Do You Really Use A Choil?

akjon · Dec 3, 2003

Seems like you could solve a lot of complaints about choils by putting the choil closer to the tip of the blade.

I think my answer is that I like the choils on the knives I have that have it (BK5, Native III), but I like my other knives too!

Alberta Ed · Dec 3, 2003

Have a look at Bark River's professional models. The choil is beautifully integrated into the grip.

Scott Free · Dec 3, 2003

Originally posted by brownie0486
Please explain to me how a knife that has a choil and is one inch shorter than it COULD be on a particualr blade will make a difference in anything you do with a knife.

I'm the guy who posted the original question. As far as I'm concerned, an inch can make quite a bit of difference. If it didn't, production folding knives such as the AFCK or Griptilian would come with only 3 inch blades. After all, why do we need a 4 inch model if an extra inch doesn't make a difference?

I agree that one inch doesn't make much difference on a 7" camp knife. An inch can make a big difference, though, on a knife I want to carry-- especially if I want to carry the knife concealed.

Scott

blastjv · Dec 4, 2003

Originally posted by Alberta Ed
Have a look at Bark River's professional models. The choil is beautifully integrated into the grip.

I have a BRK&T Highland Special and I like it a lot. However, I think that the choil you mention is really too shallow. A deeper choil would afford much better protection from slipping forward onto the insanely sharp edge.

-John

Nathan S · Dec 4, 2003

Originally posted by brownie0486
You fellas having a problem with the choil taking away an inch of blade length----- That extra inch of cutting edge will make the difference in? Please explain to me how a knife that has a choil and is one inch shorter than it COULD be on a particualr blade will make a difference in anything you do with a knife.

Though the choil is only an inch, it takes up the most useful inch of the blade. As others have said, I can see the usefulness of the choil in bigger knives, but do not care for it at all in folders or fixed blades 5" long or less.

brownie0486 · Dec 4, 2003

See what happens when you get things riled up with a subjective question like this one about choils?

We see two camps evolving, one who thinks they are useless on the smaller folders and the other camp liking them on folders and big blades.

From the responses, it look neck and neck, pretty evenly divided.

Here's the solution:

If it bothers you that much, don't buy that particular knife.
If you can live with it and don't like it, you'll have to get used to it.
If you like them, you are all set.

Remember that a choil, even on a small folder can save your fingers and hands from major damage if the knife releases under heavy use.

Sorta like a seatbelt.

Brownie

Nathan S · Dec 4, 2003

Originally posted by brownie0486
If it bothers you that much, don't buy that particular knife.

Yup, that, in fact, is exactly what I do. With knives or anything else, for that matter. If I like it, I buy it. If I don't like it, it stays on the shelf. What could be simpler?

Don Luis · Dec 4, 2003

I don´t like choils, I do use it in my Spydie Native because it isn´t comfortable otherwise, the Native seems to be an ergonomically design knife for a single gripping style, making it sort of a specialized, not versatile knife.

I can see the convinience of using the choil for certain applications, just as I can see the convinience of using a reverse grip or stepping up on a Cheff knife holding onto the blade with index and thumb.

It dependes on what you do and how you do it.

Nathan S · Dec 4, 2003

Originally posted by Don Luis
It dependes on what you do and how you do it.

This is an important point, and might account for some of the disagreement here.

In Brownie's case, I believe he is mostly interested in self defense carry. I don't think a choil, even a substantial choil, would present much of an obstacle for this kind of use. Brownie is likely to be more concerned with the geometry, robustness and penetrating ability of the tip of the knife, plus the strenght of the lock in the case of a folder. In this last case, the presence of a choil is an added guarantee for the safety of the user's fingers.

I, on the other hand, carry knives for general utility purposes. I have never trained in self defense with a knife and probably would wind up hurting myself in the unlikely event that I used one for self defense purposes. Many of my cutting chores use the part of the blade that is closest to the hilt, or, in the case of a folder, closest to the pivot. So, as I mentioned in my earlier post, even though the choil is only an inch, it happens to take up the most useful (for me) inch of the blade.

brownie0486 · Dec 4, 2003

Once again Nathan has hit the nail on the head with a lucid response thats logically thought out based on known data.

Good going Nathan

Stay sharp

Brownie