Hello All and thank you

[diamdave]

Long time lurker decided to come onboard. First thanks to the many who've educated me these past 3 years. I've learned a lot from the likes of Ken Cook, Snickersee, Joe Talmadge (sorry about spelling) Dexter and others. Question: I'd like your impressions on the effectiveness of a wharncliffe style blade vs. a curved tanto for both slashing, and to a lesser degree, thrusting. Obviously, if you turn one over, you have more or less the other, albeit with the wrong side sharpened. Any diligent practioners care to share your thoughts?

 

[Crayola]

Hello, and welcome to the forums!

As far as I know, wharncliffes don't make super slashers. For the most part, it takes a curve to get great slashing. That said, if you hit something with the very tip, I'm sure you'll get a great cut. A wharncliffe geometry puts mega force on the point. So, you'll likely get a powerful slash, but not a deep one. A curved tanto, in virtue of the curve, will slash better. Also, I think with the larger tip and more mass behind the point on a tanto, you'll get a more devastating cut.

A wharncliffe will stab into objects, save hard ones, better than a tanto. Because of the pointiness of the wharncliffe, I have heard peopel say that they stab much like daggers do. A traditional tanto will offer more resistance on a stab, but the wound channel would be bigger and the tip would survive impacts that a wharncliffe tip would fail at.

I look forward to hearing what a long time lurker has to add to our community

 

[Ken Cook]

It's always nice to welcome a new poster, let alone one that mentions my name so glowingly.

I personally don't care for the wharncliffe blade style in a defensive tool, it gives up a lot of advantages without giving you anything in return.

They're very pretty, and if I were going to start collecting knives, I know I'd want to have a couple of nice representitive pieces, but other than that, no they don't "get it" for me.

Once again, welcome aboard!

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I would also like to welcome you aboard.

Like Ken I have never been particularly found of the wharncliffe style except in how it looks. I find that unless I am cutting rope or something similar that I do all cutting with just the tip. I much prefer a curved and recurve blade for cutting.

As for a defensive blade, I would not know. I am not trained in using a knife for that purpose and have never had personal experience defending myself with any type of blade so I can't help you there.

 

[diamdave]

thanks, guys.... I got "into " knives in the mid 90s almost by accident, started reading, learning, found that OTHER forum way back when, and here I am. Probably left out a few (dozen) folks like my fellow Chicagoan Parker and others, but hey, this is a terrific resource if one wishes to utilize it. Hope to learn even more!