Purpose of recurve?

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pinnah

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Jul 28, 2011
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What purpose does recurve on a blade serve? What sort of cuts are made easier because of it?

On a lark, I picked up an inexpensive Buck Reaper. This isn't my knife but my knife looked like before I started modifying it.

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The knife chops twigs and small branches relatively easily. A part of that is the weight forward design. I have another old big fixed blade with similar weight forward balance that likewise does light chopping easily without the recurve.

On the other hand, the recurve causes some problems. It's less useful for food prep.

Right now, I can only see two possible reasons for the recurve. Perhaps it's better and draw cuts when you hold brush and cut it at the base with a reverse hold and pull cut? The other might be that it concentrates the impact of a chop near the front of the blade? I'm grasping at straws here.

I'd be curious to hear from people who've used similar knives with and without recurve. I'm not really seeing the benefit.

Thoughts?
 
I find a recurve works very well for any cutting that isn't against a hard backing. Cutting rope, 'whittling' or shaving down a stick, breaking down boxes etc. where the blade doesn't cut against anything.
 
I never really considered a recurve design on a fixed blade until I read and looked at the design by Brian Griffin made by Dylan Fletcher. It was (and is) a beastly chopper. I want one, but keep holding back on ordering one from Dylan. Talked to him at Blade about it at the last show and I suspect I will do the same this year. I think the design makes for a better chopper, but is harder to sharpen. But I have few uses for a big chopper and that's the rub.
 
Thanks for the comments so far.

Kniferbro: The cutting rope issue is similar to what I've seen with cutting brush with a pull cut. Is this the only functional reason?

Evilgreg: only interested in function. not looks - although I get that this matters to others.

CharlieMike: yes on the sharpening issue.
 
A small Buck knife with with a recurve is part of my game processing bag. It doesn't get used much but it can be very helpful in certain places, especially if you're saving the hide. The edge (blade shape?) can make certain draw and push cuts easier when you don't have much room to fanangle.
 
Charlie Mike said:
It's a CONSPIRACY... To aggravate people who sharpen with flat stones.
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agree

tho if you use the corner of a flat stone, that will work. still aggravating.

ive really only liked using a re-curve for cutting rope, thats about it.
 
I think, just speculation, that a recurve also helps keep the object you a re cutting on the bladed and not slide off onto the finger choil/sharpening choil.
 
I am not going to try and convince you why the recurve is good but I will say I have the knife in the OP and like it alot. It works well for every task I have tried with it.
 
A lot of them on modern designs are just eye candy rather than serving an intentional practical use. However, recurves and cants are functionally employed to manipulate the edge presentation to the target for a given hand/arm position. They'll usually do a good job of snaring or catching hard, flexible targets that want to slip off an edge, and can also aid in tasks like pushing cuts delivered with the heel of the blade, depending on how the particular design is done.
 
Also, while sharpening a recurve does introduce an extra layer of required proficiency it's not really any harder than any other knife. Use a scythe stone, diamond steel, or even just the edge of a regular bench stone and you'll sharpen it up just fine.
 
If a Kukri is considered an overdone recurve :confused:, then it would seem to have more usefulness than a "normal" knife (whatever that may be) with a recurved blade. Just a thought. :cool:
 
pinnah said:
Heh! Yes, I get the more belly. I'm not understanding the more sharpened length though. What do you find that helps with?
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Have you every had a knife that was only still sharp on one part or another? More sharpened length presumably means longer to dull the whole thing and so forth. In practice I really like mild recurves for some cutting tasks (e.g. draw cuts).
 
When a recurve edge near center of percussion (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_of_percussion). E.g. Khukuri. Let's skip hawkbill profile discussion. I see 2 main benefits (also skip Cons)

1. Induce/present edge to subject toward 90*/perpendicular/normal angle - minimize wrist deviate from natural position. Where normal force translates/imparts higher impulse force on impact.

2. Minimize lateral/deflection torque due to lower CG (center gravity), where the impact contact is a pivot point.
 
Many great points. You can certainly feel the extra forward mass when you swing a recurve but there is one effect I don't think was mentioned. One of the reasons a curved sword was used was to get a good slide going together with forward motion so you slice more, used sharp carbides more, just as a matter of geometry. With a recurve you can get that effect over a short length of the knife which is also suited to s shorter stroke. Like a folder. But it's more wear on the edge. I personally never liked them much in looks or use until I actually learned to use it better and now they look good to me too. I wouldn't use it for cooking but you might be able to use it as a mini ulu I guess
 
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