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Tools That Keep Your Blades RAZOR SHARP: Knife Sharpeners Explained

Tools That Keep Your Blades RAZOR SHARP: Knife Sharpeners Explained

Knives are a staple in every kitchen, and since you are reading this from a knife enthusiast website, it is probably a staple item that you regularly carry in your pocket. However, to get the most out of your knives they must be kept sharp and in working-condition. There are several different main types of knife sharpeners available and each has its pros and cons. In this article, we will discuss the most popular types of knife sharpeners. These sharpeners consist of electric, hand-held, belt, and manual sharpeners. Alright, let’s get into it and learn about each type of knife sharpener, how to properly sharpen using each system, and how they can help keep your knives in tip-top form.

Electric Knife Sharpener

An electric knife sharpener is a plug-in or battery-powered machine that helps you to sharpen knives quickly and easily. Electric sharpeners come in various forms, from standalone units to ones that mount on a kitchen countertop using suction cups or rubber feet.

electric knife sharpening machine

Pros:

Quick and easy to use
Can be used by beginners
Allows for consistent sharpening
Can be used on a variety of blade shapes and sizes

Cons:

Can wear out the blade quickly if used too frequently
May not be suitable for knives with a thin or delicate edge
May not be suitable for knives with a very high carbon content

Hand-Held Knife Sharpener

The humble hand-held, pull-through sharpener is THE most popular knife sharpening system on the market. These are small, handheld devices that feature a set of steel rods that you pull your knife through to sharpen it. They’re easy to use, require no specialty skills or training, and they’re perfect for a quick touch-up. Unfortunately, they can remove a lot of material from your blade and can damage the edge, particularly if the knife has a specialty grind.

Pull-Through knife sharpener

Pros:

Portable
Easy to use
Ideal for On-The-Go (OTG) use
Can be used on a wide variety of blade geometries and sizes

Cons:

Can wear down the blade quickly if used incorrectly
May not be suitable for knives with a delicate or thin edge
May not be suitable for beginners who are just learning how to sharpen knives

Belt Knife Sharpening System

ken onion work sharp belt knife sharpener

Pros:

More robust than hand-held sharpeners
The most versatile machine to use with a variety of blade shapes and sizes
Ideal for sharpening multiple blades in a short period of time
Allows for consistent sharpening

Cons:

Can be expensive
May not be suitable for beginners who are just learning how to sharpen knives
Can take up a lot of space on a tabletop surface
Uses much more energy than other methods

Stone Knife Sharpeners

This is the most traditional way of sharpening a knife blade. They come in a range of grits and can be used to achieve a razor-sharp edge. The main pros are that they’re very effective, they can be used to sharpen any type of knife, and they’re ideal for real-deal knife enthusiasts who want to take their sharpening skills to the next level. The cons are that they require skill, time, and practice to use properly and they can also be quite messy to use (Especially with oil).

sharpening knife on whetstone

Whetstones (Waterstones)

Pro: Easy to use and allows for the ability to get extremely sharp edges.

Con: Requires some skill and practice to use successfully and requires routinely flattening the stone.

Diamond Stones

Pro: Fast and efficient, with very long-lasting sharpening surfaces.

Con: Higher cost and can be too aggressive for certain types of steel.

Arkansas Stones

Pro: Easier to use than most sharpening stones.

Con: Can be slow to use and may not remove as much steel as other types of stones.

Oil Stones

Pro: Fast and smooth way to sharpen a knife.

Con: Can require frequent soaking to maintain lubrication and can also be quite messy to use.

Honing Rods

Another popular sharpening method is to use honing rods. These are straight rods made from steel or ceramic that you use to align the edge of your knife. By running your knife along the honing steel, you can remove any minor deformations or unaligned sections on the blade and improve the edge’s cutting ability. The pros are that they require almost no skill or training, they’re perfect for everyday use, and they’re very gentle on your blade. The cons are that they can only be used on certain types of knives and they won’t help if your knife is already dull. This is more of an edge-touch-up tool instead of a ‘sharpener.’

steel honing rod

Pro: Simple to use and can quickly touch-up a dulling edge.

Con: Typically takes longer to use and may not be suitable for certain types of steel.

Conclusion:

Overall, the best choice of knife sharpener depends on your needs and preferences. If you are looking for the best overall sharpening system, a pull-through or belt sharpener is most likely your best option. Those looking for a fine, smooth edge will probably enjoy a whetstone, while diamond stones may be the best choice for those seeking fast and efficient sharpening. Arkansas stones and oil stones, while popular for their affordability, are not the very efficient or practical for most users. At the end of the day, the key is to find a sharpening system that meets your specific needs. Thanks for reading!

