Flat Ground Wish List?

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pinnah

Joined
Jul 28, 2011
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This is a spin off from the 2014 Thug thread sort of.

I've come to really prefer flat ground blades and am glad to see the the Thug get flattened. I would buy more Buck knives if they offered more flat ground blade options. Wondering if I'm the outlier or if others had dreams of flat ground Bucks?

My wish list for flat ground blade options:

Buck 500

Buck Endeavor (non-serrated too, please)

Buck Vantage
 
I would be in strong favor and support of many knives having a flat ground option. 301's, 110's, 112's, 113's, 500 series, Vantage, Endeavor, 105's. Not all of us are hunters but many of us are outdoors people or use knives in shop or crafting settings where flat ground as well as drop point has an advantage.
 
The 2014 Buck 110 members only knife in satin finish S35VN with flat grind, squared copper frame and CF inlays offered by BCCI will be available in about six months…and BCCI is presently taking orders.
 
Stumps, that's great to know and is both frustrating and hopeful at the same time.

As much as I love my 110, it's not the only knife I would buy if it were flat ground. In fact, plenty others I would buy in front of it. Also really hoping to see flat grind in production knives at production knife prices.

The hope here though is that this and the Ron Hood knives show that Buck can do a flat grind if it wants to.

Swinging for the fences, if they really want to steel... er... steal some thunder they could just replicate Opinel's convex grind. Very few other production convex grinds out there at a decent price point and putting that incredible grind on some American classics and nice fixed blades would really separate Buck out among the others.
 
Stumps, I agree with pinnah. The club knife sounds great but my working man mentality, purchase of two club 301's aside, can't be wrapped around spending that much for a knife. Regular production knives are what we need.
 
The tanto part of my CSAR-T 690 fixed blade is flat ground ;)
And the main edge part of the blade has just a slight hollow grind to it.....
Does that count? :)

Older 300 series are flat ground also.
 
+1 on the Vantage. I already really like the Vantage that I have but a FFG version would be even better!
 
I hope they don't bring out a flat ground 301 Chairman model; I would have to get one! I don't mind the hollow grinds on the 112, 500s etc. but the grinds on the slipjoints is the reason I don't currently have one!
 
I would love to see all the 300's released in flat ground. Heck while at it a run of flat ground 307's would be awesome.
 
I have always preferred a hollow grind, as it looks better (IMO) and doesn't tend to foul in the medium being cut. Think cutting axe vs. a splitting wedge.
 
DesertChris said:
Older 300 series are flat ground also.
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... because they were outsource to Camillus, if I understand their history correctly (and maybe Schrade before that?).


A.P.F. said:
I have always preferred a hollow grind, as it looks better (IMO) and doesn't tend to foul in the medium being cut. Think cutting axe vs. a splitting wedge.
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For slicing things like potatoes, squash, apples and wood (like cutting back branches or cutting shavings for kindling), my experience is that convex (6) blows away hollow grind (1). The theory, as I understand it, is that in material that won't easily self separate, the convex blade forces it apart at the outset of the cut, minimizing friction after that. With the hollow grind, the material hangs up on the shoulder of the grind where the hollow meets the spine.

Flat is not quite as good as convex in this regard but is close. On things like meat or rope, that self separate when cut, hollow grinds make a lot of sense.

If you want to try a cheap experiment, get an Opinel N9 and a Buck 110. Give them both good edges and cut a bunch of branches, make some shavings or cut potatoes. I find the difference to be very dramatic.

Ground_blade_shapes.png


Man, I would love some flat/convex Bucks.
 
I use to be a big hollow ground fan. About 7 years ago I started to play around with different grinds. I found for most things the convex grind is my favorite followed by a flat grind with shoulders knocked off making the edge close to convex. I use to think there was really no difference until I try a hollow grind (my beloved Buck AG Vanguard) next to a convexed knife. I was shocked.
 
pinnah said:
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Wonderful. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!!!
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If I recall correctly it is the 1986-1990 models with flat grind, but may possibly have been up to '92, '93 or '94

Hopefully someone who knows will provide the answer :)
 
DesertChris said:
If I recall correctly it is the 1986-1990 models with flat grind, but may possibly have been up to '92, '93 or '94

Hopefully someone who knows will provide the answer :)
Click to expand...


The super hollow grind profile started ~2000. It was debuted as "Edge 2000" and was the result of much development testing using a CATRA machine. The CATRA test results showed that this particular profile provided greater edge retention. Buck found that a 420HC blade with the new profile would cut longer than a BG-42 blade with a conventional profile. CJ Buck talked about it in this thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/127499-CATRA-Edge-Testing-Results

Unfortunately, the data charts no longer appear, but I think I have it stashed somewhere on my hard drive.

All that being said, for a pocket knife such as the 300 series, I prefer a flat grind.
 
DesertChris said:
If I recall correctly it is the 1986-1990 models with flat grind, but may possibly have been up to '92, '93 or '94

Hopefully someone who knows will provide the answer :)
Click to expand...

I can speak to one model, the 310 Whittler was flat the first model year 1994 and hollow after that.
 
Frank, my sense is that no single sharpness test covers all cutting applications. IIRC, that test is based on cutting a bent piece of rubber that self separates as it is cut. My sense that the test favors a thin hollow grind that has less material behind the apex and may not predict cutting performance when cutting materials that don't self separate.

Is this consistent with your experience?
 
pinnah said:
Frank, my sense is that no single sharpness test covers all cutting applications. IIRC, that test is based on cutting a bent piece of rubber that self separates as it is cut. My sense that the test favors a thin hollow grind that has less material behind the apex and may not predict cutting performance when cutting materials that don't self separate.

Is this consistent with your experience?
Click to expand...

Actually, I do agree with you. But Buck used the CATRA test to develop the Edge 2000 blade profile.
 
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