crowbars and sclapels- what's for you?

I

iht@intekom.co.za

Joined
Jun 19, 2004
Messages
51
What would be your optimal thickness for a 4 inch folder blade? do you go for a 1/4 inch sharpened prybar, or a kitchen cutlery thin cutting machine. If you had a custom made for you how thick would you want the blade, and why?
 
1/4" stock is a bit much for a 4" blade. Depending on use, 1/8"-3/16" (.125"-.1875") should be plenty thick. Lots of other design issues come into play besides stock thickness. The steel type (440C, S30V, 1095,CPM3V), Rc and toughness have a lot to do with how thick the stock needs to be. Will it pry or scalp? Those are issues for you to decide. My sharpened pry bar is 1/4" CPM 3V, but it's longer than 4" and it isn't a folder.
 
I prefer something inbetween for a folder of that size. As was mentioned blade thickness isn't everything, especially in a folder. For a folder to be able to take the prying that you might want a 1/4" thick blade for it would have to be really tough. In my mind that brings up things such as the Strider AR, which doesn't even use 1/4" stock IIRC. To me they just become so big and bulky that they are not comfortable or practical as an EDC knife, at least to me.

I keep a folder with me for cutting stuff, and as such I would agree that somewhere between 1/8" and 3/16" is just about right. Stout enough to take plenty of real use, yet thin enough to be a good cutter.
 
I'm with Keith on this one, about 1/8" or 5mm, if I want a prybar I'll use a prybar or a fixed blade, but a 4" folder would serve me better as a utility blade if it was a a thinner blade, not quite a scalpel, still not as thick as a prybar, somewhere in between, the magic width. ;)
 
Keith Montgomery said:
My preference would be for a thinner blade. Probably 1/8" to 5/32". I don't ever use a folder to pry with.
Click to expand...

The Spyderco Military, Paramilitary and Manix are fully flat ground 5/32" (4mm). I think that's tough enough for hard use but at the same time it's still thin enough to slice well.
 
5/32" to 3/16" would be optimal for me. Not going to be doing any prying either. Will say that at 3/16" I would want a high and deep hollow grind.
 
For me .10 inch to .125 inch. I don't use a folder to pry (unless absolutly necessary :D ) and when I do I am just as worried about the pivot as I am the blade.
 
I'm for 1/8" to 5/32" thick. And the 5/32" needs to come down to a reasonably thin edge because a knife is made for cutting. I do not pry with folders. I don't care how strong the maker claims it is. A folder is already a broken knife after all. :eek: Folders aren't meant to pry with.
 
I'm with the rest of the fellas on this one. For a 4" folder, 1/8" is plenty thick. If the blade gets much thicker it doesn't really slice as well.

Now for a 4" fixed blade I might go a little thicker...
 
I like it thin -- 5/32 is a thick folder blade by my standards. And I also like it tough, so make it out of 3V.

If I need a prybar, I'll go to the hardware store and buy one. Remember, a knife is the least effective and most expensive prybar you'll ever own.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top