All About D2 Tool Steel

All About D2 Tool Steel

Two rolls of D2 tool steel

Perhaps you have been scanning your favorite social media site or online marketplace and realized that many of the ‘Cooler-Looking’ knives are stamped with the letter ‘D’ with the number ‘2’ directly beside it. “What the heck does that mean?” “Is it a brand I’ve never heard of?!” Nope. You, my internet friend, have just stumbled upon one of the best steel formulations ever discovered.

Ontario Rat II with D2 Steel Blade

D2 tool steel is a high-carbon steel that is widely used in the knife industry. It is often regarded as a ‘super steel’ due to its exceptional properties and heavy-duty applications, which make it suitable for a wide range of real-world purposes. They don’t call the stuff ‘Tool Steel’ for no reason. So, let’s get into the history, characteristics, and properties of D2 knife steel, and by the end of this article, you’ll know EXACTLY WHY they call D2, THE ‘Tool Steel’.

History of D2 Knife Steel

D2 knife steel is a high-carbon tool steel that was first developed by Crucible Industries in the late 1970s. It was designed to be hard and tough, with excellent wear resistance, and was marketed as a superior metal for cutting tools and knife blades. Knife manufacturers quickly took notice and their customers quickly caught on to the wonders of this miracle steel. For decades, since its initial introduction to the market, D2 steel has become one of the most popular materials for knife manufacturers, mainly due to its INSANE ability to hold an edge for extended periods of time.

Benchmade knife with powder blue handle and D2 blade

Characteristics and Properties

D2 tool steel has several excellent characteristics that make it a popular choice for knife makers and the users that purchase these knives. This ‘super steel’ is known for its exceptional wear resistance, edge maintainability, and its ability to sustain unorthodox maneuvers, such as being used as a pry bar or batoning. D2 steel is also highly resistant to corrosion, thanks to its high chromium content, which makes it suitable for use in wet or brackish environments. It really is a ‘super steel’.

hinderer folding knife with g10 scales

In addition to its wear resistance, D2 steel is also known for its overall toughness, which makes it suitable for use in hard-use tasks such carving. What I am really trying to get at here, is that D2 is a ‘no joke’ steel that can take a SERIOUS beating. Surprisingly, it is also relatively easy to sharpen and suitable for everyday carry tasks such as opening packages or cutting steak.

The hardness of D2 ranges from approximately 58-61 on the Rockwell C scale, making it particularly suitable for use in heavy use and outdoor survival tasks. However, it should be noted that the hardness of D2 steel, or any steel for that matter, can vary depending on the heat treatment process used by the manufacturer. So, always make sure to buy from a quality manufacturer such as Benchmade.

Rockwell hardness chart of D2 tool steel

Another advantage of D2 steel is that knife makers have found it easy to work with, making it suitable for use in a variety of knife patterns and designs. Due to the high carbon content, the steel formulation allows for the creation of different finishes, such as a hamon, which is a popular Japanese blade finish that uses a combination of clay with a specialized heat treatment in order to create a distinctive patterning on the blade itself. The bottomline is that you really can’t go wrong with D2 tool steel. It is a wonderful ‘super steel’ with a variety of uses. Thank you for reading.

My Absolute Favorite FULL TANG Bowie Knife

My Absolute Favorite FULL TANG Bowie Knife

If you have never gotten your hands on the Buck 124, then you definitely need to. There are many things that I ABSOLUTELY love about the blade. It comes out of the box with a RAZOR sharp 6-1/4″ blade made from 420HC steel. The build is absolutely solid. I’ve used mine quite extensively for over two years now and it is still rock solid, no rattling, minimal sharpening needed, and perfectly capable of batoning. For these reasons alone, I think that the Buck 124 is the best full tang bowie knife.

western bowie knife
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The Grip of the Buck 124

The grip is solid and secure. It is a black micarta handle with curves and palm swells that allow for the perfect grip. It fits in my hands perfectly and I wear large size gloves. There is a bit of extra room, so if you wear XL gloves you shouldn’t have a problem. The aluminum pommel is a nice touch as well. It does add a bit of extra weight, which is the only caveat. However, I will take a bit of extra weight for a good looking knife.

