What's a Wharncliff?

P

Phil Tham

Joined
Jan 8, 2002
Messages
849
OK, so I'm gonna show my ignorance with this question, but here goes anyway. I've been admiring the wharncliff blades I've seen on this forum, so I decided to grind a couple. Did that last night and took the blades in to my wife for inspection (she's a mean QC inspector:)) and she asked me what the knife was used for. I had no good answer to give her. Does anybody here know the history of this blade shape or where to find it? I know the blade can be used for general utility stuff, but was there a particular use that it was intended for when it was first designed? Thanks for any feedback.
 
I've always believed the wharncliff is primarily intended for rope work. Nautical knives usually have this blade shape. I like it too!

Dave
 
They make a handy shop knife. The blade shape makes cutting on your workbench a breeze. There are many other uses for this most useful of blade shapes, it's one of my favorites.
 
That's a beautiful one Mike. I know when I get these knives finished I'm gonna get questioned as to what it's used for. Most of my knives to date have been hunters of some sort, and most of my customers fall into the that category. It would be nice to give a little history when the question is asked. I didn't like the design at first, but some I've seen here have caught my eye and they've grown on me.
 
The Wharncliffe was ,correct me if I'm wrong, designed for whittling, ie. the name Wharncliffe Whittler.
 
Txwoodchip and Dave, thanks for the compliments, it is a small knife, probably should have thrown a coin into the photo for scale.
5 21/32" OAL, 440C
2 3/4" blade
Mesquite burl handle
SS 3/32" pins
Yes they can be used for whittling, I use them to cut leather, paper patterns, gasket material,old cardboard boxes, you name it and this blade shape can do it. I use one like the photo, and a longer one in my shop.
Once you start using a blade shape like the Wharncliff, you will really understand it's usefulness. Actually the knife in the photo is not exactly a Wharncliff, it is more like a blade shape that Bob Loveless described as an American straight edge, a few years ago. Either way, I like them.
I apologise for the poor quality of the photo, it did not translate well from 35mm to a CD.
 
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