choils- like em or leave em

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

CUTS LIKE A KRIS

Joined
Sep 28, 2005
Messages
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Since I am asking the question then I will answer first. Leave em!!!! I can see no reason for them as they reduce the useable amount of blade. The most often used excuse that I hear is that it allows one to choke up on the blade for detailed uses. This seems like an excuse for less than perfect handle design- if the handle is designed properly then why would you need the choil as the handle will allow closer use of the blade. The only exception that I can see is in cases like the Spyderco Native where the blade is used as part of the handle.

Any comments??
 
if you sharpen a knife that doesn't have a choil you will eventually create a stress point and weaken the edge, or so i've heard. i like small choils on small blades and bigger choils that i can can put my index finger in on choppers.
 
I'm pretty much with CLAK on this - choils waste good edge to compensate for poorly designed handles.

The one choil I like is on a compact folder, the Spyderco Native. Here is a review I did that expands on this.
 
i like'em. after comparing my knives with/without choils i say that i feel more confident WITH them as it gives me more control and precision. in some ways it feels more civilized because without it, it feels like im just grabbing it instead of holding it...if that makes any sense which it probably doesnt :rolleyes: plus its awsome for SD grips such as the sabre grip. makes me not really want to buy another knife that doesnt have a choil.
 
I have two different thoughts on choils.

ON blades 5 inch and smaller I think they are a waste of good blade length.

On large blades 6 inch and over I like them because they do help to choke up for finer work.
 
I'm pretty indifferent. I really hate poorly designed choils that allow you to cut yourself though.
It also REALLY depends on the design of the knife. If you have guardless knife with an edge that sticks out, a choil is pointless.
There's just so many design factors involved, that asking this question is almost pointless without putting it into a better perspective.
 
I like sharpening choils. When a knife doesn't have one, it usually gets a thicker grind right at the base which isn't of any use as a cutting edge. 1/8-1/4" less cutting edge for a choil is insignificant.

I'm also a fan of finger choils like Spyderco uses on many of their knives. Yes, it reduces the blade/handle ratio, but I'm not as concerned with this as I used to be. For example, the Delica and Calypso Jr. are nearly identicle in size, but the CJ fits the hand much, much better because of the extended grip.
 
I like choils on folders. In the event of a lock failure, I'd rather have my finger pinched with a choil rather than severed with a blade. Granted, it is not as likely to happen with some of the better locking systems these days, but I'm in the "better safe than sorry" camp. It's also a plus to be able to choke up on the blade when doing intricate cuts.
 
I like choils, although I rarely choke up on a knife.
 
I love finger choils....here are the reasons:

Better handle to blade ratio without compromising pocket space or weight

Far, far superior safety in case of lock failure

look cool

feel cool

Of course, ideally you buy a knife that lets you fully use just the handle or the handle and choil like the para.

Mainly for the safety reason, I really like to have my knives have finger choils..if my lock fails on my para (of course, it is a compression lock, soo..) then it will just make my finger smart. If I did it with my minigrip, more dire consequences. Of course, that's an axis lock...but I digress.
 
I say leave 'em. If you need to do detail work, use a pocketknife.

Hey, I just noticed that I've broken the "100 posts" mark. Do I get a prize? Maybe I should buy a gold membership....

TheSurvivalist
 
On another note do any of you find that choils get in the way when cutting (especially on choils smaller than finger diameter)- often with "choilled" knives I find that the end of the cut binds on the choil (push cuts) or starts to bind when used normally
 
Walking Man said:
It also REALLY depends on the design of the knife.... There's just so many design factors involved, that asking this question is almost pointless without putting it into a better perspective.
Click to expand...
Well said, I agree completely.
 
misque said:
I like choils on folders. In the event of a lock failure, I'd rather have my finger pinched with a choil rather than severed with a blade. Granted, it is not as likely to happen with some of the better locking systems these days, but I'm in the "better safe than sorry" camp.
Click to expand...

Very good point. I have noticed this too. A few times I've pulled out a pocket knife and a piece of lint has prevented the lock from fully engaging. The time the knife had a choil, I didn't get cut!
 
I'll take 'em. Not only do they increase control, they do push out a little more blade length. I'm also concerned about lock failures and would actually prefer blade pivots to keep the fingers as far away from the blade as possible.

The pivots also can serve as blade flippers when the knife is closed.
 
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