help me choose blade thickness for some custom knives

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rc51kid

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Dec 7, 2009
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I am going to order a few knives from a maker I met today. I want to use them as woods knives for cleaning game in the field mostly. Also general camp work but no heavy wood carving or batoning. The plan is to get a smaller blade for more detailed work and skinning. Then a longer blade for larger work. This is what i will be getting for the smaller knife. Maybe this exact thing or maybe some different scales. But i really like the orange and gray.
nguIB5m.jpg

What i need to deside is 2mm or 3mm thick for this one.

I am thinking of getting a matching larger one with the same color scales and same jimping on the spine. I am thinking this one which is a 5" blade. But same question, 2mm or 3mm?
BNFbtwI.jpg


I am leaning towards 2mm for the smaller one and 3mm for the larger. But maybe i have it backwards. Maybe 3mm on the smaller since you might get it into something and pry a little. The larger would slice very nicely if it was 2mm. What do you think?

I was also toying with the idea of getting a third matching knife to round out the set. It would really just be a kitchen to replace a worn out 8" chef knife i have had forever. Again all matching scales as the others. 2mm blade for sure on this one. Maybe this one with a 8" blade?

XvuDz0e.jpg
 
I would suggest not focusing too much on 2 or 3mm. You can always thin down the edge regardless of blade stock thickness.

All other things being equal, I would prefer thicker blade stock (within reason, which 3mm is), and then fine-tune the edge geometry for your intended tasks.

In other words, you could have BOTH knives in 3mm, but completely different edge grinds to suit your requirements.
 
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