BladeSports knife specifications rule #2?

[gomipile]

I'm trying to interpret the second rule of the BladeSports knife specifications rules:

#2 From the plunge cut at the ricasso through the knife tip must be a single plane. No swells or bulges are allowed.

Does this mean that the choppers must be a true full flat grind, with no curvature at all to the distal taper if there is a distal taper? Technically, reading the rule in a precise geometric sense, it would imply that there must be an exactly linear distal taper that tapers to a fine zero width tip. One couldn't have a secondary grind at all, as the shoulder would be a "swell or bulge."

Speaking as a mathematician, none of the BladeSports choppers I have seen for sale or in use at official events have adhered to any reasonably precise interpretation of this rule.

Can someone present to me a logically precise version of #2 that exactly defines what knives meet and fail the enforced interpretation of this rule?

 

[yablanowitz]

There doesn't need to be distal taper at all. The stock could be left the same thickness at the tip as it is at the ricasso. You could even make the blade thicker at the tip than at the plunge cut at the ricasso as long as it was ground in a single flat plane. Of course, that would make the weakest point where there is the most stress, which I believe would be a bad idea, and it would increase drag at the tip, which would also be bad idea, but by the rule, you could do it. I believe the rule is to prevent a competitor from weighting the tip by leaving it thicker an inch or two back from the tip, then thinning it back down at the very tip to reduce drag.

 

[gomipile]

I think I understand the way the rule is supposed to work.

However, it is a rule, and in my opinion any rule worth writing should be precise enough to enforce absolutely. If it isn't able to be enforced absolutely as written, there was no point to writing it in the first place.

As I said, the shoulder of the secondary bevel on a knife would constitute a violation as the rule is written.

 

[yablanowitz]

If that rules is in any way unclear, or if you really believe that the edge bevel would constitute a violation of the rule, stay away from sharp objects.

 

[gomipile]

If you think this rule is in no way unclear, it would be in your best interest to stay away from countries which have laws.

 

[TwinStick]

I am no expert & really have no friggin idea. That being said, it seems to me that it would mean "no swells or bulges" for the following reasons: it would add extra weight to the "sweet spot" & therefore chop better than one without it---unfair advantage, or maybe help the wood split faster with the added "thickness" of the steel in the "swell or bulge"---unfair advantage. That is just my best guess anyways. I don't think it has anything to do with the cutting edge. If it does, no big deal, put a convex edge on it then you don't have to worry about it.

 

[all 41 + 14 all]

The Browning Crowell Barker was designed for Bladesports IIRC. It is convexed spine to edge and also a little bit heel to toe convex as well, i.e. not a flat plane. So... ???

 

[Dan Keffeler]

I'm trying to interpret the second rule of the BladeSports knife specifications rules:



Does this mean that the choppers must be a true full flat grind, with no curvature at all to the distal taper if there is a distal taper? Technically, reading the rule in a precise geometric sense, it would imply that there must be an exactly linear distal taper that tapers to a fine zero width tip. One couldn't have a secondary grind at all, as the shoulder would be a "swell or bulge."

Speaking as a mathematician, none of the BladeSports choppers I have seen for sale or in use at official events have adhered to any reasonably precise interpretation of this rule.

Can someone present to me a logically precise version of #2 that exactly defines what knives meet and fail the enforced interpretation of this rule?

I agree the rule number two could be more clear. The intent of the rule is that a bladesports competition Knife should have One continuous grind for the primary bevel. Flat Grinds, hollow grinds, and convex grinds are all legal however you cannot put a hollow grind combined with a convex or flat grind on the same bevel. This is to prevent a potential weak spot in the blade where it transitions from Hollow grind two flat grind. However, you can have these transitions on a false edge.

Dan