Wharncliffe.. Why ?

338375

338375

Joined
Nov 4, 2006
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I am trying to understand the current trend towards Wharncliffe style blades.
I guess the one that got me wondering about it is the Case SB Jack that seems so popular..
Now I have to admit I have only had 2 Case knives that had this style of blade and in all honesty didn't use it enough to develop an honest opinion .

So for those that have em and use em, what is it about the blade style that really attracts you ? I want to find out if there is a strong reason why I should buy another one and give it an honest try.
A while back, I would have bought one just so I could get another knife. But with my downsizing and buying very few knives these days, I really need to convince myself before trying one out.

BTW, the Case SBJ is a great looking knife, but they also make one of my favorite patterns ( mini-trapper) with a Wharncliffe blade.

So lets hear it good, bad, or indifferent.. As always, pics are more than welcome :D and it doesn't have to be limited to just Case knives either
 
I like that acute point and straight edge which makes it useful for accurate cuts while being easy to sharpen.
 
I'll go on record as not being a fan of swaybacks with Wharncliffe blades and I've owned two customs that were both made by respected makers. While the look is aesthetically pleasing to me, I find them poorly suited for a multi-purpose EDC--especially single blade Swaybacks. Just my opinion;) I'm sure (by the popularity) lot of folks find them useful, I don't, at least not for my needs/wants in an EDC. I prefer a clip blade first and a spear second.
 
YayILikePie said:
I like that acute point and straight edge which makes it useful for accurate cuts while being easy to sharpen.
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+1

Also when cutting against a hard surface that would normally dull a knife, only the tip will be dulled while the rest of the blade passes unharmed through the cutting medium. The tip is then easily reshaped by filing along the spine. :)

They do suffer a disadvantage in situation where a belly is required, but that's what a pen secondary is for! ;)
 
If I were limited to just one blade style for everyday use I would pick a wharncliffe or semi-wharncliffe. Most of my cutting tasks only involve the tip of the blade and I find a wharncliffe allows me the most control.
 
I use my stockman more than my swayback. I like it alot don't get me wrong ,but I like having the warncliff or sheeps foot as a secondary blade not the main. Thats just me. I will probably not buy another warncliff as a main blade on a slipjoint, maybe on a small fixed blade for use at work.
 
I like the ease of sharpening, and the blade shape is pleasing to the eyes. I had to try it before I liked it. It grew on me like moss on the north side of a tree pretty darn quick. The point is so sharp, you can carve your initials on the back of a flea.
 
Do you mean Wharncliffe or all straight blades like a Sheepsfoot or a Lambsfoot.

The sheepsfoot is like you see in stockmans, and a lambsfoot has a rounded end similar to a wharncliffe.
Both these types of blades were very popular on English working knives.
The standard issue British Army knife (a pattern 100 year old), Sailors knives, and Farmer knives has a Sheepfoot as the single blade.

The sheepsfoot as a main blade is very sturdy and easy to sharpen.
The point on the knife gives a lot of control of a fine cutting point for detailed work like cutting flat material.
The lambsfoot/Wharncliffe can be a lighter blade and with the pointer point even finer work can be done.

I find it is much easier to cut with the point of a wharnie than the point of a clip or pen.
This is due to the angle of the blade to the line of cut.
Yes it does not have the piecing point of a clip, but how often do I need that?
I can cut with the tip of the blade of a flat blade.

My 2 blade Queen Congress is one of my favorite knives with a main sheepfoot and a small pen.

For years, before I was 'into' knives, I carried a small single bladed Italian Lambsfoot (wharncliffe) in carbon and black plastic handles.
Razor sharp just cut everything....
 
I've always been drawn to sheepfoot and wharncliffe blades, I admit that it's mostly a matter of personal taste, I just love the way they look. However, I've found them to be really useful for my everyday cutting tasks.

The only thing for which I don't use them is game dressing, I prefer a nice drop point blade for that.

I was discussing this yesterday with a bladesmith friend of mine who's made quite a few wharnnies and sheepfoot knives for me, we came to the conclusion that I like those blade shapes so much that I just learned to make them work for me. :)
 
I liked them originally because of their looks, but the straight blade is easy to sharpen & tends to keep an edge on whatever you're cutting easier. They tend to "bite" into whatever they're cutting. That's part of the reasoning for Spyderco's Yojimbo & BlackHawk's new "Be-Wharned". Michael Janich (The designer for both of those knives) likes that blade shape for that reason.

I had a GEC Wharncliffe Barlow that I really liked & currently have a Case Seahorse Whittler with a Wharncliffe maine blade (Orange G-10 & SS blades). For me, they just plain work.

Unfortunately, that's the only slippie that I have with a Wharncliffe main blade nowadays, although I believe the '09 BFC knife has a Wharncliffe along with a Clip-point blade.
 
I like the straight edge, and also the fact that I can work the top toward the tip and put a needle-like point on it for good detail work.

thx - cpr
 
A wharncliffe is just the thing for opening those annoying plastic clamshells that EVERYTHING seems to come in nowadays. Blades with belly seem to requie more force/effort to pierce such packages.
 
338375 said:
I am trying to understand the current trend towards Wharncliffe style blades.
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Personally, I find the Wharncliffe style blade to be a particularly good choice for many EDC chores. Its probably the best blade style I have used for opening packaging (boxes, plastic clamshells, bags, etc.) which is a big part of EDC for me. :thumbup:
 
Durwood said:
I'll go on record as not being a fan of swaybacks with Wharncliffe blades and I've owned two customs that were both made by respected makers. While the look is aesthetically pleasing to me, I find them poorly suited for a multi-purpose EDC--especially single blade Swaybacks. Just my opinion;) I'm sure (by the popularity) lot of folks find them useful, I don't, at least not for my needs/wants in an EDC. I prefer a clip blade first and a spear second.
Click to expand...


I am the same.:thumbup:
 
It's already been said but I'll put it in different words - the point on a wharncliff is to me usually more practical and useful than the point on a clip, even if the clip blade is well executed with swedges.

The wharncliff is easy as heck to sharpen. Expecially if you're into keeping the factory edge. I'm not, but you might be.

Here's a similar thread I posted a while back

It could be said the tip on the wharncliff may be more easily broken than the tip of a clip blade.

The clip point generally has more "belly" for what that's worth. Not sure what that's worth though.
 
I first became a fan of the Wharnie/Sheepsfoot style blade (I know they are different, but the cutting edge is basically the same) while carrying a Schrade SS1 everyday for a few years on my keychain or in my pocket.
To me a properly sharpened Wharncliffe blade is like having a very strong razor blade. For a great utility blade try a chisel ground Wharnie. Stays sharp allot longer than a double edge grind in my experience.
 
I got hooked on them in the 70's.....precise cuts, easy to sharpen.

DSC_0002-5.jpg
 
These guys have laid it out well! Disregard the odd or homely look, and try one. After you use it a little while you will understand!
 
Haven't seen much negative. I guess I'll have to break down and try one..
Might be good to try something different .
Wife always says I need to live a little and try new things...
 
338375 said:
Haven't seen much negative. I guess I'll have to break down and try one..
Might be good to try something different .
Wife always says I need to live a little and try new things...
Click to expand...

Couldn't hurt (as long as it doesn't break the bank). Personally, I prefer a blade with some belly, but each blade shape has a specific purpose. That's why I often pair a Sodbuster Jr. with a stockman to get more shapes for whatever needs arise.
 
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