Leather Cutting Knives Compared: Which Type is Best for Your Craft?

Choosing the best leather cutting knife for your craft depends on your specific needs. Here, we will discuss different types of knives and their main features. 

Understanding the Different Types of Leather Cutting Knives

Leather cutting knives are multi-used knives that come in different types for each and every job. Rotary cutters make it easy, and thus, you can do nice and smooth straight-edge cuts. For thinning edges and beveling edges, use the leather skiving knives. Broad knives (or straight-edge knives) are for clean, neat cuts of fundamental use with the curved blade. Round knives (head knives) are shaped as blunt daggers with curved edges for delicately slicing & shaping. The leather cutting knife you will need is based on what the job requires, the thickness of the leather, and how precise it needs to be.

Round Knife (Head Knife) – The Versatile Workhorse

Best for: General cutting, curved and straight lines, skiving.

Pros:

• It can replace multiple knives due to its versatility.
• Leather craft knife works well for slicing through thick leather.
• Allows for controlled curved cuts.

Cons:

• The steeper learning curve for beginners.
• Requires frequent sharpening for best performance.

Best for: Professional leatherworkers who need one leather knife to handle multiple tasks.

Straight Edge Knife – The Precision Cutter

Best for: Long, straight cuts, strap making.

Pros:

• Easy to control for straight and edge cuts.
• This leatherworking knife is great for thick and stiff leather.
• Beginner-friendly.

Cons:

• Less effective for curved cuts.
• It may require additional tools for detailed work.

Best for: Crafters working with belts, wallets, and structured leather goods.

Skiving Knife – The Essential Edge Shaper

Best for: Thinning edges, beveling, layering leather.

Pros:

• Leatherworking knife is perfect for creating smooth, professional-looking edges.
• Helps reduce bulk in seams and folds.
• Available in single and double-bevel designs.

Cons:

• Not designed for general cutting.
• Knife for leather requires practice to achieve consistent results.

Best for: Leatherworkers who need to thin down edges for stitching and folding.

Rotary Cutter – The Speed Cutter

Best for: Large sheets, pattern cutting.

Pros:

• Fast and efficient for cutting long sections.
• Ideal for fabric-backed leather.
• Beginner-friendly and safe to use.

Cons:

• Not suitable for detailed cuts.
• Blades dull quickly compared to steel leather knives.

Best for: Those working with large leather panels and repetitive cuts.

Which Leather Cutting Knife is Right for You?

Choosing the right leather working knife depends on your project’s needs and the type of work you’re doing. Choose based on the intricacy of your project and the type of cuts needed!

Choosing Based on Your Leatherworking Needs

Knife Type	Best For	Skill Level
Round Knife	General cutting, curved & straight lines	Advanced
Straight Knife	Long straight cuts, strap making	Beginner
Skiving Knife	Thinning leather, beveling	Intermediate
Rotary Cutter	Large sheet cutting, patterns	Beginner

Conclusion

Rotary cutters are great for clean, straight cuts and are handy when working on small patterns or a larger-scale project. Thin-edger and beveling skiving knives are meant for leather skiving, a wonderful machine in detail work of thin layers. Straight Edge Knives are very handy for most general leather-cutting work because of their clean cuts. Most flexible rounds (head knives) would be the best ones, as their curved blade is very handy for intricate cutting and shaping. Consider the type of leather, cutting precision, and the complexity of your project to determine the best knife for cutting leather.