Old Plough Gauge With New Knipschield Blade

[bruce johnson]

I got my plough gauge blade from Terry Knipschield today. It is beautiful. Gotta be candid, I use three plough gauges and didn't know which one to put it in. I finally decided it needed to go in the screw adjusting one. I figure that the potentially oldest one I use should have the newest blade. Kind of a May-December relationship.I had some doubled latigo to cut and it did that without a hitch. I ran it though some pretty hard skirting to test it there and it sailed on. Besides being a good using blade, this knife is beautiful. It is a classy looking piece and a workhorse to boot. Thanks Terry!

[Knipper]

Bruce,

Thanks for the update! This is good news. As long as you think it cuts well (time and use should prove good edge retention, too...) I'm happy. That you think it looks good too, well, I can't make a knife with the attitude that "this looks good enough". It should be pleasing to the eye and feel good in the hand in addition to performing well. I think I'll make up a few more after I get a template made up, just to have on hand should anyone want one. I don't expect demand to be great on these, but they're interesting knives and this one was just plain fun to make.

Terry

I got my plough gauge blade from Terry Knipschield today. It is beautiful. Gotta be candid, I use three plough gauges and didn't know which one to put it in. I finally decided it needed to go in the screw adjusting one. I figure that the potentially oldest one I use should have the newest blade. Kind of a May-December relationship.I had some doubled latigo to cut and it did that without a hitch. I ran it though some pretty hard skirting to test it there and it sailed on. Besides being a good using blade, this knife is beautiful. It is a classy looking piece and a workhorse to boot. Thanks Terry!

[Ferg]

I am going to show my stupidity here but I do not know what you use this blade for. Can I assume that it is used to cut straps more accurately than a draw knife?

Fill me in please. LOL

ferg

Bruce,

Thanks for the update! This is good news. As long as you think it cuts well (time and use should prove good edge retention, too...) I'm happy. That you think it looks good too, well, I can't make a knife with the attitude that "this looks good enough". It should be pleasing to the eye and feel good in the hand in addition to performing well. I think I'll make up a few more after I get a template made up, just to have on hand should anyone want one. I don't expect demand to be great on these, but they're interesting knives and this one was just plain fun to make.

Terry

[bruce johnson]

Ferg,

Yes, these are a strap cutter. They are a European tool and used to push rather than pull. The blade is in line with your hand so no matter the width there is no torque like a draw gauge. I have a monster one I cut 8" wide strips with. The leather lays flat on the table and just push these along. The shoe of the plough gauge is on the table. With a draw gauge you are working with the leather off the table. The plough has a roller to keep the leather from riding up the blade too.

[gringobill]

Wow, that blade is beautiful! I saw it when knipper posted it before you got it.It's like Chuck Smith's swivel knives, like jewelery, LOL. And that is some kind of unique plough gauge with that long adjusting screw, I'm guessing you can adjust it to razor thin accuracy. I have an old Dixon and after using draw gauges for years the Plough gauge is like a breath of fresh air, so much easier to cut straps straight. I am really amazed that some US companies haven't made them because they are such a superior tool?

[bruce johnson]

Bill,

I haven't found anyone that has known of a plough gauge ever being made in the US. It surprises me too. I got this screw adjusting one a couple years ago. I bought a pile of plough gauges and this one was in the picture with them. That boat couldn't get here fast enough. I've got a few favorite tools and this is one of them. There's a few of them around, but not many.

[cem]

They are used a lot in Australia as well most of the older leather workers I've come across here have at least one floating around. Your new blade looks great Bruce, well done Terry great workmanship.

Cheers,

Clair

[catskin]

I can't help wondering with all the toolmakers on here why somebody doesn't start making a few? The design is not rocket science it would only need the more basic machineing tools. So how about it folks who's the next plough gauge maker?