What Swivel Knife do you use most often?

[JD Alan]

Good day Gents. JD here, new guy to the forum, and pretty new leather crafter. I wrote to Marshall Will, asking if there had been any recent thread or poll on what swivel knife was used the most around here. He said there hadn't been, so here it goes.

As a new guy, I've not had any experience with a swivel knife other than the basic Tandy with 1/2 inch barrel, and a couple of the regular Tandy blades. Since pro mechanics don't buy their tools at Wal Mart, but Snap On, I'm wondering what you experienced guys use in the way of swivel knifes for your day to day needs.

I would be interested in brand, barrel size, height, and the type and brand of blade(s)

Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond, I would appreciate your perspective

JD   

[Dalton Masterson]

I have a lot of the cheap Tandy ones, with no bearings, and 1 of the Al Stohlman leather handled ball bearing ones. The one I always grab is the ASB. The ball bearings make it very smooth to work, compared to the others.
I saw that HideCrafters had a selection of ball bearing knives in there catalog, but havent tried them.

I use the ceramic blades, btw.
DM

[JD Alan]

Thanks Dalton, I appreciate the info. I bought a Ceramic blade, but it sure does drag. I read the post involving sharpening ceramic blades, but I haven't tried it. I was told by the Tandy folks you couldn't sharpen a ceramic, but I should have known better than that. I've been reading a lot about a Henley, so it sounds like a good quality knife.

I plan to drive over to Pendleton in a couple of weeks for the big leather show over there. It's about 4 hours from SW Portland. I hope to be able to try a few different knifes over there.

Thanks again, JD 

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I've been using the same three cheapos I've picked up over the years. I keep eyeing the ones with bearings and will get a couple eventually but for now, these just keep working. I have one set up with a double-sided straight blade (the first one I picked up in 1970 at Tandy) that's a real workhorse, another one with a tapered blade for more detail work and one for other specialty tips. The only ceramic blade I have is a double line one that did need to be sharpened. After working it over, it cuts great. I'll get more ceramic blades when I need new ones. As to brands, I haven't a clue what the ones I have are.

[cowboywc]

Howdy JD
I have 27 knives from almost every maker. Bob Beard, Barry King, Chuck Smith, Leather Factory, Tandy,
Mc Phearson, Standing Bears Trading Post and some unknown makers. (pix 1)
The ones I use most is my Bob Beard and SBTP knives. The rest have special blades for special jobs.
The blades I use most is Bob Beard and Henley. They hold an edge better and longer than any other.
They are the best in my opinion.(pix 2)
The only knife and blade I won't own is the Wrangler from Paul Zalezack. ( I have personal reasons)
WC
P.S.
Forgot I do have the leather barrel ASB but forgot to shoot is.

[JD Alan]

Will, I didn't feel bad at all when I saw your knifes. I have three blades, just like yours, at least looks wise. Mine were puchased at the Tandy store. I have two Tandy knifes; an adjustable, and a shorter one, which I like a little better.

Then I saw WC's knifes, Holy Cow! I understand he's a pro, and has been at this a long time.

So many knifes, so little time!

Thanks Will, WC.

[cowboywc]

Howdy JD
Don't feel bad til you've spent the money I have.  Believe me a lot of them were not cheap.
WC

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Holy Shamoley, Wayne. LOL, which 10 are your favorites?

[cowboywc]

Howdy Will
My favorites are the Black Bob Beard with the round yoke and Henley 1/4" angle blade, the SBTP with
round yoke and Henley 1/4" fine angle blade, the 3 Chuck Smith engraved, the Bob Beard with the ceramic
beader blade, the Henley with 1/4" straight blade & the 2 Tandy Pro-lines with the ceramic 1/4 angle and fine angle blades.
WC

[JD Alan]

WC, you are a wealth of information!

Can you tell me what it is about the round yoke that you like? I'd never seen one until you posted your pictures.

Are there any of the knifes you regularly use that don't have ball bearings?

Thanks again, and I hope more pards chime in with their preferences.

