Why do warncliffe blades suck so badly?

mhawg

mhawg

Joined
Jan 10, 2003
Messages
5,057
I, personally, find no use in everyday application for a 'warncliffe' blade. The same goes for the 'sheepsfoot', 'coping' and the 'spey' blade. They are historically accurate to be included on certain styles of knife but are they useful in any modern application? I finally found out that the 'stupid crooked hatchet head' I have is actually a carpenter's hatchet or a framing hatchet so enlighten me on these seemingly archaic blade shapes.
 
Sheepsfoot blades can be good for jobs where someone might be hurt, or really anything that would be bad if you accidentally stabbed something you were cutting near. I'd rather cut myself free of a seatbelt with a round-tipped blade than a pointy one.

As for things like the Wharncliffe, I've always thought it was more aesthetics, really. Its basically just a straight edge with a weird top.
 
The majority of the cutting I do throughout the day are straight cuts or cutting requiring a fine point. Wharncliffe blades handle these types of tasks better IMHO. I don't really need a blade with any sort of a belly most times. If I'm hunting or chopping then obviously a wharncliffe is not the right choice. Unless I'm mistaken, I've seen a Busse or two with blade shapes similar to a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot. I think they could have been modified. I remember seeing one with blue G10 handles on a boat I believe.
 
This "wharncliff" or "sheepsfoot" blades have been used for centuries in the kitchen. I still peel my potatos with something like this::D

molenmesje.jpg


Kind regards,

Jos
 
I'm in the same boat as morrowj, most of my cuts are ones requiring a fine point, and the lower point on a wharncliffe makes it easier to use and control the point than a drop point or something.
 
mhawg said:
I, personally, find no use in everyday application for a 'warncliffe' blade. The same goes for the 'sheepsfoot', 'coping' and the 'spey' blade. They are historically accurate to be included on certain styles of knife but are they useful in any modern application? I finally found out that the 'stupid crooked hatchet head' I have is actually a carpenter's hatchet or a framing hatchet so enlighten me on these seemingly archaic blade shapes.
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Is it that they are useless or is it that you don't try and use them.

The so called Warncliff design has been in constant use for many millennia.
The sheepsfoot has probably been around as long.

Both designs have a long history with leather/wood craftsman, gardeners and use as a fighting knife.
They also work great for opening boxes, letters and food prep. It's one of the most useful utilitarian blade designs. Perhaps that's why it has been around for so long.

Personally when one is available I find myself using it more than the Turkish clip.
As far as the spay blade I just think of it as a small pen blade.......
 
Well Jos, you certainly took the very best you could get for those jobs.:)

As far as i know, a "Wharncliffe" is not a historical blade shape, even though it is somehow old. It was a personal design of soundso Wharncliffe who looked for a strong blade shape.

I enjoy those blade styles too. But tend to prefer slight bellied edges, like on the Griptilian over straigth edge.
 
funny on my yellow case med stockman those two useless blades are the ones i use the most, maybe i need to be more tacti-cool:rolleyes: And one of my favorite new acquisitions is a vic gardener with a super sharp worthless sheep foot blade... light, slim, and an excellent slicer:thumbup: suppose i'm archaic
ivan
 
I really enjoy wharncliffe and sheepsfoot style blades and use them all the time. They are very useful utility blades and are easily sharpened because of the straight edge.

Back in the old-timey sailing days, shiphands were often forbidden from wearing knives with points, so sheepsfoot knives became the norm.

A larger, sharp pointed wharncliffe style blade also gave an entire culture its name, the "Saxons" took their name from their distinctive cutting tool, the "Seax" which in most variations is a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot style of blade.

Box cutter blades take their shape from the wharncliffe, and nothing can beat that shape for ease of piercing and cutting materials such as cardboard or leather.

Other similar straight edged knives are very useful for pushcutting cordage and rope. They are also very good for whittling.

I don't skin animals, so I have no need for a clip or skinner type of blade. Make it a wharncliffe for me!

Andy
 
Wharnecliff is derived from the sheepsfoot. This was for woodcarving as it let you get into corners better.
 
Smash05 said:
http://www.agrussell.com/knife_information/knife_encyclopedia/glossary/s.html#SpeyBlade
Click to expand...

If you have ever castrated a hog or calf, you know that a blade with a point on it is a bad idea when dealing with critters that will jump buck and kick. Growing up on a hog farm, we used to castrate using spey bladed pocket knives but got tired of having to clean the knives up, not to mention all the sharpening.

We eventually bought scalpels with replaceable blades, but we always snapped the points off with pliers before going to work.

Andy
 
You are in the minority then. Even the Stanley knife made for general utility and contractors used nationwide and the world over recognize the shape as the best for general cutting needs.
The Spyderco Delica and Calypso Jr. both which happen to be big favorites among Spyderco fans are nothing more than modified Wharncliffe blades when you take away the Spyderhump for the opening hole and see it for what it is. The Delica is Spydercos biggest selling knife of all time. Wonder why? Most of the popular models of the Wharncliffe are more specifically modified slightly to add some upsweep to the tip area or the tip third. But even the straight ones taken out to a good point come in handy for a number of daily chores from whittling, to anything a Stanley utility knife can be used for.

STR
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
If you have ever castrated a hog or calf, you know that a blade with a point on it is a bad idea when dealing with critters that will jump buck and kick. Growing up on a hog farm, we used to castrate using spey bladed pocket knives but got tired of having to clean the knives up, not to mention all the sharpening.

We eventually bought scalpels with replaceable blades, but we always snapped the points off with pliers before going to work.

Andy
Click to expand...

I love stories like this. Thanks.

Gems like yours (in my opinion) are just as cool as a thorough review on a knife I'm considering buying.
 
morrowj_98 said:
The majority of the cutting I do throughout the day are straight cuts or cutting requiring a fine point. Wharncliffe blades handle these types of tasks better IMHO. I don't really need a blade with any sort of a belly most times. If I'm hunting or chopping then obviously a wharncliffe is not the right choice. Unless I'm mistaken, I've seen a Busse or two with blade shapes similar to a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot. I think they could have been modified. I remember seeing one with blue G10 handles on a boat I believe.
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup:..quit dissin wharnies:grumpy:
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
I really enjoy wharncliffe and sheepsfoot style blades and use them all the time. They are very useful utility blades and are easily sharpened because of the straight edge.

Back in the old-timey sailing days, shiphands were often forbidden from wearing knives with points, so sheepsfoot knives became the norm.

A larger, sharp pointed wharncliffe style blade also gave an entire culture its name, the "Saxons" took their name from their distinctive cutting tool, the "Seax" which in most variations is a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot style of blade.

Box cutter blades take their shape from the wharncliffe, and nothing can beat that shape for ease of piercing and cutting materials such as cardboard or leather.

Other similar straight edged knives are very useful for pushcutting cordage and rope. They are also very good for whittling.

I don't skin animals, so I have no need for a clip or skinner type of blade. Make it a wharncliffe for me!

Andy
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup:What he said:)
 
The Wharncliffe is my favorite blade. It just works better for me in the way that I use a knife. Several other people have listed the advantages of the Wharncliffe blade. Give it a try. You may like it.
RKH
 
I prefer a modified wharncliffe myself..very handy, but to each his own :)
 
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There are very few serious blue water sailors out there who don't own at least one wharncliffe blade. I crossed the Atlantic twice under sail. I kept the pointy knives in the galley while the wharncliffe was always on the belt.

Greg
 
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