Is there a single blade knife similar to the shape of a Case Seahorse?

[Doug Add]

I really like the shape of the Seahorse, but don't whittle, and would like to have just a wharncliffe single blade configuration in that frame shape.

Any recommendations?

 

[Rick]

Hiroaki Ohta makes a nice one.

 

[richstag]

I'm with Rick. I have one similar to his pic. Gave it to my gf years ago, but it was real nice.

 

[Doug Add]

Thanks Rick and Kevin. Gorgeous knife!

I should have added another line to my original post.

Is there such a knife that I can afford (think two digits between the dollar sign and decimal point)?

 

[pertinux]

Is there such a knife that I can afford (think two digits between the dollar sign and decimal point)?

Get a Seahorse and superglue the two extraneous-to-you blades shut?

~ P.

 

[Railsplitter]

Hey Doug, I don't recall who it is but somebody that frequents this forum had their sowbelly converted to a single blade. I've seen pics of it several times and it looks great! You might remember it too.

Perhaps he/she will chime in with some comments. Might be something to consider if you don't find what you're looking for.

 

[eisman]

I have a "Seahorse" type (although not by Case). I find the main blade too thick and would prefer to have it slimmer. This is the same reason I don't carry the AG Russell Wharncliff I have. That pattern may be just what you're looking for, and the price is right. I much prefer my Ohta, to me it's darn near perfect.

My Seahorse:

My Ohta:

 

[richstag]

Ohta's aren't that expensive in the custom world IMHO especially when you see the quality you get. I completely understand not wanting to spend the money though. One thing to keep in mind, something I do often, is you can always stop buying knives for a bit and save for that one nice custom.

Just a thought. Every time I have done it I haven't missed the 3 or 4 less expensive knives I could have bought.

I hope you find a less expensive alternative though.

Kevin

 

[kamagong]

Hiroaki Ohta makes a nice one.

I never get tired of looking at that knife. Did you special order it direct from Ohta? Yours is the only one I've seen with both front and rear fluted bolsters.

To the OP, I don't think I've ever seen a production version of the knife you want. I've been looking for one myself. One of the reasons that people take the step from production to custom.

- Christian

 

[Doug Add]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Maybe I could sell my Lloyd rosewood shadow (since it is almost never carried) to fund one of those lovely Ohta wharncliffes.

 

[Rick]

I never get tired of looking at that knife. Did you special order it direct from Ohta? Yours is the only one I've seen with both front and rear fluted bolsters.

Thanks. It's an older example purchased on the secondary market several years back. The fluted rear bolster and wider blade profile were standard features on Ohta's "109" serpentine dogleg/Rodger's pattern up until around four or five years ago.

 

[kamagong]

I think it looks better when both bolsters match. Doesn't matter if they are fluted or non-fluted.

- Christian

 

[whetrock]

The new Case Copperheads are fairly close (not identical) to the Seahorse, however they sport two blades which could cramp your style if you're set on a single blade.

 

[neeman]

S&M

 

[Doug Add]

Thanks whetrock. I have (and thoroughly enjoy) a mini copperhead, it is a fantastic amount of cutting ability in a small package.

I really like the way the seahorse, and the knives pictured above taper away from the blade. There is just something about those curves, that profile, that I find quite attractive.

 

[kamagong]

No need to shy away from a multi-blade knife in the seahorse pattern. The knives lie very low and are unobtrusive. They are hardly noticeable when using the wharncliffe main.

Another option you might want to consider is the Queen #46 half-whittler.

- Christian

 

[Doug Add]

Thanks Christian. I had my eyes on one of those Queens at an auction, but forgot about it until an hour or two after it closed. Should have placed a bid when I first saw it.

It is a beautiful knife!

 

[Doug Add]

Christian, your post of the Queen reminded me how much I like this knife, so I went on another search. Found a used one in what looks to be excellent condition.

So, looks like I may have successfully ended this quest. Now, if I can convince my wife and son that this is a particularly well-suited Father's Day gift!

 

[OzarkCreekWalker]

Case Swayback gent perhaps?

 

[TLARbb]

Doug, I'm the guy that had the Sowbelly converted to single blade. You might recall I am also an avid fan of the Case mini copperhead. The reason that the sowbelly worked out so well is that the main blade and spring did not have to be modified in any way. Just had to take the spey and sheepsfoot, center liner, and the associated spring out of it. It is a great pattern for the modification. It would be a great forum knife sometime in the future as Case would not have to invest in any tooling to make it, but I digress.

I think the seahorse whittler, at least the Case version, is a two blade or "split spring" design, so to take the two small blades out a new spring would have to be made for the main blade. There are several guys that frequent this forum that could do such a thing, but you would have to supply a donor knife and pay them to disassemble the knife, make a new spring for the main, and reassemble. Could get to be a bit more than you would want to spend. I think this would also make a great forum knife by Case or Queen/Schatt.

Here's a picture of the single blade sowbelly. Case actually made some of these in 2002, but I missed out on them. When I saw them I knew I had to have one. Anyway the donor knife was a cranberry silver script Case 3-blade sowbelly.

Ed J