Let's Talk Wharncliffes

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

depends on the wharncliffe because the yojimbo or yojumbo would both be great in that role.

These came to mind for me, too. I haven't handled either one, mind you, but that first 3/4" or so of the blade at the tip looks like it'd stab with ease.

[PMBohol]

I love wharncliffe blades. I’ve used my Air for everything from opening parcels to digging a splinter out of a finger. That particular knife has a nice fine point for that.

[mikey177]

I use a wharncliffe paring knife for cutting board food prep all the time. I also use box cutters, which are essentially wharnies, for breaking down boxes and other utility-related tasks.

The only task where I would rather not use a wharncliffe is cutting off someone's seatbelt after a car accident because of the risk of accidental stabbing. But the same can be said of drop point blades as well.

[KeepCalm&Carrion]

I like wharncliffes a lot. They excel at a lot of your average knife user's cutting tasks, and you get a lot of cutting power for the blade length.

As for downsides, they tend to be less pocketable with the taller blade height. That's not enough to dissuade me personally, but it's worth pointing out.

[Evil D]

I carried a Yojimbo 2 for a good long time and I've carried my Autonomy 1 for probably longer than any other knife I own, and though it's more of a sheepsfoot than a wharnie it has the same edge and I think applies to the question being asked here.

My experience is that they'll cut anything you need to cut, as good and in some cases even better than a blade with a belly, up until you need to make cuts against a flat surface like a cutting board, and then it'll really depend on the rest of the design of the knife. You can chop veggies with a Yojumbo just fine if you hold it in a pinch grip, because the entire edge is lower than the handle so you can get the whole edge flat on a cutting board. If the design has any negative blade angle then this becomes an issue.

Even still, you can still cut veggies or whatever, you just end up dragging the tip across the cutting board and you have to make more of a slicing cut vs a chopping cut. Consider how many kitchen knife designs have little to no belly.

Skinning is a whole other situation. I think you could get it done with a wharnie, there are guys on the Alone show that are using multitools for skinning that have blades that are more like a sheepsfoot and don't have much belly at all. You may not get every bit of fat off the pelt but what scenario are we using a pocket knife for skinning besides survival? If you want it specifically for skinning, then buy a design that will obviously excel at skinning. Ask yourself if this is a real need or a hypothetical need.

Most cuts that I make tend to be mid air cuts where I'm holding the material in my off hand, and especially if I'm doing any kind of pull cut action this is where less belly is better because the material is less likely to slip off the blade. Any cut that I need to make with the very tip of the blade is easier for me with less belly, especially if I have to twist my wrist around to make the blade contact what I'm cutting.

All that said, I'm starting to appreciate bellies and particularly drop points because of how stout the tip can be made. I think there's a reasonable amount of concern to be had over the tip strength of a wharnie vs other blade shapes.

[SpeedHoles]

I use a wharncliffe paring knife for cutting board food prep all the time. I also use box cutters, which are essentially wharnies, for breaking down boxes and other utility-related tasks.

The only task where I would rather not use a wharncliffe is cutting off someone's seatbelt after a car accident because of the risk of accidental stabbing. But the same can be said of drop point blades as well.

Yep, the fact that many of them are essentially thick, heavier, larger box cutters, that paints the picture pretty well for anyone to kind of grasp the usage and feel they might expect from some wharncliffe designs. And I'm sure quite a few people have experience with breaking a box cutter razors tip or dulling the last section of edge out near the tip... Then replace.
Can't replace on these folding knives, so gotta be aware of that fact during your usage. Or, like me, you'll be reshaping a wharncliffe blade into a sheepsfoot sooner than later...

[RustyIron]

I'm starting to appreciate bellies and particularly drop points because of how stout the tip can be made. I think there's a reasonable amount of concern to be had over the tip strength of a wharnie vs other blade shapes.

Or, like me, you'll be reshaping a wharncliffe blade into a sheepsfoot sooner than later...

Thanks, gents. These are the concerns I'm contemplating before throwing a wad of cash at a Wharnfliffe. You might have helped talk me out of it.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

I ordered the Spyderco Endela Wharncliffe. Will I be happy with it?

[ladybug93]

depends on the wharncliffe because the yojimbo or yojumbo would both be great in that role.

These came to mind for me, too. I haven't handled either one, mind you, but that first 3/4" or so of the blade at the tip looks like it'd stab with ease.

they're designed to assist slicing while stabbing. if you listen to the mr janich, he designed them with that ramp up the spine so that as you pierce, the blade is pushed downward. this effectively gives you the same type of advantage you get from a curved blade moving through material because it forces a slice along with the forward momentum.

[Scandi Grind]

Thanks for all the comments folks. It has helped cement a couple things in my mind.

[Manixguy@1994]

I'm starting to appreciate bellies and particularly drop points because of how stout the tip can be made. I think there's a reasonable amount of concern to be had over the tip strength of a wharnie vs other blade shapes.

