Choil cut near tang?

[realitycheck]

How many of you cut small choils near the tang to make sharpening easier?
Just wondering how you do it and how hard is it?
Thanks for the help?

 

[Joshua J.]

I used to like them for getting a clean edge, and keeping the corners of my stones square, but more recently I've come to agree with those that like the edge to blurr into the tang. What it allows you to do is just push the knife into the material you're cutting and let it slide along the tang. It requires much less precision when cutting, and more to the point a lot of the time you end up doing that naturally. With a small choil it ends up catching, and you have to re-set the position of the knife, as opposed to the single smooth stroke.

I've used both, and only have a slight preferrence to the non-choiled edge.

If you really want to add a choil, I'd use a small cutoff wheel on a Dremel tool. If you don't have one they're a great investment for making all sorts of little modifications. One of the most common things I do is smooth the corners off the jimping on the thumb ramp, otherwise it tears my pants up way too quickly.
Hope that helps.

 

[DWRW]

+1 on a lot of what Joshua said.

Personally, I don't like choils and would say I have a strong preference for NOT having choils as like Joshua said choils "can" interfer with knife function.

I would rather sharpen without a choil and have better knife function.
Personally, I don't feel hindered in sharpening by not having one. So, no brainer for me.

However, if you must have one, a Dremel is likely about as fast a tool to get the job done.


**** BUT, be very cautious with a Dremel tool near your blades edge. The Dremel tool can overheat the blade at the thin edge VERY fast and very possibly damage the temper.

I would recommend if you use a Dremel on any knife to grind very small bits at a time slowly and dunk the hot spots in water to keep cool every few seconds.

With a Dremel, especially near the thin edge, you can heat a very small area less than a tenth of an inch area way hot without noticing the heat half an inch away.

This will typically make the affected area too brittle and that area could chip much easier.

Cutting the choil with a round file is not likely to cause any temper damage. But, a Dremel is WAY faster and easier. But, a Dremel can be riskier to the temper.

Also, if you have not used a Dremel before, it can be pretty tricky to get a nice uniform even choil until you have a lot of practice.

Good luck.

.

 

[yablanowitz]

If I had a dollar for every time a choil hung up while I was cutting thin material I could buy a custom knife...without one.

Adding one with a Dremel would be a two-minute job. Adding one with a DMT serration sharpener (diamond rod) would take longer, with less risk to the blade temper and more risk to your fingers.

 

[realitycheck]

So basically good for sharpening. Not the best option for cutting with your blade though. Which is obviously the number one reason we carry these things. So I'll just stick with no choils unless the blade comes from the factory with one. I only have the centofante that has the choil and I know what you guys mean about having to readjust the blade while using it.

 

[archieblue]

I like to use said choil type as a single large serration, or rather to produce a snappy, forceful transfer of energy resulting in a quick cut in rope and the like... that is, IF my blade is not as sharp as I would like. I does not make or break a knife for me, but I do prefer it. The Military does not have one, and it is still my favorite knife. That said, it certainly can get in the way.. but I've always been able to cater to the design.

 

[Haze]

Iv never had any problems with choils when cutting stuff my self,
i find they look better on some knives than others but each to there own.

If I want to put a choil on a knife I use a good quality round file.
Dremels and powerd tools are generally a bad idea for stuff like that.
Its too easy to make a mistake and mark the blade or take the edge off, or cut too far or heat the blade up or ......