A Question on "Bench Knives"

[AlArchie]

I just posted an answer to new member Trevor about what constitutes a "bench knife". Hope I didn't lead him too far astray.

Anyway I got to wondering exactly where the term "bench knife" originated. I remember Grandpa saying "Hand me my bench knife." from my days as a kid at the ranch. This was a knife that looked like a big Murphy. He used it for just about anything that needed work around his work bench, from cutting harness straps to whittling a peg for a leaky bucket. I always assumed it was just a term for that style knife because it was always around on the workbench. Come to think about it,there was always a similar knife around just about every barn and workshop in the area, and the old shoemakers had a few laying around, too.

Any "fer sure" answers to the question?

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

No "fer shure" answers, but I have always thought a "bench knife" is just what you said,, an all around shop knife you use for about anything.... but wadda I know?

[Canopener]

I am surprised at you guys! You both know only 2 things are fer sure in life; death and taxes.
I always thought it refered to the basic carving knife, or a style of knife.
I would imagine this has been upgraded to the newer style of utility or razor knife that most everyone has in their toolbox. I must have a half dozen different styles plus blades.
Good question though, can't wait to see all of the comments.
Jim [fer sure,I think]

[Eddy-Smiles]

Check out this link for Lora Irish's deffinition of a bench knife.

http://www.carvingpatterns.com/basic.htm

[AlArchie]

Guess I didn't quite make myself clear...I pretty well know WHAT a bench knife is, I just got to wondering WHY they are called bench knives. My guess is that it's because similar style knives were always on the bench of the carpenter, farrier, tack shop, cobbler, and ultimately the carver. But, that's just my take on it.

But ya better be carefull if you just ask any old body for a bench knife, or ya might wind up with one of these; a Baker's Bench Knife.

Al

[Canopener]

Archie,
I think you were clear, it was the fer sure part that made me chuckle.
You have a valid question, I am interested in the answer and I have already learned something new about the bakers bench knife. I would imagine cooks have different names, or uses for that style of tool also.
I look forward to seeing where this goes because it is a good question.
Jim

[Eddy-Smiles]

Al...

Personally, I appreciated your post. To be honest with you I'd never really given thought to the term "bench knife" and no one that I ever carved with used it so it's been a learning expereince. That's why I checked out Lora's link. She does provide a certain "bench mark" when it comes to carving!

And Jim's right.... I guess there's bench knives in all sorts of trades and disciplines.

[Thomp]

Al,

I dont know where the term started, or why its refured to as a bench knife but in my dads shop the bench knife was used from opening a can of paint to cutting hay rope, or scraping off gaskets, it was a utility knife that was sacrificial and to be used that way,

you never touched his better knives,

and the tradition came on down
mine is one i just made out of a Milwaukee bimetal cutting sabre saw blade, totaly cheap hard sharp and if i break or chip it its no particular loss, from a $2.50 blade you can usually make 2


my take is that a bench knife is a general work knife kept at the bench, not maintained as well as a carving knife and its allowed to get dull... least thats how it works round my shop...