Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: swimbill on January 15, 2013, 02:52:11 pm
-
I am planning to get a drawknife to use on my first bow from an osage stave. The question I have is should I look for an old vintage one or buy brand new. Brand new seems to be very pricey. What do you experienced guys think?
Swimbill
-
Well, considering that most older draw-knives were well made, i would say go with an older one, even if the handles are rotten you can always replace them! new ones are so pricey and it seems like they arnt made to last like the old ones, granted there are still people out there who make awesome hand-forged ones, but it will cost you a pretty penny(well, more like a ben franklin or something. If it has rust on it, just inspect it to see if it still has its structure in tact, if its just got a coat of rust it shouldnt be a problem. This is what i plan to do when i get around to it, maybe even take some osage and turn them into handles ::) (i would, but it would be scraps lol)
-
I got mine from three rivers back in '04 and love it. Straight blade and Osage handles. It was like $40. Since then I've acquired a few vintage ones from yard sales and the like but have never liked the old curved blade style for chasing rings. But I know alot of guys who use them with great results. I think it's all about what you learn on ;)
-
I love my antique ones. Check your local craigslist. I see them posted on there once and a while. Try to get one with a clean blade of you go with an older one.
-
I used a couple of different vintage ones that I picked up from garage sales for next to nothing. Then I ended up shelling out some big bucks (almost $60) when I found a hefty new drawknife at a forestry supply store. I found it online later for much less (~35). It is the meatiest drawknife I have used or even seen and I like it for hogging off wood and chasing a ring. There is one on ebay right now, just search Koch Drawknife. The only thing about this drawknife I dont like is that the handle arrangement makes sharpening all the way to the edge of the blade somewhat tricky.
-
I have 35 old drawknives so you can tell what my preference is. I get them from antique shops, usually for $15-25. I have skinny blades, thick, curved, straight, and 6" to 12". I personally find a straight, skinny 8" blade works well for me but it also has to do with the angle of the blade compared to the handles. Some people use them upside down, that is, bevel facing down. i think thats just them finding the angle that fits properly.
Just be sure the blade isn't pitted on the back, otheriwse you won't be able to put a good edge on it.
-
Some guys, myself included, prefer to use the draw knife unsharpened, for chasing rings. I find that the dull knife coupled with using it bevel down keeps me from going to deep on any one pass. As a result, I don't worry about having to sharpen mine, since I very rarely do. When the time comes to sharpen, though, I either bring it to an old time sharpening service or I put the knife in my vice and bring the stone to the knife, as opposed to the other way around.
Russ
-
The old ones are the best. I have 4 of my Grand Paps old draw knives and I'm 64, they gotta be 50 to 60 years old. Flea markets are the place to find them cheap cheap.
-
Mine was handed down to me from my grandpa and it was made in 1837. Best piece of steel I own.
-
I watched Ebay for a year before I found a draw knife.
I caught the auction ending and snagged up a Greenley with a 10'' cutting blade surface for $34.45 ;D
I use it taper side up for gnawing off wood from the back to rough dimensions, and taper side down for chasing rings.
When it comes to sharpening, I use a fine stone, and run the stone from top of tapper to the cutting edge, then flip it over,
lay the stone flat and lightly remove the bur along the back edge. Best money I have spent in a long time.
-
I don't have a new one to compare them to, but I use a couple really old ones that I think my father probably used on the farm 70 years ago. If you can visit a farm auction chances are you will find a very good used one for under $10.
-
check real live auctions also, not just ebay. I got my choice of about half a dozen draw knives for $12 dollars each. :-) I got the best two. :-)
-
my favorite is a keen cutter.i got it at an antique mall for 30 dollars.i have quite a few,but all of them are old.they had better steel back then in my opinion.buy an old one if you can,they are great
-
I'm old and so are my dknives. :) Jawge
-
We know that Jawge:)
-
The older,duller and rustier the better in my book.
-
I don't know how you guys use the straight blades. I have one straight and one curved. I need the curved 100% of the time to work into depressions without cutting through high spots, or around knots, etc. I use the straight for really rough work like hogging big chunks to get to a ring or remove tons of bark.
