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Advantage of recurves?
- Thread starter GarageBoy
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2004
- Messages
- 442
I could ask you back what can a serrated blade do that a normal blade can't, or what can a tanto blade do that a normal blade can't, or what can a drop point blade do that a normal blade can't... 
Okay I'm done being a smartass. In my experience with them, it seems like they work better when pushcutting at length. What I mean is something like ripping a 100 foot roll of patio screen for instance.
I find that with a straight edge my knife cuts just fine but tends to wander a bit because let's face it no one can really hold their hand perfectly still while trying to rip 100 feet of screen.
A skinning type knife or one that at least has some belly, like my Persian, does better. I find a recurved blade, like my lamented and lost Dodo, tends to not wander from side to side as I cut if I rhythmically move the knife up and down slightly.
Why this works for me, I have no idea. That being said I don't really engage in such long cutting jobs on a regular basis.
Okay I'm done being a smartass. In my experience with them, it seems like they work better when pushcutting at length. What I mean is something like ripping a 100 foot roll of patio screen for instance.
I find that with a straight edge my knife cuts just fine but tends to wander a bit because let's face it no one can really hold their hand perfectly still while trying to rip 100 feet of screen.
A skinning type knife or one that at least has some belly, like my Persian, does better. I find a recurved blade, like my lamented and lost Dodo, tends to not wander from side to side as I cut if I rhythmically move the knife up and down slightly.
Why this works for me, I have no idea. That being said I don't really engage in such long cutting jobs on a regular basis.
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2002
- Messages
- 2,965
Dizos
Now THAT looks like a user! From the ass end it appears to started out as a large Busse of some sort. Could you provide some details?
Rob
Now THAT looks like a user! From the ass end it appears to started out as a large Busse of some sort. Could you provide some details?
Rob
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2002
- Messages
- 1,297
F-22 said:
Yes it does provide a greater surface area. Also the bite on the draw as someone else said is true. (When cutting say... rope, the recurve holds the rope nicely while slicing through.)
Despite those advantages however, other styles have their merits...Not to mention some of the bad things about recurves, such as them being harder to sharpen...
-Kevin
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,207
dizos said:I find that the recurve has a great "bite" on the draw stroke as well. The widest part is also handy (with larger blades) as a focal point for chopping. Finally, the narrowest part is good for using as a draw knife for stripping bark off of wood.
-- Dizos
Wow!!!!
What is that?
This is the first blade I have seen to make me want to give up a good machette for something more expensive. OK, well perhaps it would suck to swing it several hours at once while cutting a new path through tight vines, but do you really see this thing!
Perhaps I could cary it on one side and my ontario knive on the other?
What a beauty that thing is! Tell me more about it, please.
Chris
The blade was built by Robert Hankins to my specs (with his expert interpretation of course). Basic design type inspired by the Busse Battle Mistress. The recurve profile and false edge was designed in an interative process where I tried to pack as much function as possible in an 11" blade without too much compromise. Turned out better than my expectations. Robert puts a mean grind on a blade. Main function is as a chopper for limbing and splitting (using a baton) but the secondary goals of cutting, slicing, piercing, prying and use as a draw knife are equally represented. I hope to try it out quartering an elk this year -- seems like it would make short work of the breast plate and popping the joints. I took on the design project after noting (I travel alot) how many cultures heavily rely on a large blade as their EDC. Its a human thing. For my lifestyle it is mostly used for yard work and as a camp axe. At 16" and 1/4" thick it would not be good for all day bushwacking machete work. However, I was in the Amazon last month and wish I had it with me. The locals did amazing things with a 14" machete, most projects took well under an hour so the heavier blade would not have been a problem.
BTW - I highly recommend Roberts work. I have had four of his blades to date and each was excellent.
-- Dizos
BTW - I highly recommend Roberts work. I have had four of his blades to date and each was excellent.
-- Dizos
- Joined
- Sep 11, 2002
- Messages
- 3,548
Recurves focus edge when chopping and exert more pressure on draw cuts.
They take some practice to sharpen.
Robert Hankins makes a fine blade. Hard to beat for the price.
They take some practice to sharpen.
Robert Hankins makes a fine blade. Hard to beat for the price.
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2002
- Messages
- 2,965
Mr.BadExample said:
Yes he does, and as you said, the price is good. I have something very similar, but it is a 1 off from Busse called the BEHEMOTH. No top swedge, and a bit more curved in the tip for skinning. Very nice design (not mine) to be a skinner, chopper, draw knife and a bit of a hump on top of the spine for breaking bones. The recurve is not real radical, but there.
Rob