Why, a patch knife...?

[gizamo]

If you were to stitch a knife to your hunting bag...why just a patch knife. Why not a Skinner or other knife that would serve the same purpose?


In looking at many original bags, working knives are attached.

What gives ?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Everything in this game is a matter of personal choice.
Patch knives are often attached to the shooting bag strap for convenience. And since a dedicated patch knife is usually small it is light and handy there. Camp/utility/skinning/whatever knives are larger and heavier. IMHO, they would be most akward and inconvenient on the strap.
I don't keep a knife on my strap. But, I do often have a small to medium neck knife I use as a patch knife.
Yer choice.

 

[cynthialee]

I know it isn't the way it used to be done:
But why not just have patch scisors? Would seem to work faster and you don't have to sharpen scisors near as often as knives.

 

[Rev_William]

I would say because Scissors aren't as multi purpose as a good patch/neck knife. My patch knife is about 3" long in the blade and was sold as a small skinner. I use it alot around the camp when its not cutting patches or skinning small game/ fish I'm lucky to get lol. I have been a cook and I like a good pair of kitchen shears but to me they're limited and I don't want the extra weight or gear in the bag or on the strap.

 

[cynthialee]

I was just thinking a small folding pair of sewing scisors made for thread and small pieces of cloth.
As for a good knife argument....cant gain say that at all.

 

[Rev_William]

Hey Cynthia I have a daughter living in omak you any wheres close?

 

[cynthialee]

Nope, it is about a 3 hour drive from Colville/Chewelah to Omak.
(well if you were to drive straight through with out any breaks and hit trafic just right you might be able to do it in 2:15 hours)

 

[Ken Rummer]

I agree. The knife must be very sharp to make an easy patch cut. My knives don't stay sharp very long so I bought a small pair if sissors at Walmart. They cut better than anything but a razor blade.

 

[VTdeerhunter]

I agree with Rifleman....convenience. I do keep a small knife on my bag strap and find it very handy for cutting patches. I have tried bigger knives hung on various parts of my shooting bag, but they just got in the way and were awkward. Big knife on the belt and small patch knife on the bag works best for me.

 

[htredneck]

Small knife on the bag is one of the handiest things there is. Put a good edge on it, finish it with a razor hone, and cutting patches is not an issue.

 

[cynthialee]

I have never been able to get a knife sharp enough to shave. Sharp enough for butchering but that seems to be the wall I hit when I sharpen.

 

[Paul R]

Try Googling 'scary sharp' & 'sharpening carving chisels'. You will probably find some techniques you can use. Edges that sharp can also be fragile, so use them carefully to protect them. Also, be careful. My wife usually manages to cut herself after I sharpen her kitchen knives.

Paul

 

[paulvallandigham]

Buy a copy of John Juranitch's book, "The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening"- new or used. His company, The Razor Edge Company is in Ely, Minn. He has a website.

It will teach you how to properly sharpen any cutting tool. :hmm: :hatsoff:

He also includes valuable tips on how to properly use, and store edged tools to keep them sharp. Its the improper use of edged tools that dulls them so quickly.

 

[Dean2]

http://lansky.com/

Try their sharpening system. The diamond version is a little more but well worth it. It will make anyone into an epxert and it will put a razor edge on darn near anything

 

[Stumpkiller]

I've got a KME with stones and diamond grades - similar to the Lansky. Puts a very nice edge on knives (and broadheads).

I gave up carrying specific patch knives and keep a multi-use folding knife (aka "penny knife") in the shooting bag and a hunting knife on my belt. When I fill up a ball block I use the folding knife.

 

[Dean2]

The other thing you may want to try is have a blade with a concave curve to it. This will cut patches far better than straight or convex curved blades

 

[stormcrow]

I have found my convex blades work best for cutting patches and most all else. I usually sharpen them now with a little Harbor Freight 1 x 30 belt sander - easy, fast, very sharp.

 

[gizamo]

I restored an old 72" belt sharpener. Nothing sharpens like that old timer. :wink:

So, back to my original post... Was really just wondering about the smaller bladed knives that are specific to patches. Just do not get the need for another blade, when a larger knife can do more jobs.

Did the old ones use such?

 

[LRB]

Not really Giz. Most loading apparently was done with pre-cuts. I have seen no evidence of any special knife for cutting patches in the 18th c., and it would seem that square patches might have been the norm. I would have to think if someone then was going to cut at the muzzle, they would use whatever knife they had in their belt. Like you, I don't see the need of a patch knife that would be used only for that purpose.

 

[necchi]

Gotta agree,
I use a small knife to cut patches at the muzzle,

But I have never seen historical referance to such practice.