Fat-bellied knives

[golok]

I don't know why but I do like fat bellied knives. Actually, there's no reason to find favour with them but it could be a guy's thing.

From the knifemaker's point of view, how are fat bellied knives viewed?

Are there any significant advantage to having a fat bellied knife?

Some people look at these "fat" knives and are apt to say: "Now, that's a man's knife compared to those thin whinnies!"

 

[Fort Henry Custom Knives]

I love em too!! I have several and though I also have many Loveless style straight fixed blades I much prefer the curves of a larger belly. The asthetic appearance of a large Belly or especially a Recurve is very enticing, the more curve to the blade the more your eyes are hypmotized to follow the edge.

A large belly or a Recurve on a blade increases the cutting edge surface, but I wonder if it doesn't also increase the overall strength of the blade edge. Since there is usually more material behind the edge (esp those that are Convex ground) on a large bellied blade I would think the strength would be greater. But of course you also have to look at how the edge was sharpened and take that into consideration.

For me though... the more Curve or Belly on the blade the better. Just on a knife that is!

Hope it's not against the Rules but I will post a couple of my favorite links to some makers websites that have some big bellied beauties (BBB)

First is a
Keith Coleman B-52

Next take a gander at these by Peter Jensen at Jensen Elite Blades of Australia

How about the
Big Boy from Geno Denning

And some with not so large bellies yet still appealing lines by Bob Dozier

 

[RHINOKNIVES]

as mentioned. more cutting edge, stronger and more weight up front. i make lots of fat bellied knives!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

People have already mentioned the advantages. All I am going to add is that I like a big belly on skinning knives and not much else really. Personal preference.

 

[RogerP]

My favorite knives are bowies, and while I tend to prefer the more slender variants of that genre I admit to having a growing soft spot for the broad-bladed-big-bellied bowies. Here are two (neither of which are mine):

From Kevin Cashen (11 3/8" damascus blade, wlarus ivory handle, photo from nordicknives.com):

From John Fitch (10" blade of forged 1084, curly maple handle, photo from knifeart.com):

Some might say the latter knife resembles its maker, but it would take a braver man than I to say it to his face (Just kiddin' ya John).

Roger

 

[RWS]

I wonder what those two beauties would look like with a hollow grind??

 

[John R. Fraps]

"I wonder what those two beauties would look like with a hollow grind?? "

RWS.....I'd rather hear fingenails scratching a blackboard than to see a beautifully forged Bowie style knife with a hollow ground blade.

I do flat, hollow, and even convex grind as desired. but I am a stock removal folder and slipjoint maker.....PLEASE No hollow ground forged big belly longknives. Thanks!

 

[RWS]

John, you might be right on with that.
I'd take either one as is, no doubt.