Horsewright Knives and Leather

Can you give us a rundown of the different sizes of knife you offer and what they are named? And of course any specific uses they’re intended for/best at. Prospective purchasers *ahem* would definitely be interested!
 
GaiusJulius said:
Can you give us a rundown of the different sizes of knife you offer and what they are named? And of course any specific uses they’re intended for/best at. Prospective purchasers *ahem* would definitely be interested!
Click to expand...

They are all made one-off custom on at a time, using a template as a rough estimate. So his knives tend to run 2-1/8" to 2-15/16", from what I have seen; and many are similar shapes with small aesthetic changes, except the toothpicks that are very different, being less tall & longer.
 
Horsewright said:
As I've previously mentioned if you are looking for something specific just give me a call or contact me here through PM. I thought I'd highlight some of the special order knives from this last batch.

A Bandito with sheephorn and green liners. This one is going to a cowman up in WA.

LjgHjfC.jpg


bhsAwyG.jpg


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A Vaquero with brown dyed and stabilized box elder. This is going to a fishing guide and conservationalist that spends half the year in Florida and half in Iceland.

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gV3YgMO.jpg


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A Paisano that was ordered by a lady here in California for her husband:

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ZWpXtX5.jpg


aYPaijm.jpg
Click to expand...

I’ve been thinking about ordering one of your knives for some time now, and I think I’m trying to decide between a Cowboy, Vaquero, or Paisano. Can you explain the differences and/or best uses for these different patterns?
 
GaiusJulius said:
Can you give us a rundown of the different sizes of knife you offer and what they are named? And of course any specific uses they’re intended for/best at. Prospective purchasers *ahem* would definitely be interested!
Click to expand...
Viper84 said:
I’ve been thinking about ordering one of your knives for some time now, and I think I’m trying to decide between a Cowboy, Vaquero, or Paisano. Can you explain the differences and/or best uses for these different patterns?
Click to expand...
Well guys lets have a look see here. I think this pic might help a bit. While this is not all of my models, it does incorporate some of the most popular.

0dFTV8f.jpg


From the top:

1) Ranchero
2) Cowboy
3) Paisano
4) Cowboy Toothpick
5) Coyote
6) & 7) Vaquero
8) Mestano
9) Gordo
10) Poco

I would say in general that pretty much all these designs work very well as an EDC with the Ranchero leaning a little more towards being a hunter. But I do have quite a few customers that EDC it. A lot of it comes down to personal preference I think. How big a knife do you like to carry and where and how do you want to carry it. They all excel at chores around the ranch. Not just castration of calves at a branding but the day to day uses of cutting and slicing, feed sacks, hay twine, rope etc. Many ranchers, cowoboys, horsemen look at a small fixed blade as a safety device too. Horses, ropes cattle and people can become tangled sometimes with dire results. I can't tell ya ho many of my knives I've sold the day after a "wreck". Usually I'll hear the story and time after time I hear: "Had a folder in my pocket, didn't have time to get to it." I have personal cut three horses and one person out of bad deals. Heck I was in a deal my ownself, a calf had run around behind me that I had roped and then come forward on the other side of my horse. The rope was now pinning me to the saddle and bout cutting me in half. 1100 lb horse going this way and a 400 lb calf going that a way and me in the middle. I was reaching for my knife to cut the rope when I stuck my left spur in his left shoulder causing ol Sonny to spin to the right and unwrapping me. Many of these models I have EDC ed myself, some for years. I personally tend to prefer a smaller knife and have for the last couple of years carried a Mestano. I carried the first Vaquero in AEB-L for some years. I've carried a couple different Gordos and a Paisano. Most of these models crossover very well into hunters and bird and trout models. My daughter in law field dresses elk with her Poco and her dad uses a Coyote.

Each knife is totally hand made and no two are exactly the same. Thats why on the website the measurements are given for each individual knife. Those measurements are for that knife not that knife model. The only template I ever use is when I layout the knives on a sheet of steel. They are cut out with a bandsaw and then profiled on grinders. I think of cutting to the outside of the Sharpie line with the saw and to the inside of the Sharpie line with the grinders.

Over the years I've probably made and sold more Cowboys than any other model. I think of it as a mid size general purpose knife. While it works well in all my sheaths I think the Slotted and the Pancake are ideal for this knife. If I were to carry one it would be in a pancake behind my left hip.

The Paisano is also a mid sized knife. Its a very slicey knife and with a lil more belly then the Cowboy. If you like the idea of a Horizontal crossdraw sheath and are looking for a mid size knife this knife loves being carried in a Horizontal sheath. Its just right. This knife makes a good lil skinner too as well as a general purpose EDC.

The Vaquero is a great small knife. Its the lil knife you'll always have with you. Again just general purpose use and a good Bird and Trout. Works great in bout any sheath.

Some Cowboys:

P2nOIiG.jpg


lH8EO49.jpg


W6fxb1m.jpg


Paisanos

z5TMZGO.jpg


CNrMpJK.jpg


NGpRIsh.jpg


And Vaqueros:

Yb6I3kJ.jpg


RImuAcZ.jpg


9iq41LQ.jpg


My wife Nichole currently EDCs a Vaquero.
 
From a post I made in one of the Stockman threads. These sheaths are handy. If you've pulled your knife from the sheath and get busy with something else in a hurry, you don't have to try to put the knife back in the sheath and pocket it.. You just let it dangle from the strap.

