Obsession with Wharncliffe blades

neffarious

neffarious

Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
2,398
I suddenly finding myself obsessed with modern Wharncliffes. I just dold a yojimbo 2. I didn't like how thick it was. I know its more of a SD kniofe, but i had to give it a whirl. I absolutely adore my GB Air. I am in the process of getting an older lock back Kiwi, and i have had an orange urban. It was a cold steel pointguard that started it all. Don't ge me wrong, i have other blade shapes but Wharcliffes, modified or regular, just seem to be my favorite. I am a EDC user, envelopes, boxes, zip ties and such. I have some drop points, and leaf blades as well, which apparently are my next favorites. Anyone else out there prefer a Wharncliffe?
 
Last edited:
Sometimes. Here's one of my current EDCs:


b7-ft.jpg
 
Neff, I've got 2 more inbound right now. Found a pair of NIB Benchmade Gravitators (425S). That's a sick design! I love it. And yeah, I've been eyeing the Yojimbo and Air too. I also have 2 red bone and 2 carbon fiber lockback kiwis, they're cute. :p
 
The gravitator is awesome, but they are really hard to find and getting pretty pricey. I'd snatch one up for the right price though, don't get me wrong LOL. I'd use the thing too :) I love the kiwi lock backs. I don't know why they went to a slipit on them. The Yo was just too blade hjeave for me and the blade is THICK. IO also have a P'Kal which really works well as an EDC as well, as the choils allow for three grips one of which is normal. Plus I love the wave feature. I live near a state park in central Florida, and there are bears, coyotes, possums, and all sorts of critters around. While i will hopefully never have to use it i just feel better having it on me when i walk the dogs. Well maybe not so much against the bear. I'd throw the cancer having dog at the bear for dinner and run. Am i going to hell for saying that? My GF would kill me as it's her dog. Who am i kidding i already told her that. I was told if i did that no nookie for a long time. Small price to pay for escaping a bear. Most of the time they just want the cat food people leave out and to rummage trash and climb trees. @ 350 lbs tho i give them a wide berth.
 
I love the Gravitator! It's the "one". I got mine for an insane deal...just below a hundred :). Wharncliffes are my favorite blade shape. I like how I can use the maximum cutting edge. And lots of them are great cutters. They're just more useful in my opinion than anything else. Well they don't excel at all things but most in use. The yojimbo looks really nice but have to wait a while before I can get one. Oh and here's a teaser :D

DSC00785_zps300b210d.jpg
 
neffarious said:
Holy SH*# that is gorgeous. What is it?
Click to expand...

That would be a William Henry B7-FT. It's part of the Westcliff series of William Henry knives. William Henry isn't making B7's (or more recently B07's) right now. But they come up from time to time on the Exchange and ePay. And the fit and finish are superb, as you might well imagine.
 
There is a wood inlaid handle one on ebay for $right now. Once i settle my divorce out i may get one. Right now the lawyer is leeching all my funds :( I keep 6 knives in my EDC rotation. If i want a new one i have to sell an old one. most are around $100-150ish in value. i would have to give up three most likely and then be sad when i got a scratch on it LOL. I'll stick with my less expensive models for now LOL. Most people would still cringe on what my knives cost much less 275-400 bux.
 
I paid $200.00 for my B7-FT BNIB from a BF good guy. There are bargains out there. You just have to be patient and persistent to find them.
 
neffarious said:
The gravitator is awesome, but they are really hard to find and getting pretty pricey. I'd snatch one up for the right price though, don't get me wrong LOL. I'd use the thing too :) I love the kiwi lock backs. I don't know why they went to a slipit on them. The Yo was just too blade hjeave for me and the blade is THICK. IO also have a P'Kal which really works well as an EDC as well, as the choils allow for three grips one of which is normal. Plus I love the wave feature. I live near a state park in central Florida, and there are bears, coyotes, possums, and all sorts of critters around. While i will hopefully never have to use it i just feel better having it on me when i walk the dogs. Well maybe not so much against the bear. I'd throw the cancer having dog at the bear for dinner and run. Am i going to hell for saying that? My GF would kill me as it's her dog. Who am i kidding i already told her that. I was told if i did that no nookie for a long time. Small price to pay for escaping a bear. Most of the time they just want the cat food people leave out and to rummage trash and climb trees. @ 350 lbs tho i give them a wide berth.
Click to expand...

I've got one lnib I would love to trade?
 
The CS Point Guard made me fall in love with wharnies too, but besides that all I have is the Chive. Going for a Composite Leek next. Hopefully I'll be able to get a Yojimbo2 eventually.
 
I also have the GB Air and sometimes carry it when I have slacks. The pic below has a Farid REX121 Mule & PPT which are modified wharncliffs I believe, and the Greco is a hawkbill that's not so curved.

2013-02-02_15-28-14_398_zpsfdfdf215.jpg
 
I love a wharncliffe, or settle for a sheepsfoot. My EDC switches up all the time, but I always have at least one curved edge and one straight edge on me. In an urban, modern setting, I feel that a straght edge, or nearly straight edge (like a Leek or BM940) is the most utilitarian blade shape one can have. I have no use for a knife with big belly or a slightly-dropped point (like a BK11 or Izula). I don't really carry a modern folding knife for utility anymore (just an Endura Wave for "other" purposes), but I always have a traditional folding knife on me, and it'll always have a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot. Most commonly a GEC Hayn' Helper sheepsfoot, a Case wharncliffe Mini Trapper or Case/Bose Hawbaker muskrat, and less commonly a half congress or stockman with a sheepsfoot or coping blade.

Although I've never owned one, I've always though that the "Westcliffe" William Henrys (like bld522 posted) was one of the sexiest blades ever ground. I also really want to get a Sebenza Insingo (micarta) sometime. If I were forced to to choose "only one", it would be some sort of modified wharncliffe like those.
 
image.jpg

These three are in my rotation, I love how easy they are to sharpen and how they cut. As soon as the make the insingo version of the Sebenza 25 I will be adding that to the collection!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top