Why can't I get into the Wharncliffe?

[coyote711]

Sometimes when whittling, you might need to square up a corner or other detail and when you press the point of a Wharncliffe blade into the wood and then attempt to flick the errant piece of wood away, the tip of the Wharncliffe blade will snap off. This has been reported by quite a few people here and there is even a thread about it somewhere in "Search Heaven".

That's the only negative, physical, aspect of the blade I've heard about.



Personally, I prefer the Sheepsfoot blade or Coping blade. I've had a couple of knives with the Wharncliffe blade but they just didn't appeal to me (looks wise) so I gifted them to others.

I'll confirm what Ed says above. I had a GEC #25 with a wharncliffe blade and while cleaning out the corner of a wood bird feeder tray I snapped off the tip. I didn't feel I was abusing the knife at the time - maybe I was, but at any rate I'm guessing a sheepsfoot blade would have handled it just fine. So I also prefer a sheepsfoot to a wharncliffe.

 

[sitflyer]

Perhaps if it had really called to you, one would be in your possession already. Or perhaps you haven't found " the one" yet...

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

I think a wharncliffe is definitely a try it and see type of blade. It is my primary choice for primary blade in nearly all applications. It is a lot more versatile than one would believe, and I rarely find I need a lot of belly in day to day cutting tasks, and if I do I will have a bellied blade with me as well. The GEC Executive Whittler is one of my favourite knives of all time, and to prove its usefulness I have taken it as my primary task knife while hunting (skunked so no game processing). I have no problem with tip strength, as in almost 36 years I have not snapped the tip off of a blade- and have just as many needle thin clip points as Wharncliffe, yet nobody balks at the tip strength of a clip blade to the same degree. The main negative I see is if you are using the blade and not edge- spreading mustard on a sandwich for example, as the blades are usually too narrow/constricted toward the tip. Most of my food use with my knives is cutting fruit/steak so that is a non issue. And be sure to try cutting steak with a Wharncliffe- while others drag their edge across the plate with a bellied blade, the tip is all that contacts my plate- leaving the other 98% of the edge sharp and ready for work. Also I find the shape good for reaming/reaching into tight areas due to narrow blade profile.

If it isn't for you, then it isn't for you- like many pen blades for me, or Spey for others. I would love an executive Whittler with Wharncliffe main, Spey secondary and punch. A tool, a belly blade that is short (all belly almost), and long slicing blade, but have yet to see a Wharncliffe with punch unless I've modified a broken Clip. (Although I must admit I am bereft of them today- my new slipjoint a from this weekend have almost every shape but that one, and have to try out the new toys!)

To entice you further:

And if you try it and don't like it, then there are more for me!! If you would like to try one out give me an email and we'll see about sending out a lender!

Kris

 

[ThundarStick]

I think the wharncliffe is just about perfect for my "tame" world uses. I have never found another blade better at opening those dam able plastic blister packages use so often today. One thing I do not like it for is dressing game. I want belly in my skinning knife, even if it's just a squirrel.

 

[akadave2]

Excellent point about it being a slipjoint. How is it "more useful" than the others?

Spey is not nearly as pointy..so its not a good utility blade I think. Its made to cut flesh for sure. Sheepsfoot is good. Good utility. Not as pretty as a Wharnie but thats my opinion. My thought is to get one and if it doesnt work out, sell it or trade it. Zips open boxes containing new knives like nobodies business!!!

 

[Jack Black]

Why can't you get into a Wharncliffe? Because you have the advantage over most posters, inasmuch that you have both Sheepsfoot and Lambsfoot blades. And they are BETTER!

 

[r8shell]

There's certainly no law saying you have to get into them. We are all too old for peer pressure. I find them very useful for straight draw cuts. If you are ever trying to cut leather, you will see. All the downward pressure from your hand goes to the cutting tip. Using a clip blade for that kind of cut seems to necessitate holding my hand at a less comfortable angle.
I haven't broken a tip on a wharncliffe, yet, but if I do, I suppose I would just grind the spine back down to the tip. Then I would have me a sheepsfoot. I like those, too.

 

[cchu518]

That skinny one in the middle of the first picture is AWESOME. What model is that?

I think a wharncliffe is definitely a try it and see type of blade. It is my primary choice for primary blade in nearly all applications. It is a lot more versatile than one would believe, and I rarely find I need a lot of belly in day to day cutting tasks, and if I do I will have a bellied blade with me as well. The GEC Executive Whittler is one of my favourite knives of all time, and to prove its usefulness I have taken it as my primary task knife while hunting (skunked so no game processing). I have no problem with tip strength, as in almost 36 years I have not snapped the tip off of a blade- and have just as many needle thin clip points as Wharncliffe, yet nobody balks at the tip strength of a clip blade to the same degree. The main negative I see is if you are using the blade and not edge- spreading mustard on a sandwich for example, as the blades are usually too narrow/constricted toward the tip. Most of my food use with my knives is cutting fruit/steak so that is a non issue. And be sure to try cutting steak with a Wharncliffe- while others drag their edge across the plate with a bellied blade, the tip is all that contacts my plate- leaving the other 98% of the edge sharp and ready for work. Also I find the shape good for reaming/reaching into tight areas due to narrow blade profile.

If it isn't for you, then it isn't for you- like many pen blades for me, or Spey for others. I would love an executive Whittler with Wharncliffe main, Spey secondary and punch. A tool, a belly blade that is short (all belly almost), and long slicing blade, but have yet to see a Wharncliffe with punch unless I've modified a broken Clip. (Although I must admit I am bereft of them today- my new slipjoint a from this weekend have almost every shape but that one, and have to try out the new toys!)

To entice you further:

And if you try it and don't like it, then there are more for me!! If you would like to try one out give me an email and we'll see about sending out a lender!

