"Finger" choils

I like the finger choils, and I feel (like someone else said) that they do pack more handle into a smaller package. I find that the way the Para Military is made, I can either use the "choked-up" finger choil or I can hold the knife farther back -- comfortably each way.

I am also a fan of the "true choil" you mentioned, since it makes mating the blade to a sharpening stone far easier and eliminates the need to stop sharpening and leave a rough, unsharpened area right near the ricasso.

I would not like to see ALL knives be done with finger choils, but the current mix is pretty good and balanced.

Overall, I guess you could view me as positive on finger choils, if you're taking a tally.

-Jeffrey
 
The finger choil on the UKPK had once definitely saved me from what could have been a nasty injury, I have had a healthy respect for them since as a safty feature in slipjoints since then. On locking folders, while they do allow you to get closer to the blade i think they can often detract from the aesthetics and the "balance" of the design so its horses for courses really.
 
On a knife such as the Kiwi, I really appreciate the choil. I am not so sure that I'd see such an advantage on a 3"+ knife.
 
ArchAngel said:
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.
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Same here.
 
I will sing along with the chorus with one exception. I did not like the ciol on the native I thought it was was too small and deep. my favorite design in this vein is the ocelot with a fairly flat coil and jumping on the blade.I think this is a very misunderstood workhorse of a knife.
 
I agree with FullerH on the Kiwi. It's the Spyder that I use the most. On a utilitarian knife, especially a small one, a choil really helps control the blade.

And I agree with Mr. Talmadge about choils being inappropriate on defensive blades. I prefer a somewhat neutral handle, although a subtle contour helps provide an edge index. But when the handle is too "shapely," the knife is awkward in any grip except for the one it is designed. As a member of the legion of pikalistas, many knife handles feel strange when gripped defensively.

Of course, if pikal is the primary defensive style you use, then a knife with a "backwards" handle works well--as in the eagerly awaited P'kal from Spyderco.

Currently, my defensive blade is a Police Model, which is shaped in a fairly neutral manner. Thumb-capping precludes the hand from sliding onto the blade--another situation for which I believe finger choils were meant.
 
I am very much a fan of finger choils. I have never found the loss of blade length they cause to be detrimental in using a folding knife, and the gain in control (to me) is definitely a worthwile trade off. I just purchased an Endura 4 and really wish it had a finger choil similary to the Military and am considering breaking out the dremel and making one!
 
to the Native, which has been my EDC since Wally World started carrying them. I've got a Native III on the way, even as we speak. Now if I could only find a PE Native II...

Frank
 
Bufford said:
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.
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:thumbup: That's it in the first post. On a 2.5" blade (Navigator II #061V) I REALLY want all the edge I can get. I'd even settle for a longer (full grip) handle to make up for the lost grip length.

jw
 
I like the choils a lot as well. Especially on mid size knives(Caly jr, Native) and the smaller ones(Cricket, Navigator).

They make the handling of the knife so much securer:thumbup:
 
I love the Native for most tasks, but I hate the way it feels when gripping it without the choil. The handle is too short to grip comfortably without the choil. I won't even hold it this way. My suggestion would be to change the shape of the handle or lengthen it so that it works in more grips. Don't even think about trying to hold a Native in a reverse grip. If there is a way to correct this without significantly increasing the size of the package I would do it.
 
I like them because of the choke up and because of the added safety if the blade trys to fold (better to get finger smashed, than cut off). imho
 
In addition to all of the reasons mentioned, I also like finger choils due to aesthetics when the knife is closed. On models such as the calypso jr and dragonfly, the handle part of the choil is almost seamless with the thumbrest of the blade (above the spyderhole), making the knife very attractive when folded closed. On most others without a choil, the tang is exposed when closed, making it not so pretty as well as catch on stuff in your pocket (or your hand).
 
I like finger choils very much for all the reasons Sal stated (especially the first one).

Plus other reasons:
-I find that they aid in sharpening the edge closest to the hilt by allowing greater control of the blade while sharpening that area.

-Next, IMHO, they allow for hard stabs with less worry about your hand slipping over the blade.

-And those choils allow me to know where the sharp edge is without seeing the blade; only feeling the handle.
 
Sal,

I like finger choils for the reason you've stated.

For me it's a must have. Didn't buy the Yojimbo because of a choil too far from the blade. I can tell, just by looking, that it's too blade heavy and unbalanced.

I carry the Dodo 24/7.

Thanks. Keep up the great work.
 
roguesoul said:
Sal,

Didn't buy the Yojimbo because of a choil too far from the blade. I can tell, just by looking, that it's too blade heavy and unbalanced.
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Actually the balance point is precisely at this substantial finger cutout. This is probably due to the substantial handle. Try one out, and you'll be impressed.
 
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