The Leather Case

leather sheath of bowie blade
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The case is quite convenient. The Buck 124 bowie knife is designed for best carry, and if that is what you plan on doing with it, then it will serve you well. The case is made from genuine, high quality leather.

Made in the USA

best bowie knife of all time

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The knife is made in the USA. So, if you are a fan of USA made stuff, then this is the knife for you. I am bias to Japanese knives personally, especially tanto knives, but lately the Americans have been making some extremely high quality knives. Buck has been making their knives in the USA since 1902. There are plenty of good reasons why Buck is still in business, and the Buck 124 is one of them.

The Spyderco Native – A Great Drop Point Knife

The Spyderco Native – A Great Drop Point Knife

Guess What I Found!

I was trolling around a Goodwill Thift Store one sunny summer afternoon. I was just about to go to a job interview and so I needed a pair of pants before I interviewed. So, after I found a pair of pants I strolled by the glass cased section and this beauty crossed my eyes. Yep, a Spyderco Native in S30V!

spyderco native drop point example

Forgive me for the blurry photos, my phone has a potato as a camera, but I was super stoked to have found this gem. Now you are probably wondering… Okay, great knife, how much – drum roll please…….  $4.98! As for the job, I didn’t get it. But, just getting the knife made the trip worth while. It was up in the gorgeous city of Chico, California. Beautiful city, super green with tons of trees.

super steel knife blade

Lovely S30V Steel Blade

So, naturally after the job interview I started whittling on pieces of wood and making mini spears. I must say, the knife was kept in incredible condition. I managed to chip the blade though on a piece of oak wood. It was on a knot in the wood, but for $4.98, I wanted to test how far S30V could push.

s30v steel blade spyderco native

Turns out, this steel is pretty tough. I went HARD on the knife in a short amount of time and only managed to chip two small parts, which is much better than something I would expect from a 440C or an AUS8.

Any Other Blade Updates?

Unfortunately, this is all I’ve got for today, but I’ll let you know how this knife resharpens once I get the chips out of the blade and strop it to a razors edge. The next knife purchase that I have had my eye on is the Cold Steel American Lawman knife. I LOVE that black on black look. Maybe soon, but not today.

folding knife spyderco drop point native

 

The Amazing Japanese Wakizashi Sword

The Amazing Japanese Wakizashi Sword

An Awesome Edition To Any Collection

wakizashi japanese sword

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The Japanese have been making swords since the dawn of their existence. The Japanese Wakizashi is one of their most famous swords used by the Samurai. The Samurai were an elite fighting force that still exists to this day. However, they are much less relevant and dangerous that they once were thanks to the invention of firearms. Swords are still very prevalent even in the present. The Wakizashi is a sword that has been around for a long time.

 

 How the Japanese Wakizashi Blade is Designed

The best thing about the Wakizashi is how there are two separate types of metal used in the sword. There is a hardened center metal and a softer (but still very hard) metal on the outside.

handle of wakizashi sword

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The softer metal is used on the outside to get a razor sharp edge, while the hardened metal on the inside is used to give the sword strength. The design of the Japanese Wakizashi sword is why it is so deadly. Due to the design, it is very deadly at short distance.

 

How Powerful The Wakizashi Can Be

It breaks through bones easily (assuming it is razor sharp) so if someone was to try and defend themselves with a broomstick or another softer device, then the sword would slice right through it.

displayed wakizashi sword edge

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However, while this sword is primarily used as a weapon, it is also a piece of art. This sword would look great inside a living room on display.

Hinderer XM-18 3-Inch Knife Review

Hinderer XM-18 3-Inch Knife Review

Razor Sharp Hinderer XM-18

I don’t think that I have ever had a production knife come straight out of the box as sharp as my Hinderer XM-18 did. It was so sharp that I was making micro-slices in printer paper. I also love the lock bar stabilizer that came with the knife. Most stabilizers I normally have to push too far just to unlock the knife, but the stabilizer on the XM-18 is PERFECT. If you want to skip this review and go straight to where you can buy the knife, click on the picture below. However, if you want to get down to the nitty-gritty of this knife, I will break down both the good and the bad.

hinderer xm-18 3 inch

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The Good – Hinderer XM-18 3 Inch

Hinderer is famous for overbuilding their knives. The XM-18 is no exception to this. This knife is completely overbuilt. Now, some may think that this is a bad thing. I think that the fact Hinderer makes their knives to take a beating is one of the greatest things about their knives.

hinderer xm-18 slicer

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The construction of this knife is solid. In fact, I have dropped mine several times on my solid concrete floors in my house and it hasn’t even managed to make a scratch on the Hinderer XM-18 spanto. I would assume that the Hinderer XM-18 wharncliffe would behave in the same manner, but I only own the spanto version of the knife.

