Wharnie/Sheepsfoot Usage

Rockon75

Rockon75

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Dec 8, 2008
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How do you use yours? I use a wharnie like a letter opener, and a sheepsfoot for breaking down cardboard. These styles are refered to as great slicers, but as I see it, without the belly of a clip style, both the wharnie and sheepsfoot wears at the tip. With traditional handles placing the fingers below the blade, you have to drop the tip causing excessive wear. Please show me how you use your "flat" main blades.
 
I use mine for scribing, precision cuts, opening blister packs, and cutting cardboard (pull cutting).
For opening letters (push cutting) I prefer a slender clip or spear.
 
I had forgotten about scribing. I have used my 57 for that as well. Pressure is on the tip though right, or do you have a different technique?
 
Except for pull cutting cardboard, it's almost all with the tip.
That's why I prefer the stouter sheepfoot on a stockman, a less fragile tip.
 
I just recently purchased a knife with a sheepsfoot because I couldn't resist the look and it being the work of a certain maker. I'm sure it will be fine for daily use but I can't see any situation I would rather have it over a blade with some belly.
 
Add cutting drywall to the uses for a Sheepfoot blade (drywall is scored with the blade tip, then snapped using your knee). OH
 
Both are designed for pull cuts IMO ,but yes,the tip gets higher on the blade. I'm conflicted on whether to keep the edge straight
or sharpen the tip which is the only part of the edge that I use for cutting leather. After a year of daily cutting the tip of my sheepsfoot barlow is up a 32nd, but thanks to Charlies design, the tip is still well buried.

Best regards

Robin
 
Pipe man - could you post a picture of "my tip is up 1/32nd". Is it slowly turning into a spey?
 
I use mine to open the boxes that contain new knives being sent to me. :D
 
Rockon75 said:
Pipe man - could you post a picture of "my tip is up 1/32nd". Is it slowly turning into a spey?
Click to expand...

Hi there Rockon, No, it's more like a sheepsfoot with a tiny belly:D. Heres a pic of an unused next to my daily user.

Best regards

Robin

 
Thanks Pipeman now I understand - it's developing it's own belly ;-).
 
Rockon75 said:
Thanks Pipeman now I understand - it's developing it's own belly ;-).
Click to expand...

Yes, but not too bad after sharpening every day, sometimes many times, I like to get through thick leather with one cut.:D
I use an old stone, the finest I have ever seen, all it does is sharpen the edge without taking much steel.;)
Just waiting on this beast, I have a feeling it will cut pretty much anything :D, time to put the barlow on lighter duty.



Best regards

Robin
 
This Buck 301 was carried pretty much everyday from 1970 to 1990, when it was cleaned and put away in honorable retirement. During the time it was my EDC it cut nearly everything I had to cut from cardboard and packaging, to skinning UF & NM (Underground feeder & Romex), to cutting drywall (for samples, not all day, everyday) and whatever else I used a knife for. I can tell it has lost a little on the point end of the blade - I used stones and ceramic sticks, so I followed whatever curve is worn into the blade, never even thought about straightening it back up. You can certainly see some wear on the blade, but not that much for the many years of use. OH

DSC02371.JPG
 
I find my little Sheepsfoot fixed blade Tina Grafting Knife is perfect for my leatherwork requirements .
Its Razor sharp , and yes the tip gets all the work .


f97562498c9e27e8d572ebc0b8c68d75_zpsd2c1a59a.jpg



Ken
 
Thanks OH and Harronek!!! I'm starting to see the benefit of the shape of the sheep over the wharnie. Longevity it seems. From all the replies, it looks like most everyone primarily uses the tip portion of sheepsfoot and wharncliffes. I can see the entire length of a flat blade being used for rope cutting, but these blades seem to be largely unused except for the tip.
 
I deal with boxes mostly and I start at the tang and pull cut out to the tip. The whole edge gets used on mine unless I'm just scoring a line.

I prefer sheepsfoot blades by far, but certain wharnies catch my eye.
 
Certain ones jrtodd? The one headed your way is in between a sheepsfoot and a wharnie. Thanks for describing your technique.
 
I used this oldie for a while but it was wearing down so I put it into the carry rarely fondle often stash ;-)))

I find a sheepsfoot "steers" more smoothly through leather.

Best regards

Robin
 
Pipeman said:
I used this oldie for a while but it was wearing down so I put it into the carry rarely fondle often stash ;-)))

I find a sheepsfoot "steers" more smoothly through leather.

Best regards

Robin
Click to expand...

I've seen you post that pick a number of times Pipeman. What I think is so neat about it is the shield has "Viper" stamped on the shield, and GEC ' S sway back with a wharnie was called the same. That is pretty ironic.
 
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