Knife ID (probably not woodworking)

[JohnPW]

I got these two knives in a job lot of chisels:

The one with the curved blade (stamped "Foreign") I think is a lino or flooring cutting knife but what's the other one with the pivoting blade?

 

[thetyreman]

the top one looks like beech, bottom one looks like ash to me...no idea what they are used for though.

 

[lurker]

The top one is a sharpener for cork borers

My guess is the other is a grafting knife

 

[Jacob]

Yes to grafting knife - my old dad had several including same hook shape but folding like a penknife.
But then it could be useful for other crafts too I suppose, maybe not specialised?

 

[thick_mike]

And the top one is certainly a sharpener for cork borers (I used them regularly at work).

 

[woodpig]

The bottom one looks like it could also be used for leather working?

 

[JohnPW]

Thanks all. I never would have guessed the cork borer sharpener!

 

[heimlaga]

The bottom one is called linoleum knife in many books though theese days all carpet fitters have shifted to disposable knife blades. Theese old style linoleum knives are as far as I know used only for leatherwork nowadays.

 

[rxh]

Yes, I would say the lower one is a lino knife. Here is another example:

 

[Keith 66]

I have one like that, it has a close shave story attached to it. Years ago i had need to split 50ft of garden hose to cover a fibreglass boat hull edge. I sharpened the lino knife & mindful of its wicked edge cut away from myself with both hands while standing on the hose to keep it straight.
All was going well until about halfway when it was losing its edge. It slipped out of the cut & swung up, Basically i stabbed myself in the forehead with the tip, wasnt a huge amount of blood but i didnt half have a bump. Lucky i didnt lose an eye.

 

[bugbear]

Yes, I would say the lower one is a lino knife. Here is another example:

And here's a coupla' pruning knives.

Whilst straight blades are the most versatile, and hence commonest, hooked blades are also quite versatile.

BugBear