Genuine Chamois?

P

protodoc

Joined
Jan 7, 2001
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Bought a piece of chamois today to polish my knives. The leather was labeled "Genuine Chamois" but then identified as sheep skin.

Shouldn't real chamois come from a goat? Does it matter for knife polishing purposes which animal the hide came from? Anyone have any preferences?
 
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Chamois

cham·ois ( P ) Pronunciation Key (shm)
n. pl. cham·ois (shmz)

An extremely agile goat antelope (Rupicapra rupicapra) of mountainous regions of
Europe, having upright horns with backward-hooked tips.

also cham·my or sham·my (shm)pl. cham·mies

A soft leather made from the hide of this animal or other animals such as deer or sheep.

A piece of such leather, or a cotton fabric made to resemble it, used as a polishing cloth or in shirts.

A moderate to grayish yellow.
 
If you read a post from me a year or two ago, you'd be under the impression I thought it was sexy women's underthings used to polish knives. :o

An awful "spell check" experience gone awry...and an experience I was embarrassed about for weeks. :)
 

I like your idea better. ;)

Or maybe we could find a way to mix the two and get some hot babe like a young Raquel Welch to model it for us in some cheesy movie. :o

 
the difference between Sheep, Chamois, and Goat are negligable. (Chamois is an European goat-like antelope)
Your best bet is to buy a large piece from an Automotive supply shop and cut the pieces you need. Remember to clean your knife after sharpening and before polishing or you will load your chammy up with dirt and metal particles. Chamois is washable and with detergent, it becomes a little stiffer but a little rubbing will restore it's suppleness. I've also seen some knife collectors and chefs use a piece of it as a stop by holding a piece across their palms and stropping the knife edge.
 
Thanks for the input everyone.
The sheep skin "chamois" I got is very soft so I guess it will do for the knives. Thanks to <?> for looking up the definition. Guess there is a looser definition of chamois than I am familiar with.
Now if only the Ren Wax I ordered would arrive.
 
Count me in as a big chamois fan. In a pinch you can place it on a hard flat surface and strop with surprizing results. Take away my Ren Wax, chamois and Rem Oil and there goes my big three in knife care tools.
 
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