Or, like me, you'll be reshaping a wharncliffe blade into a sheepsfoot sooner than later...

Thanks, gents. These are the concerns I'm contemplating before throwing a wad of cash at a Wharnfliffe. You might have helped talk me out of it.

You could also consider trying the Wharnie design in a close out sale or even a Byrd to form your own opinion . Just a suggestion nothing more . Dan

[SpeedHoles]

I'm starting to appreciate bellies and particularly drop points because of how stout the tip can be made. I think there's a reasonable amount of concern to be had over the tip strength of a wharnie vs other blade shapes.

Or, like me, you'll be reshaping a wharncliffe blade into a sheepsfoot sooner than later...

Thanks, gents. These are the concerns I'm contemplating before throwing a wad of cash at a Wharnfliffe. You might have helped talk me out of it.

Don't listen to us haha. He specifically asked for the downfalls in his original post, rather than the typical threads with only all the glowing positive attributes. So because of that, some of the responses in here might seem angled that way.

As with everything there's compromise and pros and cons. But here with the wharncliffe, for many uses the pros outweigh the cons. Some situations, occasionally the cons out weight the pros... Tips, regardless of blade grind, are almost always vulnerable if dropped or banged off something (or forbid, pried with!?)
So - perfect reasoning to carry a pair of complimentary blades/tools that can be used for different tasks. Like I've said before, some days I'll carry a Wharncliffe and a drop point, etc. of different sizes. The MicroJimbo has actually been living in one of my pockets for some time now, and I'll alternate a larger knife carry. And some days I even carry a small literal razor blade box cutter...

[SpeedHoles]

Thanks for all the comments folks. It has helped cement a couple things in my mind.

Don't believe us, seriously, the responses may seem angled because you asked for it to shine a light on the negatives.
Go ahead and try one out. Even if it's not your jam, it's worth the first-hand experience on your own. Little to lose.
Let us know what you end up with!

The "DelWharnica", or Endela wharnie is a great option in my opinion.... If not one of Mr. Janichs designs.

[mikey177]

^ And because of the large number of wharncliffe models that were recently discontinued, you can find them at a pretty good price. I've even seen Byrd wharnies going for less than $30 online.

[mikey177]

I ordered the Spyderco Endela Wharncliffe. Will I be happy with it?

Just use it and let us know. I'm happy with mine.

[Scandi Grind]

Thanks for all the comments folks. It has helped cement a couple things in my mind.

Don't believe us, seriously, the responses may seem angled because you asked for it to shine a light on the negatives.
Go ahead and try one out. Even if it's not your jam, it's worth the first-hand experience on your own. Little to lose.
Let us know what you end up with!

The "DelWharnica", or Endela wharnie is a great option in my opinion.... If not one of Mr. Janichs designs.

I am not coming away with a less positive view of wharncliffes, just I think a better idea of where it will or won't have a useful impact on my usage. In general I think I would find that my Endura is a good middle ground, slight curve, but enough to offer me some extra versatility. If I had more expendable income I'd love to have the other option to choose from, but for the time being, I don't think I would gain much from getting one.

[hambone56rx]

Once I went wharncliffe, I haven’t gone back. I picked up a k390 Endela while vacationing in CO and visited the SFO. That lead to rhe k390 Delica. Then I picked up a Swayback and Rockjumper. For my general EDC of opening packages, I have t found a better blade shape!


Good Lord willing, will pick up a Yo2 in 15V

Hamilton

[mikey177]

Check out the Canis if you want a wharnie with a more robust tip. Below is the Canis (right) compared to the Yojimbo 2.

Also, some modified wharncliffe models like the Spyderco Drunken and the discontinued PPT may offer a less fragile tip.

[JBoone]

Only have one and it makes me want to irrationally attack cardboard
K390 endela.

For me, my thoughts are that the blade shape is a bit specialized for such tasks but the standard endela is a better multi function EDC. The standard also takes up less pocket space.

Having said this I really have not carried the wharnie enough to assess its downsides.

Seems as if supplies are almost gone on K39O in this blade configuration for all models.

[JBoone]

Thanks for all the comments folks. It has helped cement a couple things in my mind.

Don't believe us, seriously, the responses may seem angled because you asked for it to shine a light on the negatives.
Go ahead and try one out. Even if it's not your jam, it's worth the first-hand experience on your own. Little to lose.
Let us know what you end up with!

The "DelWharnica", or Endela wharnie is a great option in my opinion.... If not one of Mr. Janichs designs.

I am not coming away with a less positive view of wharncliffes, just I think a better idea of where it will or won't have a useful impact on my usage. In general I think I would find that my Endura is a good middle ground, slight curve, but enough to offer me some extra versatility. If I had more expendable income I'd love to have the other option to choose from, but for the time being, I don't think I would gain much from getting one.

Agreed. Your Endura will serve you better than fine.