Is jimping over valued?

[knife_daddy]

Little pet peeve of mine when I watch knife reviews on line. Everyone needs to comment on the jimping and how it needs to be here or there, or a different texture. Does anyone else think it's that important for EDC blades? I can see this for a heavy user with repeated cuts, but I really don't care for most of my tasks. How important is jimping to you?

 

[Zornhau]

No jimping for me, please.

 

[eveled]

Much like sharpening choils. I mostly don’t want them, if I do, I will add my own.

 

[Blue Sky]

Not important to me at all. Don’t need it, or want it. I can tolerate it, as long as it’s not too sharp edged, but it usually is.

 

[beeinak]

I have found most knives/situations don’t need it. Field dressing of an animal when you can’t see, it is nice to have but not needed.

 

[co556guy]

I generally don’t like it on handles, as the shape and handle material should be designed to provide a good grip.

I do like mild gimping on choils and thumb ramps/back of spydie holes like pm2 has.

It super aggro gimping, I am not a fan of at all.

 

[Mimic Knife & Tool]

I usually grind the jimping off on my spydercos. Generally I don’t want it. I think it’s actually more useful for general indexing/ knowing where your fingers are on the knife than for preventing slippage

 

[killgar]

Not a fan. I have removed the jimping on a few of my knives.

I think it's a solution in search of a problem, but for me it's more of a problem. If I've got a lot of knife work to do, I don't want what are essentially serrations grinding into my hand and fingers. I've also had rust form between the jimping where the steel is rougher, and because you can't just wipe between the jimping like you can the rest of the blade.

One of my most heavily used knives is my Buck 110. I received it in 1982, used it on countless campouts, used it all day on multiple jobs (landscaping, construction), and I still use it occasionally now, but never once have I said "Damn, this knife is just too slippery. I can't get a good grip on it".

But that's me. I'm sure there are people who like jimping and feel it has it's value for them. And I wouldn't say that they are wrong. It's just not right for me.

 

[tony281sc2]

I do like mild gimping on choils and thumb ramps/back of spydie holes like pm2 has.

I definitely appreciate having jumping on the thumb ramp. Anywhere else I could take it or leave it, but it’s never bothered me enough to be a deal breaker.

 

[DocJD]

Well designed and properly placed jimping , can save you from being cut and /or ruining the work .

Slippery hands , cramped conditions . Work that needs some substantial force applied, under precise control .

Most people , for casual EDC , might only rarely, if ever , really need jimping .

Some jimping just seems decorative , or simply not serving a functional purpose , IMO .

Some otherwise functional jimping is poorly finished , too sharp or not rough enough to help .

 

[norcalAF]

I like some knives with jimping

 

[Stringjam7]

I don't find jimping necessary or beneficial to me, but if it isn't obnoxiously done, it doesn't bother me being there.

 

[Blues]

Done right, I think it's incredibly useful. It's one of those things when you come across the best examples, it proves the adage "I know it when I see it". Or, feel it, in this case.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I look at something like the PM2 that has aggressive jimping both top and bottom of the blade. It for sure locks your finger and thumb into place.

But then I look at the Lil' Native that has just a little bit of tiny jimping at the top and the finger choil has none. And yet all the times I've used it, a lack of jimping has never slowed me down or prevented me from getting anything done.

I'm conflicted.

 

[Ajack60]

Never gave it much thought until I read this thread.
I’ve always thought if it’s there, the decision was thought out by the maker to include it, so it doesn’t really matter to me.

 

[Corton93]

I like certain jimping for esthetic purposes, Winklers jimping for example I feel adds some decorative value.

Very few use cases I can think of, for me anyway, where jimping added any real value besides just being an indexing point..

 

[greatscoot]

I have a pet peeve too, but I like my pet dog better.

 

[Wandering_About]

A properly designed handle needs no jimping.

 

[ChrisB507]

It can be cool little bit of visual and tactile interest...but definitely not required. I like it on Spyderco folders, but it's a pain to clean...

 

[Centermass]

Everybody knows the knife industry is in bed with Big Jimping.