Blade Types, Sheepsfoot?

[Barnfixer]

On occasion I get the bug to pick up a new knife and I’m drawn mainly drop point style blades. Now I’ve been pondering a sheepsfoot style for some reason. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a sheepsfoot blade? They do look a little beefy.

 

[Mk-211]

Best Sheepsfoot Blade Knives For Everyday Use

The sheepsfoot blade isn't the most popular style, but it is certainly quite useful. These four knives show why you should try a sheepsfoot.

blademag.com

 

[JohnKSa]

They are usually easier to sharpen because they usually don't have much curve to the edge.

If you don't do anything that needs a pointy tip to the blade or a pronounced belly, then they should be fine. So good for slicing/chopping type stuff. Good for an emergency type knife where you might be cutting seatbelts or clothing where a point would be a liability.

Speaking for myself, I tend to think of a sheepsfoot blade as more of a special purpose style.

 

[Bazoo]

A knife with a belly is going to cut meat and food against a cutting board better than a straight edged blade.

Straight edges are good for carving wood, cutting boxes/opening packages, cutting rope.

 

[Barnfixer]

I’m thinking it’d be used as a chore knife. In the yard, field, garage or construction type use. I have a Tanto style folder that gets pretty abused but was thinking of a fixed blade to replace it. That Tanto blade is a heck of a gasket scraper!

 

[sparkyv]

I too, am a drop point kinda guy. I have my Grandpa's pen knife that has a sheepsfoot blade. Sadly, it sits in a safe unused...I've got no use for it, especially the sheepsfoot blade.

 

[jmr40]

Benchmade advertises this as a Sheepsfoot. It is not a true Sheepsfoot in my mind, but it is my favorite Benchmade design.

Benchmade Griptilian - AXIS Lock Knife | Black+ Satin S30V

This Griptilian model is built with a black handle and a satin finished S30V steel blade. Shop our full line of Benchmade Griptilian knives.

www.bladehq.com

 

[RA40]

My preference is with a bit of belly so this type is not carried with any frequency. This little 2" AUS-8 blade (Cheap import) for cutting tape on the boxes. The body was stated to be Ti so to test dipped it and sure enough it anodized.



One of my current variants in fixed blade form though more wharncliffe styled:

 

[Mk-211]

My preference is with a bit of belly so this type is not carried with any frequency. This little 2" AUS-8 blade (Cheap import) for cutting tape on the boxes. The body was stated to be Ti so to test dipped it and sure enough it anodized.

View attachment 1193727

One of my current variants in fixed blade form though more wharncliffe styled:
View attachment 1193730

Did you make the bottom knife? If so, great job, nice looking knife.

 

[hso]

The classic sheepsfoot has a straight edge with the spine of the blade curving abruptly to the point of the blade. The relatively blunt tip not only can be safer and less prone to puncturing, but also provides for a strong supported edge at the tip. It can withstand twisting and prying that a more pointed blade cannot.

 

[rhino465]

On occasion I get the bug to pick up a new knife and I’m drawn mainly drop point style blades. Now I’ve been pondering a sheepsfoot style for some reason. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a sheepsfoot blade? They do look a little beefy.

A true sheepsfoot gives you essentially the same utility as a box cutter, but with a longer edge. You can apply a lot of force at the top for cutting and the tip is easy to get "down" where you need it, as opposed to something like a clip point. They excel at opening packages, scribing lines in wood, and anything where push cuts are needed.

 

[hso]

wharncliffe styled:

Nice Warncliffe! Something very Scandinavian in the interpretation.

 

[rust collector]

Mariner's knives often have sheepsfoot blade profiles. Probably safer to use out on the bounding main or in any busy environment. If I was cutting a lot of sheet goods or perhaps lines or items of narrow width, it might make sense for me. I get more use out of a reasonable belly on my usual knives.

 

[rhino465]

Mariner's knives often have sheepsfoot blade profiles. Probably safer to use out on the bounding main or in any busy environment. If I was cutting a lot of sheet goods or perhaps lines or items of narrow width, it might make sense for me. I get more use out of a reasonable belly on my usual knives.

It's a perfect shape to baton or hammer through a super thick rope too, which they used to do.

 

[MOPanfisher]

Remember the OLD days when we carried 3 blade folders, stockman, with clip, sheepsfoot and spey blades. I still sometimes carry them, Buck, UH, OT, Case etc.

 

[.308 Norma]

Remember the OLD days when we carried 3 blade folders, stockman, with clip, sheepsfoot and spey blades.

Actually, I DO remember the "OLD days" when I carried a 3-blade stockman in my pocket (as well as an electrician's knife in my tool pouch). I retired in 2005, but for 30+ years I did various types of electrical work. And one thing I noticed in all those years of doing that type of work was that the sheepsfoot blade in my stockman knife always wore out first - because that was the blade I used the most. For heavy-duty, real electrical work I used my electrician's knife of course (especially seeing as how the company I worked for paid for it) but for the fine, delicate work I sometimes had to do, out came my stockman knife with its sheepsfoot blade.

 

[RA40]

Did you make the bottom knife? If so, great job, nice looking knife.

Yes, thank you.

 

[rhino465]

Remember the OLD days when we carried 3 blade folders, stockman, with clip, sheepsfoot and spey blades. I still sometimes carry them, Buck, UH, OT, Case etc.

I have one in my t-shirt pocket right now!

 

[Ed]

A good sheepsfoot is great for gettin peanut butter out of the bottom of the jar.

 

[rhino465]

A good sheepsfoot is great for gettin peanut butter out of the bottom of the jar.

That's also a strength of the Mora Garberg and Kansbol. It's like they designed the shape of the tip to enhance peanut butter scraping potential.

 

[AlexanderA]

The British favored the sheepsfoot blade for their issue pocket knives (with and without the marlinspike).

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/edged-weapons/1944-british-army-pocket-knife-794714/

 

[RA40]

The British favored the sheepsfoot blade for their issue pocket knives (with and without the marlinspike).

https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/edged-weapons/1944-british-army-pocket-knife-794714/

Clicking that I get a D-Base error message.

 

[AlexanderA]

Clicking that I get a D-Base error message.

Works fine for me.

 

[RA40]

Thanks, working now...one of those internet mysteries. LOL
Like that one!

 

[BigBL87]

They're especially good for tasks where you want to minimize the risk of piercing. That's actually where the name comes from, originally sheep farmers used them for tending to the hooves of their animals, and the lack of a sharp point made it basically impossible to accidentally stab their feet when doing so.