Is jimping over valued?

On small knives I think jimping a key item that improves the design when used correctly. When you get into a decent sized handle the material and design make jimping more of a novelty. I have bigger hands and jimping on a 3" folder makes or breaks a knife for me. That little extra traction on spine is just like the thumb ramp on a Spyderco which is a love it or hate it thing.
 
When I really need to cut things hard I ”hammer grip” the knife. Surely when you need to cut the jeff bozo boxes it might come handy but I have never found them to be useful other than being irritating for the thumb.
 
Jimping. Reminds me of that line from the Tarantino film, Pulp Fiction, "Bring out the jimp."
 
I had no idea of what "jimping" was. So I read parts of the thread (always wise) and I now understand it to mean grooving to create a grikppier portion of the handle or a thumb rest . . .right?

I do not like that design feature in a knife, particularly if it is coordinated with a hump on te sdpine of the blade just ahead of the finger guard. I prefer a smooth visual sweep from point to the but of the handle. If the maker must do something with a file of CNC mill, I prefer some sort of decorative file work.
 
chevyrulez1 said:
I don't really care for jimping on knives, but usually it doesn't matter to me one way or another. It is another one of those "checkbox" things I always hear in knife reviews ("jimping, choils, deep carry pocket clip, etc. etc.)
The only knife I have where the jimping really stuck out to me is my CRK Sebenza. I couldn't help but notice how well they were done, giving excellent traction without creating any hot spots. I think they are awesome, but on the rest of my knives I can take it or leave it.
I don't like it when the jimping is too aggressive. I do hate it when you try to stick your hand in your pocket and your knife shreds the back of your hand with aggressive jimping, thumbstuds, sharp edges, etc.
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Agree. It's now part of the knife review template where they have to mention the jimping and if their hand touches another part of the blade suggest that jimping should be there as well. Like we won't know how to hold the knife if there isn't jimping to tell us where our fingers go.
 
I actually like jimping, but I don’t have to have it, and I don’t consider it when purchasing or evaluating a knife.
 
I think that jimping is useful. The Spyderco UKPK has it on the spine and in the choil. I don't really notice it with use, but when I got a Spyderco Caly Jr., which is a very similar shape and size, I very quickly noticed the lack of jimping in the choil and had to be a little more careful with that knife as a result. I do agree that design can play a big role in whether or not jimping is needed, but I've never owned a knife that had jimping that I disliked because of the jimping.
 
I view jimping as similar to the tread on shoes. It may not be absolutely necessary but extremely helpful when needed. There's a reason why it's prevalent by so many makers today, and some do it better than others.

I find that depending on the task and length of time, jimping does help keep the knife "locked in" my palm as time goes on, especially when my hands get slick. Also as a point of reference.
 
I guess it depends on how you measure “value.” Functionally they’re irrelevant, but they look cool on some knives and to many that’s a significant factor. They’ve turned my head more than once.
 
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