Cold Steel Tuft vs Mini Tuft lite blade angle

[elbowtko]

I'm really digging the cold steel mini tuft lite and regular tuft lite and glad they are going to bring it back in a new steel in 2020.

I love both knives and wish they came out with special edition runs with upgraded handles and steels. However there is 1 massive problem with the tuft lite vs the mini.

The mini's blade angle is WAY better. Look at the up swept angle of the blade

vs the flat angle of the tuft lite

This makes the tuft lite almost impossible to utilize the entire blade length on a flat surface such as a bench which I bet a lot of people use it for. Instead of using the whole blade length, you excessively use the tip of the blade because the handle blocks you forcing you to tilt the angle of the blade up. No such problem with the mini.

Here it is flat, and unable to use the handle as a result because the flat table blocks the handle space.

Not sure if anybody else has this issue. Also, it allows your tuft lite to stab better, you hear that Lynn?

 

[Blue Sky]

I always found the angle of the mini to be odd, actually. Prefer the straight blade for my daily use, though I do heartily agree an upgraded version is long overdue. BTW it’s Tuff not Tuft.

 

[jux t]

Interesting. I don’t have either, but I could see the benefit of being able to cut on a table. There are a handful of members here that really like the tuff lite for whittling. Hopefully they will chime in.

 

[Blue Sky]

If I recall there was a sheath maker here who posted how much they liked the mini for cutting out leather. Since they were probably using it on a cutting board as the OP suggests, that does make sense. Still, tracing a pattern would be a tip oriented operation though, is my guess?

 

[insta9ves]

I prefer the straight angle of the normal tuff lite. Basically I prefer boxcutter to xacto for wharnie blade.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I have both. The angle on the mini is a necessity due to its small size, your knuckles would always be in the way if it was rigged like the Tuff. It's easier to cut on flat surfaces and make long straight cuts, particularly in leather. I like to start a line with a boxcutter, then use the geometry of the mini Tuff to finish the cut. Someday I will replace it with one of Horsewright's round knives when the budget is fat-- Santa didn't bring me one, alas. The angle on the regular Tuff is good for extra leverage and power cuts when whittling, and the difference between the 2 sizes makes their handling characteristics separate enough that it is nice to have both on hand.

 

[Blue Sky]

Good comparison, thanks!