Harvey Dean EL Diablo Fighter

[Jose Reyes]

I'm still not sure what we're talking about and why it matters... :foot:

I'm not positive either but I think the edge of the choil is shaped similar to a T-spine on knives designed to split chainmail. My preference is for a blade with no dropped edge at all but for a piece like this it's something I would overlook.

 

[Kohai999]

I demand that the choil area, ricasso and edge be smooth and radiused in this area for the reason you stated and also so when I put my finger in the choil area I won't draw blood. Been there, done that.

There is this thing, called a GUARD-your fingers should not be going forward of it.

..... Its abolutely crucial on a hunting knife, IMO. Tool first, "objet d'art" second, IMNSHO-I do give a crap

A Bowie is a hunting knife only in the most abstract. Like saying a .300 winchester magnum is a "varmint rifle"



Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Kohai999]

I'm still not sure what we're talking about and why it matters... :foot:

You brought up the friggin' question for clarification, Joss. If you don't want answers, don't ask.:foot:

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Joss]

Is it what Jose is talking about? If it is, then I understand what it is, and I understand why one might not want to have it, although for a pure display piece, I don't think it matters, myself.

What I don't understand is why it's called a raised choil. This term has thrown me off from the beginning.

I also don't understand why you get pissy with me. You have enough experience on the internet to know that some things that are clear to some people are not easily explained to others. If you think that your explanations were cristal clear, you're wrong.

 

[brightred]

when you open (english?) dead game you often use the knife with the edge aiming at you with your thumb resting behind the small guard or in the choil, as you don't want to cut the organs, just the skin (that's why you also need a drop point blade). a rounded transition from choil to edge doesn't help a lot, as your thumb might slid on the edge. the raised choil is better than nothing but the best solution imo is a small rounded guard and no choil (as shown below, integral hunting knife for real hunters by richard hehn).

as i am not a hunter i am more concerned about the difficulties that arise when you try to sharpen a blade with a raised choil on a flat stone. that's the only reason why i have never bought a knife by steve dunn. most of his hunting knives and bowies feature a raised choil. for a utility knife this is a no go, imo.

btw. i love your el diablo fighter, congrats, kevin!

hans

 

[Stephen F]

as i am not a hunter i am more concerned about the difficulties that arise when you try to sharpen a blade with a raised choil on a flat stone. that's the only reason why i have never bought a knife by steve dunn. most of his hunting knives and bowies feature a raised choil. for a utility knife this is a no go, imo.

btw. i love your el diablo fighter, congrats, kevin!

hans

Would you seriously not buy a knife because of the limitations of your sharpening system ...... edgepro, or a cheaper lansky system would eliminate this issue.

Stephen

 

[brightred]

Would you seriously not buy a knife because of the limitations of your sharpening system ...... edgepro, or a cheaper lansky system would eliminate this issue.

Stephen

this is off topic, sorry kevin... anyway, yes, i wouldn't buy a knife because of that feature, as (1) i like to use a lot of my knives, and (2) i am only experienced with flat stones, therefore wouldn't dare to use a sharpening tool i don't know on an expensive knife. (3) another reason is that i think that a blade with no choil or a raised choil will look ugly if you often sharpen it and the blade becomes more narrow (?, less wide). the above knife is a bit out of place in my collection as it is one of the very few non-forged, no-choil knives i own.

hans

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

A Bowie is a hunting knife only in the most abstract. Like saying a .300 winchester magnum is a "varmint rifle"

Never said this knife was a hunting knife, only that it is mandatory on a hunting knife, or really any user. And to me, customs are all potential users, or should at least be able to be used for a certain purpose and designed to reflect it.

 

[Stephen F]

You know the only bad thing about this knife is it isn't mine!

Kevin, if you want to sell it because of this dodgy choil thing I'll sort you out!

Stephen

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

the raised choil is better than nothing but the best solution imo is a small rounded guard and no choil (as shown below, integral hunting knife for real hunters by richard hehn).[/QUO

With the small rounded choil as shown, a heavy user would quickly sharpen the edge past the choil area after a few months of use. Some folks like to choke up on the choil, especially when skinning game or using the knife for fine work. I have no problem sharpening a knife with a "dropped edge" on a flat stone like most of the makers who make knives in this style.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Great knife. Is there anything online showing how that damascus pattern is made?

