Sheepsfoot/Lambsfoot knife fan club

[lesjones]

I've noticed a couple of people on THR praising sheepsfoot/lambsfoot blades, which have a straight edge and a sharp point at the end, almost like a utility knife or X-acto knife.

Lately I've started appreciating that blade style on my old Buck stockman. That sharp tip is really useful and is much easier to control than clip points and other sharp tip designs.

Anyone else a fan? Also, does anyone make a tactical folder with a sheepsfoot blade?

 

[sm]

Yes.
A most useful design indeed!

 

[poor_richard]

I’m sort of confused by your post. The utility knife or exacto blades are more examples of a wharncliffe than a sheepsfoot. While I’m not entirely sure when a blade style changes from sheepsfoot to wharncliffe, I always thought that the wharncliffe was when the tip of the blade was more pointed and angular, while the sheepsfoot was more rounded and basically blunt. I certainly wouldn’t mind someone clarifying this for me. Good examples are the Spyderco Rescue (sheepsfoot), and the Spyderco Ronin or Yojimbo (wharncliffe).

There are some tactical designs for the Wharncliffe design. Spyderco’s discontinued Ronin, and Yojimbo can still be found. Benchmade produced the Snoody Gravitator, and the Juju, both of which are discontinued. There is also a Smith & Wesson HRT fixed blade that is a wharncliffe. CRKT also makes the Dragoon. I’m sure there are others, but I’m not familiar with them.

As for a tactical sheepsfoot, Spyderco has just recently released the Rescue with the patented Emerson Wave feature. They also made the D’allara Rescue which has been discontinued for some time now. Some people think that the D’allara Rescue makes a good SD knife since it is very heavy duty and has a solid lock.

I personally like the Wharncliffe, and carry one occasionally. I have two Yojimbo’s and one Ronin. If I could get more, I would. But they are hard to find, and expensive due to collector value.

If your really want Yojimbo or Ronin, you might get Mike Snody to make one for you. Pretty sure he still makes the Ronin.

Both blade shapes will provide a good slashing due to the ability of the straight blade to stay on the cutting medium. I suppose that's why people like them for SD. The Ronin and Yojimbo have superior piercing capability with their needle like tip.

P.S.

You might check out this article.
http://www.martialbladeconcepts.com/ronin.htm

 

[mp510]

I have a couple of sheepsfoot bladed knives. Pretty useful in deed. I like them best combined with other blades, but solo their good too.

 

[shecky]

The distinction between Wharncliffe and sheepsfoot is pretty blurry sometimes. Best I can say from what I've observed is that sheepsfoot blades make worse stabbers than Wharncliffes. Of course, there's lots of variations, and there's no rules written in stone.

I really like sheepsfoot blades. My favorite is a cheap Okapi with a carbon steel blade. Good knife all around, easy to pocket, fantastic cutter.

 

[Pax Jordana]

I have a couple of knives (schrade makes one) that have sheepsfoot blades on 'em, and they are awfully easy to keep sharp. The straight edge makes lots of cuts simple. As far as utility goes, they're pretty hard to beat. And the blade shape gives them a nice point for skinning 'n such.


Now, as far as a 'tactical' folder, I wouldn't call these blades "tactical' simply because they're not built to stab (I believe the story goes they're built to trim up sheep's hooves). But I'm sure you could find one with a thumb stud somewhere.

 

[lesjones]

Poor Richard: I should have phrased that more as the functionality of a utility knife or X-acto knife.

PJ: yep, I don't need it for stabbing. I'm just hooked on one hand opening folders for the convenience. I get annoyed now when I have to use two hands to open a knife.

All but the smallest Swiss Army Knives have two blades, usually pen blades. It would be wonderful if they made the smaller blade a sheepsfoot. That sharp point with the comfortable geometry behind it is handy for a lot of everyday tasks.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

My Benchmade 550 Griptilian has what BM calls a "modified sheepsfoot" blade. The edge has a curve while the drops rapidly to the point. It has proven to be a quite useful blade shape.

 

[sm]

Victorinox Gardener fit into this blade category.
http://www.swissarmy.com/MultiTools/Pages/Product.aspx?category=garden&product=53567&

Pretty handy for utility work, handle is big enough to use, even with gloves, and in a office setting, PC, for opening boxes and even slicing cheese, apples and the like.

I've "dished" out the handle to make getting to the nail nick easier; dish it out enough, and one can "pinch" the blade to open, instead of using fingernail.

