What exactly is a shoe knife and do they come in a variety of sizes?
Now…
A lot of people will erroneously tell you that a shoe knife is a loafer with a dagger in it or a mashup of a sneaker and a switchblade.
Knife, Shoe Knife
The most famous example of a “shoe knife” is found at the end of the 1963 James Bond film, From Russia with Love. The character Klebb (played by actress Lotte Lenya) tries to kill Bond (played by Sean Connery) with a poisoned knife that’s attached to the tip of her clog.
Did she succeed in killing Bond? We won’t say. We don’t want to spoil the movie for you.
Technically, Klebb’s pointed pump is a kind of “shoe knife” but it’s not the kind of shoe knife that concerns us.
Cobbler’s Knife
There are actual tools called shoe knives and as the name suggests, they are used in shoemaking. That’s why the tool is sometimes called a “cobbler’s knife.”
Shoemakers used a version of the tool to cut the upper part of the shoe as well as trim the soles. More than likely, the knives are cutting leather and rubber.
What Does a Shoe Knife Look Like?
Generally, a shoe knife has a fixed blade attached to a wood or plastic hilt. Just like there are many different types of kicks, there are many different types of shoe knives.
Nonetheless, most shoe knives look like something you’d see in the hands of a craftsperson. They don’t look like a steak knife or a weapon a henchmen would use to attack 007.
To learn more about show knives follow this link.
Skiving
An example of the many different types of shoe knives is the blade cobblers use for skiving.
Skiving is what shoemakers call the act of cutting away thin layers of leather to create a desired shape and a smooth finish. Skiving the leather calls for a flexible blade that’s usually pretty thin—a little bit different than the tool previously mentioned.
Interesting Side Note…
Cobblers also use shoe knives to remove unwanted bumps from the bottom of their creations. Shoemakers turn over the knife and use its non-cutting edge to determine if the sole is flat.
Other Uses
Since shoe knives are so adroit at cutting thick materials they are currently used in a plethora of industries. Wherever leather, rubber, and plastic needs to be sliced you’re likely to find workers using some type of shoe knife.
Hyde Industrial Blade Services
Of course, the most important types of shoe knives are the ones used in your business. That’s why you need Hyde Industrial Blade Services.
We’ve been making knives since 1885. Our “Made in America” knives are the best money can buy and we have a huge selection of styles.
For more information about our shoe knives click here!
All of our shoe knives are made with high-carbon steel that’s painstakingly hardened, tempered, and polished. These long-lasting blades are expertly fitted into easy-to-grip, hardwood handles.
So…
Don’t be a heel and buy your blades from Hyde. After all, our shoe knives have a lot of soul.