Jimping. Why?

I do not remember ever noticing that a knife lacks in jimping, but I know some knifes which have jimping to excess, actually making it unpleasant for me.
 
Jimping is like most things, you either like it or you don't. Not too much in between.

I personally like it. It serves a good purpose when choked up on a blade handle. It gives the thumb (or forefinger, if you are skinning) good purchase & helps avoid slippage. Manufacturers would not put it on for looks, as it is an extra step that cost more. Choils are the same, you either like them or you don't.
 
Strigamort said:
Okay, wood as a cutting media and precision work have been cited.

For wood, I still don't get it. First, if you're doing heavy work with your knife you're going to want a fixed blade, or better, a hatchet, saw or axe. If it's not heavy work, well, none of my woodworking knives have any jimping. In fact, they are all very smooth hardwood. Same goes for precision, although now that I think of it there is knurling on things like xacto knives so I guess that's something.

One of my edcs is a Contego and the thing is practically made entirely of jimping (joke) and I love it, I just don't get it.

Thumb ramps, choils, flippers and guards do serve a purpose, sometimes secondary, but those I get. ;)
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As much as I like the Contego it would be one of the last knives I would grab to do heavy work without gloves.

I like thumb jimping, But I could live without it on the choil on most knives.
 
I don't think its needed, and its mainly for looks. I don't mind light jimping on the blade, and I like the look of light jimping on some blades. I won't buy a knife with jimping on the handle, or one that has aggressive jimping on the blade.

I was a butcher for many of my working years, and owned a game processing business for many years. None of our knives have jimping and we work as fast as you can go, and often with bloody knife handles. I never saw anyone's hand slip. If you hold the knife correctly it won't.
 
MatthewSB said:
I like jimping as much as I like certain edges radiused - it shows extra attention to detail. However, like radiusing edges, jimping can be overdone.
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To me jimping is an after thought done by makers who didn't get the handle ergos right. IMO a knife that is designed well doesn't need jimping.

I've never needed jimping for anything. I'm also puzzled by why you would need it to cut wood. For power cuts I hold the handle securely so I don't have a finger free to touch the jimping and on fine cuts I use both thumbs for control which makes the jimping unnecessary. Maybe it's a difference on how people are using the tool.

To me jimping is the ugly part of the knife that's hard to clean. YMMV
 
Poez said:
I do not remember ever noticing that a knife lacks in jimping, but I know some knifes which have jimping to excess, actually making it unpleasant for me.
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I agree 100%.


Also, the quality of the jimping matters, square or rough edges can really tear up my meaty hand.




Big Mike
 
It doesn't bother me either way. I love the design of the brown sprint caly, and the lack of jimping doesn't effect my cutting tasks. If it has jimping cool, if not cool.
 
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