Tradesmen's hacking knife - very WTF.

H

Houlahound

Joined
Aug 2, 2017
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For those that like over built knives and for those that mock them I stumbled across a "tradesmen's hacking knife" in a bargain bin.

Straight Wharncliffe, stainless, thickest stock I have ever seen on any knife with a full flat grind and no secondary bevel.

Everything I have learned on BF says to me this thing can not cut - it is shaving sharp. So much for thickness behind the edge theory.

What tradesmen would use this for what purpose?

It did not come with a sheath but I have been using it more and more as my go-to EDC.

If someone can link that temporary image host I will throw up some pics.
 
These are the common styles -

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Well I'll be, an edc froe. If it can baton we have a winner. "For survival situations I carry my sak and pocket froe".
 
Those look like they are made to be hammered through cable and other materials and sharpened with whatever is handy.
 
I have one, it was called a window knife when I bought it from Duluth Trading back 15 years ago. It came pretty sharp but the edge is pretty dead now. I've used it for it's named purpose, it works great for removing window trim as well as prying stuck windows open and/or out of the frame.

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Not sure about your BTE comment - shaving, and sharpness in general I suppose, are predicated on the width of the edge. Even a 45° edge that is 2mm BTE can be made shaving sharp if the apex is 0.5 micron. Some of the grill scraper blades I get at work are this profile and will shave from the box before they're used.
 
trade men in the day would often need to cut heavy leather, heavy rope, cables, wood, anything industrial...
I like it ;) nice find

(I use my mora companion in much the same way since it's usually in the garage ; )
 
abcdef said:
Well I'll be, an edc froe. If it can baton we have a winner. "For survival situations I carry my sak and pocket froe".
Click to expand...
You have an winner. :D
The Froe is designed to baton. Carpenters and Roofers have used them for a "few" hundred years to make shingles, among other things. (theirs usually has a longer blade, and has a 18 inch or so long vertical handle set in a socket, kinda like the way a Tommy Hawk handle is.

Nice find. :)

EDIT:
Be aware that if you hit your froe with the traditional 1 piece wood mallet, you are going to tear the "heck" (safe family site term) out of your mallet, so don't use your good one. :)
 
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