Comments on wharncliffe blades

serge

serge

Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
88
Would some of you like to share your thoughts about the wharncliffe blade shape for everyday use? I really like the looks but have no practical experience with this design.

Thanks in advance for your input...
 
Wharncliffs, especially the "pointier" variety are great! They offer a long straight edge that is easy to sharpen and cuts well, combined with a point that pierces extremely well and is superb for fine, detailed work. Drawbacks to the design? The point can be a little more fragile than a drop-point, depending on how pointy, and I would guess (not an expert) that a wharnie isn't as good for skinning due to its lack of curved belly and point. I think wharncliffs excel for self-defense as well, as the blunt top and sharp, flat bottom result in a knife that basically is forced by its geometry into whatever one is stabbing. Check out Fred Perrin's Griffes for some excellent wharncliff-type blades.
 
When I was designing my first custom folder I thought long and hard about the blade shape since this was always intended to be my EDC. The wharncliff has turned out to be a perfect choice for what I need a knife for on a daily basis. Burke hit most of the high points, but in additon the shape of the blade is great from pealing an apple or slipping under a piece of string on a package or cutting out an article or add from a newspaper or magazine. Plus I find it to be a very ellegant shaped blade, to give credit where it's due, I copied the shape of my wharnie right off one of Tim Herman's knives. ;)

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Thanks guys for taking time to answer my question. These were exactly the answers I was hoping for: my next 'project' will be a wharncliff! Great pictures too! These are indeed very elegant knives.

I especially like the wharncliff blades by Murray Carter... but I have a knife coming up so it'll have to wait.
 
I've been checking out Mr. Carter's blades recently as well; they look great (based on specs, and aesthetically), and the reviews I've read are positive as well.
 
Wharnies excell in point work. Like cutting the tape on a box, slicing pizza, coupon clipping etc.
The low point allows you to use it, without lifting your hand as high as you would with a clip (or to a lesser degree a spear) point.
Way handy IMHO :)
 
The Wharncliffe is probably the most useful design for a blade on a construction site. Good for just about everything. Expecially diggin' out splinters.
Greg
 
Yeah.., the blade style is really sort of under-hyped in my opinion. I don't know lots of guys that really think the profile is nice to look at.., but for normal everyday use.., there just isnt' much they don't do well...

As Greg mentioned.., the smaller models are also really good for getting a splinter out with minimal damage. :)


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
The wharncliffe is one of the most versatile blade shapes tere is. A fine point for detail work. Straight edge is easy to sharpen and will handle most any cutting chore. It will even serve admirally as a skinner, talk to a long time trapper and see what he uses.
I wish more wharncliffe designs were available.

Paul
 
A Wharncliffe is my EDC knife. As others said, easy to sharpen, and my EDC gets used for opening boxes, cutting lunch, opening mail, etc, so it works great for that kind of stuff. I do use drop-points and such for hunting though. :)
 
Those wharncliffs are really startin to grow on me. I think they make an excellent utility blade. Here's a couple that I've just finished. They are the first warnies that I've made. Sorry for the poor pics. I'll try to get some better ones to post in the gallery soon.

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I like the wharncliffe shape for a lot of different things. One of my favorite applications is on a trapper pattern. A Trapper with a wharncliffe and spey blades is my favorite slipjoint pattern.

Now if I could just save the money to get P. J. Tomes or Bailey Bradshaw to make me one in forged 52100...:D
 
One of my very favorite for all around utility. Perhaps even number one......yeah, it's my favorite. Even though I rarely carry one now.
 
I have one wharncliffe, and I really like it. Mine is a 3" Browning Signature folder, fully serrated. Too bad Browning stopped doing wharncliffe.
 
txwoodchip: beautiful knives! And the pics are not poor at all...

It's surprising that a lot of you think that wharncliffes are great for everyday carry, but a lot of you don't carry them real often. Like ExamonLyf said: the pattern is under-hyped. Maybe this will change in the near future...

Thanks again for all your replies.

:)
 
I carry a wharncliffe patter knife almost everyday, my favorite neck knife is the crkt neck peck, I also have several WH folders with wharncliffe blades, the lack of belly on the blade is ideal for making straight controlled cuts, like when cutting fruit or vegetables in the kitchen, if the knife is dull it will cut rope much better than a dull knife with a lot of belly, because the belly cuases the rope to slip off the knife. The lowered point makes it great for controlling cuts, and for slipping under tape, or labels. I manage a bar, and it is the perfect shape for cutting wrapping from liquor bottles, opening mail, cutting fruit garnishes, pulling staples, and almost anything else I need to do during the day. I have carried many different knives, and wharncliffes seem to be the best for what I need to do in an urban environment. IN a bigger knife I don't think I would like a wharncliffe, but in a blade 4" or less it is the best in my opinion.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
my daily carry is a neck knife with a wharncliffe blade by Terry Hearn of Lufkin Texas.Its a really handy and useful knife.
kile you might want to check out Mr. Hearns Wharncliffe it has a 3 1/4 inch blade.
 
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