-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Little design details that make a big difference to you
- Thread starter DangerZone98
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
I tested plenty of finger choil, some “tactical” and they feel comfortable to me:
Some on a fixed blades I’m using often:
Some on small blades as the Calypso 3:
…or the Manix XL, light grip:
…or when I really need to apply force:
I intentionally tried different knives with finger choils up front because of my line of work. I’m perfectly fine without it because the edge close to the index finger on a handle is more useful, handle gives you better and more comfortable purchase when working, this is my preferred combination, but I’m fine with the finger choir on the blade site and yes, the Manix is probably have the best executed feature of most knives in this categories.
IMO, they can be very useful on a knife that’s intended for general use but on a “gentleman’s” folder that is little bit higher end, they are almost useless as a future and serve mostly form function.
Some on a fixed blades I’m using often:
Some on small blades as the Calypso 3:
…or the Manix XL, light grip:
…or when I really need to apply force:
I intentionally tried different knives with finger choils up front because of my line of work. I’m perfectly fine without it because the edge close to the index finger on a handle is more useful, handle gives you better and more comfortable purchase when working, this is my preferred combination, but I’m fine with the finger choir on the blade site and yes, the Manix is probably have the best executed feature of most knives in this categories.
IMO, they can be very useful on a knife that’s intended for general use but on a “gentleman’s” folder that is little bit higher end, they are almost useless as a future and serve mostly form function.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
- Messages
- 17,898
Manix 2 XL, the way I like it:
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
For choilless blades my favorite is GB1, unbelievably well though working knife !
I used it extensively on a daily bases almost 3 years till I broke the tip of it and retired it but
it is one of my very favorite knives ( that is not tanto profile)
I used it extensively on a daily bases almost 3 years till I broke the tip of it and retired it but
it is one of my very favorite knives ( that is not tanto profile)
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
David Mary
I have a spare Manix LX in S30V that I gave to my son to use it when helping, but he is just keeping it in the truck… I saw your previous posts about this particular mod of yours, I won’t bother you before the New Year, but if you don’t mind, can I contact you in a month or so to see if you can fit me in your schedule for such mod ?I really like it a lot not for working knife, for me it is great size and blade shape.
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
- Messages
- 17,898
By all means, and it is no bother now or whenever you are ready. PM or email whenever you like.
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2013
- Messages
- 3,416
Thank you David, I’ll wait till after NY. I dumped bunch of money on some grips and other stuff and fave to recharge my ”knife” funds… 
Chronovore
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 29, 2019
- Messages
- 11,871
At least for modern EDC folders:
- A thinner blade! I've passed on so many otherwise attractive EDC knives because the blades are 0.14" or thicker. In reality, anything more than 0.12" is unlikely to contribute anything helpful for my regular EDC needs but is likely to increase both weight and drag.
- A proper sharpening choil. I've had a bunch of knives with ostensible choils that don't clear the plunge. Why even bother? Either go without or do it right. I'll take an unusable finger choil over a misaligned sharpening choil any day.
- Good screws, T8 where possible, and no permanent thread-locker. People should be able to take their knives apart. I'm glad to see more companies using T8 body screws and not gluing their knives shut at the factory. I hope the trend advances.
- Recessed clip screws on deep carry clips. Seriously, why put speed bumps inside the loop if it can be avoided? Also...
- No clip recess on the show side. Yeah, I get that lefties need love and can technically operate right-handed frame and liner locks. However, having a little cut-out in the show side can both ruin the aesthetics for me and create hot spots at the rim. Some companies have taken to filling that spot with a steel plate but there are very few designs where I think that looks good. I'm okay with just the screw holes but a cut-out is probably a deal-breaker for me.
- Keep any lanyard attachment points hidden within a back spacer. Lanyard holes sometimes feel haphazard and are sometimes prioritized over clip placement. They sometimes involve recessing the scale for an exposed section of liner (this is one of my few complaints about the Elementum). Sometimes, they stick out and create a hot spot. If a lanyard hole is absolutely necessary, just use a protected pin within a back spacer.
- Blade totally protected when closed. Running your finger over the closed knife should present zero risk of getting poked or cut.
- Chamfer the edges and round the corners! Crisp edges don't feel good. Scale edges should not feel sharp. Since I'm not striking ferro rods with my EDC folder, I don't want a sharp spine either. If a Spydie or other opening hole is large enough to accept finger meat, I'd prefer that rim to be chamfered. I also don't want sharp corners creating unnecessary hot spots. Knives are tools and should feel good in hand during use!
- A thinner blade! I've passed on so many otherwise attractive EDC knives because the blades are 0.14" or thicker. In reality, anything more than 0.12" is unlikely to contribute anything helpful for my regular EDC needs but is likely to increase both weight and drag.
- A proper sharpening choil. I've had a bunch of knives with ostensible choils that don't clear the plunge. Why even bother? Either go without or do it right. I'll take an unusable finger choil over a misaligned sharpening choil any day.
- Good screws, T8 where possible, and no permanent thread-locker. People should be able to take their knives apart. I'm glad to see more companies using T8 body screws and not gluing their knives shut at the factory. I hope the trend advances.
- Recessed clip screws on deep carry clips. Seriously, why put speed bumps inside the loop if it can be avoided? Also...
- No clip recess on the show side. Yeah, I get that lefties need love and can technically operate right-handed frame and liner locks. However, having a little cut-out in the show side can both ruin the aesthetics for me and create hot spots at the rim. Some companies have taken to filling that spot with a steel plate but there are very few designs where I think that looks good. I'm okay with just the screw holes but a cut-out is probably a deal-breaker for me.
- Keep any lanyard attachment points hidden within a back spacer. Lanyard holes sometimes feel haphazard and are sometimes prioritized over clip placement. They sometimes involve recessing the scale for an exposed section of liner (this is one of my few complaints about the Elementum). Sometimes, they stick out and create a hot spot. If a lanyard hole is absolutely necessary, just use a protected pin within a back spacer.
- Blade totally protected when closed. Running your finger over the closed knife should present zero risk of getting poked or cut.
- Chamfer the edges and round the corners! Crisp edges don't feel good. Scale edges should not feel sharp. Since I'm not striking ferro rods with my EDC folder, I don't want a sharp spine either. If a Spydie or other opening hole is large enough to accept finger meat, I'd prefer that rim to be chamfered. I also don't want sharp corners creating unnecessary hot spots. Knives are tools and should feel good in hand during use!