The Bad – XM-18 3 Inch Knife By Hinderer

Unfortunately, the blade is so heavy that when I open it the recoil is quite large. Now, I get that this may be a good thing for some, but I don’t like how authoritative the opening is. I wish that it wasn’t so forceful, but I guess you can’t get everything when you get a knife that is so overbuilt. I also wish that they used a polish finish on the blade, but I do like the finish regardless.

hinderer xm-18 3

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Bottomline – Get It

This is a great knife for bad conditions. If I were to only have one knife for the rest of my life, I would definitely pick a knife close to the Hinderer XM-18 spanto. This knife isn’t going to break easily, and if I needed a folding knife for survival-like situations, then this would be a great option.

Cold Steel Finn Wolf Review

Cold Steel Finn Wolf Review

I Luv Knives Review Of The Finn Wolf By Cold Steel

Of the hundreds of knives that I own, the Finn Wolf from Cold Steel has to be one of my favorites. I am so glad that Cold Steel finally decided to make a folding knife with a Scandi Grind. While it may seem like a pretty lightweight knife, especially if you only look at the 3.2oz overall weight, this knife has a big, heavy blade.

cold steel finn wolf review

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Also, the lockup of this blade is incredibly secure, I might have to switch out my Mora that I regularly use on camping trips for the Finn Wolf in the future. Most of the weight comes from the hefty blade, and when I say hefty, I mean hefty. The knife is not well balanced at all and that is actually a good thing.

 

Baton With The Scandi Grind Finn Wolf

cold steel scandi grind blade

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I have lately been using my Finn Wolf for batoning through tree branches of various thicknesses and it has held up to the abuse thus far. I’m really impressed with this knife. Normally I, the owner of I Luv Knives, get a knife and it falls short in so many categories. I thought at first I was going to hate this blade because it wasn’t assisted. I usually love assisted knives, but this Cold Steel Finn Wolf review is the exception to that rule.

 

Cold Steel Finn Wolf Is Great For EDC

finn wolf knife overview

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I carry the Finn Wolf in my EDC blade rotation now. In fact, this knife has overtaken precedence over my once all-time favorite EDC knife – the SOG Flash II. Sorry SOG, you have been pushed out of the rotation because Cold Steel makes a fine knife. The Tri-Ad lock seals the deal, making this knife virtually as strong as a fixed blade. There is absolutely no blade wiggle both horizontally and vertically, it just simply locks up like a champ. If anything, the lock is actually TOO strong. However, I will never admit that to my friends, but I’m relatively anonymous in this review, so I will tell that secret to you in this Cold Steel Finn Wolf Review. It is actually a tad bit difficult to undo the lock, but I would rather have too strong of a lock than one that fails on me. Overall, I love this knife and it is one of my all time favorites.

The Ultimate Sailing Knife With A Folding Marlin Spike Tool

The Ultimate Sailing Knife With A Folding Marlin Spike Tool

The Best Boating Knife With A Marlin Spike

I always have wanted to have a sailing knife with a marlin spike attached to it so I finally decided to pull the trigger on the Camillus boating knife. They have two versions, but I am glad that I went with the bamboo version, because I heard that the other model has a slippery grip.

sailing knife marlin spike

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You definitely don’t want to have a slippery grip with a boating knife because… well… you are on a boat surrounded by water. Water tends to make boat knives that are slippery even more slippery. Also, the last thing that you want is to cut yourself while you are in the middle of the ocean miles away from medical help. The Camillus Ti Marlin Spike has a dual locking system that allows for both the blade and spike to be locked into place.

 

Marlin Spike Boat Knife Cutting Area

The cutting area is only 7cm long, but it is plenty for cutting rope and lines, as long as they are under an inch in diameter. If you are worried about your blade rusting while out at sea, then don’t worry, this blade has a very tough coating that will keep it from rusting even after hard use. The only other blade I have seen with such a tough resistance to rusting can be found in my Cold Steel Finn Wolf review. The Finn Wolf seems to never rust, even when I bury it with snow.

