Knife Blade Shapes

[Guest]

I have always carved with a straight blade, with the cutting edge angled about two - five degrees from the handle.
So if the blade was held with the sharp edge down, the tip would be the lowest point.

I have been making some knives with a slight convex arc (along the cutting edge) from the handle to the tip. I find it interesting to carve with, although not practical for details.
I was wondering what blade shapes you commonly use?

[AlArchie]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

Rick, I'm with you on using mostly a straight blade. Once in a great while I will use one with a halfmoon blade (cutting edge on the inside. Other than that it's mostly all different sizes od straigh cutting edge blades. I do have a couple like you are making, and kinda use them like a straight blade once in a great while. I also use several size bent knives. The one I like best is made from a farriers knife. I heated the blade red and hammered it out around a 3' steel shaft. It would have worked as it came but that tight hook would not allow sharpening. It was a good grade high speed steel so the heat didn't seem to affect the blades sharpness or durability. course maybe I just lucked out, too!

Al

[Guest]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

I like the straight blades too, but I have the flexcut pelican and minipelican and I like those as well.

[FatEddy]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

I have been carving mostly with the large black of a pocket knife. Which part of the blade I use depends on what I'm trying to do at the time. You can do fine detail with the very tip or really hog out big cuts with the base of the blade. I often use part of the blade as a handle. Haven't slipped yet, but it's probably coming. Have bought a raft of carving knives and until recently haven't found one I really liked. But a coule weeks ago I bought two Warren blades, the detail blade and the one that looks like a traditional carving knife. Made some permanent handles for them. The detail blade I just mounted normally, but the traditional blade I did just as Rick has been doing, mounted it with a little drop point. The dropped point seems to allow getting into those niches where the handle used to get in the way plus I seem to see what I'm doing better. Have only been using it about a week, but so far it's been working great.

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

I was once told that NOBODY makes carving knives with an up-turned edge! Bunk. I do and so do a lot of other knife makers. About 1/3rd of my knives have an upswept edge and I use them a lot. It provides a smooth slicing action that cuts through end grain and hard woods very well. The person who told me that carving knives ALWAYS had flat edges said that it would be too dangerous because you could pick up a swept blade, think the spine was the cutting edge and cut yourself badly. DUH! Pay attention when you are using razor sharp cutting instruments! It could certainly happen but the careful use of dangerous instruments is critical regardless of the shape. BTW, Hi Rick, Long time, no see!

[Guest]

[Guest]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

Hi Cap't.
Woody, I have noticed that also, everyone likes borrowing my personal knives. I also like the flat wedge shaped blade, I also add a micro bevel for strength.

[Butch]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

I started out using a straight blade knife. Bought a Helvie and a Flex Cut detail and like them both. In November, I bought a Dunkle knife with an up swept blade. Easiest cutting knife I've ever used. It's about the only blade I pick up now.

Capt. I saw a lady friend of mine do the exact thing you wrote about. She always used up swept blades but, was showing a young man how to make a certain cut using his knife. It was one of those things where you see what's going to happen and, just can't get your mouth working quick enough.


Butch

[FK]

Re: Knife Blade Shapes

I also like the upswept point blades. My all time favorite is the two series made by Herb Dunkle, the Hi Point and Sweep. These knives move through basswood like it was butter.

I also collect carving knives and have about 10-12 makers for reference. They all are fine with proper edge geometry. Some are not the best when purchased new and I will modify them on a series of diamond hones.

Regards,
FK