Cool-looking -vs- functional

Michael_Aos

Michael_Aos

Joined
Jan 25, 2001
Messages
1,639
I recently sent my "standard model" knife by a well-known maker (who frequents the forums) for a different blade shape.

I originally asked him for a "pointy recurve" ala BM710-style blade, or even like my Boguszewski Cobra. Something cool looking anyway.

Then I got to thinking how much I actually USE my A.G. Russell FeatherLight one-hand knife. I don't much care for the lock, but the blade shape is quite useful to me.

Which would you do -- "cool looking recurve" or "functional modified warncliff"?

Mike
 
I would have to say that it all comes down to your own personal tastes. I know a guy who uses an old Benchmade CQC-7 as his daily utility knife and he loves it despite the fact that it's a chisel ground tanto. He could have easily chosen a drop point or a clip point for utility purposes, but he likes his tanto style blade.

Go with the cool recurve. :D
 
Functional is cool looking.

tntquarter.jpg
 
Have to agree with stjames. Functional is cool looking. At least to me. That's why I bought the plain style instead of the Classic 2000 Sebenza. The Classic 2000 blade profile looks a wee bit more agressive, but I like a blade that is more "use friendly". Not that the "plain" blade profile isn't just as wicked.

-Al-
 
Functional is cool looking.

Oh, dang, James already said that. ;):D
 
I carry a couple knives every day and basically stopped carrying the two recurves I have...I always reached for the non-recurve.

I recently ordered a knife from a "well-known maker (who frequents the forums)" and asked that the blade have as little curve to it as possible. I like the looks of a recurve but, if I'm not going to use it....what's the point?


Steve-O
 
What is the benefit / function of a recurve? Seems like all it adds is difficult sharpening.

Mike
 
A recurve adds more edge length as compared to the overalllength of the blade. A 4"long wharncliffe, as measured from the ricasso to the tip, will have a 4" long edge. A 4" long recurve as measured from the ricasso to the tip will have alonger edge, as the concaved section and the convex section actually add edge length. Secondly, a recurved edge has an amazing slicing action. usually there is a concave area near the handle, a convex area infront of that, and then the point curves up too. Well, that concave area catches material to be cut nciely and as you pull your knife the convex area is pulled into the material being cut. So in the end your cuttig technique is more powerful.

As to your original question, good looking stuff can be crap to use. Hibbe fantasy stuff may be ncie to look at byt you'd poke yourself before dispatching any demons with it! That said, I'd take a blade that I think looks great and works well over a blade that looks like dog crap but works real well. I get more enjoyment out of using the knife that way. THis is a general statement though. Some cases only a functional, yet crappy looking blade, would do.
 
simplicity is beautiful.

but I would rather have an ugly usable knife than a beautiful butter knife.

I have seen thousand dollar knives that I wouldn't cut an apple with.

however there can be usable beautiful knives. I prefer functional always.
 
OK, I need to give him an answer soon. Which do you think would be more useful as a "general purpose" 3.25" blade. Everyday stuff -- opening boxes, mail, aspirin bottle, etc.

BM710 style - pointy with a slight recurve.

Or A.G. Russel one-hand general purpose style blade?

Thanks a bunch.

Mike
 
Mike,

General purpose. I've never really liked a recurve in my blades and here's why: Say you're cutting a tomato on the cutting board. A blade w/o a recurve goes right through and you don't have to pull the blade along the board to finish the cut. Different story with a blade with a recurve. Once the blade reaches the board, there is still a little tomato that reamins uncut just under the belly of the recurve. Now you either hav to rotate the tomato, or pull the blade across the board to finish the cut. For myself, pulling the knife to finish the cut is the most natural hand motion, but also the one that will dull the blade more quickly.

That said, I love the look of the blade, and have my eye on a TNT with the recurve -- go figure.

-Al-
 
After about a zillion e-mails back-and-forth to Tom (he's a saint, I can hardly put up with myself!) we finally went with the "pointy recurve" that I originally requested for my TnT!

I was really tempted to go with the modified warncliff of the A.G. Russel "one hand" knife -- both because I find it useful, and because it would result in a unique TnT, unlike any other.

In the end though, I just couldn't get past the fact that I like the looks of the recurve more -- and Tom recommending it pushed me over the edge.

So, that's what it's going to be. No more changing my mind allowed!

Although I guess I could always have one of each.....:eek:

Mike
 
I think that you will find that the pointy recurve will be a very useful shape. I have a Boa with a huge recurve and it works very well for everything(and definately looks cool as hell). on the advice of another forumite I have sharpened from the tip to the belly of the recurve to a razor shaving sharp, and from the backside of the belly on i leave a utility edge this works very well for day to day chores of tearing down boxes,opening letters, cutting hoses and cable and wire. Gee wish i could afford a TNT that would do all that!!! good luck and I know that you'll love the new shape.
 
When I first started looking for a better folder I was attracted to non-recurve blades. I just liked their looks better. After reading about recurves I decided to purchase a couple of them. BM 705 and 710. I don't seem to have any problem sharpening them with my Lansky system either. I am looking forward to Santa buying me an Edgepro this year.

Now as far as the tomato post goes, I rarely cut them with my folders. I have a sharp chef's knife for that job. With that said, both recurve blades will certainly do the job with ease if I'm out in the field.

Yeah, I'd take the functional recurve. They're starting to look darn nice to me now.

Bruce
 
Akwacko,

Okay, okay... I've never actually cut a tomato with one of my folders (except an AG Russell Hocho which somehow got lost in my last move :( ). It's just the argument that always popped into my head when I was looking at a recurve blade for myself.

That said, the TnT with a recurve is about one of the most beautiful knives I've ever seen, and I'm sure if I'm ever lucky enought to own one, I could make the recurve just as useful to me as any other blade shape. :)

-Al-
 
Hey Michael, you should get yourself a Gold Membership. Then you could do a poll whenever you wanted to know things like this.

I would go for the recurve myself, and not because it is cool looking. A recurve has more length to the cutting edge of the blade. This allows it to do a better job of cutting (when you need to use the whole length of the blade to cut something) than other blade profiles. Besides that, I am not really a big fan of the wharncliff blade. I know many others like it very much, but I find that the wharncliff has limitations in what it will cut.
 
You're right. I really should do the Gold membership.

As an aside, I did spend $200 at 1SKS this week. I might have been able to find stuff cheaper elsewhere (didn't look) but I like the idea of supporting the forums.

I'll probably go ahead and just do it next month (when I have some $$ again!)


Mike
 
Pointy recurve is a fantastically functional shape. All other things being equal, recurve will outslice non-recurved blades, easily. Not because of edge length, but because of the format itself. The penalty for recurves for the greater slicing performance is more-difficult sharpening, and decreased usefulness for food prep.

For a small box-cutter type knife, I would have gone with the modified Wharncliffe, to tell you the truth. But frankly, I find both blade shapes can be very cool looking, and both are very functional. You'll be thrilled with your choice, I bet.

Lastly, I appreciate the "functional is beautiful" sentiment, but don't agree with it.

Joe
 
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