 

nautical blade with folding marlin spike

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Before we received the knife here at I Luv Knives, I was worried that the marlin spike would be flimsy and break on me because I have never seen a folding version before. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how sturdy this sailing knife marlin spike was in practice.

 

Small Folding Marlin Spike Tool Market

Unfortunately, the boating knife market is a very small niche inside of the very large knife community. It is especially rare to find knife manufacturers making blades with a folding marlin spike tool attached. While it may be a great nautical knife, definitely don’t use it as a throwing knife because it won’t work very well. It has a clear and defined purpose and it is only good for that purpose, nothing else.

small boat knife folder

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I have a feeling that they aren’t a hot ticket item that will be around for too long. So, if you are looking for a boat knife, then I suggest you pick this one up before it becomes discontinued.

Tanto Blade Advantages

Tanto Blade Advantages

Tanto Blades

-Advantages and Disadvantages-

*Pros & Cons of the Tanto Shape*

       Yes, I am a sucker for the tanto shape and I’m sure many others are as well.  That sexy triangular tipped steel can make a knife look quite awesome and deadly. However, there are some definite tanto blade advantages over say, a spear-point or drop-point edged knife. Unfortunately, due to that triangular shape, tanto blades have some disadvantages as well. While there are more than six advantages and disadvantages, I am going to hit the big three points for each. If you need more information on actual blade geometries of tanto knives, head over to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade#Geometry.

tanto blade example

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Tanto Blade Advantages

1. Tip Strength – This one should be pretty obvious, but due to the triangular shape leading to the tip, the tip has much more reinforcement behind it than a drop-point or spear-point. Unless you plan on regularly stabbing through car doors or using your knife as a shovel, this really shouldn’t play a huge factor. However, if you are using a knife in unorthodox fashion, then a tanto knife is for you. The tanto shape leads well to stab and pry, making it useful for numerous other tasks that most knives probably couldn’t handle. Tanto blades definitely make the cut when it comes to usefulness, ba-dum-tsss…

Gerber Prodigy Tanto Blade

Tanto Edged Knife Case for Gerber Prodigy

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2. Japanese Design – Alright, I have to give a shout out to the Japanese when it comes to knives. Japan manufactures some of the coolest looking knives that I have ever seen. Don’t believe me? Check out this knife and be amazed. The Japanese are also well known for their excellent steels. There are tanto knives made from VG-10 with amazing heat treatments from Japan that are absolutely incredible out there for sale today. Japan also makes a good AUS-8 steel. However, China is quickly joining the globe for the best knife production out there. While there may be excellent knives made everywhere, China has made production so inexpensive and quality to such an impressive value that it will be fun to see who can make the best knives in the near future. In my opinion, Japan is still making the best knives in the game. Tanto blades have pros and cons but most tanto shaped knife advantages are practical. If Al Mar made a tanto shaped knife in VG-10 then I think I would be in heaven. I have a spear point made by Al Mar and it is near perfect. A tanto blade would have made it absolutely perfect, but I can’t complain.

tanto knife by kershaw inc

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3. In The Field Serviceability – Since Tanto blades tend to have two flat edges without much curve, it is easier to sharpen a workable edge if you are in the field and don’t have sharpening equipment with you. This is one of the biggest tanto blade advantages even though they tend get a bad reputation for being impractical. However, this definitely doesn’t mean that sharpening a tanto edged knife is easy as you will see in the disadvantages below. You can sharpen a knife in the field using the edge of your cars glass windows or by bringing a sharpening stone with you. You could also find a flat stone out in the field that could be adequate for sharpening to a working edge.

Tanto Blade Disadvantages

1. Sharpening is a Pain – Since you have two separate bevels, instead of just sharpening one continuous edge, it feels like you are sharpening two knives since you have to switch between which bevel you are sharpening from time to time. However, it is a pretty simple to get a consistent edge on most tanto knives since they don’t tend to have much of a recurve in the blade.

2. Slicing Tasks Can Be More Difficult – Due to the fact that a tanto has two flat edges and almost no belly if you are slicing through a rough material then you probably aren’t going to have as easy of a time as you would with a drop-point or spear-point

.Tanto Blade Advantages

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3. Tanto Blades are Impractical – This goes back to point number one on the tanto blade advantages. If you aren’t planning on stabbing anything or anyone, a different style of blade with better slicing capabilities is much more practical for every day uses. While stabbing into your daily orange at lunch may be fun, slicing it with a drop point knife at the same sharpness would be much easier.

