Overkill Recurves: The Next "Tanto" Trend ?

Rick

Rick

Joined
Nov 27, 1998
Messages
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Moderate recurves are certainly viable, but things seem to be getting out of hand. A 3 1/2” folding blade with more then enough recurve for a foot-long fixed-blade “combat” knife seems to be the new hot trend. These blades seldom have a usable point, and are a real bear to sharpen. Definitely too much of a good thing, IMO. Is this trendy, overkill grind the new marketing trick that will usurp the form-over-function “tanto” grind? I’ve used both, and neither works as well for most tasks as a reasonably moderate curved edge.
 
I don't much like tanto blades myself. I could never understand why anyone would want to reduce the useful length of a blade without reducing the length of the blade. I'm not sure what the optimal amount of recurve is for a blade, I guess one could call it aspect/ratio, e.g. for a blade x inches long it should have y/x recurve. For starters, what do you think of this blade's profile? Moderate? Excessive?
axissc2.jpg
 
The pictured blade is an easy shape to sharpen. I use an Edge Pro which uses 1" wide waterstones and it works fine. I don't even have to remove the thumbstuds. The slight recurve looks nice, and the small belly gives you a good angle for slicing through some rope.
Has anyone seen a trend towards overkill recurved blades?
 
Somebody (OK, I'll drop him a line) ought to try getting Darrel Ralph involved in this thread. He's done more research than anyone I know into refining the recurve to it's most practical incarnation.
 
I feel the comments are right!
If the recurve is not ground correctly and the cusrve is for looks not performance (to thick, to much curve to look cool) they are not much different than most grinds.

We all upgrade from time to time to make our products better.

IMHO A recurve also has to be engineered right on the curve for the cutting edge to work right.

Here's what I have found in the past 6 months from user feedback ect and upgrading my grinds.

I have went to a much thinner grind on my edges. I wont say what I do but I have found that the recurve works MUCH better with a thinner edge. Also I have changed from a flat grind to a LARGE hollow grind. I use a 14 inch wheel.
This make the blades on smaller knives 2-6 inchs cut better and more precise. I use the 14 inch wheel because I like the strength of a semi flat grind. So I was looking for the point that the blade would preform better and still maintain strength.

Many recurves are added to knives for LOOKS.
I refuse in this case. They have to preform better or its just an embellishment IMHO.

As for sharpening the process I am using is easy to sharpen now . I just use a spydy white stick and leather strop to make the blade push cuts newspaper.
Thicker edges will hold an edge longer BUT the cutting performance goes down 50 percent or more when doing small task cutting.

After many tests from my shop and customers I have changed my way of thinking. Cutting performance is first. An edge can be sharpened. If the edge chips out from extreme use (abuse in my book) I put a new edge on the blade. If the knife is used for the purpose intended there should not be chipping.

As for tantos IMHO the modified tanto is still the best for small blades. The chisel
is great for big knives that you want to pry with ect.
BUT I also feel that a folding knife is not a pry bar! So the modified tanto (that cuts with ease) is best in a folder unless you want a tank.

Just my .02 cents worth!


------------------
Web Site At www.darrelralph.com
MADD MAXX !

[This message has been edited by Darrel Ralph (edited 02-20-2001).]
 
A blade with a deep recurve is essentially a hawkbill with an extension (an upsweep). I don't consider them disfunctional, they have performance advantages that other blades don't, they also have disadvantages but so does everything. Just buy according to your needs. I have been using a small hawkbill from Neil Blackwood for some time and I like many of its abilities. I have loaned it out to a few friends and they feel the same. I think I might see if Neil will make me a deep recurved blade later this year in the fall.

-Cliff
 
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