"Chisel" ground blades

[Allen E. Treat]

To : ALL

I was wondering what you forumite(s) thought of the "chisel
ground" edge blades ; if I understand the term "chisel ground"
it means that only one side was sharpened, correct? I am reminded
of the "razorblade" concept : If we take a good look at the razorblade
( at least traditional ones ) they are ground thus. When I was stationed at Ft. Benning, Ga. I came across AK bayonets with this
type of edge ; if they weren't too sharp, with some diligence they
could be made "shaving sharp". Don't have any of these in my inventory, but I do have many Spydies with the "Spyderedge" ground
in such a fashion. Opinion(s)?

A.E.T.

 

[The Tourist]

I think this boils down to personal preference. With an Edgepro, my CQC-7B's and my one Commander were shaving sharp. (Except for that little bitty recurve portion in front of the serrations on the Commander. Ben Dale sent me half size waterstones and I still couldn't reach it all.)

For me, it was tactile. I didn't like the way it pulled to the right as I cut. However, I am quick to say that if I needed the qualities of an Emerson knife, I would buy one in a heart beat. All five of mine were beautifully made.

What the heck do I know, I live near Waunakee. I really like the way a Opinel with a fresh edge slips through paper!

 

[JamesA]

Originally posted by Allen E. Treat
if I understand the term "chisel ground" it means that only one side was sharpened, correct?

That is a bit of an issue, right there. As far as I can tell, a lot of people do not make a distinction between chisel ground (like an Emerson tanto, where one side of the blade is completely flat) and chisel edged (like an Emerson Commander, where both sides of the blade were GROUND, but only one side is SHARPENED).

This distinction is a pretty major one, so I don't know why it gets confused. I definitely understand how a chisel ground knife will pull to the right, but I don't see that problem with a chisel edged knife. I actually had someone argue with me by saying that he didn't like chisel "ground" knives (the knife in question was a commander), because they wouldn't whittle or slice as well as his serrated spydercos (which are chisel edged, just like the Commander). Did not make a lot of sense to me.

I do not mind chisel edged knives at all. In my experience, one sharpened for a right handed person (like myself) will perform just as well as a regular sharpened knife; better in some times, and worse in some times. A left handed one is the same, just with more worse and less better.

As for chisel ground knives, I think that they are too specialized for general use blades (although it's a little iffy... other factors matter, like the thickness of the stock, etc... I would much rather have a chisel ground knife than no knife), but what they're good at, they're VERY good at (be it tactical uses, be it whittling, be it very fine slicing), as good or sometimes better than a double ground knife.

 

[ZENGHOST]

A chisel ground blade is ground like a chisel, right?...

Anywho...I'm not partial to a chisel grind because of the same reason Ichabod mentioned--I don't like how it pulls the blade to one side. I think JamesA already mentioned it, but the other problem I have with it is that I could never understand why they bevel the same side for both right- and left-handed knives. It usually turns out to be the wrong side for a right-handed user. And no, I don't have anything against lefties--it's not their fault that they're deformed (just kidding...), but I think that the grind should be specific to right- or left-handed users. I know some people are going to argue that there is no "right" or "wrong" side, but to me on a right handed folder, the bevel should be on the clip side. My Benchmade Emerson (BM970) was like that and while it looked better that way, it turned me off to the chisel grind. But again, like Ichabod said it is all personal preference. My .01 (my opinion's not usually worth more than a penny)...

-Z

 

[T. Erdelyi]

As an EDC it's more of a novelty, but as a backup defensive weapon they are awsome, they will open up soft skin tissue like no other grind I know of.

 

[DC KNIVES]

I am a Precision Machinery Mechanic for my day job and use a chisel grind knife as a EDC.I have used this knife for almost two years and love it.I cut boxes,strip electrical cable,deburr mild steel, aluminum and plastics everyday.I know they are not for everyone and it not the only grind I do, but I have been quite impressed on how this grind works on a utility type knife.Dave

 

[Jazzman]

I carried my mini cqc7B for a few months and I really liked the chisel ground blade. I found it to be more that useful when performing heavy duty work. I also say they are easier to sharpen although lots of people disagree.
Matt

 

[Bimmer1]

Try a Mike Snody custom chisel grind blade. It will cut!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Yep, Mike's chisel grind blades cut, but I like his hollow grinds better.

I prefer convex, flat, flat w/convex edge and hollow grinds. I personally think they all do better at cutting.

 

[Mitchell Knives]

I don't own one personally, but I think a traditional grind would be better for utility. Is there any reason why a chisel grind would produce better cuts in a defensive situation?

 

[ZENGHOST]

Originally posted by Bimmer1
Try a Mike Snody custom chisel grind blade. It will cut!

I'd love to try anything by Mike--chisel or otherwise, but unfortunately he has not been taking orders for awhile (according to his site anyway), and they're a bit hard to come by...