What Is The Point Of A Head/round Knife?

[dirtclod]

I use round and head knives everyday I work. In the past I used the Stanley type knives. But if you learn to use a round of head knife you throw rocks at the Stanley knives.

Edited September 10, 2015 by dirtclod

[zuludog]

I do leatherwork as a hobby and I'm happy enough with a Stanley knife, though I re-sharpen the blades with a fine oilstone and a strop. This reduces the shoulder of the bevel and polishes the blade so tit seems to pass through the leather more smoothly

I don't use a round knife because the Stanley is good enough; I haven't been able to get in enough practice with a round knife; and a good one is expensive.

I also have a home - made skiving knife and a couple of other knives

As mentioned above, a round knife will do just about everything you need with leatherwork. It also used mostly to cut away from you so once you've mastered it, it is safer

I have watched firsthand on a couple of occasions a round knife being used by a professional saddlemaker or leatherworker, and it is absolutely magic. The knife seems to just float around, like an extension of their hands with no effort or mistakes

But you have to be a professional or a very keen amateur to get to that level, and I don't have the time or the patience, so I reckon I've worked up well enough on the Stanley

If you search YouTube there are several videos on the round knife

Look at the way a head knife cuts. A Stanley knife is used at quite a steep angle, and is quite aggressive, such that only the end few millimetres of the blade actually do the cutting. A round knife means that for most of the time the blade cuts along a longer length of the blade edge, and so has a smoother action; you just angle the blade so it cuts more towards the tips for tighter curves, but only when needed. An expert can do all this with an even flowing movement

For this reason I try to keep the handle of my Stanley knife low where possible, which gives me an easier cutting action.

Edited September 10, 2015 by zuludog

[gmace99]

I think electrathon gave a reall good answer. I do not know any professional saddle or bridle maker in the UK who does not have one. I know I could not do without mine.

[Windrider30]

Thanks for the answers all.And Zulu I actualy use more then just the point of the stanely knife I tend to use half the blade for cutting, could simply be because I am left handed but the angle I use I end up using at least half the blade. The other reason I really do like the stanely as mentioned, no sharping needed.

[JLSleather]

I think electrathon gave a reall good answer. I do not know any professional saddle or bridle maker in the UK who does not have one. I know I could not do without mine.

I'm not seeing the "answer" in this case. I don't listen to anybody and everybody, but Aaron has posted enough pictures of good looking leather that his would be one opinion I would at least consider. Plus, his responses tend to be thoughtful (not "yeah, what he said") so even if I don't agree, I at least had that view presented.

But in that line of thought, I could by a Porsche to go to the grocery store - it will get the job done. But so would the $10k Chevy .. just as well and for much less cost and much less maintenance.

But if the original question wasn't what I thought, then I'll ask it myself .. what can you do with a round knife that you couldn't do with something else?

[Art]

For saddle or harness work, the head knife is probably the knife of choice. I learned to use one (actually two) from a lady saddlemaker in Cody, Wy. My go to head knives are replicas of the two I learned on, made by Bill Buchman, though I have gravitated toward another BB knife that is an odd duck head knife.. I haven't made saddles or bridles of or any horsey gear in many years, although fetish gear does follow in that vein. If you are going to use that type of knife, you most definitely have to learn how to sharpen and strop, or get a buffer. So that's a problem for a novice, or even someone doing work on thinner leather; the head knife works fine, but other options are just as good, with nothing near the skill level. The utility knife, aka box cutter is a very useful knife that can be bough in varieties from $2 to $20. Pick one with good solid lockup on the blade. Speaking of blades, Irwin Blue Bi-metal blades are the best, the last longer and strop to deadly sharp. The next most useful is the clicker knife, especially for intricate patterns on thinner leather; 4 oz in my estimation is thinner leather. These have sharpenable and replaceable blades that can be stropped and even sharpened. I like the model with the blue handle as opposed to the wood handle. Terry Knipschield makes a curved detail knife that also works very well. You can get addicted to these things. There is something primal about these things. I have a LOT of knives, way too many to use, in fact, if I started using them now, I wouldn't have to sharpen anything for a year and a half at least. I have several Bob Dozier knives that are my son's go to head knives. These are great knives made of D2 and I love them too, when I can find them.

Best head knives in my opinion:

Bill Buchman

Bob Dozier

Terry Knipschield (I don't have one of his head knives, but his smaller stuff is amazing, I'll buy one some day and let everyone know)

Best value for money:

Utility knife, Irwin Blue Blades, and a strop or buffer

Scalpels (this is a whole nother subject but of value)

Art

[Art]

But in that line of thought, I could by a Porsche to go to the grocery store - it will get the job done. But so would the $10k Chevy .. just as well and for much less cost and much less maintenance.

Oh, but the grin on your face when you hit the checkout counter and realize how you are getting home.

Art

[electrathon]

I'm not seeing the "answer" in this case. I don't listen to anybody and everybody, but Aaron has posted enough pictures of good looking leather that his would be one opinion I would at least consider. Plus, his responses tend to be thoughtful (not "yeah, what he said") so even if I don't agree, I at least had that view presented.

But in that line of thought, I could by a Porsche to go to the grocery store - it will get the job done. But so would the $10k Chevy .. just as well and for much less cost and much less maintenance.

But if the original question wasn't what I thought, then I'll ask it myself .. what can you do with a round knife that you couldn't do with something else?

Just to be clear, I am not saying that a round knife is the only tool to cut leather with. It just works better much of the time. I personally own other kinds of knives, I use many/most of them. Probably not an exaggeration to say the I own them all. I am a tool guy. With that said, a round knife can likely be replaced with other kinds of knives at almost any point. Just that a round knife will often do the job better than others in the proper application. A dull round knife will just leave people wondering why anyone wants to use a round knife in the first place.

The car/grocery store analysis is a great one, but I think you use the improper cars in the comparison: But in that line of thought, I could by a Honda to go to the grocery store - it will get the job done. But so would a Yugo just as well and for much less cost and much more maintenance. Quality round knives require very little to keep them sharp. Box cutters need to be sharpened right out of the box (it you want them really sharp) and require constant touching up to keep them sharp. As a comparison, when I personally am saying sharp, I am not referring to the sort of sharp of a box cutter. I am referring to the push down gently on your knife and realize you cut through the leather and wedged it into your cutting board sharp.

[RStevenson]

It should be noted that when you use a stanley knife, x-acto or other razor blade type you are dragging or pulling it through the leather. When you use a rotary knife or a round knife you can shear the leather with a downward-rotaring force that results in much cleaner cuts.

[Trox]

A good tool is at least 50 % of the jobb. A Stanley knife will cut leather but without precision. If you want to be a better leather worker, step it up and learn to master the round/head knife.

Tor