I asked Steve Dunn how the pattern was made @ Jerry’s micro show last October as I see
Harvey and him as not necessarily the creators of this pattern however
definitely the ones who have developed it into the beautiful
pattern you see here. He basically took us through the entire process
drawing the necessary folds, cuts and welds on a board. Quite an interesting process.
Even I had a pretty good understanding of the process afterwards,
however not enough to write of these various steps here without the use
of visual aids. That’s one of the things I like most about Jerry’s show
is it puts about 18 collectors in one of the most well equipped shops in
the business in front of three top makers for a couple of days. And
about any question having to do with knife design, materials,
construction, and processes can be answered and or demonstrated right in
front of you.

 

[Kevin Jones]

Hey Steven, if it will put and end to the raised choil controversy, I will ship it out to you and let you grind it off.

But seriously, I have always liked the treatment. And as mentioned, in theory it does serve several purposes.

 

[Bladeandbarrel]

FYI, I think the knife is absolutely stunning and a perfect use of primo stag.

 

[jdm61]

There is this thing, called a GUARD-your fingers should not be going forward of it.



A Bowie is a hunting knife only in the most abstract. Like saying a .300 winchester magnum is a "varmint rifle"



Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

Ummmm.......unless you happen to be hunting feral hogs, maybe?MOST hunting knives are not in fact hunters, but skinners or general utility knives. Myaybe we could call the apre-hunting knives....lol. People actually HUNT with big bowies

 

[Kohai999]

Is it what Jose is talking about? If it is, then I understand what it is, and I understand why one might not want to have it, although for a pure display piece, I don't think it matters, myself.

What I don't understand is why it's called a raised choil. This term has thrown me off from the beginning.

I also don't understand why you get pissy with me. You have enough experience on the internet to know that some things that are clear to some people are not easily explained to others. If you think that your explanations were cristal clear, you're wrong.

1. Yes, this is what Jose is talking about. It is ALL about the details, especially on pieces at this level. PTGDVC and I frequently discuss the area around the choil as one that can make or break the whole "flow" of the knife, and what I was indicating in some previous posts is that it is all about individual taste as to if you like the knife or not.

2. It is called a raised choil, because that is exactly what it is, there may be a more technical term for it, but am not aware of it.

3. I got pissy with you because of the statement "I'm still not sure what we're talking about and why it matters". It seemed rather dismissive, not that the explanation was crystal clear. Then, you used the ":foot: " symbol. You can understand(hopefully) why this would press some buttons. Hopefully you are clear on what we were discussing.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Kohai999]

Ummmm.......unless you happen to be hunting feral hogs, maybe?MOST hunting knives are not in fact hunters, but skinners or general utility knives. Myaybe we could call the apre-hunting knives....lol. People actually HUNT with big bowies

Sure they do Joe, but not, with say $2,000+ gold engraved, irreplaceable, one-of-a-kind bowies. The El Diablo is more of a long fighter, than a bowie to be specific.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

 

[Serengeti]

So what does a blade like that run in dollars? Looks almost too good to be used.

 

[Thor I am]

Thor,

The guard is straight from the "normal" El Diablo pattern, angle and all.

Shows you what I know about Bowies. I was not familiar with the "El Diablo" pattern or in fact that there was such a thing. Obviously not a knife I would buy, but I would love to see that blade on a different guard and handle (without the raised choil )

We disagree about the stag. To my eye it is breathtaking.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson

I know that you really like amber stag, STeven. I just don't care for it. That's a good thing though, because if we all liked exactly the same thing, the market would be very different.

Take it easy,
Thor

 

[Joss]

3. I got pissy with you because of the statement "I'm still not sure what we're talking about and why it matters". It seemed rather dismissive, not that the explanation was crystal clear. Then, you used the ":foot: " symbol. You can understand(hopefully) why this would press some buttons.

The foot-in-mouth refered to me. I felt stupid to still not understand what it was and why it was such a big deal.

And yes, of course we're cool.

 

[T.K.C.]

Stunning! That is simply stunning!!