20 Best Knives with Wharncliffe Blades | Knife Depot. Blade Length: 3.65″. Well, it depends on what you classify as a knife, but it was probably some unnamed Australopithecine dude more than two million years ago. This tactical take on the British blade shape — which was designed by noted self-defense practitioner, Michael Janich — also has several other unique features that set it apart from the competition. To the southwest of Leeds, England, there is a small area known as Wharncliffe. More specifically, there was a style of fixed blade fighting knife used by Vikings and Saxons dating back to before the 11th century called the Seax. I just love it to bits and if anyone wants some pics just let me know. The wharncliffe does have the added utility of a pointier tip. Whereas the Wharncliffe has a spine that gradually tapers to a point, the sheepsfoot blade has a spine and edge that remains parallel until the spine more dramatically curves to the edge. That’s all the truer when you consider its sturdy construction materials — including a blade made from 14C28N steel and a handle that’s a combination of G10 and stainless steel. And that’s bolstered by its limited lifetime warranty. Germany, Aachen I found this exposition to be most enlightening. After some experiments, he found Frank Centofante’s Wharncliffe-style gentleman folders to cut the best. Handle: G10 The earliest examples of Wharncliffe style blades date back to before there was actually a name for them. In a series of posts, I will be examining the history of specific innovations and evolutions in the knife community. A brand-new, premium, USA-made, everyday carry offering from the folks at Gerber, the Fastball is an exceptional knife through and through. Thank you very much for doing this article and for the kind words. It’s been a long road since Lord Wharncliffe had that meeting with his relative in the 1800s. Designed by Elijah Isham, a knifemaker with a love for surrealist artforms, this is a cutting tool unlike any other. This can be traced back to one man: Michael Janich. Your email address will not be published. This is likely because of its shape — a long, straight edge with a back that slopes gradually toward a piercing tip, making for a very sturdy cutting surface suitable for carving and whittling. That’s why the brand beefed it up with this XL version. In modern archaeology, the term seax is used specifically for a type of small sword, knife or dagger typical of the Germanic peoples of the Migration period and the Early Middle Ages, especially the Saxons, whose name derives from the weapon. But it’s also because of some of the more subtle details. And of course thanks for all your work with Wharncliffes and the knife community in general! Now, not all Seax knives featured a Wharncliffe-style blade, as the style was more generic and varied in shape from blade to blade, but … Baron Wharncliffe (disambiguation), various holders of a title of the English peerage created in 1826 Earl of Wharncliffe, a title of the English peerage created in 1876; Places Canada. Another, similarly styled and purposed blade is the sheepsfoot. According to the 1878 edition of “British Manufacturing Industries,” the first Lord of Wharncliffe — James Archibald Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie — was having dinner with his relative Archdeacon Corbett in Great Britain. Awesome article. The earliest examples of Wharncliffe style blades date back to before there was actually a name for them. From its unique and modern silhouette to its excellent materials — which include S30V steel for the blade and an aerospace-grade aluminum handle — this is a knife you can be proud to carry. As such, he took it upon himself to enlist King George IV’s own cutlers, Joseph Rodgers & Son, in the creation of a new blade shape. Hi guys – I’m a Brit and it’s really refreshing to see you all properly researching the “Wharncliffe” origins although the correct title of James Archibald etc. From its S35VN steel blade to its titanium handle complete with the proprietary Reeve Integral Lock, the Sebenza 21 has no excess and is wanting for nothing. gtag('js', new Date()); Other slip joint companies in the early days of America used the Wharncliffe pattern in whittlers as well. Blade Length: 2.94″-3.625″. Forging a viking inspired Seax from a coil spring - Duration: 15:30. Required fields are marked *. i love the wharncliffe blade..for utility work. And if that’s not enough, you can even get it with a Damascus steel blade in three different patterns. The sheer length of time knives have been used by humans makes going back to the first anything often impossible. Lord Wharncliffe was the patron of Joseph Rodgers & Son — Cutlers to Their Majesties and one of the most important figures in the famed Sheffield cutlery industry — and so he presented the pattern to him. There are advertisements from 1852 showcasing Rodgers Wharncliffe Whittlers, according to Rod Neep. Probably no knife designer is more deserving of his long, long list of accolades as Chris Reeve. Janich wrote a very detailed and fascinating piece in the Knives 2018, 38th Edition from Blade describing how the Wharncliffe went tactical (which I would say is almost like Dylan going electrical). I live just a short distance from Wharncliffe Side (once part of his estates I believe) and, coincidentally have recently aquired a beautiful 2.25″ Damascus steel bladed EDC folder – with polished white bone handle, finger grips and traditional Wharncliffe design blade. Here is my favorite excerpt from the chapter: After Snody’s underwhelming initial response, I thanked him for his offer and suggested that he abandon the project to move on with his new career. Of course, it also features the same exemplary materials and sound construction we’ve come to expect from everything they have to offer. What are the origins of the names Lambsfoot and Sheepsfoot respectively? Some people debate on this one — whether it is a cut off pen blade or something else. After some back and forth and other ventures, Janich most recently came back at Spyderco with Ronin 2 and the Yojimbo 2 — the second iteration of his folding version of the Ronin for Spyderco. Boasting one of the most traditionally-styled Wharncliffe blade shapes of any offering on our list, Cold Steel’s Tufflite is no doubt a modern everyday carry cutting tool. And the whole thing is finished off with a KVT ball-bearing deployment system that makes every flick of the blade quick and satisfying. Handle: Titanium And while this particular example has handle scales made from corn cob, it’s also available in a number of different materials and colors — including wood, bone, pearl, abalone, and even synthetic materials. The year is 1820 (or thereabouts). But these days, you see the Wharncliffe making a comeback in a decidedly different category than whittling: the tactical and self-defense arena. Steel: S30V Designed by Jesse Jarosz specifically for outdoor usage, this is a workman’s blade you can depend upon day-in and day-out. Helping to soothe the body and mind this holiday season. That doesn’t mean they don’t have any, though, as exemplified by their excellent 7508 Jarosz Flipper. Part of that is because it is made from titanium and S30VN steel — both renowned materials for their durability, reliability, and more. It was better received at that point because people were beginning to understand the merits of Wharncliffe blades on tactical knives thanks to Janich. That includes an aggressive Wharncliffe-style blade built from high-quality S30V steel and handle scales built from sturdy and lightweight G10. Featuring possibly the truest sheepsfoot blade shape of any of the knives on our list, the Ontario Knife Company’s Carter Prime is unique for its traditional silhouette modified with modern details and materials. Everything he has designed has a unique style that is unmistakably his while still remaining subtle enough that we wouldn’t call any of them “showy.” Of course, his magnum opus is, undoubtedly, the Sebenza. But when you have the ability to trace a single invention related to knives to a single moment, it’s always cool. Handle: G10 This looks like the present day interpretations of the Wharncliffe pioneered by Michael Janich as you’ll read later in this article. The original version of Kershaw’s Natrix was already an excellent everyday carry knife. The result was the Ronin, which had a straight tapering spine toward a piercing point and a straight edge. Eighty recyclable pages that can stand up to literally any conditions. The result is lack of a piercing point. etc. Handle: Corn Cob Jig For instance, it was ergonomically designed not so that it feels like a comfortable knife to hold, but rather so it feels like an extension of the hand of the user. The Wharncliffe is only one of many different types of everyday carry blade shapes. Did you know you can raise & update Support Cases, review & update Projects, check your backups, access your Sophos AV dashboard, and access up to date Accounts information through our on … ©2020 Hiconsumption LLC. For instance, the blade is made from D2 tool steel and the frame lock handle is crafted from high-grade titanium. When it comes to choosing an everyday carry knife, there is a very long list of features to consider. Made some more progress on @the_dave_ray 's fencing project today. Carried the super useful and regularly carried #yojimbo2 today. Sometime before the 11th century, the Vikings had a fixed blade called the Seax or Sax that had a straight edge and a straight tapering toward a point. However, it was a bit on the small side for some folks. While we’d probably not go so far as to say that Benchmade rocked the everyday carry boat when they released their Proper 319 gentleman’s style slipjoint knife, it definitely made an impact. I truly appreciate your passion for Wharncliffes and your commitment to both understanding their magic and getting the history right. Steel: S30V This orientation prevented the weapon from resting on its cutting edge. Steel: S35VN Anecdotal evidence says that Lord Wharncliffe wanted a knife with a thick and strong blade. Handle: Titanium Now, not all Seax knives featured a Wharncliffe-style blade, as the style was more generic and varied in shape from blade to blade, but there are a number of documented examples that did. Blade Length: 3.75″. Blade Length: 2.86″. This is because, in conjunction with the quality of the steel, the shape of your blade can determine its usefulness for specific cutting tasks. Probably the most aggressively-styled knife on our list, Kizer’s Megatherium looks like it could have been used by a black-clad villain in a science-fiction or superhero movie. I’ve never cut with anything like this before!” It was then I realized that he actually made my design and, more importantly, did some cutting with it. The primary difference between the two is that, while the back of a Wharncliffe slopes gradually toward its piercing tip, the back of a sheepsfoot stays relatively parallel to the edge until a steep dropoff toward the tip (like the cloven hoof of a sheep) — making it far less suitable for piercing tasks. So Janich and Mike Snody, who we now know for his Spyderco, Benchmade, and KA-BAR collaborations, got together to design Janich’s Wharncliffe idea. Steel: 14C28N Blade Length: 3.2″. Steel: S35VN Andrew Hanowski 109,819 views. So the story goes, this soldier-turned-politician was unhappy with a lack of innovation in regards to slipjoint knives. If you’re the type to put your blade through the paces with heavy DIY work, especially if that includes any kind of wood carving or whittling, then you should probably consider picking up a knife with a Wharncliffe blade. Blade Length: 3.5″. (Although I’d argue some light curves in the blade don’t immediately disqualify it from being a Wharncliffe.). Blade Length: 3.125″. Steel: AUS-8A Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that they equipped it with Micarta handle scales and a high-end S30V blade. Our greatest strengths lies in our experience. Designed by Jesper Voxnaes, the Pilar has a blade that measures up at only 2.4″ in length — making it tiny but mighty. 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