Ditch The Patch Knife

[Walkabout]

I've been thinking, instead of sawing away with a patch knife, why not use a pair of shears. Not historically correct, but probably faster and more efficient. Maybe some of you are doing this already, but I'm going to try it on my next range trip.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Weight.

I use a hole punch, makes lots of them quick

 

[Polecat_Tom]

For me, a good sharp patch knife is the fastest. I just place my patch strip on the muzzle push the ball flush and one quick pass with a razor sharp knife it is ready to be pushed home.

 

[Okie Hog]

Never used a patch knife: My patches are pre cut. At the range the patch is wiped with lube.

When hunting i use this historically incorrect tube that contains five patched round balls:

 

[jdw276]

Watch bp maniac's videos. He partially pre cuts and has a video demonstrating. He just tears a patch off the strip he carries. I tried it, very simple and quick.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I've been thinking, instead of sawing away with a patch knife, why not use a pair of shears. Not historically correct, but probably faster and more efficient. Maybe some of you are doing this already, but I'm going to try it on my next range trip.

if you want a nice trim fit, I don't think you will get it with shears. Never tried it, but think the shears will stay too high on the muzzle.
Larry

 

[springfield art]

if you want a nice trim fit, I don't think you will get it with shears. Never tried it, but think the shears will stay too high on the muzzle.
Larry

I agree. And if your knife is truly SHARP, it won't need 'sawing away'!

 

[ZUG]

You will need a sharpening stone to touch up that knife's edge every once in a while, --- or you can gnaw it to death

 

[necchi]

I've been thinking, instead of sawing away with a patch knife, why not use a pair of shears.

I had that thought once.
Then I learned to keep my knife razor sharp.
There's no "sawing", just a quick simple swipe

 

[smoothshooter]

I've been thinking, instead of sawing away with a patch knife, why not use a pair of shears. Not historically correct, but probably faster and more efficient. Maybe some of you are doing this already, but I'm going to try it on my next range trip.

If you cut them out at home you will save even more time.
I never saw any advantage to cutting patches at the muzzle, but do see lots of disadvantages.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I use both patch knife and scissors. The knife for the field. Scissors once or twice a year. I’ll cut up strips of material and roll them up to toss in my shooting bag. Or, I’ll cut square patches with the scissors at home. Those go into storage containers by the handfuls. An hour at home can yield more than enough patches for a year. Lube in the field or at the range.

 

[Larry (Omaha)]

I agree. And if your knife is truly SHARP, it won't need 'sawing away'!

Ha, Good answer! I missed the sawing in the first go around. One good slice should work!
Larry

 

[Brokennock]

Get a sharper knife,,,, and a longer one. Those little knives advertised as "patch knives," aren't usually long enough to cut a patch clean in one stroke.
I use my 6" blade belt knife.
Occasionally I'll have to make a second pass, but never "saw" through the material.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Since I am a klutz I find using precut patches far safer than holding a rifle in one hand and a sharp knife in the other.Also good quality shears leave a nice cut just as a sharp knife would.

 

[smoothshooter]

For me, a good sharp patch knife is the fastest. I just place my patch strip on the muzzle push the ball flush and one quick pass with a razor sharp knife it is ready to be pushed home.

Isn’t carrying a greasy roll of patching material a nuisance?
How do you keep from getting the grease on your other stuff?

 

[SDSmlf]

Isn’t carrying a greasy roll of patching material a nuisance?
How do you keep from getting the grease on your other stuff?

PC/HC plastic 35mm film canisters if pre-lubing, though I still have a few of the more ‘traditional’ aluminum ones. If one lubes their patch material as they load, getting grease on other stuff not an issue unless you are careless.

As long as you have a SHARP knife, trimming patches at the muzzle is very quick and easy. I have recently been experimenting with a couple of straight razors. Just have to work out a handle and sheath. If you can shave with it, it will breeze through any patch material easier than any shears I have used.

 

[oldwood]

Used to do this at the early shoots........Precut your own patches , take a needle with coarse thread and pass the needle through the center of a bunch of patches. remove the needle , attach one end of the coarse thread to your shot pouch . Just remove each patch as needed , lube and load. Patches stay on the coarse cord until needed. I haven't done this for a long time , 'cause I don't go to shoots , and lazy man's precut patches are easier to deal with.

 

[jeff b]

scissors work fine foe me

 

[smoothshooter]

PC/HC plastic 35mm film canisters if pre-lubing, though I still have a few of the more ‘traditional’ aluminum ones. If one lubes their patch material as they load, getting grease on other stuff not an issue unless you are careless.

As long as you have a SHARP knife, trimming patches at the muzzle is very quick and easy. I have recently been experimenting with a couple of straight razors. Just have to work out a handle and sheath. If you can shave with it, it will breeze through any patch material easier than any shears I have used.

I carry my pre-cut patches in an Altoids tin box, and others in a loading block with balls.

 

[tenngun]

Watch bp maniac's videos. He partially pre cuts and has a video demonstrating. He just tears a patch off the strip he carries. I tried it, very simple and quick.

Me too, I saw him do that and thought ‘how neat!”