Joe Talmadge:
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">But on materials that don't bind, I'd bet that the Boye Hunter performs like a <.1" Deerhunter.</font>
I have used both and yes it does, the edge profiles are similar. However if you cut materials that exert force on the flats of the blade, the thinner Deerhunter readily pulls ahead. You can see this even more so on some of Boyes thicker knives. For example his 3/8"+ dive knives have the same edge geometry but the spines are so thick that it is near impossible to cut a piece of cardboard with them.
As Cougar noted, the thicker spined blade can only match the performance of the thinner blade on materials that open up when cut. On all other materials the thinner blade pulls ahead. As well, the thinner blade will allow a thicker edge given the same cutting performance requirement and thus make for a more durable edge on the knife. If you make the spine really thick you are in effect lowering the effective edge durability. All it gains you is prying strength, which in regards to Boyes work, is not really sensible on cast steel anyway.
As for thin edges on thick stock, Ed Schott grinds even thinner than Boye as he doesn't have a secondary edge bevel as does R.J. Martin and many others of similar style. Many smiths also put very thin convex edges on large bowies, I have seen ~10 degree edge bevels on bowies of 1/4" thick stock with 10" blades.
cerulean :
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">It's amazing how so many
knives these days in the 3" to 5" blade range have the geometry of an axe.</font>
That is a common misconception. High quality axes have very thin bits, judging an axe by the axe-like tool you buy at a hardware store is like judging a Sebenza by the performance of a $1.99 made in Taiwan folder. A felling axe will have an edge that is lightly convex at about 10 degrees or so (depends on the type of wood). How many blades do you know are NIB with that profile?
Why are so many people offering thick blades? Mainly because of the "tactical" rage. Look at traditional using knives like the stockman patterns, those all had very thin blades. There are also a lot of makers making hunting class blades in very thin stock. For example a 1/8" stock with a full distal grind leaves less metal then a 1/16" no tapered grind for much of the blade. This is how Phil Wilson for example grinds his hunters. He doesn't like going any thinner as a distal taper would induce too much flex in that stock thickness.
-Cliff
