What Knife You Use To Cut Leather?

[JamesR]

[

Modified mat cutter and mat cutting ruler.

[slipangle]

Round and head knives are beautiful tools. I have a few. And the craftsman-made ones I've seen are outstanding. But I suspect they have fallen out of usage by many folks because they were designed and used, mainly, back in the days before leather workers had access to our modern knives with replaceable blades, Olfa style snap blades, and such. A saddle maker in the early days could do about anything with a good round knife. He had little else to work with.

I don't use my old Osborne round knives very much. I'm not that experienced or good enough with them. And they kind of spook me, to tell the truth. I use Olfa style snap blade knives and scalpels. But I believe there will always be a market for nicely made round and head knives, as there is with most finely crafted, hand made tools.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

I have probably a dozen round and head knives, but just one that I use most of the time. I keep a clicker knife or two close by but I cut and skive nearly everything with my round knife. I just can't get the hang of anything else. The secret of mastering the use of a round knife is it has to be scary sharp, beyond what I thought was sharp when starting out doing leatherwork, and be made of good steel. Poor steel drags even if it's sharp. Once I got a good one, I never looked back. I agree with Dirtclod on the size. Too big of a knife is awkward to handle.

[BondoBobCustomSaddles]

Once again Sioux and I agree. I have all the other knives, but; aside from using an olfa rotary cutter for cutting long fringe on chaps, I almost exclusively use a round knife. The one of choice for me is one I got from Knipper. It is and stays sharp for long, long periods of time. I use it so much, that it never gets put back in the sheath. I guess the key is once you find what works for you, you'll stick with it.

Bob

[CWR]

I'm with Bob and Sioux. I even cut the fringe on chaps with mine. Like Bob my favorite knife came from Knipper. It and my sewing machine are the most indispensable tools in the shop.

CW

[Studio-N]

If I am cutting a strap, I prefer to use my plough guage (cut on a push). If I am following a pattern, I use my trim knife (cut on a pull).

If I am just reducing big chunks of leather into little chunks I use a rotory cutter. I have a small round knife that is nice to look at.