leather cutting knife?

mattd

mattd

Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
252
would it be possible to make a leather cutter out of 01? I will be making a sheath when my supplies come and am thinking about a good design for a little leather cutter like a razor blade I guess. Can 01 be ground real thin and small? I would love some ideas.
 
from what i know o1 has a really low distortion rate in heat treating
check out bill moran's video handles guards and sheaths. you'll see a really nice leather knife
 
I like that. Very much what I was dreaming up but more practical and simple. If you were going to make one just for leather would you change anything? I forget what the proper terminology is but is there a bevel on both sides?
 
It is a chisel grind. I haven't measured the angles but the micro edge is prolly around 15-20 degrees with the primary significantly smaller. It rises 3/32 over an inch. I might lengthen the handle if I was making one purely to cut out designs. It would be what I understand to be a "click" knife.

WS
 
Admittedly I don't do any leather work yet, or at least not sheaths, have played around with it growing up, but I would think that a wharncliff in O1, edge quenched(edge quench is just so easy with a wharncliff :) ) with a nice full flat grind would make a great leather knife.
 
Below is an image of a "clicker knife" - this is probably the best design for cutting out patterns. They normally come with interchangeable blades as shown - a curved one and a straight one - note how narrow the blades are - this helps when cutting curves and also offers less face to the leather so you have less drag for a cleaner cut.(interchangeable blades are used in industry because it's faster and therefore more productive for the cutters to change out a blade and have a pro sharpener keep the extras sharpened). No reason that you couldn't make one of each though. The curved blade is especially useful when cutting out tight curves. With the thin commercial blades - .040" there is no reason for a chisel edge, but I would recommend it for a thicker blade as it helps keep the edge of the leather perpendicular when cutting.
clicker-knife.jpg


To see other types of leather knives - as in any craft there are many specialty blades: go here -
http://www.kingsmerecrafts.btinternet.co.uk/page07.html
http://www.hewit.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Tools_23.html

In my experience - 99% of all leather workers can get by with two basic knives: a clicker or similar style cutting knife and a skiving knife.(pictured as a paring or French knife in the above links). The head or round knife is a traditional leather workers tool, but they are hard to sharpen properly and have a steep learning curve, like Sandy M (helmar) I hung mine up a long time a go.
 
Chuck,
thanks for the information. I think I'll make a pair at the same time. The paring knife, similar to the one above and I'm thinking of making the french paring knife with a 3/4" blade that has a 90 degree curve. The handle I think might be thick at the end opposite the point so that it is comfortable in the palm.
 
You have go to try 'Weaver Leather' leather sheers, they made my life alot easier and they cut through leather shoulders like sliceing through butter. I don't know if you deal with haveing to make welps for your sheaths but the best bet is Tipps Machinery strap cutter, you just simply set your own width and go. Cavelady
 
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