Choils, or no choils?

[xyrium]

Every time I spend time with a Hinderer, then switch back to a ZT, I end up cutting myself due to improper handling. With the Hinderer, there's a nice choil that protects your finger when the blade drops during closing, not so with the ZTs. So, what happens, yep, I slice my finger open every time.

None of my other folding knives have such a large choil as the XM. While I can appreciate the camp that says you "lose" too much blade when you employ a choil in the design, I actual tend to like it there.

What do you guys think of 'em?

 

[Lapedog]

Be more careful dog! So far I have cut myself many times, but never because I thought my knife had a choil but it didn't! Lol! Protip: the flipper will protect your finger on closing.

But to answer, it totally depends on the design of the choil for me. I can take a choil or leave it depending on that.

Sharpening choils on the other hand are a must!

 

[McFeeli]

I couldn't vote because I'm kind of stuck in the middle. I like a choil on larger(ish) folders, I love it on my Manix 2 and my PM2..

But I absolutely do not understand why Spyderco stuck one on my Domino. The Domino isn't exactly a small knife, but it doesn't really require a choil. Same with the Sage series, I really disliked it on my 5 as well.

If Spyderco would do what they did with the Tenacious, keeping the edge the whole way back to the handle, on other knives I think there's a lot of different knives I'd like to add to my collection.

 

[BK14]

I also didn't vote, as I am also somewhat in the middle. My favorite knives have places to choke up, but not full choils. Like the Emerson Horseman and BM 710.

 

[Comeuppance]

Side note: Flipper tabs accomplish that finger-guard role admirably.

I like choils in -some- knives. Hinderer knives are a non-starter for me because the choils eat directly into the blade - this is also why Striders just don't work for me. I just never need to choke up my grip like that, and it feels odd / unnecessary to move my fingers above the handle and over part of the blade.

Choils that work for me are generally those that are integrated into the handle somewhat.

Examples:

Kershaw RAM

Stedemon ZKC-D01

Spyderco Paramilitary

Cold Steel Tuff Lite

 

[BilboBaggins]

I like them but do not require them. YMMV.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I hate finger choils. I have tried to like them, but I can't.

There is nothing I hate more than going to cut something and then realize I'm trying to cut with the choil

I'll carry a blade made of Play-doh before I'll carry one with a choil. However, I do like them on large fixed blades.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Finger or sharpening ?

I like a small sharpening choil , but as far as finger choils I don't really like them when they're deep enough to be considered a choil.
I don't like a knife handle that tells my hands where to go, some knife handles like on the sog seal pup don't really bother me for some reason though.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Sharpening choil and no more.

 

[Cow51]

I like choils... for small knives. Love it on my DF2, It gives me a full four finger grip on a tiny compact capable knife, simply awesome.

I don't like them on large knives(anything over 3'' blade). I see no reason why the PM2(same problem for me with the manix) with a 4.8'' handle, needs a choil. You have plenty of room, don't eat up blade length when you have that big a handle. I know it's a great knife, and am not saying otherwise, it's just not for me.

Edit to add; I now have a PM2, it's only 30 minutes into my possession and I already love it. It might be the honeymoon period talking, but we'll see. Comparing to my GB2, the actual cutting edge difference is so insignificant. It looks like more on paper then when you have them in your hand.

 

[josh yu]

uh... i didn't even read the question, and just voted off the title. sharpening choil yes every time. finger choil, depends on the knife....

 

[Thin-Slice]

No choil always. Having a choil loses too much of cutting edge for my liking. Need about a 3.5 inches of cutting edge at least for my liking. I cut my fruit (apples, pears, etc) and its just too annoying to me to cut with a smaller blade, not that u cant.

I great example of why i dont like choils would be a Strider SNG/SMF. The cutting edge is lost sooooo much because of the finger choil as well as the sharpening choil. Basically 1/3 of cutting edge lost.

Now dont get me wrong im sure its a good and strong folder for most tasks but too thick for slicing and too much cutting edge lost. Just not my cup of tea.

 

[bearfacedkiller]

It is on a case by case basis, it all depends on the execution.

 

[JJ_Colt45]

It completely depends on the knife ... I can't even say a large or small folder or fixed ... as there are cases of each that I like the choil on and cases of each it seems to make the knife more awkward.

So I guess I can't vote either way without having a specific knife to vote on.

 

[seabil]

No finger choil, with few exceptions. PM2 is ok even though I do not really use the choil. A well designed handle on a knife keeps fingers safe and allows fine work. I want to be able bear down on cuts close to handle so I can maintain control. Why cut away that part?

 

[Sigsog226]

For the most part i like them, but it does depend on the knife. I dont like them on any fixed blades. I do like how most of them look though, and it gives me a little more peace of mind just in case a lock fails/disengages while piercing/stabbing.

 

[22-rimfire]

I go both ways on this issue. I have no strong preference either way and like others said, it depends on the knife.

 

[maximus83]

I'm ok with finger choils, depends how they're implemented. Agree with the poster above, the PM2 choil is good. Also I'm not bothered by the choil on the native 5.

 

[thefamcnaj]

I personally like them. I love my xm18's with choils.
I dont often need to choke up but when i do its nice to have it.

 

[Cereal_killer]

Personally I HATE finger choils on folders (except the dragonfly) cause I'd rather have the extra edge assuming the handle is large enough to hold onto.

Dragonfly gets the pass cause you need to use the choil to get a full 4-finger grip on an otherwise tiny knife.