The forgotton hollow grind?

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
You don't see too many big hollow grind fixed blades, like the old Buck 120 General, anymore. Why do you suppose that is? I always thought the hollow grind was a good way to maintain blade strength by leaving a full-thickness spine while getting thin near the edge for better cutting.

Are people obsessed with chopping now and that's why they always go with a flat-grind? Or do people figure they'll just give up the thin edge for strength and go with convex?

I'm perplexed. Why no more big hollow grind knives? :confused:

What's the hollow grind best at?

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On large fighters, like Jerry Hossom's, the hollow grind is still widely used because it lightens the blade.

In a chopper, a stouter grind (full flat, saber or convex) is more desirable.
 
Justin at Ranger Knives makes big tough hollow ground blades, and they work very well. My RD7 is a good chopper, and has a thin enough edge to be a good cutter.

David
 
I probably wasn't clear. I wasn't looking for one. I have this really nice one from Tom Krein. On this one he said he'd grind it however I wanted, so I asked for hollow and it turned out really nice. I was just wondering why they weren't more popular and what you thought the hollow grind was best for.









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Best for slicing, and effective for chopping—the hollow grind stops the blade from getting stuck, and pushes material out of the way.
 
These days there' s an overabundant demand for a sharpened prybar. Perhaps too much hipe. But it sells. Most people in the real world will never use their knives in a way they were meant to. There is a certain small population of people who do require such a tool. But a good hollow ground blade will do quite well for cutting and slicing. And with a good heat treat and appropriate geometry it will perform chopping chores as well.

That high hollowed Krein will make a great user. Besides Tom did work with some good company that believed in the high hollow. And D2. ;)

N.
 
About the only excuse most of us can come up with for a field knife with over a 5-inch blade length is chopping. A hollow ground blade can ripple if it hits something hard while chopping or it can get jammed in thick wood. I doubt that the average shmo who buys a bigass blade on the home shopping network knows this so they will buy whatever contour looks cool. For premium knives you get more sophisticated buyers and more conscientious manufacturers who both shy away from Rambo-style hollow grind.

My favorite hunting knives are hollow ground, but they only have around a 4-inch blade length. For bigger knives I would go more for flat ground for a field knife. I would go for hollow ground for a fighter. Jerry Hossom really does some nice designs. The trouble is I don't do a lot of street duelling which would call for a dedicated fighter. I would probably opt for a flat ground or high saber ground blade if I was heading off for war and needed a general purpose combat knife.
 
Hollow grinds tend to bind less for me and make small knives look elegant. Along with flat, convex, and flat-saber grinds, they're one of my favorite grind types.
 
I love hollow grinds. Here is a small beauty.

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