Head Knife Vs. Skiving Knife

[MonicaJacobson]

Thanks Bruce - do you like those slender skiving knives better than head knives for skiving? I like that they aren't so very angled. If I got a head knife, I think I'd definitely prefer the rosebud version.

[bruce johnson]

I do for some skiving. they are handy for crowning saddle strings by hand, and fine skiving thin leathers. For the heavier leathers, I like a round knife.

[MonicaJacobson]

Thanks for the help! Ha, I should have known the answer is both knives, not one or the other.

[HippieLee]

I've never had a real skiver but I recently won a free Al Stohlman head knife in a carving contest at my local Tandy. I love this thing.

This was the first thing I made and I was able to cut out that big round front piece in almost one continuous, smooth line. Pushing is so much easier to control than pulling was. I did do some skiving down in places and it worked pretty good for that but I could see where the dedicated skiving knife would do even better.

It came out of the box sharp and I have stropped it a lot but I figure if I love this and can do more with it than my old utility knife ever could just think how much I'm gonna love a LW or Knip when I have enough money to get a really good knife.

[MonicaJacobson]

Nice! I'm jealous. I think the only thing I've ever won was a book.

[Wild Bill46]

Monica

I have the angled, which I believe is referred to as Japanese.

I have the rounded which i believe is referred to as English.

And I possess a round knife I found on e-bay for cheeeeeep.

At first I did not like my new round knife, then after a good sharpening, I found I actually prefer it to all others,

except my break off utility knife that I use extensively.

Long-story short; I think a round knife is most advantageous for your needs.

Go with Knipshield ! I think you;ll be glad you did. hope this might help ? --- Wild Bill46

[MonicaJacobson]

LOL, Bill, you just sent me into indecision again. But yes, that's helpful to know. I want to buy both kinds, and both this year, but the difficulty is which to buy now and which to save up for.

[Wild Bill46]

sorry I could'nt be your tie breaker. I think, I would go for the knipshield though, to prevent all that sharpening.

They say his are very sharp from the package. --- Wild Bill46

[Nuttish]

I wouldn't get the vegez knife for one reason. HSS steel is difficult to sharpen, only diamond stones can sharpen HSS. Some ceramic stones can sharpen HSS. If diamond stones are something you already have that would be a good choice.

I use a Blanchard French paring knife for skiving and evening out skives after I hit them with a French edger. It's definitely not high speed steel. It's some kind of high carbon steel that I wouldn't even say is particularly high quality. I also wouldn't say that Vergez-Blanchard is a very conscientious machine shop, but that's neither here nor there since the knife is a good design and sharpens easily. I just have to strop it frequently and run it over an 8000 grit water stone here and there.

Bottom view of knife with cuts — the steel discolored within a week of me sanding and oiling it — the knife was also very poorly ground at the factory, requiring a substantial amount of work on the bottom side.

Top view — note discolored steel and crummy grind.

Monica, the knife is not "handed", so it works well on either side.

As for skiving with round knives, look down at your fingers and ask yourself how much you like them. You like them, right?

I think I've suggested this to others, but have a look at Jeff Peachey's site. He's a bookbinder, but uses tools any of us would find useful. He extensively discusses the merits of different alloys and knife designs. http://jeffpeachey.com/tag/bookbinding-tools/

[HippieLee]

...

As for skiving with round knives, look down at your fingers and ask yourself how much you like them. You like them, right?

...

THAT was weighing heavily on my mind during the little bit I did with mine...it was too close and made me nervous even with the constant thought "Meat stays BEHIND the blade!" on a loop in my brain.