-
Well it appears that I will continue my search for a vintage knife, thanks for all the feedback
Swimbill
-
I found two nice old drawknives at teh local secand hand store for $20 each. There is no comparison between them and the cheap made drawknife I wasted $15 on at Menards.
-
I found two nice old drawknives at teh local secand hand store for $20 each. There is no comparison between them and the cheap made drawknife I wasted $15 on at Menards.
I suffered and suffered with the P.O.S. drawknife I wasted money on at Menards, too. I wasted time and effort on that dang thing for years. I spent money on good drawfiles to sharpen it, thinking that would help, but the IRON (it would be a lie to call it steel) was so soft even pine would cause the edge to roll over!!! One day I got p.o.'d and threw it in the brush on the hill behind the house and went back inside. Half a cup of coffee later I was still so mad I went out, climbed the hill, found the rotting piece of crap and threw it even further!
If you don't buy a good antique, then brace yourself and go to a high end tool catalog and spend $60 or more on something well made. You are going to have to part with that kind of money if you don't spend the $20 or so on an antique. Either way, get a good quality fine draw file for sharpening.
-
Hmmm, I wonder what popularity this will win me. But I just love a good ole lawn mower blade. They take a good edge and sharpen easily. I have used one lots of times. Even used to have one with welded on lag bolt handles...
-
Does the phrase, "crude but effective" mean anything to you?
-
I have several old ones i picked up at flea markets, but my favorite go to draw knife is one i made out of an old leaf spring. Its real heavy and is great at holding an edge. I can rip right thru osage withit a lot faster than any of the others i have.
-
Naw JW, that phrase is lost on me ;) You know what, I bet you I could get a lawnmower blade,modify it a touch with regular old hand tools, and make a bow of it start to finish, including chopping down the tree. So many new folks ask what tools they need and get a long varying list. Shoooot.... all dey need iza lawnmower blade. It'll whack a gud un into dat der stave.... shee ooot haveryeslf a shootin bow in no time, jus like that.
-
Crude,
but effective
>:D
Would that be a sling bow?
-
I'm with J-dub Antique is the only way to go. They are everywhere, cheap and the steel is not like anything you are going to buy today without spending a ton of cash.
-
Reckon it would be....
-
LOL, Roy. I'm old and so are my dknives. But I'm still pretty sharp and so are my dknives. :) Jawge
-
Add me to the list for older drawknives. I recently added another to my toolbox from a local antique store. It has adjustable handles. Pretty cool.... 8)
Oh and I am still younger than my drawknives... well, at least most of them. :)
-
Add me to the list for older drawknives. I recently added another to my toolbox from a local antique store. It has adjustable handles. Pretty cool.... 8)
Oh and I am still younger than my drawknives... well, at least most of them. :)
Wow are they made of stone?
-
Add me to the list for older drawknives. I recently added another to my toolbox from a local antique store. It has adjustable handles. Pretty cool.... 8)
Oh and I am still younger than my drawknives... well, at least most of them. :)
Wow are they made of stone?
::)
Happy New Year to you too Lennie.... :D
-
I'm still younger than my dknives too. When I pick one of them up to work on a bow, I wish they could tell me about their history. I wonder about who owned them before me and how they were used. Information that's lost forever. Jawge
-
To put the final word on this discussion I bought an old 8" drawknife this weekend. The blade is straight and flat with a very sharp edge. Stamped onto the blade is the trademark Witherby.
$23.00 Now I have to learn to use it. Thanks to all the members who posted.
Swimbill
-
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=300848042317
This is a neat one that just sold. I'm looking for one too. Found a handful at a antique junk store but none are in the shape I'm looking for.
-
I have that exact same Cantelo folding handle drawknife, it has a neat folding mechanism. Its a little loose though and I don't use it. I think I gave about what you got for yours.
-
I was gonna buy that 1 but it went higher than I wanted to pay.
-
That's a well invested $23. I can't seem to find a drawknife in an antique store of flea market to save my life. I have a sincere preference for antique tools, but I had to settle for a modern forged tool steel blade from Lee Valley Tools. And I spent three times that amount...BEFORE shipping!
Count yourself lucky! May she bring you years of joy.