Kris

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Modified wc is great, like the Zulu pattern. For the reg wc, I can't personally carry a single blade. I need a trapper design or a jack design. Something psychological to be sure. I do carry the Gossman unk a modified wharncliffe fixed blade sometimes. Scott made one with fat handles for my big paws but the reg model could easily be the pocket fixed blade you're looking for. I have a pic of mine on the Appalachian trail somewhere.

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

That skinny one in the middle of the first picture is AWESOME. What model is that?

Good taste my friend! That is the Executive Whittler by GEC (also in the last picture). A great, solid yet refined, full size blade that disappears in your pocket and I feel is the most underrated of the whole GEC line, and unfairly written off as too frail for work. Recently my 4 year old son decided that it was his favourite of my knives, yet he usually picks a small Premier Stockman for me to carry, guess he doesn't want me to loose it before he inherits it!

 

[cchu518]

I love it, it's basically a full size blade with all of a knife's handle volume and blade volume erased but with all of a full size blades cutting surface attached still!

Good taste my friend! That is the Executive Whittler by GEC (also in the last picture). A great, solid yet refined, full size blade that disappears in your pocket and I feel is the most underrated of the whole GEC line, and unfairly written off as too frail for work. Recently my 4 year old son decided that it was his favourite of my knives, yet he usually picks a small Premier Stockman for me to carry, guess he doesn't want me to loose it before he inherits it!

 

[KennyB]

I really like the Wharncliffe pattern because it feels so much like using a utility razor. I don't have any tradtional patterned Wharncliffes, just my Kershaw "Woods Work". It feels like an Xacto knife you know? Very fine tip for delicate work, straight blade, etc. I can't really see the spey or sheepsfoot as having a strong advantage over it unless you need a blunted tip that won't "catch" on stuff, or need more of a belly. I do kind of like a spey more than sheepsfoot for that reason and can't see a Wharncliffe replacing it.

 

[MarkPinTx]

Seems first you have to compare apples to apples: sheep and lambsfoot, coping, wharnie, and at the outside, spey. None of these really have useful belly (some may disagree on the spey, but note that I said useful, ymmv). Comparison of other blades with belly just isn't fair.

Of these the wharnie has the most useful point for a slip joint: it will never be a pry bar. It is useful for cleaning nails, picking splinters, digging around in things, etc. As noted above.

I find it very handy for daily light use. I have a wharnie mini copperhead that really is the ultimate gents/office knife. I don't carry it all that much because I tend to like a longer and thicker handle.
.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Seems first you have to compare apples to apples: sheep and lambsfoot, coping, wharnie, and at the outside, spey. None of these really have useful belly (some may disagree on the spey, but note that I said useful, ymmv). Comparison of other blades with belly just isn't fair.

Of these the wharnie has the most useful point for a slip joint: it will never be a pry bar. It is useful for cleaning nails, picking splinters, digging around in things, etc. As noted above.

I find it very handy for daily light use. I have a wharnie mini copperhead that really is the ultimate gents/office knife. I don't carry it all that much because I tend to like a longer and thicker handle.
.

I picked the "outside" spey because it has often been swaped out for a wharncliffe on trapper pattern knives. The BF 2012, the recent 48 Wharncliffe Trapper, Case has one...... it seemed appropriate.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Why can't you get into a Wharncliffe? Because you have the advantage over most posters, inasmuch that you have both Sheepsfoot and Lambsfoot blades. And they are BETTER!

Excellent point Jack!

 

[22-rimfire]

I really like the Wharncliffe blade design. But I don't think I would choose it as my primary or only blade on a traditional. The birdfeeder cleaning use mentioned above is something I often do with my pocket knife. Yeah, a screw driver would work, but I already have the knife in my pocket and not the screw driver. I would suggest you do minimal prying with the wharncliffe. The 2012 BF traditional knife is a perfect example of designing a knife for everyday use with both the stronger clip design and the wharncliffe. I keep watching for the #42 to be made with both the wharncliffe and clip blades.

 

[Jack Black]

Excellent point Jack!

:thumbup:

 

[Omega Leather Works]

The wharncliffe is by far my favorite design. I use mine for a lot of things including carving.

I own a number of knives, these are my sharpest.

Full flat zero ground. Very acute (unmeasured) and slightly delicate but easy to fix if I get a bit unreasonable.

Exceedingly easy to sharpen too. One of my favorite modern folders is also a wharncliffe, but obviously doesn't fit in here. I mention it because the point is not frail at all on that one, yet it has a deep hollow grind and a 13(ish)° per side bevel, .010" behind the edge. Wicked carver that one.

 

[Lastmohecken]

I recently purchased a GEC Cuban Cigar #53 equal end knife with a big Clip blade and a Wharncliffe blade. I must admit it had taken a while to warm up to the first Wharncliffe's that I seen, but I have been carrying this knife for a few days now, and find myself using the Wharncliffe almost exclusively for everything from peeling and slicing an apple to cutting sheetrock, cleaning my fingernails, dug a splinter out of my hand yesterday with it, etc.

However, I have not found it the easiest blade to sharpen, as well as any sheepsfoot blades, I ever used. I just haven't been able to get them a sharp as the Clip Blade, for some reason. But the Wharncliffe didn't have a very good edge on it when I got it, and I think I still need to work on it some more, but it's still yet becoming one of my favorite blades.

 

[Rhinoknives1]

My thread really isn't meant to criticize the wharncliffe. I just keep talking myself out of getting one and wonder if that should change.


Great posts so far!

The wharncliff is all about the draw cut. When you want the best control with a straight cutting blade?
Think Warnnie!

They also work well for digging splinters out of your hand etc with that tip.