Recurve question

[db]

Yup good thread. Sometimes I think everyone cuts the same way I do nice to see this subject. Makes me think about going out and trying new cutting methods. Maybe I will send the wife and kids to church so I have a second of free time .

 

[OwenM]

Originally posted by MaxTheKnife
How big an old boy are you anyway Matthew?

L..M..A..O ("Don't make me bring my boys, if my boys come, somebody's ass'll be whupped.") Love it

As for the recurve, well, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I have 20/10 vision

Later, guys

 

[rdangerer]

I'm not taking shots at Matthew here... just, just offering some balance:

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
But what about the disadvantages? Difficult to sharpen on a benchstone (even a relatively narrow one using a jig IMO);

True. But if you like recurves, you can acquire equipment to sharpen them. Jig type, Spyderco / crock sticks, bench grinder for big knives, etc.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
no good at push cuts where the whole edge must meet the cutting surface at the same time as in dicing vegies; not very good for scraping if you want to use all or most of the blade behind the belly (taking scales off fish, hair off hide, or plaining wood where the advantages of the recurve actually become disadvantages);

With something like the 710, you can use the front/belly for pushcuts, reserve the recurve for cardboard, rope, vines, etc. As far as game prep, there are indeed better knives, and if I thought I was going to prep game (fish, deer, squirrel/rabbit), I have several knives optimized for each of those. 710 would work fine on game in a pinch.

But for all around daily carry utility and as a fine self defense folder, the 710 has about the nicest balance of features going on a production knife... and I'm hard pressed to come up with a nicer balance of features on a custom folding knife now that I think about it. (Maybe a Darrel Ralph custom EDC w/ drop point blade and 420V?) Planing wood... well, whittling and minor wood removal, kindling prep, in the field is no big deal w/ something like 710. If it was anything precision or a lot of removal (planing a board), well, another tool is called for, eh?

I think balance and versatility and lock reliability is what the 710 is all about.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
not good for thin slicing meat or bread because the center of the belly hits the cutting surface before the rest of the edge has cut through what ever it is you are slicing; or for any application where you must turn the knife (change direction of the cut) with the tip embedded in the substance (for example coring an apple).

Indeed, there is little use for recurve in the kitchen, but I think you could slice meat and bread and apples in the field just dandy compared to the alternative, using your hands or a rock or something, if all you had was a 710. I usually quarter the apple first before removing 4 pieces of core w/ U-shaped cuts anyway.... I'm nitpicking....moving on.

Yeah, I'd rather have an 8" chef and a paring knife in hunting or fish camp (and a fillet knife), but I could prep a whole meal with the 710 without cussing, if it was all I had along. It's not like you are prepping a meal with a screwdriver or a hammer.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
Add to this that the recurve only comes into its own when the substance to be cut is non trivial - for example thin cardboard is so easy to cut with any knife that the gut-hook effect while present is overkill.

Overkill, maybe. But not inferior. Mild overperformance isn't a problem. I understand Matt has outlined places where recurve is a disadvantage also.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
So for me (again, just my opinion), taking all of this into account, the recurve makes little sense and I don't buy them.

Indeed, there are plenty of good utility folders that are fine for self defense and balanced enough to not piss you off afield. Spyderco Starmate, Benchmade AFCK 800, Spyderco Wegner, even MT LCC with so little belly is a nice knife. Some like Spyderco Military in this sort of group/application also. I like it pretty well myself.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
If the knife is primarily intended (and sold) for "self defense" as many "tactical knives" are, and in addition, your self defense style favors slashing (the recurve has no advantage in thrusting), then by all means buy a recurve.

And if you want extremes, find an Emerson Commander w/ good lockup. It has a kinda fat belly, but that won't prevent a thrust from entering unless you hit ribs perpendicularly or something. Most any knife can be thrust into soft materials with ease, even through ballistic vests. They focus tremendous forces on a tiny surface area or point, high sectional density is one term used.

Originally posted by matthew rapaport
If, on the other hand, the knife you carry might have to do any of the chores listed above and/or you don't spend all day pulling knives through thick cardboard or sawing through thick rope, then consider a non-recurved blade.

...and repeating, here are some of my other favs...stuff still owned and not sold/traded: Spyderco Starmate, Benchmade AFCK 800, Spyderco Wegner, MT LCC, Spyderco Military.

I actually agree with about everything Matt said. Just adding some perspective.

 

[matthew rapaport]

Rdangerer, I think we pretty much agree, we just differ on a matter of taste (as it were). I certainly would agree with you that the 710 and other recurved blades <i>can</i> handle all the various tasks we've all brought up. I just happen to think the over all balance of pluses and minuses given a common range of utility and camp chores favors the straight edge behind the belly, while you (and others too of course) feel it favors the recurve - in your case as it appears on the 710 at least. No big deal. Its a judgement call and if we all made the same call, there wouldn't be much variety in knives or life for that matter would there!

 

[mad cow]

Another vote for straight edges.Curved blades might be better for some uses but not for the majority of my uses.However,ease of sharpening is by far the main reason I prefer straight blades over curved blades.