Tool questions: good, better & really good

[Railrider1920]

19 hours ago, TacticallySharp said:

The last photo shows 3 of my 7 Barry  swivel knives. 

I've added 2 more in the last year...

 

The blades shown in these pictures, they look like they are curved a little. Kind of like a wood carving gouge. Are they curved or is it just my bad eyesight?

[Railrider1920]

17 hours ago, immiketoo said:

Old pre -letter Craftool 

Mike, most of the tools I have been looking at were identified by letter and number like V678. Is that the letter you are talking about?

 

While looking for one of the brands mentioned,  I found a site probably known to veteran leather workers, www.proleathercarvers.com
They carry tools made by the following people / companies :
James Linnel, Craft Japan, Barry King, Hide Crafter, Kyoshin Elle and some "vintage" craftool.  Can anyone suggest other sites that carry tools that you would suggest? Either a single maker or various different makers.

19 hours ago, JLSleather said:

I often recommend these guys. https://www.ebay.com/str/proleathercarvers

These folks seem to have a pretty decent selection too.  

Edit here: I just realized that the eBay Store is proleathercarvers.  Didn't see the connection earlier 

Thanks again.

 

Edited June 24, 2018 by Railrider1920

[immiketoo]

4 hours ago, Railrider1920 said:

The blades shown in these pictures, they look like they are curved a little. Kind of like a wood carving gouge. Are they curved or is it just my bad eyesight?

These are what is known as hollow ground.  There is great debate as to whether or not this is a useful feature.  I don't think it matters too much, but I have some of Barry's blades and they are quite good.

4 hours ago, Railrider1920 said:

Mike, most of the tools I have been looking at were identified by letter and number like V678. Is that the letter you are talking about?

 

While looking for one of the brands mentioned,  I found a site probably known to veteran leather workers, www.proleathercarvers.com
They carry tools made by the following people / companies :
James Linnel, Craft Japan, Barry King, Hide Crafter, Kyoshin Elle and some "vintage" craftool.  Can anyone suggest other sites that carry tools that you would suggest? Either a single maker or various different makers.

These folks seem to have a pretty decent selection too.  

Edit here: I just realized that the eBay Store is proleathercarvers.  Didn't see the connection earlier 

Thanks again.

 

Yes, if they have the letter, they are too new.  Look for tools without it.  So that tool would be just a 678.  Proleathercarvers is a new company that Jim Linnell created after he retired from Tandy last year.  They carry a range of tools from other makers, but frankly you can get them elsewhere for less, and his son makes some tools.  

[Railrider1920]

12 minutes ago, immiketoo said:

but frankly you can get them elsewhere for less, and his son makes some tools.  

Thanks for the heads up Mike. I'll keep looking around.

[immiketoo]

Bruce Johnson usually has a great selection of old tools that are worth looking at.  https://brucejohnsonleather.com