stupid question but humor me please...

S

SeeTOPh

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Jul 18, 2016
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so im fairly new to the knife world and im seeing knives with a "Swedge" blade, or swedge grind (dont know the proper terminology) and im wondering what is the purpose for a "swedge"? as the consumer can you put an edge on the swedge (unintentional rhyme, promise)? does the manufacturer put it there so it can be sold as a single edged blade and not the illegal double sided or dagger type blade? thanks guys, i know in advance ill get a lot of great answers that wont make me feel like the idiot i know i mostly am, ha
 
The swedge has a few purposes. One, it slightly reduced weight two, it helps the blade go through materials easier. Some swedges are sharpened, some are not. Even when a swedge is sharpened, it is still considered a single edged blade.
 
JDX said:
The swedge has a few purposes. One, it slightly reduced weight two, it helps the blade go through materials easier. Some swedges are sharpened, some are not. Even when a swedge is sharpened, it is still considered a single edged blade.
Click to expand...

I don't know if that last part is accurate. Having a second sharpened edge on a knife could very well be considered a dagger by Leo. While you and I know the difference, explaining that to a cop... Probably not going to go well.
 
Some swedges are short enough to make a "penetrator" tip. Some go so far back they look like a second edge, even if they aren't sharpened.
 
Here's an excellent example of a swedge that is extremely functional.

It allows this blade shape to also be able to pierce through material very well....

1471821759.3026.jpg
 
shinyedges said:
I don't know if that last part is accurate. Having a second sharpened edge on a knife could very well be considered a dagger by Leo. While you and I know the difference, explaining that to a cop... Probably not going to go well.
Click to expand...
Depends on the local law.
In Germany for example the spine can be sharpened 4cm. Anything longer it's considered a double edged knife and illegal to carry in public though posession is fine.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Depends on the local law.
In Germany for example the spine can be sharpened 4cm. Anything longer it's considered a double edged knife and illegal to carry in public though posession is fine.
Click to expand...

Yes I would imagine location is key. Some states in the USA are very vague in defining a dagger as a double edged knife. A police officer examining someones knife on the side of the rode and seeing a sharpened swedge could very well be an opportunity to wear those shiny bracelets.
 
Mostly, an unsharpened swedge just makes the blade look cool. Its a stylistic feature. And in my view, generally an effective one in making the knife look better.
 
Jens Schuetz said:
Depends on the local law.
In Germany for example the spine can be sharpened 4cm. Anything longer it's considered a double edged knife and illegal to carry in public though posession is fine.
Click to expand...

shinyedges said:
I don't know if that last part is accurate. Having a second sharpened edge on a knife could very well be considered a dagger by Leo. While you and I know the difference, explaining that to a cop... Probably not going to go well.
Click to expand...

Both of these statements are accurate - it depends on the jurisdiction and the perceptions of the LEO involved.

JDX said:
The swedge has a few purposes. One, it slightly reduced weight two, it helps the blade go through materials easier. Some swedges are sharpened, some are not. Even when a swedge is sharpened, it is still considered a single edged blade.
Click to expand...

In Texas, as determined by case law, a sharpened swage/swedge (one is a variation of the other - either is correct), as little as 1/2" (1.252 cm) of sharpened spine is sufficient for a knife to be deemed double-edged. It doesn't even need to be the tip. A blade with an unsharpened swedge but having a sharpened spine segment (usually but not always serrated) can be called double-edged.
 
Clip points have a swedge to help them pierce things a little easier ( one of the best examples would be the buck 110 )
There are knives that stupidly try to look like daggers, stilettos ( classic switchblade shape with no practical utility ) , and some drop points with swedges that when are properly executed will act slot like a clip point. ( the bucklite max series of knives have a swedge and are in between a drop and clip point )
 
http://www.jayfisher.com/_borders/KnifeAnatomy4.jpg

Here is a remarkably different knife. You'll notice the point is trailing, that is the point trails higher than the spine. It has a swage, which is a separate grind that can be sharpened or left unsharpened (sometimes called a false edge). The purpose of a swage is to reduce the cross sectional area of the point without sacrificing too much thickness at the point. Then, being more pointed, thrusting insertion is improved. Though the swage is technically not a separate cutting edge, it can be made vey sharp by creating it as a single tapered bevel.
 
In a few cases having a pronounced swedge allows for thumb placement-and arguably, some traction-when choking up. An obvious example of this would be the CKF Peace Duke.
 
Swedge
Refers to the pointed part of a blade. A “common” swedge begins gradually with a long taper, whereas a “cut” swedge begins with a small shoulder and then tapers on out to the blade point. A “single” swedge means one side only – the mark side, and a “double” swedge means both sides. A “long” swedge begins at, or close to, the blade shoulder. In the cutlery trade, this word is commonly spelled “swedge” but is listed in dictionaries as “swage.”
 
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