Round Knife specs

theWeatherman

theWeatherman

Well-Known Member
So I figured I would post this hear because the leather guys would be using the round knives. I am thinking about making my own round knife, but since I have only seen flat pictures of them I was hoping you guys could tell me about how thick the steel usually is, and the type of grind they have for the blade?

Have any pictures of the blade area of your favorite round knives for me?

thanks

Brian
 
Brian,
Most Head knives are fairly thin 1/10" 3/32" but some like them a bit thicker depending on how they want to use them on the leathers. Up to 1/8" -5/32" is the thickest I've made them for leather workers.

If you are making a Ulu the same thickness's would apply.

Make your own! The are a challenge and you will learn a lot of skills doing them.

Sorry no pics, The all died in a puter crash I had a few years back.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
I do want to make my own but from just looking at the knives, I think1/16-3/32" thick. And I was thinking CPM 154cm. But I need to find like a 6" x 6" x 1/16" piece to make my knife, full tang.

We will see if anyone chimes in with pictures or detailed specs.
 
I'd start with a 1/8" thick sheet and cut the shape our from there then convex grind or forge down from there. If i were to make or buy another custom one i think id like one done in AEB-L heat treat to about 60.

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Chef: How far up the blade would you grind?

Now I come to the problem of finding the size of steel for just one knife. Most of the time, not cost effective. like a 6" x 6" x 1/8". hmmmm
 
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The steel thickness for optimum performance should be about 42 thousandths or just a hair under 3/64". I like a flat convex bevel up at least 3/8" from the edge. L6 is a good steel and easily obtained from either new or used circular saw blades, and Heat treat should accomplish 61 or 62 RC.

I am working with Joe Kious right now on a little project making a proto type round knife using M4 steel.

Paul
 
Paul Long said:
The steel thickness for optimum performance should be about 42 thousandths or just a hair under 3/64". I like a flat convex bevel up at least 3/8" from the edge. L6 is a good steel and easily obtained from either new or used circular saw blades, and Heat treat should accomplish 61 or 62 RC.

I am working with Joe Kious right now on a little project making a proto type round knife using M4 steel.

Paul
Click to expand...

Thanks Mr. Paul Long!

When you say steel thickness you area talking about that is the thickness of the edge correct, not the thickness of the entire full tang round knife?

I snagged a piece of cpm 154 cm from Aldo ( New Jersey Steel Baron ) so I think I will try that out. The thickness of the knife will be 1/8" but I will take the edge down to .040 before heat treat and have the bevel go up 3/8" to 1/2". The round part will be ~5" from tip to tip and then the length from edge to the tip of the handle will be 5 3/4". I am shooting for a RC of 61. Do you think that meets the requirements of a good round knife?

M4 steel would make a pretty good round knife from what I have heard about M4.
 
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You can use 1/8, just distal taper it down like Chef Niloc said. The 1/16" is too thin. You need to be able to use a lot of down ward force on these to get through really thick leathers and 1/16" would have too much flex in it.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
 
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rhinoknives said:
You can use 1/8, just distal taper it down like Chef Niloc said. The 1/16" is too thin. You need to be able to use a lot of down ward force on these to get through really thick leathers and 1/16" would have too much flex in it.

Laurence

www.rhinoknives.com
Click to expand...

Laurence, so I can take a 1/8" thick piece of CPM 154cm, full tang, cut it out, and then profile it so the edge is about .040" before heat treat, and have the bevels go up about 3/8" from the edge like Paul Long suggested and shoot for 60 - 61 RC. Then final grind it, I should come out with an acceptable round knife? I just want to make sure that I am on the right page....
 
theWeatherman said:
Thanks Mr. Paul Long!

When you say steel thickness you area talking about that is the thickness of the edge correct, not the thickness of the entire full tang round knife?

I snagged a piece of cpm 154 cm from Aldo ( New Jersey Steel Baron ) so I think I will try that out. The thickness of the knife will be 1/8" but I will take the edge down to .040 before heat treat and have the bevel go up 3/8" to 1/2". The round part will be ~5" from tip to tip and then the length from edge to the tip of the handle will be 5 3/4". I am shooting for a RC of 61. Do you think that meets the requirements of a good round knife?

M4 steel would make a pretty good round knife from what I have heard about M4.
Click to expand...



Weatherman, no I meant I prefer and use my knives at .042 thickness throughout. The edge bevel, of course, to near zero. My favorite and most used round knife measures 3 1/4" point to point and probably started out about 3 1/2" before sharpened countless times. The larger knives a la 5" or so are a little large for precision cutting in my opinion primarily because they are harder to control unless you have huge hands. When holding the knife in cutting position I want to be able to touch the leather with my middle finger when laid along side the blade. Handle to center line edge of the blade depends on your hand size, and should be literally custom fitted to you. RC 61 should be just about perfect.

All due respect to those of you who like the thicker blades. I have developed my choices based on use, abuse and experience since 1951. I have cut at one time or another just about any thickness and toughness of leather you can imagine. My easiest and most precise cutting comes with the .042 blades. I do have a couple thicker that I never use and would sell except they were gifted to me and have that much sentimental value. I have never experienced the "flex" mentioned in the previous posts. I have experienced butter smooth cutting as the slim blade performs its cut effortlessly.

Paul
 
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Paul, thanks for the clarification. I have been bothering you so much about stamps, leather and what-not over email and PM that I figured I would start a chat in the Sheath/Leather area about the round knife to see what people were using. I am glad you chimed in. My goal is to not only make beautiful knives that preform just as well, but to provide leather worked sheaths that are beautiful like yours. I know your way is not the only way, but in my opinion you are one of the best and I love what you do.

Having said that, I have not gone out and looked for used saw blades that would meet that spec on thickness so I figured I would try the thinest stuff I could get my hands on at a good price, at the moment which was 1/8" CPM 154cm. So my plan now is to tweak the design. Make it a little bit smaller 3.75" -4" from tip to tip and see how thin I can get it so it will cut really well. I need to draw it up and do some math to see the thicknesses and what not.

I will keep you guys posted. I would still like to hear more about the round knife and the designs and what makes a good round knife, so keep it up guys.

Edited: So I did a little more drawing of the knives and the bigger one was really to big for my hands when I cut it out so I moved to a smaller one. From tip to tip it was 3 5/8" and from edge to butt 4 3/16" long. I will have to think about how to easily reduce the thickness to less than 1/8" to cut better.

thanks you all!

Brian
 
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