Recommendation for a pruner blade traditional?

F

Flint Hills

Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
862
I've just finished some whittling with my grandfather's old pruner. It's a cheapo "Sabre" that I found in his tool shed after he passed away. The fit and finish on this knife are horrible, but man will it take a screaming sharp edge with just a few passes on the stone! Anyway, the pruner blade is perfect for whittling.

The criteria:
Pruner blade
Single blade
carbon steel blade

The pruner blade doesn't seem to be super common, so I thought I would ask the experts for advice. Case is about all I've seen.
 
Otter has some of pruner knives in stock. Maybe you can find one over in the US or on the secondary market.

I gonna PM you the URL for not hurting forum rules, as this is the sales catalogue of Otter.

Maybe you can find which you think is interessting.
 
Thanks Humppa!

Humppa said:
Otter has some of pruner knives in stock. Maybe you can find one over in the US or on the secondary market.

I gonna PM you the URL for not hurting forum rules, as this is the sales catalogue of Otter.

Maybe you can find which you think is interessting.
Click to expand...
 
i have an opinel hawkbill and a boker plus hawkbill. they are what i think of when you say 'pruner' blade. they are both single blade knives.
however the ones i have both are stainless steel. i dont know if opinel makes a carbon steel model but if they do then that is what i would recommend for you.
 
A Case 31011 Hawkbill in CV would be a very reasonable choice. Also the Opinel pruners are quite interesting, I'm incredibly fond of Opinels in general so I may be a bit biased, the one pruning knife they offer, has a very extreme profile though, pretty cool IMO, but you may prefer the more subtle Opinel pruner or Case Hawkbill.
 
Hayn' Helper by Great Eastern Cutlery. It has O-1 carbon tool steel, which takes a great edge and holds it well. Orange and black delrin, or NifeBrite acrylic (glow-in-the-dark). The delrin handled ones have thicker covers, which makes it more comfortable in the hand, but the thinner acrylic carries in the pocket better. These don't have nail nicks like most slipjoints (you just pinch the blade open). The curve isn't as dramatic as on others like the Case, but it'll be far, far more pocketable.

You can also find the smaller Weaver Jack (by GEC) with a single blade. The curve on these is fairly slight though.
 
Yes, if your budget allows, GEC has several pruner blades. The Hay'n'Helper that Aaron mentioned, along with the Weaver Jack, and a couple others I think.
 
I carry a Case Yellow Handled CV Bladed Hawkbill almost daily this time of year. It's a hard one to beat for the money. I have a GEC Weaver Jack but I prefer the blade on the case for real work. For looks get the GEC.

jwh
 
Queen has a collaboration knife with Joe Pardue that is currently available. Stag handles, D2 blade. I don't know if that's within your budget, but it's a beauty.

How in the world do you whittle with a pruner blade? Do you make anything besides chopsticks and shavings?

- Christian
 
kamagong said:
Queen has a collaboration knife with Joe Pardue that is currently available. Stag handles, D2 blade. I don't know if that's within your budget, but it's a beauty.

How in the world do you whittle with a pruner blade? Do you make anything besides chopsticks and shavings?

- Christian
Click to expand...

That is a nice looking knife! It's really more of a sheepsfoot blade though.

I like the pruner/hawkbill blade to make the rough cuts. I've been working on some birch wood which is pretty hard. I also like the curved blade since it enlarges the back side of the blade for holding while doing pull cuts. The point can be useful too. All that said, I'm no expert whittler, so yeah....pretty much chopsticks and shavings. :D It doesn't really matter though, does it? I enjoy doing it.
 
Last edited:
i would recommend something by T.W.Ablett. He makes an awesome, no non-sense knife, with wood, stag or horn, single blade carbon. When you hold them, you can literally feel the quality.
 
Ahh yes, good idea. Our friend Scruffuk can comment on the quality of the Ablett knives, I think. IIRC, he recently got a barlow from them.

Edit: Whoops, Scruff's barlow is Taylor's Eye Witness, now that I think again, but I do believe they also make a pruner/hawkbill blade.
 
Last edited:
wouldestous said:
i have an opinel hawkbill and a boker plus hawkbill. they are what i think of when you say 'pruner' blade. they are both single blade knives.
however the ones i have both are stainless steel. i dont know if opinel makes a carbon steel model but if they do then that is what i would recommend for you.
Click to expand...

They did offer a carbon #8 hawkbill. I have one that I got 5 or 6 years ago. It has a rounded end on the handle, unlike the Inox ones. I don't see it available anywhere now, though. I believe it's discon'd. :(
 
I misspoke above. The #8 carbon pruner IS still available. Just saw it for sale at opinel-usa.com. Glad to know it's still available. Sorry for the misinformation.
 
As a keen gardener, I find the GEC Weaver 56 single blade to be EXCELLENT.

The curve may be slight but in does the job really well, in fact, it's been in use this week-end on some young fruit trees!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top