Bottomline

Tanto blades are awesome, but they aren’t very practical for every day uses. However, at I Luv Knives, we get it. You just like showing your knife off to friends while you do little daily tasks like opening letters, cutting meat, or slicing fruit, then a tanto blade will easily manage to complete these tasks. In fact, some of the best budget folding knives tend to have tanto edges. One of the best things about a tanto knife is how versatile they are for most tasks. While they are really made for piercing, using a knife blade shape such as the tanto can really make for a great overall experience.

History Behind The Tanto Edge

The tanto was originally created as a weapon, but throughout the years, it has evolved into a quite versatile knife. While the knife was designed for piercing, stabbing, and slashing, new versions of the tanto knife are great for every day carry. While there tends to be a sharp angle in a tanto edged blade, there are some manufacturers that have taken the liberty of modifying the angle to more of a drop point/tanto blade shape. While the best cheap pocket knife might not have a tanto edge, the blade shape is definitely noteworthy.

benchmade knife with tanto tip advantage

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Typical Uses Of A Tanto Blade

Tanto knives have all sorts of different uses. While many people today use them for every day carry, they have other practical uses as well. Many survival knives use a tanto point. Also, many tactical and fighting blades use a tanto edge as well. In fact, they are one of the types of blades that are most manufactured to date. They have a huge fan base that has developed over the years. Whether you are a fan of tanto blades or not, they are here to stay.

Sheepsfoot Blade Advantages

Sheepsfoot Blade Advantages

Why Would Anyone Want To Buy A Sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe Style Knife?

Short answer: They are Very Practical for Everyday Uses. Sheepsfoot blades have quite a few job-related uses and wharncliffe blades are great for many boating activities. While there are definitely sheepsfoot blade advantages, there are also some disadvantages to this bladeshape that will be discussed as well.

sheepsfoot blade advantages

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Sheepsfoot Blade Advantages

 

They Are Great For Carving Tasks

Have you ever been bored and had a knife on you with a stick nearby? Chances are, at one point you decided to carve that stick into a spear or other wooden creation. Well, many wharncliffe and sheepsfoot blades have a large belly portion that doesn’t curve upward to a pointy tip, allowing for a knife with excellent carving capabilities. Some wharncliffe knives have recurves built into them in order to allow for better slicing.

It’s Difficult To Accidentally Pierce Yourself

This is definitely one of the biggest sheepsfoot blade advantages. Anyone who uses a knife daily has most likely accidentally either stabbed or cut themselves. Well, since there isn’t a menacing tip on the end of a sheepsfoot or wharncliffe knife, badly stabbing yourself is pretty difficult to accomplish. There are some wharncliffe and sheepsfoot blades that do have sharp tips, but they are usually modified. A traditional sheepsfoot knife does not have a very sharp tip because of the smooth curve that transitions into the tip.

Works Perfectly Rescue Situations

Since there usually isn’t much of a tip, if any at all, sheepsfoot/wharncliffe blades are perfect for rescue/emergency situations. For example, if an EMT needed to cut an article of clothing off of someone in order to save their life, a sheepsfoot blade could cut through the clothing without much risk of accidentally stabbing the person.

sheepsfoot and wharncliffe knife

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Sheepsfoot Blade Disadvantages

1. Most sheepsfoot/wharncliffe style knives don’t have much of a tip. If you regularly need to pierce and cut different materials, these styles of knives probably aren’t going to be the best options. However, there are exceptions to every rule, take this knife or perhaps this one for example. Those knives are modified wharncliffe-style blades with very devastating-looking tips.

2. The sheepsfoot shape does not lend itself to being the greatest at cutting food. Since most blades curve up to a tip, you can have your knife at a slight angle and rock the knife from tip to handle as you are cutting food. This is difficult with a sheepsfoot or wharncliffe because you have to have the blade relatively flat against a material in order to slice it.

3. Many Models Seem More Tacti-cool, rather than practical. For example, this knife. If tacti-cool/mall ninja status is what you are going for, well, you’re welcome. If not, then stick to a more classical wharncliffe or sheepsfoot blade like the image below and steer clear of the modified ones.

benefits of a sheepsfoot knife

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Bottomline

Both sheepsfoot and wharncliffe blades usually don’t have much of a tip and can be very useful for carving, slicing, and rescue activities. They are very practical for most everyday uses. There are much more sheepsfoot blade advantages as opposed to disadvantages in our own personal opinions here at I Luv Knives.