Not expensive, and appreciated gift for gents and ladies, and "pinching" that blade means not messing up nails for a lady.

Add a Rapela small "V" sharpener, and these touch up easy for a co-worker.
Usually a strop on a magazine, or cardboard is all that is needed.
Fine emery paper, atop a magazine and one can put a edge back on in the office and again, all PC and the knife is good to go.

These are also called "Floral" or "Florist" knives by some mfgs.
SAK is just inexpensive , PC and makes a good co-worker gift.

 

[poor_richard]

PJ: yep, I don't need it for stabbing. I'm just hooked on one hand opening folders for the convenience. I get annoyed now when I have to use two hands to open a knife.

There have been (at least) two knives mentioned in this thread that you might find to meet your requirements.

The Benchmade 550:
http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=550HG

Spyderco Waved Rescue:
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=276

Spyderco also makes the regular Rescue, and the Rescue 79mm, as well as the byrd Cara Cara Rescue, and the byrd Pelican. I believe that Gerber also makes a rescue knife, and I'm sure there are others as well. Then there is

Cold Steel Land Sea Rescue: http://www.coldsteel.com/29rls.html
Here's a dandy one by Kershaw (handled one at the show two weeks ago, and it's very ergonomic): http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=KS1820
The Leek is another Wharncliff, but the edge has some belly.

And don't forget the Boker Subcom Wharncliffe:
http://www.boker.de/us/index.php?c=51,2,48&a=BO588&p=&pp=0


There's probably a bunch more out there that I either don't know about or am plain forgetting. All of the ones mentioned in this post are one-hand openers.

 

[lesjones]

Those are some nice folders. I'm fond of thumbhole openers, so I'm inclined towards the Spydercos, but the Kershaws are tempting, for price on one and for the blade steel on the Junkyard Dog.

 

[JohnKSa]

Strong tips, excellent slashers, no good at all for stabbing. One of the best utility style blades there is, IMO.

I really hate the way they look...

 

[poor_richard]

Those are some nice folders. I'm fond of thumbhole openers, so I'm inclined towards the Spydercos, but the Kershaws are tempting, for price on one and for the blade steel on the Junkyard Dog.

I've liked Kershaw knives every since I first discovered them about six years ago. I used to carry a Whirlwind, and while the blade steel (440A) isn't premium by today's standards (or the standards when I bought it), Kai seems to do a very good job with heat treating. I think Ken Onion designs some great knives. They seem good in the ergonomics department, and the lines are quite stylish. the JYD is a Tim Galyean design. He also designs some great looking knives. The JYD is more of a spear point, but hey, if it turns you on, go for it. It's a popular knife, and it looks sweet to me.

The Needs Work is a dandy IMHO. I got to handle one at a show and liked it since I'm somewhat a fan of wharncliffe's. The handle is a bit bulky compared to some of the streamlined knives being put out today, but that added bulk transfers to better ergonomics (which are excellent on this knife). The Speed Safe opening wasn't as effective as I've come to expect from Kershaw, but great looking and feeling little knife that just begs to be used. The name is quite appropriate for that knife.

 

[coelacanth]

I believe the original Wharncliffe blade profile . . . .

was tapered from about the midpoint of the blade to the tip also which renders a well executed example one of the finest "splinter gitters" on the planet. I have a Wharncliffe whittler pattern from A. G. Russell and it is a superbly made knife.
The main blade has a tip so sharp it can draw a drop of blood before you feel anything.

 

[shecky]

I think this illustrates the difference. The top knife meing a Wharncliffe blade, the bottom being a sheepsfoot.

 

[sm]

shecky,

Very nice!
Are those factory, or did you do those?


Another useful combination is the sheep and spey blade only on a knife. [Just these two blades]
Some folks would / still take apart a knife remove clip blade from a Stock man (3 blades, clip, sheep, spey) , and rework springs and all for instance.

 

[shecky]

Those are stock Victorinox knives. The Wharcliffe isn't very common. I think it's referred to as a "horticulture knife". The bottom one is usually called a "Gardener". Both are a bit peculiar, in that they have chisel grinds. They're quite usable, though. Fantastic quality knives, and inexpensive, too.

 

[sm]

Thank you.

I just double checked the link I gave earlier, yes, it is the same knife.
Your picture represents it better than what I linked to.
Maybe just my eyes, blade looks shorter in my link. *shrug*

The "horticulture knife" I like a lot!

 

[357wheelgunner]

This guy modified an Emerson CQC-10 from a spear point to a sheepsfoot profile, very good job too:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=507702