Which Round Knife

[Ferryman]

Hi

i am fairly new to leatherworking but have made several belts etc in the past and repaired saddle bags for my own use.

i have only ever used a craft knife or rotary cutter up until now but have the chance to get a round knife.

Having searched the Internet I am trying to decide on either a C.S. Osborne or the Al Stolhman knife.

The Osborne is nearly twice the price of the Al Stohlman so I a wondering which would be the best choice for a newbie ?

Thank you

[fredk]

I'd go for the Osborne. afaik you can't really trust that the steel in the Stohlman is top grade these days.

[zuludog]

Although I haven't used either of those two makes, I'd go for the Osborne, as they have a better reputation. www.metropolitanleather.com sell Osborne tools at reduced prices

George Barnsley and Sons is a traditional Sheffield maker of leather tools, but they are not as well known, so I wonder if you've heard of them?. They sell a round knife for about £28 and a head knife, which has a single point, for about £16. They keep the cost down by only giving you a basic cutting edge, and you are expected to do the final sharpening & polishing yourself, but once you get there you only need to strop, and very occasionally use a fine stone. I have one of their head knives, and it's excellent. Find them via Google

Search YouTube for 'JH Leather'; she uses a head knife, though hers is a Dixons, which is no longer made. Also Search YT for 'sharpening a round knife'. The Tandy and the Osborne will also need some sharpening before you can get the best out of them

Edited February 11, 2020 by zuludog

[Ferryman]

@zuludog Yes I have seen one made by "A former Joseph Dixon Employee" on the bay for £48 but I am always wary.

 

I have seen the George Barnsley & Sons knives but have no experiences of the quality. (I will give them a call)

I much prefer to pay the extra for a quality product.

[zuludog]

I am happy enough with my George Barnsley head knife, and can vouch for the quality. The main drawback is that you must spend some time preparing it at first; I think it took me an afternoon with various grades of oil stones, wet& dry paper, and a strop

Round & head knives need a certain amount of practice and experience to learn how to use them, but at £16 you could try out the idea, then progress to a more expensive round knife if you wish

Still, it's your choice. I have a similar problem at the moment looking for new stitching chisels -- you can go round & round t'Net, YouTube, and websites, but in the end a lot of your decision is simply down to what you fancy, and my guess is that you fancy the Osborne

Edited February 11, 2020 by zuludog

[chuck123wapati]

Its not the cost or the name that makes a good knife its the person that sharpens that knife, either one is a good quality knife as both have good steel, spend the money you save for good quality sharpening stones and such.

[Ferryman]

I agree Chuck but poor steel will never hold an edge.

Whereas I would hope the known names would use better quality steel

[chuck123wapati]

25 minutes ago, Ferryman said:

I agree Chuck but poor steel will never hold an edge.

Whereas I would hope the known names would use better quality steel

Thank you. Poor steel or more accurately a poorly made knife will hold an edge but not as long. Makers may forge the knives but they don't make the steel, just like the wholesalers of hides from tanneries and discussions here about quality and who is responsible for such they don't really know the quality control of steel they purchase  to make their knives either. As a knife maker I can tell you there are dozens if not hundreds of different recipes nowadays for knife steel with minimal or no difference in edge holding quality after it has been tempered properly, and every type steel has different tempering and hardening techniques according to their particular composition. Saying its a certain type of steel sold as knife quality is of less consequence than the the hardening and tempering process that makes the quality of a knife and its ability to hold an edge. Kinda the same idea as buying a quality knife and using a rock from your garden to sharpen it when the guy who buys the proper stones and the cheaper knife will prevail and say his knife is the best.  I wont say which knife  brand is better because the quality  or edge holding ability is more opinion than fact and is often skewed by the sharpeners ability. Two knives of the same measured hardness will hold the edge the same no matter the price paid or the steel therein and I would bet that info is hard to find for either of the brands mentioned. I too would hope the known names would produce better quality knives and that was an assumption on my part.

[Ferryman]

Thank you Chuck, what I know about knife making could be written on the back of a postage stamp.

Over the years I have owned many knives, some would retain an edge others wouldn't. 

I think I need to work on my sharpening skills

[jcuk]

I had a Osborne round knife for 25 years loved it but it got damaged so i asked some if they could fix it,  only for it to come back in a worse state,  so i contacted the place i got it from all those years before ( H WEBBER & SONS ) to if they could supply me with a new handle and brass ferrule they ask why so when i told them they said send it back to them and they will send me a new one,  their tools are guaranteed for life thought that was great customer service which it is especially as the damage was not a failing of the knife.  Sadly though the new knife was not as good as the old one can get it sharp but will not hold a edge as long as the old one. If you are serious about doing leather work long term, the round knife is one of the tools, for some,  is indispensable i know i would not be without one. So if you look at EBAY UK  check saddlers tools the are some older Osborne models there and Dixons, Barnsley can't say what kind of condition they will be in but looking at some of them they seem ok, if not these have a good following too i know many saddlers who use them.

https://www.abbeyengland.com/solingen-round-knife-329-8376.html

https://www.vergez-blanchard.fr/boutique_us/fiche_produit.cfm?ref=3_604N4_125&type=31&code_lg=lg_us&num=2 various sizes

If you're wondering what i use , it's Knipshield knife - custom made in the USA - fantastic knife,  yes it is a lot more money but for something i use everyday not really,  i think the waiting for one at the moment is quite a long time. Also still have the Osborne and a single head knife no name but a great little knife only cost 13 pounds.

Hope this helps

JCUK

Edited February 11, 2020 by jcuk