Bushcraft knives, jimping or not?

roninelh

roninelh

Joined
Dec 14, 2010
Messages
610
I was thinking about adding jimping to one of my knives and got to thinking about the practical use for jimping on a general use bushcraft blade. What is your opinion on jimping and what skills or activities do you feel benefit from having a knife with jimping?
 
The jimping that I have seen is just there to keep the thumb from slipping when pressing down and foreward on the top of the blade. If the cuts are nice and crisp they can help in shaving magnesium and getting sparks from a ferro rod. They can also be used to catch and hold the wire hanger on a cook pot to raise or move it. Probably more a matter of personal preference on whether you want it or not.
 
Bo T said:
The jimping that I have seen is just there to keep the thumb from slipping when pressing down and foreward on the top of the blade. If the cuts are nice and crisp they can help in shaving magnesium and getting sparks from a ferro rod. They can also be used to catch and hold the wire hanger on a cook pot to raise or move it. Probably more a matter of personal preference on whether you want it or not.
Click to expand...

I can't improve on that response, so I won't.
 
One more possible use: as a rasp.
I personally don't see how adding jimping takes anything away from a knife at all. I'm sure someone can answer soon, though.
 
I have had jimping wear out the thumb pad of good gloves before, also the type of sheath is a factor. If the jimping is likely to rub against the sheath on removal and replacement it can prematurely wear it out.

But some pros were stated that are very true, so I believe it is a personal choice.


-Xander
 
Bo T said:
The jimping that I have seen is just there to keep the thumb from slipping when pressing down and foreward on the top of the blade. If the cuts are nice and crisp they can help in shaving magnesium and getting sparks from a ferro rod. They can also be used to catch and hold the wire hanger on a cook pot to raise or move it. Probably more a matter of personal preference on whether you want it or not.
Click to expand...


You killed the thread in pretty much the best way possible.... lol, i have never even thought about the cook pot application. great response.
 
I actually wish makers would jimp farther down the spine & near the tip, like the Ka-Bar Johnson Adventure Blade called Piggyback. (GREAT little blade, everyone should have one) It would give the user more options, especially on big blades.
 
Jimping is IN MY OPINION a complete waste of time; if the knife has sufficiently scuplted handle slabs and/ or a choil there is very little risk of slipping, moreover the placement of most jimping only serves to shred my thumb(!)

I hate the stuff and routinely smooth the jimping that is almost omni-present on most folders. I am incredibly grateful that Mike Stewart of Bark River knives and Tools gave us the option to have or not to have in his Bushcrafter series. Needless to say mine's without...

Ben
 
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