Sheepsfoot/Wharncliffe/Lambsfoot

[Will Power]

Interesting about the sharpening, a lot of Pruner or Hawkbills can start developing a straighter edge due to sharpening or using the wrong technique?

 

[Jakeywax31]

I think it must be an AMERICAN thing Got a suspicion that Wharncliffe blades emerged in Europe in the c19th - think Norfolk knives etc. It's too exotic for your tastes, like wine-drinking ...

Mind you, the tip of a Wharncliffe depending on steel and gauge can be fragile. Got some thin carboard I'll be cutting up to mount old post-cards on for Christmas cards & I'll be reaching for a Wharncliffe for this accuracy task-don't have a guillotine.

. You may be spot on, Will. Maybe I need a little culture and dabble in the finer things in life. Pinkies up my friend

 

[Joefairbanks]

Well, I took this picture this morning looong before daylight, so it's not the best picture quality. I just wanted to get some a picture of some of my favorite straight edged knives. I do like all of the various blade shapes, but I guess I prefer the straight for a lot of the tasks. I do prefer something with a belly when cutting meats, so I do love me a nice drop point, clip point, spear point and even a spey! I know it seems like I'm being non-committal but I really do like most blades for different purposes and I believe the original question has been answered with a YES!

 

[5K Qs]

Well, I read the title of this thread and ASSUMED it would ask me to explain which straight-edged blade I preferred. So I spent many idle moments considering that question.

When I finally actually opened the thread and read the OP, I discovered how inaccurate my preconception had been. JM2 wasn't interested in which straight blade was most popular; he wanted to know if anyone despised them all as much as he did!

So JM2 has my sympathy for his lack of appreciation of straight-edged blades.
(No one asked, but my idle speculation concluded with me deciding that my preferences for the blades listed in the thread title are
1. Sheepsfoot
2. Lambsfoot
3. Wharncliffe )

- GT

 

[dantzk8]

Wharncliffe. The best blade shape for whittling.

Dan.

 

[JM2]

View attachment 2420173

Wharncliffe. The best blade shape for whittling.

Dan.

I reckon it'd depend on what you're whittling...



Hard to beat a spey blade for anything concave.

 

[Will Power]

. You may be spot on, Will. Maybe I need a little culture and dabble in the finer things in life. Pinkies up my friend

There's some fine wines grown in the USA and one the the world's finest drinks - Bourbon As for pinkies, well you've not seen my Boa Constrictor mode of devouring food, table manners less than cultivated...salivated

On a less jesting note, some really fine knives of all sorts have turned up in this thread

 

[Will Power]

Always liked this approach: decent sized Sheepfoot with a Clip, all on a single-spring. Wish The White Owl 68 had a similar set-up as an alternative.

 

[BJE]

America and sheepsfoot blades for the win! With lambsfoot close second. Bald eagles and BBQ!
As a regular medium stockman carrying guy, I can say that the sheepsfoot gets the bulk of use by far, the California clip point cleans nails like nobody’s business (mechanic by trade), the Spey blade is so hardly used if it disappears tomorrow I wouldn’t even notice for a while.

I prefer a straight edge for most cutting chores except food and digging the grease from under my nails, and the lambsfoot is pretty good at both of those also .

 

[Old Hunter]

Always liked this approach: decent sized Sheepfoot with a Clip, all on a single-spring. Wish The White Owl 68 had a similar set-up as an alternative.

View attachment 2420612

A near-perfect pocketknife design, should have kept mine. OH

 

[JM2]

I disagree! Straight edge is the way.

There is always a larger straight edge on me. It's either a big old sheepsfoot like the one shown, or a large lambsfoot... Or even a modern schrade flipper with a straight edge blade. They are useful to me through daily life as a utility blade.

The front pocket is usually a Congress or smaller lambsfoot. This pen blade is my sacrificial blade!

I like all sorts of knives but typically find myself carrying straight edge knives more often than not.
View attachment 2415595

Dang that thing is huge!

 

[JM2]

I voted pitchfork but only because I like all blade shapes but especially the lambfoot. My everyday tasks are accomplished well with it!

When at the ranch I want a blade with good belly and preferably a fixed blade. A Mora is the least amount of curve for me in that case.

Cool thread OP. Thank you!

View attachment 2415937View attachment 2415939View attachment 2415940View attachment 2415941

That top one is wow man. I love Appaloosa bone.

 

[5K Qs]

Always liked this approach: decent sized Sheepfoot with a Clip, all on a single-spring. Wish The White Owl 68 had a similar set-up as an alternative.

View attachment 2420612

I'd like that Churchill set-up even more with a spear instead of a clip.
Maybe that could be a New Year's Resolution for me: find such a knife.

- GT

 

[btb01]

Love a lambsfoot and sheepsfoot but do not care for a wharncliffe. I know… I’m a weirdo.

95.3% of the time I’d agree, though there are a few exceptions. I’m quite fond of GEC’s #47 Viper, and Case’s little Swayback Jack. And the tip of a thinly ground wharncliffe is a fantastic splinter remover!

 

[OldHercDude]

I'm not a fan of straight blades as a single-blade option. I have come to like a smaller Wharncliffe as a secondary blade.

 

[Modoc ED]

I prefer a blade with a belly and most days I have a knife with such a blade in my pocket. Then again, I also like a straight edge and carry a knife with such a blade at times.



A workaround for which blade to have readily available (a belly or a straight edge) is to carry a Sowbelly.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I love 'em, but none of the poll options suited me so I couldn't vote.