JD
 

[cowboywc]

Howdy JD
Even after almost 30 years of carving my hand will cramp up after a long carving session (1hr or more).
I've had the knife drop out of my hand and put a mark in my leather, with the round yoke it hangs off my
finger.
All my knives that I carve with have ball bearing yokes. The others have special blades for quick things like
hair etc. Some are unique old knives I never touch.
WC

[JD Alan]

Now I don't feel too bad for dropping the knife from fatigue. Thanks for the reply, everything helps. JD

[knucklehead]

JD,

I have 2 swivel knifes rite now.
I have the big barrel brass one from leatherfactory with a ceramic angle blade.
the blade does drag through the leather and i strop it everytime i use it. but it still drags.
the other one i have is the al stohman with the leather barrel one.
this one turns very easy due to ball bearnings in it.
I have not used it much. i keep going back to the ceramic blade one.
I think that i need to learn how to sharpen the blades before i decide which one i like more.
and i need to practice with the straight blade more. right now i prefer the angle blade because i dont have to hold the swivel knife at a angle while using it.

as  i get more practice in with the knife holding it at a angle may give me more control over the knife. not sure yet, still new to using the swivel knife.

Now that i have had a class on sheridian carving i am looking at getting different tools so that i can do more of the shardian carving.

I am looking at getting a henley swivel knife.
Chan Geer highly recomends the henley which is what he uses all the time.
I had a chance to use the henley beader blade one and it glided through the leather like a hot knife in butter.

[outrider]

Knucklehead,

Where can one obtain one of the Henley swivel knives?

[cowboywc]

Howdy
Here is the contact info for Henley
    * Henley Mfg.
Shreveport, LA
phone (318) 631-3545
http://gemosphere.tripod.com/GEMOSPHERE/Swivel_Knivesx.html

[knucklehead]

WC,

thanks you beat me to the information.
the info i have for henley swivel knifes is at home and im at work rite now.
and due to the dang filters on work computer your link came up as a malicous site and will not let me access it.

i just love these government computers and their firewall setup

[outrider]

WC,

I notice that Henley offers several different diameters on the swivel knives...which one do you find the most comfortable?

[cowboywc]

WC,

I notice that Henley offers several different diameters on the swivel knives...which one do you find the most comfortable?

Howdy
I have all different sizes depending on what blade I'm using. My main use knives have bigger barrles. Less
fatigue. I do have a couple sets that have the same blades in a large and small barrel so I can change knives
when I cramp up, it helps.
WC

[ChuckBurrows]

Speaking of swivel knves - check out this work - done only with a knife -
http://www.leatherwranglers.com/contest.html

The same site also has some good tips on sharpening and stropping of steel blades -
http://www.leatherwranglers.com/tips.html

FWIW - I'm using the same adjustable 1/2" barrel Tandy swivel knife I got for my birthday 40 years ago - the only two changes are:
1) A 1/4" angle ceramic blade that was given to me about 10 years ago - It's been properly sharpened and I keep it stropped - I love it! and for the smaller scale work I do it's just the right size......IMO a GOOD quality blade of whatever material is the most important part - the rest is secondary to that.....
2) I have oily skin and my finger kept sliding around on the smooth steel finger yoke/pad - very frustrating and counter productive - so I glued a piece of thin leather to it - works for me 

I have over the years used several different high end knives and all were very nice and the main thing they aided in for me was fatigue due to their somewhat smoother action (it's all relative), but I don't do that much carving anymore so I just haven't found a need to change - besides this one is an old and comfortable friend and I'm cheap - must be that Scot's blood......

Also I'd be willing to bet that the "old timers" such as CW and Will will agree that while good tools are great and can be an aid to good work, more importantly it's the guy or gal using it and in that regard practice makes perfect - a tool, no matter how well made, won't make up for lack of practice.........I can't remember the guys name, but he was a pretty famous maker from the 1930-50's and he used a sharpened screwdriver for all his carving!

As always others mileage will vary.......

[JD Alan]

First off, thanks for replying Chuck. I've only been at this 8 months now, so I'm still in the fat part of the learning curve. I was hoping that a smoother knife would help me make smoother cuts. All I've done to my blades is strope them with Tandy bought jewelers rouge on a piece of veg tan leather. I need to look into some of the sharpening advice given on this forum.

Second, THANK YOU for the EXCELLENT DVD you have produced! As soon as I heard about it I bought it. The how to books with all their pictures and directions are not a great deal of help to me. I've never been good at putting things together using the inclosed instructions. My wife and daughter do great at it, but neither my son or I can seem to figure it out. I guess my son inherited my lack of skill in that area. I was planning on aquiring a table top belt sander eventually for the woodwork I do, and now I have another good reason to own one.

Watching you work on the DVD is so much better for me, since I can't be in the shop while you or someone else with a great deal of skill and experience was doing the work. That way I could try it myself.

Thanks also for the pictures of your work you share here. I'm blown away by the color as well as all the others aspects of a finely crafted piece of work.

JD