Wharncliffe blades

[Jared]

Some of the folks posting pics of their Yojimbos and the like have me wondering about Wharncliffe blade shapes. I probably won’t buy a Yojimbo, but a Delica with this blade shape could be an option. I’m not really interested in the defensive utility of such a blade, I’m more interested in whether there are any advantages for typical every day carry use. Any major negatives I need to be worried about? Does the Wharncliffe do better or worse at different blade lengths?

[Duelist]

I have a Delica Wharnecliffe and like it quite well. It is an excellent utility blade.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

The only thing about wharncliffes I can think of offhand that's ever really annoyed me is that since there's no belly to the blade, if you ever have to scrape anything with it, the shape is kind of limiting. Like if you had a flat surface, and you only wanted to scrape part of it, the straight surface of the wharncliffe makes that basically impossible.

Whether that particular obscure problem would be an issue for 99% of people, I don't know, probably not. I do so much stuff with knives that I think I'm no longer a good judge of what works for most users.

Anyway that's the one thing about them I don't like.

[blues]

I like the so called "zulu spear" blade shape...which is between a drop point and a wharncliffe. The secondary blade on this knife made for me by Ken Erickson illustrates the idea...

54328


It's a useful blade shape with just a bit of belly.

[Le Français]

The only thing about wharncliffes I can think of offhand that's ever really annoyed me is that since there's no belly to the blade, if you ever have to scrape anything with it, the shape is kind of limiting. Like if you had a flat surface, and you only wanted to scrape part of it, the straight surface of the wharncliffe makes that basically impossible.


Unless you needed to cut one spot vs scrape, couldn't you just use the curved spine of the blade for scraping? Maybe the spine on some wharncliffes wouldn't be the right shape either, come to think of it, but the Delica has a curved spine.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

depends what you're scraping and how fine an edge you need

[Joe S]

They are a good shape for wood carving.

I started to type out a conversation I had with a Janich student on the topic, but then checked my archives and found an article from Recoil Mag that talks about it. What's the protocol? I can upload the pdf of the entire issue, or copy and paste the text. I don't want ruffle any feathers about copyrights.

[Joe S]

https://blog.knife-depot.com/history-of-the-wharncliffe-blade/

https://blademag.com/knife-collecting/odd-couple-a-wharncliffe-tactical-knife

[okie john]

I've posted before about the Benchmade 940 that I've carried for several years.

http://i.imgur.com/Qkgl8jz.jpg?3 (https://imgur.com/Qkgl8jz)

The upper knife was my EDC for six years. I use it for everything: opening letters and boxes, cutting food, digging splinters and thorns out of my skin, and cutting rope/string/cordage/targets/ammo boxes/whatever else needs to get cut. It’s been through the washing machine a couple of times, and I've used it to field dress and gut a blacktail deer and filet a king salmon. I've sharpened it on DMT stones so many times that the blade shape has changed from a modified clip point to a near-Wharncliffe. It's easy to sharpen to a razor edge, and it holds that edge well despite the abuse that I heap upon it daily.

The lower knife was new when this image was made. A few months ago, I sent the old one to Benchmade to replace the blade. Ms. Okie glommed on to it upon its return, so now I carry the other one. I rarely use the belly of a blade--it's either the point or the edge--so a Wharncliffe is OK for me. I noticed zero change in utility when I went from the original to the spare.


Okie John

[LittleLebowski]

I like the so called "zulu spear" blade shape...which is between a drop point and a wharncliffe. The secondary blade on this knife made for me by Ken Erickson illustrates the idea...
It's a useful blade shape with just a bit of belly.

That's beautiful.

[okie john]

54328

I've considered buying a really nice gentleman's knife, but I'd just fuck it up.


Okie John

[blues]

That's beautiful.

Thanks, LL. That's a dogleg jack. Ken is supremely talented knife maker, (and former gunsmith). He's been on hiatus from knife making for a couple years now, but hopefully he'll be back. He is a good friend and I have many knives he's made for me.

[awp_101]

I've never owned one, but I love the look of a Wharncliff blade. Dunno why, but it just grabs me. Same for Puukkos...

[awp_101]

Damn it, now I'm looking for a Gentlemen's Wharncliff.

I managed to get the knife monkey off my back almost 10 years ago. I managed to studiously avoid this sub-forum but then I had to come here and ask about Opinels because I lost my EDC knife and here I am getting pulled back in all over again.

Truer words were never spoken: "Once in, never out"

[blues]

Damn it, now I'm looking for a Gentlemen's Wharncliff.

I managed to get the knife monkey off my back almost 10 years ago. I managed to studiously avoid this sub-forum but then I had to come here and ask about Opinels because I lost my EDC knife and here I am getting pulled back in all over again.

Truer words were never spoken: "Once in, never out"

There's worse things a man could spend his money on. ;)

[farscott]

Damn it, now I'm looking for a Gentlemen's Wharncliff.

I managed to get the knife monkey off my back almost 10 years ago. I managed to studiously avoid this sub-forum but then I had to come here and ask about Opinels because I lost my EDC knife and here I am getting pulled back in all over again.

Truer words were never spoken: "Once in, never out"

Here is a production model from a good boutique manufacturer, Great Eastern Cutlery. i have several of their knives. https://www.collectorknives.net/shop/great-eastern-cutlery/farm-field/great-eastern-cutlery-pocket-carver-whittler-farm-field-muslin-micarta-620320/

That being said, I am not a huge fan of the Wharncliffe blade, and my EDC is a small Sebenza with a tanto blade. The CRK version of the tanto blade shape is great for opening boxes and stripping wire, my big uses for a knife.

[awp_101]

There's worse things a man could spend his money on. ;)
Muscle cars, old VWs, Imperial Japanese military sake cups, trying to learn to live with Glocks...BTDT with all of them.;)


Here is a production model from a good boutique manufacturer, Great Eastern Cutlery. i have several of their knives. https://www.collectorknives.net/shop/great-eastern-cutlery/farm-field/great-eastern-cutlery-pocket-carver-whittler-farm-field-muslin-micarta-620320/

That being said, I am not a huge fan of the Wharncliffe blade, and my EDC is a small Sebenza with a tanto blade. The CRK version of the tanto blade shape is great for opening boxes and stripping wire, my big uses for a knife.
Thanks! When the Father's Day Fairy drops by, we'll see how much cash she's gathered for me and I may just add that to my want list. It wouldn't be an EDC, just something a little nicer when I feel the need.

[Navin Johnson]

Belly works great when you are cutting against something......

A straight edge works great for cutting in space.....

A Delica or Endura with the slight amount of belly is a great compromise.....

For my day-to-day tasks I mostly cut in space.

If there's not a need to cut against something a hawk bill works even better in space.

[awp_101]

Belly works great when you are cutting against something......

A straight edge works great for cutting in space.....

A Delica or Endura with the slight amount of belly is a great compromise.....

For my day-to-day tasks I mostly cut in space.

If there's not a need to cut against something a hawk bill works even better in space.

In space no can can hear you cut...

[blues]

In space no can can hear you cut...

Audio or it didn't happen...

[EVP]

Keep in mind that Wharncliffe blade design can vary quite a bit.


I always liked David Mosier’s knives and thought he had a more useful design especially with a sharped top swedge.

For me and how I carry/use a fixed blade, a fixed Whatncliffe usually has a blade profile that is taller which becomes bulky for concealment purposes.