley swivel knives and blades. I believe that she posted this on both the ###### Member list, as well as the Leather list (Which anyone can join at no cost). If you are interested in seeing this, send me an email with your address and I will forward the posting to you. If I had done this on the ###### list and refered to the Leatherworker Forum, I would probably be quarantined or booted. Carl Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
