"Finger" choils

Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

Moderator
Joined
Dec 27, 1998
Messages
11,676
I have this posted this discussion on both Bladeforums Spyderco forum and the Spyderco site forum, and the Spyderco forum on messerforum.

A "true" choil is the notch separating the cutting edge from the ricaasso. Some like them, some don't. Probably a discussion for another thread?

A "finger" choil is a newer design concept (20 yrs?) in folders. They have been used successfully on Fixed blades for many years. In a folder they normally separate the blade from the handle with an indentation large enough to provide the index finger with a "closer to the edge" position.

Spyderco has been using "finger" choils in some of our designs since the mid 90's. Obviously we think they have function. Some of our thoughts.

1. They allow a very close "choke up" on the edge while still maintaining good control to prevent slipping onto the edge.

2. They permit more purchase and therefore control over the edge when used in a smaller knife.

3. They are a safety feature in slip-joints, (straight slips, notch-joints, T-Mag-joints, etc.) to prevent accidental closing of the blade onto the finger.

What are your thoughts?

So who likes them & why?

and who doesn't like them and why?

sal

-------------------------------------------------------

We are all teachers and we are all students.
 
I like finger choils on longer blades for better control when performing delicate cutting. On smaller blades they are not so important and may detract from the performance of the blade by needlessly shortening the cutting surface as choils take up space.
 
I really like them on the mid sized folders like the Calypso Jr., Paramilitary and now the mini Persian. It packs more handle into a smaller package. With the Spyderco hump to allow for the opening hole you get a nice thumb ramp to go along with a coil and this is a great combination.
 
I love the choil on the Native! It gives another whole handling option. When I need fine control of the blade I like to choke up on it using the choil to bring me more control of the cutting surface by bringing me closer to it. It does serve a good purpose on a knife.
 
It's not a hard and fast rule with me, but I like them, especially on knives that are used for precise cutting. Usually this means blades in the 2.5 to 3.5 inch range. Any smaller and I find it unneccessary. Any larger, and the handle usually lends itself good purchase alone. I think your Native design proves how functional a choil can be on a folder. Excellent ergos.
 
I am very partial to finger choils! That is one reason why I like the Navigator series of knives! It allows me to get my full hand on to the knife handle while at the same time I get better control of the blade for detail work.
 
At a minmum I want a small choil in order to keep the ricasso off the sharpening implement.

I like the finger choil on larger utility blades only. When used on a folder they are a waste of edge. The knife is already small enough for me to choke up on the back of the blade.

I think many waste the finger choil by not putting the middle finger in the choil with the index finger lying alongside the blade from time to time. This serves to shorten the blade even further, and is used by me quite often.

Thanks.
 
On smaller knives, the finger choil takes away from the potential cutting edge, but it also lengthens the grip on shorter handles. Mostly I cut using the blade edge closer to the tip and not so much using the blade edge near the tang. So if a choil is a compromise between shortening the blade and lengthening the grip and grip options, then I'd have to say it's most usually a good compromise on smaller knives, such as the Caly Jr.

On larger knives, choils are less about lengthing the grip and more about giving a more controlled handling option. The Manix and large Caly are examples that come to mind. I couldn't imagine either without their choil.

So all in all, I give a thumbs up to finger choils.
 
I like the finger choil mostly when I need to use the blade for precision chores, and I also feel more secure with it on some of my friction folders (or non-locking folders in general).

Besides, sometimes a deep choil provides a very comfortable grip somehow similar to some "ring" blades such as Fred Perrin Shark or La Griffe... ;)

Tuan
 
I like the 50/50 choil on a folder with a sub 3.5 inch blade and a full blade choil on a larger fixed blade. Like Terry, I use my middle finger on the choil of a large knife but I lay my thumb along side the blade.
 
I like them because they use up that little bit of unsharpened blade between the handle and edge. If you don’t use a choil, then the edge of the blade should end where the handle starts, the Lil Temperance is a good example of this.

SpydercoLilTemperance.jpg
 
The consistent use of finger choils is one of the major reasons Spyderco is my main company.

They offer such a wealth of advantages. The precision when cutting is the obvious one, but the protection from lock failure is another significant plus.

But ultimately, it just feels right in my hand.

I pretty much don't buy knives that don't have a flipper or finger choil.

A friend of mine was using a good knife (but not a Spyderco) with a flipper and the framelock failed one day. The flipper prevented him from getting seriously cut. Point being, in real life lock failures, flippers and finger choils are genuinely valuable.

Here's something to consider, however. If you extend the finger choil alittle further, you'll get both a finger choil AND a flipper. And I wouldn't mind that at all.

In regards to handle length on folders. I find it's rare that I really need the three inches of the para's blade--I mostly bought it for the extended handle. Choils give more for my ugly mits to grab onto and my fingers aren't all cramped up on it.
 
One obvious fact is that sharpened edge and choil are exclusive to eachother. You cannot fit a 3 inches of sharpened edge and an 1/2 inches of finger choil both on a 3 inch blade.

I like the direction Spyderco has gone on this, designing it into some and not others. Many people will not mind losing 1/2 inch of cutting edge. However, it doesn't necessarily belong on every knife. As long as enough variety of designs are available and acessible, I think everyone will be pleased.
 
Absolutely love them Sal, for the reasons you have listed.
It will sometimes make a difference between a knife I will buy or keep and one I won't.
 
Artfully Martial said:
Here's something to consider, however. If you extend the finger choil alittle further, you'll get both a finger choil AND a flipper. And I wouldn't mind that at all.
Click to expand...

Hi Artfully Martial,

Eric's "Domino" design employs both a finger choil and a Kit Carson flipper.

sal
 
I like them on 3" - 4" folders if the tip is thin and pointy. Digging out splinters is a good example of a task where I find them useful.

Gordon
 
I use my knives very hard and I like the finger choil mainly for the safety aspect. One of the major reasons I switched out my work knife of 2 years, a Pacific Salt, to an Atlantic Salt was because of the inclusion of the finger choil in the design of the latter knife. I do like the choil the best when it is designed into the handle as on the DoDo.

I no longer buy knives that do not feature a choil or flipper on the main blade large enough to be a practical safety feature (i.e. Manix, Atlantic Salt, DoDo, Boker SubCom, CRKT M1, etc.)
 
I like finger choils in principle. Works great on the Native. I think it is less important on knives that already have great ergos like the Wegner and Persian. I think the Lum Chinese would benefit from one.

As for true choils-hate them.

Jack
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top