English Paring Knife - Left/right Hand Confusion

[pnda007]

Hello,

This is the first time I've posted but I have used this place a lot in the past and it's an amazing source of great information so firstly thanks for that.

Secondly, I'm clearly an idiot but I'm look at getting a new English Paring Knife, I've been paring leather for quite a while (I'm a bookbinder rather than a Leatherworker) but I've never actually bought a knife myself. I'm toying with the idea of getting a nice one made at some point but for now I just need a new one. The problem is I don't know whether to buy a left or right-handed one. I've heard people say they are labeled backwards? And I've seen what looks to me like a right-handed knife labeled as left and vice versa.

Anyway, what I'm after is this. If I lay the knife down in front of me, flat on the table (with the flat side down), the angle should face the right. Is this a right-handed knife, or left handed?

This is the knife I'm looking at: http://www.hewitonline.com/English_Paring_Knife_p/tl-070-pk.htm

Naturally, there aren't photos of the different variation, which is helpful.

I very much hope you can help me.

Thanks!

[gmace99]

I made my own paring knife out of a industrial hacksaw blade. I ground off the teeth then honed it both sides. I can use it on either side when I am paring. I made this about 25 years ago and use it for lots of jobs. I posted a video on here the other day called how to tie a knot. You can see the knife in my hand.

I will try attach a picture of both sides on this.

[DavidL]

right handed version has the bevel on the left side - holding the knife like an exacto for cutting, tip facing down. For paring (bevel facing down) for cutting out patterns using a ruler its terrible IMO. I skive right handed, left to right so the angle on the right hander is \ which is the one you want if you skive the same way.

The picture on the website the knife on the bottom is the righty.

Picture 2 shows how to use a right handed Japanese leather knife, tilting the blade.

A cutting knife with a chisel grind dragging along a ruler you want the LH version unless you want to tilt your knife while you cut.

Pic attached worker skives bevel up, instead of bevel down so skiving can be done with a lefty or righty.

Hope this isn't too confusing.

Edited May 31, 2015 by DavidL

[zuludog]

If you get on to this website & forum I'm sure you'll find someone who can make exactly what you want

Where are you? Although it is a British website you will see that there are lots of members in the USA

http://www.britishblades.com

Some of the confusion stems from the fact that (I think) the British and the Americans call a left a right, and a right a left, if you can follow that.

Then there is the decision of using it bevel up or down. I believe the approved method is bevel down, but there's no law to stop you using it bevel up.

I have made my own skiving/paring knife by cutting & sharpening a decorator's filling or putty knife, but a good one with a forged blade, not cheap stamped. The blade is thin enough that the bevel is hardly noticeable, and so I can use it left or right as I wish.

Have fun!

Edited June 1, 2015 by zuludog

[Django57]

I am left handed so i hope you get some good advise from the great members on here , as i am planning on buying one of those you posted but at that price i might get one of each they seem very cheap and if they do the job OK happy days .

[Ferg]

I have to smile I use the bevel up but have also used it down.

Don't use my various skiving knives much since I have a skiving machine. The knives are very handy for "finishing up" a machine skive.

Skiving knives need to be a little more than "razor sharp" and stropped often.

ferg

Edited June 1, 2015 by 50 years leather