How THICK ? What is a good compromise ?

H

HARDBALL

Joined
May 6, 2001
Messages
924
Hi all,

I'm just wondering what might be considered TOO thick (or too thin) for an "all around" fixed blade Knife (say between 3.5" to 5" in blade length) ? I'm mostly interested in having a custom "Nessmuk" style knife made but, I'm keeping an open mind to other possibilities. I do NOT plan on using the knife to baton/chop. I would call it a Hunting/Survival/Bush craft/utility/whatever knife. I just don't know HOW thick (or thin) of a blade one should consider for such a knife. Is there a compromise thickness that most Knife people agree on ? Thanks for your thoughts/suggestions.

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
For the uses you described, IMHO 4mm should be plenty if you go 5" blade length. Maybe even 3 or 3,5mm, for pure use as a cutting tool.
 
3/16" thickness is an excellent compromise, and takes a baton beating like nobody's business; that's my go to bush knife is a MIL-SPIE 3...

 
For a small knife I find anything over 1/8" too thick for slicing. The minimum I'd use is 0.1" on the short end of your range.
For a utility knife intended for general use and carving I recommend that you keep the knife fairly short and handy.
Five inches gets awkward to do fine detail work with.
If you are going with a custom then describe to your maker what you plan to do with the knife and let them help you choose the length and thickness.
Have fun!
 
Thank all for you input. Fancier, truly, I'm thinking of a blade NO longer than four inches, perhaps even a little bit shorter.
I find longer knives (as cool looking as they are) tend to be (as you mentioned) too awkward to use, belt carry, store, etc.
I'd like a blade that IS thick enough to (hopefully) do most things one would expect a Woods knife to perform (such as gutting a Deer) but also useful as a "slicer/food prep knife. Perhaps I am asking too much of ONE knife but, if I did only have that ONE knife on my belt, I'd like it to be neither too thin nor too thick lol. Hence my threads title "What is a good compromise" ? I tried my new Mora Companion HeavyDuty F and I found it NOT to be the best "Food prep" knife. Perhaps this is due to the grind or is it's blade .126" (about 1/8" thick) too thick ? 1/8" doesn't look too thick. Well, perhaps I'm expecting too much from a 1/8" thick blade to nicely slice Tomatoes. I realize there is NO such thing as a single "do all" knife, there are only compromises.

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
I prefer 3/16" but 1/8" ok for blades under 5".
 
Uhh in my mind the thicker the better.

Jmo. I like knives I can beat the living day lights out of without worries...haven't found many :p

I will say though after 6 mm it starts to drift away from being a knife and more towards an axe.
 
I would personally go 3mm for what you are describing. 4mm would be the upper limit, anything else is overkill.

what you are asking isn't too much. people used to literally survive with a knife to do all that. and they were usually half as thick as modern "survival" knives lead you to believe you need.
 
goodeyesniper said:
I would personally go 3mm for what you are describing. 4mm would be the upper limit, anything else is overkill.

what you are asking isn't too much. people used to literally survive with a knife to do all that. and they were usually half as thick as modern "survival" knives lead you to believe you need.
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+1 people act like a piece of STEEL is going to break like glass. Relax. It takes a lot to break a knife. Yes battoning is tough on it and so is throwing and other tasks but what are you really goanna have to use it for in survival? Plus you'd probably be real gentle with your only tool
 
SurviveKnives is my favorite fixed blade. 4.3" blade is 5/32" thick or 0.156".
Check out their website and blades. Wonderful Youtube videos available also. GREAT knives.
Many EDC folders are 1/8" thick (0.125"). Sebenzas have been "traditionally" of that thickness, but I don't consider them as a heavy-duty tool that's fit for bush-duty.
I think the 0.156" thickness is a good thickness, in general, for heavier duty, and wouldn't settle for a lesser thickness for a survival knife.
This is 4mm, and is the thickness of the Spyderco SuperLeaf folding knife.
Note that many fixed blades are 4mm or more. 3mm, or 0.125", is just not enough, IMO.
Opinions vary, obviously. Keep in mind that it is not difficult to find heavy-duty blades that are 1/4" thick, or 0.250". That, I think, it over-zealous.
 
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I like small-medium fixed blades in the 0.100-0.156 range. I like my blades slicey in general, around .015-0.005 behind the edge. Choppers have there place too, starting at 7.5 inch blades and a minimum 0.188 thickness.
 
My preference is a good 5mm spine thickness with a generous belly width, hence allowing a flat grind as primary bevel followed by convex as 2ndary.
If you like a slicer you want to make hollow.
 
JayGoliath said:
My preference is a good 5mm spine thickness with a generous belly width, hence allowing a flat grind as primary bevel followed by convex as 2ndary.
If you like a slicer you want to make hollow.
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Wow! Idk if you guys realize just HOW THICK that is. I'm not opposed to it but just realize 5mm is thicker than usual. No it's not extreme but I suggest you handle one that thick before you buy, OP. I just think you'll be surprised if you don't own one that thick already. The cold steel SRK is a little thinner than that. (4.45 ish mm from mental math)
 
Hi all,

Thank you all for your thoughts and input. Perhaps I'm over thinking the thickness thing. I just want a knife that's (of course) strong but is an excellent slicer/cutter (which is what a Knife is designed for after all). I have more BIG knifes/Machetes I can always use if need be. Also, since late Spring early Summer, I have collected over THIRTY Axes/Hatchets from Flea Markets, Yard Sales, Junk & Thrift Shops, etc. so, I've got that covered lol. Still, I feel the need/want to have that ONE fixed blade that is not too big or too small or too long or too short, etc etc. etc.
I have a feeling we here at BF all (deep down) feel that need/want for that ONE special knife. The one fixed blade knife that will be ON your person (belt) when Hunting/Hiking/Camping etc. because it is a wonderful all around performer and it's not so damn big, you leave it at Home/Car/etc. I'm thinking 1/8 or thereabouts should work well for my needs. As I said, I do NOT ever plan on batoning with a smaller fixed blade knife. I would never chance ruining my main "go to" blade.
Thanks again all for your help.

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
I agree that 5/32 is a great thickness. You most certainly can baton with it. I like 1/8 too for slicing. 3/16 is good for large blades. 1/4 inch is darn near useless to me.

So 5/32 is my favorite.
 
My favorite thickness as of late is 1/8 for knives between 3.5 to 4.5 inches in length. Tough and still not too thick for kitchen and camp duties. 5/32 great for longer blades to six inches. I am of late discovering that 3/32 is a great thickness for edc carry for a 3 - 4 inch blades. I am trying to discover what works best for me. I would recommend you check out a knife from Big Chris knives. I have a hunter pattern with a blade about 4 inches in 3/32 and I am really starting to like it as an EDC, just a very practical knife.
 
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It depends more on the WIDTH of the blade. With that said, a fellow maker said the other day that there is really no need for ANY stock thicker than say 3/16 on any blade up to say 6 inches and I would tend to agree. If you look at some of the BIG bowies on my website, you might be surprised to learn that they are typically no thicker than say .260-.270 at the ricasso and fully tapered so that even the huge Musso type ones balance at or near the plunge cuts.
 
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