Had a real scare with a hoof knife snapping mid-trim

I was working on a big Percheron gelding over in Redmond last Thursday, and my main hoof knife just gave out about halfway through the second foot. The blade snapped clean off at the handle, which I've never had happen before. I keep my tools sharp, but this one was an older model I'd had for about eight years. What's a good sign that a knife is getting too worn out to trust, before it fails like that?

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3 Comments

the_patricia5mo ago

@blakeo57 has a point about cracks near the handle. Read somewhere that flexing the blade gently can reveal weak spots.

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blakeo576mo ago

I mean, I usually just wait for the knife to tell me it's done by trying to take a finger off. Maybe check for tiny cracks near the handle?

1

robinson.reese6mo ago

That's one way to do it, I guess. I've always just kept an eye on the color of the wood handle. When it starts looking dry and pale, almost gray, that's my cue. A quick rub with some mineral oil usually fixes it right up before any cracks can start.

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