"Around my neck of the woods, we call this a Buckaroo sheath. Make the loop as shown and pass your belt through it. You can let it dangle free or put it in your pocket in a vertical position.





"
 
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It's interesting that the three I have chosen, 2 Paisano and 1 Coyote, are the only models with a hand-guard behind the forward choil. I picked them for the looks, but just noticed that's what was different; and to me it is visually more appealing.

I'd love to have a Ranchero sized Paisano! I hadn't seen a Horsewright that was 3" or more before.
 
Horsewright said:
Well guys lets have a look see here. I think this pic might help a bit. While this is not all of my models, it does incorporate some of the most popular.

0dFTV8f.jpg


From the top:

1) Ranchero
2) Cowboy
3) Paisano
4) Cowboy Toothpick
5) Coyote
6) & 7) Vaquero
8) Mestano
9) Gordo
10) Poco

I would say in general that pretty much all these designs work very well as an EDC with the Ranchero leaning a little more towards being a hunter. But I do have quite a few customers that EDC it. A lot of it comes down to personal preference I think. How big a knife do you like to carry and where and how do you want to carry it. They all excel at chores around the ranch. Not just castration of calves at a branding but the day to day uses of cutting and slicing, feed sacks, hay twine, rope etc. Many ranchers, cowoboys, horsemen look at a small fixed blade as a safety device too. Horses, ropes cattle and people can become tangled sometimes with dire results. I can't tell ya ho many of my knives I've sold the day after a "wreck". Usually I'll hear the story and time after time I hear: "Had a folder in my pocket, didn't have time to get to it." I have personal cut three horses and one person out of bad deals. Heck I was in a deal my ownself, a calf had run around behind me that I had roped and then come forward on the other side of my horse. The rope was now pinning me to the saddle and bout cutting me in half. 1100 lb horse going this way and a 400 lb calf going that a way and me in the middle. I was reaching for my knife to cut the rope when I stuck my left spur in his left shoulder causing ol Sonny to spin to the right and unwrapping me. Many of these models I have EDC ed myself, some for years. I personally tend to prefer a smaller knife and have for the last couple of years carried a Mestano. I carried the first Vaquero in AEB-L for some years. I've carried a couple different Gordos and a Paisano. Most of these models crossover very well into hunters and bird and trout models. My daughter in law field dresses elk with her Poco and her dad uses a Coyote.

Each knife is totally hand made and no two are exactly the same. Thats why on the website the measurements are given for each individual knife. Those measurements are for that knife not that knife model. The only template I ever use is when I layout the knives on a sheet of steel. They are cut out with a bandsaw and then profiled on grinders. I think of cutting to the outside of the Sharpie line with the saw and to the inside of the Sharpie line with the grinders.

Over the years I've probably made and sold more Cowboys than any other model. I think of it as a mid size general purpose knife. While it works well in all my sheaths I think the Slotted and the Pancake are ideal for this knife. If I were to carry one it would be in a pancake behind my left hip.

The Paisano is also a mid sized knife. Its a very slicey knife and with a lil more belly then the Cowboy. If you like the idea of a Horizontal crossdraw sheath and are looking for a mid size knife this knife loves being carried in a Horizontal sheath. Its just right. This knife makes a good lil skinner too as well as a general purpose EDC.

The Vaquero is a great small knife. Its the lil knife you'll always have with you. Again just general purpose use and a good Bird and Trout. Works great in bout any sheath.

Some Cowboys:

P2nOIiG.jpg


lH8EO49.jpg


W6fxb1m.jpg


Paisanos

z5TMZGO.jpg


CNrMpJK.jpg


NGpRIsh.jpg


And Vaqueros:

Yb6I3kJ.jpg


RImuAcZ.jpg


9iq41LQ.jpg


My wife Nichole currently EDCs a Vaquero.
Click to expand...
Noted. Thank you for the comparison. Now I know which 2 models I want to order in future.
 
DocJekl said:
It's interesting that the three I have chosen, 2 Paisano and 1 Coyote, are the only models with a hand-guard behind the forward choil. I picked them for the looks, but just noticed that's what was different; and to me it is visually more appealing.

I'd love to have a Ranchero sized Paisano! I hadn't seen a Horsewright that was 3" or more before.
Click to expand...
Coming in this next batch will be a Sonoran Hunter top and a Sonoran Skinner bottom.

7WTN9Fq.jpg


The skinner is the closest I get to a Paisano Grande. For those interested, this is what the 26C3 blades look like after clay coating and heat treat. I plan on doing these two as a matched set maybe. Regards the finger guard behind the choil I also do The Sonoran Belt Knife:

ni0i49D.jpg


HQFw0Zr.jpg


LdIjM5y.jpg


Other end of the spectrum here is The Sonoran Camp Knife, the largest standard knife I make.

2sdyhq5.jpg


zudYoXY.jpg


Very special damascus that was gifted to me to use for a larger knife as it was a relatively thick piece of steel. It was an older piece of stainless damascus made by Devin Thomas given to me by a fellow BF member. The knife itself was bought by another fellow BF member after being on the website 2 to 3 minutes one evening.

Vc0k8sk.jpg


A0UyKCC.jpg


11qtzWM.jpg
 
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