Kiridashi for leather work

[Bo T]

I am thinking about making some simple Kiridashi for leather work. What type of blade profiles and edge geometries would you recommend? Many that I have seen have had chisel or pseudo-chisel grinds. Are these the most common grinds for these knives? Should I make right handed and left handed knives?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Daniel Fairly Knives]

I'd go with a traditional blade profile, they work well.

As far as cutting leather goes I do not know what type of grind would be the best. I'm thinking zero bevel chisel grind with a back microbevel. Thin edge geometry... For right handed use I'd put the grind on the reverse or right side.

I use a kiridashi almost daily and you can't beat it for scoring material. There is a lot of leverage on the tip compared to other knives.

 

[Rick Lowe]

The tough thing with leather is that it has a lot of "drag' when cutting. If you consider that 7/8oz. leather is 1/8" thick, the blade needs to be really thin at least that high up the grind. I use a utility knife w/razor blade for 90% of my leather work. Last month I did forge a warncliff and hollow ground it very thin. Works pretty well and I can get right up on the tip to cut a tight curve.