KE Bushie & Terrassaur - is the lack of a front guard / choil a problem?

ncrockclimb

ncrockclimb

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The title says it all. I like the looks of the Terrassaur a lot, but have always found the minimal barrier between the blade and fingers to be troubling. I am guessing that this is not an issue when being used, but I thought I would post up here and ask others how they feel about this design and what it is like as a user.
 
Personally, I try to minimize this barrier as I use my knife in various handholds. Chest lever, choking up and various other grips cause that portion to dig in - which is why the Arete has a very little portion. Enough to let you know in low light where you are on the blade - but not enough to get in the way .

TF
 
Here is how I feel about it:

1. Context of use

Are you going to be stabbing the knife hard into wood, practice dummies, meat, ice, or other media? Or, will the knife be used for slicing, dicing, cutting, carving, and related tasks?

If the former, you might like a guard.

2. Context of environment

Are your hands constantly soaked with oil, blood, or another liquid? Do you work mostly with gloves? Or, will the work be mostly in dry environments and held with an unprotected hand?

If the latter, you should be ok with no guard.

In many ways this reminds me of a debate between locking blades (backlock, liner lock, axis lock, frame lock, etc) as opposed to slipjoints.

Just like locks on folders, a guard can be a nice failsafe and could prevent an injury. But it does not make the tool inherently safe. Many people have been cut on blades with guards.

On the other hand, like a slipjoint, using the knife as it was meant to be used with purpose, care, and control should be enough to keep you out of trouble.

Some people use knives with care, and enjoy the safety of a lock or in this case a guard.

The argument may be rephrased in terms of aesthetics. Which do you like better? Which feels more natural? Which will you carry and work with?

For me, I do not care either way, but a little ridge here and there can be comforting.
 
I haven't really thought about it. I have had a hiking buddy without a guard
for a couple years.. I don't plan on stabbing or thrusting with it
so I think it's a non-issue but if I did have to use it in the previous manner
I would think that's the least of my problems.
 
Thanks for the great input. I am a noob at this, and really appreciate you guys sharing your experience with me.
 
go to big sport/outdoor store like cabelas or bass pro shops or gun show to knife department you I am sure you will find at least 2-3 knives of each category. you may hold it different way and mimic you usual activity and you will figure out which one is better for you. then you can buy more expensive handmade knife or the kind you choose..

after you will do this exercise, I give 8/10 chance that you will buy something 3rd, because "it is cute", " I just like it", "this is my favorite color" and so on.
most of us like this.
 
ncrockclimb said:
The title says it all. I like the looks of the Terrassaur a lot, but have always found the minimal barrier between the blade and fingers to be troubling. I am guessing that this is not an issue when being used, but I thought I would post up here and ask others how they feel about this design and what it is like as a user.
Click to expand...

I have never owned a Terrasaur, but I have used the KE Bushie quite a bit, a few of them in fact. I really like the knife in the bushcraft role, and in the paring knife role. I posted some pics with it in this thread some time back.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Steel-with-Convex-Grind-Photos-amp-Discussion

That said, I would really like to have been the one to snag that one-off guarded KE Bushie that Willic shark that Friday. I loved the guarded profile, and that Box Elder handle was just stunning. For my personal uses, the KEB has my favorite blade profile of all the Fiddlebacks, I like pointy, and I love the handle contours, all of them... but some of my uses are best done with at least a minimal guard so I bounce back and forth between the Bushcrafter and Kephart as my favorite Fiddlebacks. I even put one of each in a dark drawer one night and turned on some Barry White hoping for some magic, but no joy :D
 
mistwalker said:
I have never owned a Terrasaur, but I have used the KE Bushie quite a bit, a few of them in fact. I really like the knife in the bushcraft role, and in the paring knife role. I posted some pics with it in this thread some time back.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Steel-with-Convex-Grind-Photos-amp-Discussion

That said, I would really like to have been the one to snag that one-off guarded KE Bushie that Willic shark that Friday. I loved the guarded profile, and that Box Elder handle was just stunning. For my personal uses, the KEB has my favorite blade profile of all the Fiddlebacks, I like pointy, and I love the handle contours, all of them... but some of my uses are best done with at least a minimal guard so I bounce back and forth between the Bushcrafter and Kephart as my favorite Fiddlebacks. I even put one of each in a dark drawer one night and turned on some Barry White hoping for some magic, but no joy :D
Click to expand...

Mistwalker, thanks for your reply to my question. I really appreciate the many reviews that you have posted. Besides enjoying your amazing photography, I have learned a ton from your writing. For example, I would have never thought about setting up the Bushcrafter and Kephart for a romantic interlude in hopes of them producing a "super knife." It sounds like it should have worked... maybe they prefer country and a few PBRs over Barry White? But seriously, thank you for sharing your experience with me.

