Trade knives - your thoughts

[gra_farmer]

Over the years, my passion for edged tools has seen me experience and handle a number of knives and edged tools.

The trade knife, both English and French pattern have always been a draw, but have never been able to find one.

Some pictures below show a few examples

One of these days I hope to get hold of one, of most likely have to make one, but for those that own a trade knife, what are your thoughts about them, what are there strengths and weakness, and your overall use of these blades.....camp work, food prep or a good all rounder?

Interested to see pictures and here about your experiences with these style of knives.

 

[Stew]

I made one a while back. I’ll dig a pic out.

 

[Stew]

 

[gra_farmer]

Very nice, I really like that

 

[0000]

If you're looking for the 3rd one, it's a Jeff White French trade knife.

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[gra_farmer]

If you're looking for the 3rd one, it's a Jeff White French trade knife.

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I have been looking at the Jeff White knives, but do not know of a UK deal or site, can get quite pricey with import duties and postage

 

[0000]

I have been looking at the Jeff White knives, but do not know of a UK deal or site, can get quite pricey with import duties and postage

Oh I see sorry, I thought you couldn't find where to buy them at all. If you do fancy making your own, I've seen folk buying a brand of butchers knife called "Old Hickory" and cutting the shape that they want out of it. It should be fine if you make sure to keep it cool as you cut. You'll be able to make it nicer that the Jeff White ones. I've heard people complaining about that sharp ricasso being a bit dangerous.

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[Corso]

Noone in the UK imports them

probably not worth it for the mark up

www.etsy.com/uk/market/jeff_white_knife

is the place to go but i'm not sure if Jeff is still making them himself, I've heard one of his apprentices took over

 

[0000]

Those knives although pretty rough, are dirt cheap. I'm pretty sure customs duties are a percentage of the value of the parcel. If you want something handmade and not punched out by a machine, I'm not sure you could find a cheaper alternative.

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[Nice65]

They’re not far off from Argentinian gaucho knives. An all rounder for cleaning hooves, cutting steak, or settling an argument.

 

[Brizzlebush]

That's a beauty Stew.
I don't know much about the style, but from what I've seen in this post, they look a lot like classic French cook's knives, beefed up for outdoor use? the first and 4th pics certainly.
Yours looks like a high sabre grind with a micro-bevel? How thick was the steel?

 

[Stew]

That's a beauty Stew.
I don't know much about the style, but from what I've seen in this post, they look a lot like classic French cook's knives, beefed up for outdoor use? the first and 4th pics certainly.
Yours looks like a high sabre grind with a micro-bevel? How thick was the steel?

Thanks. I really likethe size and shape. It’s 3mm or 3.2mm.
You have it right on the grind.

 

[swotty]

I have one of Jeff White's knives very nicely made. I've had it some time but as I recall it came from Dave Canterbury's website.

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[gra_farmer]

Thats the issue, imports to UK equal silly customs fees and handling charges. If I was in the US, I would not have any issues.

As for the Old Hickory, I have been down that route already as their paring knife fitted the bill shape wise, but the finish on the one I ordered was really bad, so returned.

I think I may have found something....

 

[gra_farmer]

They’re not far off from Argentinian gaucho knives. An all rounder for cleaning hooves, cutting steak, or settling an argument.

Nice recommendation, some of the ones I looked at are quite thin, it is the thicker blade stock that is needed for my needs and interest, but I like very much...

 

[TLM]

I have never used a knife with that profile for other than kitchen knife duties. How does a thicker and more robust version work as a general purpose camp or trekking knife? Is it a work horse in any configuration?

 

[DocG]

I have an old model Dave Canterbury smaller knife - can't recall the exact name but it was made by Blind Horse Knives - that is a trade knife pattern. It's about 5mm thick so is a bit of a beast... however, it does cut well despite its size. I've butchered a deer with it - not the neatest of jobs, but that was down to my lack of skill rather than the knife - and it makes effective try sticks. Delicate tasks like the cut outs of netting needles are a bit awkward but not impossible. It has a square spine and throws good sparks with a ferrorod and a flint as well as stripping bark effectively.
I don't like it as much as other knives but it certainly is able to do most jobs. The sheer bulk of the beast may mean that other versions under 5mm are more versatile and more like a butcher's knife for cutting meat etc.

 

[Robson Valley]

If it's a "trade knife" that you wish to add, one old one, the Mocotaugan, is still made in Sheffield.

By 1750, your Hudson's Bay Company had the employ of all of the eastern and mid-western native tribe engaged in fur trapping.
The HBC was exporting barrels of these blades to eastern Canada. While some insist these are general purpose wood carving blades, they are not.
Used in the manner of a one-handed draw knife, the hafted blades were use to make canoe, snowshoe and pack frame parts from birch. If my Sheffield blade is any example, they are particularly crude steels, very frustrating to sharpen and use.

I have seen fewer than 50 Mocotaugan knives. At least half of those were not Sheffield blades.
Instead, the native indians would buy 6" mill files from the HBC. Working in a covered trench in the ground as a forge,
they would work the file into a substantial blade with robust qualities. Pre-1800 no less.

 

[santaman2000]

Thats the issue, imports to UK equal silly customs fees and handling charges. If I was in the US, I would not have any issues.

As for the Old Hickory, I have been down that route already as their paring knife fitted the bill shape wise, but the finish on the one I ordered was really bad, so returned.

I think I may have found something....

Be advised too that the Old Hickory blades are noticeably thnner nowadays than they were just 15 years ago.

 

[gra_farmer]

Be advised too that the Old Hickory blades are noticeably thnner nowadays than they were just 15 years ago.

I would that was the case....as could not understand what everyone was going on about?

Anyone have an older 'old Hickory' knife they want to move on?