Flat vs. Hollow grinds

R

Robert L Sr

Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
125
I notice a lot of blades these days are flat ground. Is it easier or what is in style? I would like to make some hollow grinds when I get my belt grinder so was just curious.
 
It's personal preference for me, full flat and convex are superior all around cutters imho. A hollow grind binds up in the cut due to the geometry. I believe it became so popular due to factory knives using this grind because it is the easiest grind for a machine to do, most old knives(before the industrial revolution) were all flat or convex ground.
 
Most old knives were hand ground on stone wheels-hence they were hollow ground.
Flat grinds seem easier for knifemakers to do-so it is popular. A flat grind is no better at cutting than hollow.
 
Neither one is easier, it's a matter of taste and, brought to extremes, an issue of blade strenght due to geometry.
I prefer the look of a full bevel grind, either flat or very big radius hollow. Anyway the edge i prefer is convex blended into the main grind.
 
Flat grinds are going to be stronger at the edge, all other things being equal. A hollow grind gives you the ability to sharpen the knife many times without the edge becoming excessively thick. I find the hollow grind slightly easier because the wheel wants to locate in the hollow each time you put steel to it. I use both but flat grind probably 75% of my work.

Bob
 
Bill is spot on. Flat grinds are easier. A flat grind is better for deep cuts where the most or all of the blade is going into what's being cut(potato, tomato...) I think the best thing for a skinning knife is a hollow grind. So, all grinds have their place. I use both.
 
For me hollow grinding is easier than flat grinding. For me, for a working knife, I prefere a flat ground blade with a convex edge. A hollow grind makes a great shallow slicer, a flat or convex grind makes a great chopper or slice all the way through. The hollow grind tends to have a weaker edge than the flat or convex edge. Some designs are better than others for it's intended purpose, there is no one size fits all.
 
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