Rockon75
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2008
- Messages
- 2,084
I know that there is a "uses" discussion, and there is no doubt the punch/awl blade has infinitely more uses than just poking holes in leather. This thread is to show and discuss the various designs. I have a very long commute on Mondays and Wednesdays and I found myself thinking about the fact that I have 3 different GEC patterns with a punch blade. Then I thought harder and realized that not one of them was the same design. So I'll start off by showing the three different punch blades that I have and comment on each one.
Here is the "heard":
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The #15 Harness Jack-Charlie Variety-is ground flat on the mark side with a bevel taper on the pile side. This is my favorite by the way. It is razor sharp the entire length along its edge and the point is like a needle. This design allows the punch to double as a short flat blade or scraper along with its punch capabilities. This design is opened with a nail nick. This design is probably the easiest to keep sharp as well. The punch on this variety would leave a triangle shape gap in any leather (leather awls are typically leave diamond slits).
#15
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The #66 Teamster's Jack-Charlie Variety as well-has a symmetrical-ground radius on the pile side with a 90 degree lip on the mark side for ease of opening. This design has a sharpened end the entire length of the bottom, so scrapping duties and cutting could be a dual function, although not on mine. This one is a safe queen. The point on this one would leave slices in leather like a slice of pie. Due to its "lip" it really can't poke into an object like I've see some BF'ers do with the last smokes off of a cigar.
#66
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The #85. Perhaps one of my favorite combinations. I love a "leaf" spear blade, but it cannot clean fingernails or do detail work. Adding a punch to this knife makes it so versatile. The punch seems to be a hybrid of sorts between the two previously mentioned. The pile side is bevel tapered but the taper is asymmetrical, favoring the lower part of the blade. It creates a flat surface that is sharp, but not as sharp as the #15. The mark side is flat ground like the #15, with a "flute" for lack of a better term, ground parallel to the lower edge. I'm guessing as you sharpen the lower edge this would act as a "concave" edge and sharpen back easily. The flute would also lower the friction when pushing through thicker medium than that of the triangular shape on the #15. The slice in a piece of leather from the point on this one would just be a thin semi-circular line. This one is opened with a nail nick.
#85
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If I have my choice of combinations, I would source the #15's punch and have it placed into service on the 85 pattern with the "leaf" spear. That would be my favorite.
If you have different styles of punches, please post them here and discuss the design a bit. It is interesting that there are so many designs for a blade who's primary purpose is putting a slice into leather.
Take care all,
Josh
Here is the "heard":
The #15 Harness Jack-Charlie Variety-is ground flat on the mark side with a bevel taper on the pile side. This is my favorite by the way. It is razor sharp the entire length along its edge and the point is like a needle. This design allows the punch to double as a short flat blade or scraper along with its punch capabilities. This design is opened with a nail nick. This design is probably the easiest to keep sharp as well. The punch on this variety would leave a triangle shape gap in any leather (leather awls are typically leave diamond slits).
#15
The #66 Teamster's Jack-Charlie Variety as well-has a symmetrical-ground radius on the pile side with a 90 degree lip on the mark side for ease of opening. This design has a sharpened end the entire length of the bottom, so scrapping duties and cutting could be a dual function, although not on mine. This one is a safe queen. The point on this one would leave slices in leather like a slice of pie. Due to its "lip" it really can't poke into an object like I've see some BF'ers do with the last smokes off of a cigar.
#66
The #85. Perhaps one of my favorite combinations. I love a "leaf" spear blade, but it cannot clean fingernails or do detail work. Adding a punch to this knife makes it so versatile. The punch seems to be a hybrid of sorts between the two previously mentioned. The pile side is bevel tapered but the taper is asymmetrical, favoring the lower part of the blade. It creates a flat surface that is sharp, but not as sharp as the #15. The mark side is flat ground like the #15, with a "flute" for lack of a better term, ground parallel to the lower edge. I'm guessing as you sharpen the lower edge this would act as a "concave" edge and sharpen back easily. The flute would also lower the friction when pushing through thicker medium than that of the triangular shape on the #15. The slice in a piece of leather from the point on this one would just be a thin semi-circular line. This one is opened with a nail nick.
#85
If I have my choice of combinations, I would source the #15's punch and have it placed into service on the 85 pattern with the "leaf" spear. That would be my favorite.
If you have different styles of punches, please post them here and discuss the design a bit. It is interesting that there are so many designs for a blade who's primary purpose is putting a slice into leather.
Take care all,
Josh
These two were gifted to me by Charlie (Waynorth) and here is his explanation on the two punches:
