Notches on blade spine

G

GrReaper

Joined
Sep 22, 2014
Messages
487
Am I the only one who gets seriously turned off by notches on blade spines? I like the overall designs of the TOPS Tahoma Field knife, TOPS Anaconda, and the Buck Hoodlum. But those notches on the blade spine really tick me off. I have done a lot of research and they seem tough enough even with that design weakness. Other than the first batch or so of Buck Hoodlums, I haven't heard of any breaking off at the notch. I think the Tahoma Field knife is very popular, seems to be selling quite well. I would have got one already if not for that stupid notch. So what say you, does the notch bother you as much as it does me? If only TOPS offered a version without that notch!
 
I have the Tahoma. Doesn't bother me and doesn't hinder normal use. Might even come in handy some day. It's not a knife I have for aesthetics.
 
Doesn't bother me. Their description of the knife explains why it's there. If it was something I didn't want I would just buy something else. There are too many choices to get hung up on a single feature that only shows up on a handful of knives.
 
Then why not buy a knife that doesn't have them while offering a similar profile and an upgrade in alloy and warranty?
Busse Ratweiler (smaller knives) or Rat Mastiff (larger knife)
SwampRat_SRTst_01.gif
Not my photo. If it is yours and want me to remove it, let me know.
 
NJBillK said:
Then why not buy a knife that doesn't have them while offering a similar profile and an upgrade in alloy and warranty?
Busse Ratweiler (smaller knives) or Rat Mastiff (larger knife)
View attachment 800138
Not my photo. If it is yours and want me to remove it, let me know.
Click to expand...
Ditto. Dawson has some outstanding knives with similar profiles and kno knotches. I love my Dawsons!

Zieg
 
I like notches on my blade back. Gives better purchase/grip when using for delicate/precise work.
I put them on all my knives with a Dremel cutting wheel if the knife doesn't have them.
Rich
 
NJBillK said:
Then why not buy a knife that doesn't have them while offering a similar profile and an upgrade in alloy and warranty?
Busse Ratweiler (smaller knives) or Rat Mastiff (larger knife)
View attachment 800138
Not my photo. If it is yours and want me to remove it, let me know.
Click to expand...

Kind of a large jump in price and availability, going from TOPS/Buck to Busse though...
 
I admittedly don't like the look but that wouldn't stop me from buying a knife I wanted. Maybe check out Kabar/Becker, ESEE, or Ontario (I like my RD6).
 
Jimping is one thing, but big notches or " teeth " are a big no go got me. They just remind me of BUDK / flea market fixed blades.
There's a company that makes this exact type of stuff that costs $200+, but I don't remember the name and am actually glad I forgot it.

I also wouldn't like the looks of even just the one notch, but I could probably look past that.
 
SkrufKnifer said:
What is that notch for anyways?
Click to expand...
The ones with a single notch are, according to the manufacturers, for "scoring bone, bending wire, removing pots from a camp fire, or other small tasks" (Buck Hoodlum, 1 notch), or "scoring materials to create a weak point to break, as well as break wire by work hardening it, and pulling pots and similar items out of a fire" (Tops Tahoma Field Knife, 2 notches).

So it's a bone scorer, wire bender/breaker and pot puller.

On the Anaconda, there are three notches which aren't described in detail.
 
Last edited:
Just do a search on one of his Tops knives and you'll see the notches. They are not gimping. Have no desire for this feature. So, I look for something else. Simple. Lots of knives don't "click" with me. No big thing.
 
NJBillK said:
Then why not buy a knife that doesn't have them while offering a similar profile and an upgrade in alloy and warranty?
Busse Ratweiler (smaller knives) or Rat Mastiff (larger knife)
View attachment 800138
Not my photo. If it is yours and want me to remove it, let me know.
Click to expand...

:-) My pic, use it all you want. FYI, I couldn't get those sharp for anything, ended up selling them all.. (I've sharpened plenty of big blades in the same steel and others but for whatever reason I just couldn't get THOSE sharp.. the two users anyway..)
 
jc57 said:
The ones with a single notch are, according to the manufacturers, for "scoring bone, bending wire, removing pots from a camp fire, or other small tasks" (Buck Hoodlum, 1 notch), or "scoring materials to create a weak point to break, as well as break wire by work hardening it, and pulling pots and similar items out of a fire" (Tops Tahoma Field Knife, 2 notches).

So it's a bone scorer, wire bender/breaker and pot puller.

On the Anaconda, there are three notches which aren't described in detail.
Click to expand...

Wire bender/cutter pot puller and scorerer
I've never thought about using a notch like that. I've done those things with my Machete. Maybe I'll add one to it just for grabbing pots
 
Not too many notch-haters here I see, just one or two maybe. :cool: Cutting wire, lifting pots of boiling water, who does that stuff with a knife? Especially the pots of boiling water... seems like a fantastic way to get a third degree burn on your foot. Anyway, I simply can't stand the idea of a notch on my blade spine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top