Which one for leather cutting?

klamp · #1

So I've been getting into leather crafting and for the cost of a good head or round knife, I'm tempted to just buy another Spydie, but which blade type and material would be best for the job?

Do any leather crafters use a specialty knife like a Rose, Osbourne, or Gomph? Any pros/cons to a round knife vs a Spyderco? Just for kicks, I went ahead and bought a couple of mules (BD1 & M390). If they're good for the task, great. If not, they'll just go into the collection and onto my kit. Another part of me thinks the bushcraft might fit the bill, but I'd still like to get some advice from the leather workers.

Sithus1966 · #2

For years I have used a sheepfoot/wharncliffe style chip carving knife for cutting leather. I have never tried a head knife myself. I have used utility type blades and Exacto types, but that chip carving style blade and the more comfortable handle has suited me. I did use recently my new ZDP Ladybug for leather cutting and it worked well. Leather can be tough on edges and it did the job. Now if you could get a Centofante 4 with ZDP, that would be perfect IMO.

bohica1998 · #3

This one works pretty good for that kind of thing. It's a slightly modded Blue Rescue.

Sort of a sheepsfoot-to-wharncliffe mod.

ChapmanPreferred · #4

If you can track down a Maddox I think you should give it a try. Seems the closest model to what the "industry" seems to favor for leather cutting.

jackknifeh · #5

I would think the thinner the blade the better. That might suggest FFG but I have a FFG Manix2 and a hollow grind Manix2. The hollow grind blade is much thinner at the edge. I think that would be better for cutting thinner material like leather. I don't do leather work though. I have cut some to make strops and that's it. I would think leather-crafting would require more accuracy. I'm not suggesting a Manix for leather, just the thinner blade grind.

Jack

Jordan · #6

While you could use any thinnish FFG spyderco as a trim knife... you really need some products that the company doesn't currently make. A round knife, for instance. The maddox, as mentioned earlier, was the closest thing to it... but you can get a pretty solid new one for maybe 60-70 bucks, whereas buying a discontinued spydie might set you back considerably more. You also need leather sheers and a beveler, maybe a rotary cutter and a swivel knife to top it all off. I got into some amateur leathercrafting a short while ago, and I'll tell you right now... it chews up knife edges. I wouldn't use an expensive pocket knife to trim with, even. You'd have to hit the sharpmaker every other cut :p . Ok, there is some hyperbole there... but you really would be better off just getting a good trim knife with disposable industrial knife blades (not a hobby knife) from a leather shop.

EDIT: Reread the OP, the benefit of a round knife over a traditional knife for leather working is that the round knife is purpose build for the tasks of cutting and carving. It is all belly. Other knives are built for cutting and piercing... usually one more than the other, but still both. Leather is pretty tough stuff to cut, especially to a pattern. You need that pure cutting capability that a round knife gives you sometimes.

J32A2 · #7

Temperance 2
Dodo

klamp · #8

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I just hunted down a cento 4. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and invest in a round knife.

unit · #9

Depending on HOW you are cutting the leather, I am not sure a FFG is really the best.

Hollow ground knives often result in a thinner blade at a point 1/8 to 1/4 inch behind the edge (than many FFGs). If you are cutting thin leather and doing so against a backing (i.e. not cutting as you might for breaking down a box), a thin well made hollow grind would be *MY* choice.

I also like a wharncliffe for this task, but for current offerings the Gayle Bradley is a fine choice. The M4 will hold a nice edge for this task and the blade geometry is reasonably good and quite versatile. Again, it really depends on how you are going to be cutting the leather.

Hope this helps.

Edit to add...I am NOT a leather worker, but I cut bits of leather once in a while. Honestly, I can not claim to understand your needs at all. However, for the leather cutting I have done I think a Scandi (Bushcraft) would be a very poor choice.