The underrated criteria

Rsmith_77

Rsmith_77

Joined
Jun 4, 2010
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So, last night i was sitting at the kitchen table with my knife collection. So many good working knives, many of them gifts from folks on here. Some are really pretty, some are really tough. Some carbon steel some stainless steel. How does one choose the "right knife" for them.

I spent time handling, caressing, slicing some old newspaper and just taking it all in rather than getting caught up in any specific. And finally it hit me, what criteria do i use. How about handle comfort? I have a fondness for 2 or 3 bladed knives (although i have some, and seem to be getting more) single bladed knives.

Well something became apparent to me, some of my knives are more comfortable than others, but what about when you use the secondary blade? Many larger clip point knives are distinctly uncomfortable in hand when using the secondary blade. Some are good with the main blade out, but not so much when you switch to the smaller blade

well, after realizing this i started test cutting with multiple knives to see which felt best in hand. The stockman have alot of blade in a small package, but the sheepsfoot is not the most comfortable thing to hold, my 85 is pretty as all get out and with the ebony is undoubtedly tough too, but when using the pen blade the clip definitely digs into my hand...

But the single bladed knives certainly excel in this area which is a good point for them, but of my multiple bladed knives, i had two stand outs. Ironically my two favorite types too, the texas jack and the mini-trapper. Both are extremely comfortable in hand regardless of which blade i am using and that just makes me happy.

Now i am wondering if a main blade sheepsfoot would fit my new criteria *ponders*



 
Of course everyone's technique and cutting purposes are different, even their hands are different, so you just gotta try a bunch out and see what works.
My perfect handle (so far) is the 61OT Old Timer, a long slender serpentine stockman. So comfortable to hold, like it was made just for me. :thumbup:
 
For me, the underrated criteria is pocketability. I greatly prefer rounded bolsters and no sharp edges sticking up --- nothing to jab me in the leg when the knife is riding in my pocket; i.e. 98.76% of the time.

-- Mark
 
Slender serpentine frame, blades low in the wells when closed, at least one bellied and one straight edged blade, a 6 on the pulls, sunk joints, round bolsters, 3½ -4" closed . . . perfect knife!
 
I've just never really noticed it, even with the Stockman and it's sheepfoot blade's spine how it rides high when closed. I guess I don't grip it for prolonged periods as in whittling or that sort of activity. I open whatever blade I need at the moment, make my cut(s) and close it. I don't really "GRIP" the handle tightly per se. Not sure why, but I just never notice this at all. I'm sure in certain applications where you're gripping it firmly for a period of time it would stand out, but in my own use I don't find it a factor.

Now the other day when I was sawing a 1" branch with my Vic Farmer, that sort of activity would have caused me to notice the blades if they rode high/proud, but the Farmer's other tools and spear blade all ride very low and sleek, so I never noticed them at all. A sheepfoot? Yes, I'd have probably found that an annoyance since I was gripping and sawing.
 
black mamba said:
Slender serpentine frame, blades low in the wells when closed, at least one bellied and one straight edged blade, a 6 on the pulls, sunk joints, round bolsters, 3½ -4" closed . . . perfect knife!
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Except Jeff's idea of perfection is a little longer than mine. (I just noticed your location, Jeff; I had a bottle of O'Fallon Smoked Porter with lunch today. Excellent brew!)

-GT
 
I guess for me it's kinda of a Zen thing, or maybe feng shiue? I don't think of bolsters or handles or even much about the blades. I just look at the pile and something says "that one". I have hundreds of knives, not all are carriers. Most aren't. I probably have a couple dozen that are carriers. Probably 6 or 8 that I carry with regularity. Out of all these mostly I carry a GEC 73 single clip in Burnt Stag. Lately I've been carrying a 71 Bull Nose in Maroon Linen Micarta almost every day. Nothing fancy, no frills, just a knife. That's why I like it I think.
 
I don't think I understand what you mean, about using a secondary blade being uncomfortable. On a stockman, generally the sheep foot sticks out much further than the main. When the main blade is in use, the sheep foot would be the one that you would feel in your hand, more than if you used the sheep foot, and had the clip folded, in your hand. I am sure I am missing something, but I don't get what you said.
 
For me lately I've been really looking for knives with well-radiused bolsters and covers. New Case knives are horrible for this, and GEC is excellent.
 
I know what you mean. I bought a Case/Bose wharncliffe trapper once and as soon as I got it in hand I knew it wasn't for me because of how high the wharncliffe blade sat, it was uncomfortable when using the clip blade blade and just felt weird. Ended up returning that one and now I pay much more attention to how the blades sit in the handle on multi-blade knives.
 
W.M.B. said:
I don't think I understand what you mean, about using a secondary blade being uncomfortable. On a stockman, generally the sheep foot sticks out much further than the main. When the main blade is in use, the sheep foot would be the one that you would feel in your hand, more than if you used the sheep foot, and had the clip folded, in your hand. I am sure I am missing something, but I don't get what you said.
Click to expand...

essentially what i was saying is;
i am looking for knives that feel good in the hand regardless of which blade i am using. if i using main blade, secondary doesnt bother me too much, but even more (rarely i believe) is comfortable when using the secondary blade and the main blade doesnt stick up too much (for my taste)

hope that helps
 
Without a doubt the pen blade comfort is make or break for me. I use my knives most of the time for whittling (which I suck at but it's relaxing) so the pen blad is the most often used part.
 
Rsmith, I see what you are saying and for some knives it makes sense to only have one blade. This #73 two blade looses the handle grip when one of the blades is folded up. You can't use two blades at once, so what is the point of making an ergonomic grip if it is blocked by a folded blade right?
I think I will tear it apart and keep the clip blade and make a shadow pattern Barlow knife with the spey and its backspring.


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I have one Canoe pattern, a Case pocketworn version, and one of the first things I noticed was that it's uncomfortable for me to use the smaller pen blade, because the main spear blade's spine sticks out far enough to dig into my palm. And the blade sits exactly as low as it's supposed to. Otherwise, I find the Canoe pattern to be very pocketable.

I have a couple of Case medium stockmans whose sheepsfoot blades sit too high, and plan to use an emery board to lower the kick, as the tips of the sheepsfoot blades sit above the liners when closed. Regardless, that is too high, and it could make using the other blades feel awkward and uncomfortable. But I've never found the main clip blades to dig into my hands yet.

Jim
 


another part of this, look at the nearly sunken joints on the TJ
just another reason why she is my precious :D
 
^precious folder is in fact precious. Did you get that new, Rsmith? She's stunningly pocket-worn
 
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