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I THINK both v and chisel can be equal in sharpness.
You think that because it's true.

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I THINK both v and chisel can be equal in sharpness.
By "double bevel" do you mean they were all V-ground or could that mean chisel grind with a micro-bevel?
Is "V-grind" bad terminology? Should I be using the term "double bevel" here instead?
I THINK both v and chisel can be equal in sharpness.
The little bit of research I'm willing to put into the scalpel/chisel grind thing resulted in this :
Essentials of Cataract Surgery - Bonnie An Henderson, Roberto Pineda (II.) - Google Books
https://books.google.com/books?id=b...re most scalpel blades chisel ground?&f=false
Pages 147-149 of the document contain the pertinent information:
"Tissue resistance is halved with a chisel ground scalpel blade compared with V-ground scalpel blades....because the number of points on the blade is halved. The blade edge is thinner and sharper [compared with a V-ground blade]...."
Also, I wonder if this was what Sam was referring to, in his post above, in Mr. Emerson's writings in re: the tactical aspect:
".....Chisel ground bevel-UP creates an inverse V-wound; chisel ground with bevel down creates an upright V-wound..." [ibid]
Et cetera.....
Won't bore you with more. Read further at the source if you are interested.
A knife with only one ground bevel on one or both faces would be a zero grind. One with two or more bevels from spine to edge would be a compound grind (with ones featuring more than a primary and secondary grind often being called a "facet grind.") A knife that only has grinding performed on one side of the blade, with the other left flat is a chisel grind. A knife with bevels on both sides is a double bevel grind. If both sides are ground identically it's a symmetrical grind. Not all of these terms are mutually exclusive.
"V" grind can be a confusing term simply because it can either mean a double bevel, or it can be used to indicate a flat grind as opposed to hollow or convex, which is why I usually avoid the term unless the meaning is explicit.
So to clarify, all of the scalpel blades I've seen were symmetrically ground with a zero grind (as far as I could detect--some may or may not have had a microbevel applied.)
Doctors are what I call "Stupid Smart". They've spent a lot of time studying a difficult subject and unfortunately for some it causes them to develop that god complex that we see on TV all the time.
This makes them think they know all about everything but they really don't become a master carpenter or physicist just because they can locate your major organs in 3 tries or less.
because the number of points on the blade is halved. The blade edge is thinner and sharper [compared with a V-ground blade].
We already went through this on the graph paper. Thin stock = thin blade = sharp grind.
Now since surgical tools are consumable it's probably easier to just give one size a pass on the old grinder. I won't debate that.
Wow. Lots of info in this thread. Also lots of over thinking and therory.
It doesn't matter if I cut something with my Emerson Mini CQC 15 or my Spyderco PM2. In the end it is going to end up in two pieces.
Ahhh.... But a Jarbenza doesn't have style.Best argument for a $5 jarbenza I ever heard.
OK, I thought I knew all that but you certainly explained it well. Thanks.
Yup on the confusing part.
Ya know....problem is you're one of the only ones who is so detailed in this stuff. Everyone else, myself included, tends to skate over such detail---I guess, to you, we tend to turn it into jargon somewhat in the interest of brevity. I follow you though. I see how you must pull hair in trying to explain to some of us at times.
And here I thought the vast majority of scalpel blades were chisel ground. In my experience, having dated a few doctors (WOMEN) and had access to a bunches of scalpels and lancets (double-edged scalpels) for chores, etc. over the years, it's just what I seemed to have noticed. Maybe there are a higher percentage of "double bevel" scalpels out there than I thought.
'N thanks......![]()
is there a doctor in the house ???
Any time. I've got a few doctor and surgeon friends I can ask regarding the grind issue. If they really were chisel-ground so frequently, though, I'd expect to find them available in both left- and right-beveled variations according to hand dominance and cutting task. They'd be good on narrow blades for making tight circular cuts, but remember that while the deflection forces are reduced on the one side, they're increased on the other, so tissue against the beveled face would get pushed harder than tissue against the flat face.
I play one on TV.