On a side note, I was surprised to see you mention the Kephart (one of my favorites) and the Bushcrafter, but not mention the Bushfinger. It seems like most folks prefer the 'finger over the 'crafter. I don't own either (although I am should get my first Bushfinger delivered on Friday), and would enjoy learning why you favor the 'crafter. Would you feel comfortable to elaborating?

Again, thanks for all your awesome reviews and posts!
 
Excellent topic!

The KE bushie and Terry are awesome blades.

I've owned and worked with both. I must say that before I owned both, I was used to usingg blades with a ton or guard--Kabar USMC was my old go to for many camping trips. When I purchased a Terrasaur, I must admit that the lack of guard was intimidating, especially when you sharpen your tool to hair whittling. But after processing camp wood, prepping a good amount of food and cleaning a decent bounty of fish, I found myself much more relaxed and preferring a guardless blade for outings. I soon came to view large guarded blades as almost clunky and unnecessary.

I guess it all boils down to preference and skill level. If you tend to be more of a novice knife user and slice yourself once in a while while using your tool (there's no shame in admitting this btw) than I would go with a Kephart or something with a more significant guard. However, if your more of a careful, pay close attention to detail, focused user, than I think the KE or the Terrasaur should serve you well. The Terry is on the bigger side. So if you feel more comfortable with a larger blade than go with a Terry.

Both are very nice designs and are a lot of fun. I don't recommend handing them off to a fishing buddy or someone that isn't good with an edged tool. A fishing trip could be cut short, no pun intended.

Josiah
 
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Keep in mind that choils are a horrible fad design flaw. They catch on skin or cloth during the up cut. On anything but a huge chopper, if you have to choke up on the blade to do fine detail work, then the handle is not designed correctly.
 
I have terrasour and do not have KE BUshie. I found that I do not use Terry and probably should sell it. I never tried KE Bushie but like similar handle design.
they does not mention bushfinger because you ask about about Terry and KUB and everyone stay on topic:)
if you will open the discussion which knife is the best you will probably hear about every knife in FB line, since everyone has there favorits
 
Fiddleback said:
Keep in mind that choils are a horrible fad design flaw. They catch on skin or cloth during the up cut. On anything but a huge chopper, if you have to choke up on the blade to do fine detail work, then the handle is not designed correctly.
Click to expand...

And that's the rest of the story [emoji106]🏻
 
Fiddleback said:
Keep in mind that choils are a horrible fad design flaw. They catch on skin or cloth during the up cut. On anything but a huge chopper, if you have to choke up on the blade to do fine detail work, then the handle is not designed correctly.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply!

I am probably doing a poor job describing what I am talking about here. I love the index finger "indent" on the handle of the Fiddleback Kephart. As an inexperienced user, I like how it makes my grip feel secure and helps to guide my hand placement every time I grab the knife. My Kephart fits my hand better than any knife I own, and the contour of the handle at the index finger is a huge part of why I like this handle so much.

I am not a fan of choils when they are giant divots on the blade of a knife. Also, I am NOT trying to criticize Fiddleback's handle design or imply that you need some kind of mall ninja choil on your blades. I guess I am just trying to understand how users like the handle profile of the Fiddlebacks that have less of an indent for the index finger.
 
To play devil's advocate, some choils are interesting. Check out some early Randall's work in the 1930's and 1940's. I agree with Andy that for some uses the choil is a disconnect of the cutting edge. On the other hand, they do offer opportunities for grip changes, make sharpening easier (removing the thick transitional area between the functional blade and the ricasso), and as many aspects of the hobby bring a new design perspective to an ancient tool.
 
Here's a picture.

A little dremmel work and yours can look like this:

Choils-X2.jpg
 
swonut said:
I figured I'd make the pass-arond interesting...

I kid. For all you purists, it's just photoshop, but I do kind of like it.
Click to expand...

Haha. The funniest part is that you said you used a dremmel.
 
swonut said:
I figured I'd make the pass-arond interesting...

I kid. For all you purists, it's just photoshop, but I do kind of like it.
Click to expand...


Ha! Dude, I read that and was like "Oh shoooo...:eek:" But then I read the rest and lol'd. :cool::thumbup:
 
I can't speak to the Terrasaur, but I love the KEB. Amazing wood working knife. The key there being wood working knife. I wouldn't want to use it to stab something, but since that's not how I use my knives, the lack of a guard isn't an issue.
 
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