Thumb Ramp -- Why?

stanley_white

stanley_white

Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
770
I have a Son of Dogfather that I REALLY like but the thumb ramp is driving me out of my mind. I am thinking of grinding it off. Prior to doing so I figured I would do some research with the brain trust here at W&SS.

Also, many people here own the Bravo I and II and Gunny and some kept the thumb ramps and others had them ground off this further peaking my curiosity.

So the question is: Do you like or dislike thumb ramps and why?
 
Dislike. Why? Superfluous. They don't add any practical uses for me. Just get in the way when trying to cut & carve. I think they're just really gimmicky.
 
i like the jimping on the spine of my sog NW ranger . but a thumb ramp on a knife doesn`t appeal to me either
 
I like them, when done right - they give a very natural place for your thumb to sit when choking up on the blade for detail work. The idea is to put your thumb on the point side of the ramp, rather than the handle side. It helps secure the grip to keep your thumb from sliding backwards along the spine.
 
I don't use a thumb on the back of the blade unless using my mini opinel. Normally just use a hammer grip, if that's what it's called. I find I have much more power and control.
The thumb ramp is what stopped me buying the Bravo1. Basically a carbon steel fallkniven F1. Sigh. So close to perfection.
 
LOVE the thumb ramp. Very comfortable for the thumb to rest on. Wish all ofmy knives had one.
 
MustardMan said:
I like them, when done right - they give a very natural place for your thumb to sit when choking up on the blade for detail work. The idea is to put your thumb on the point side of the ramp, rather than the handle side. It helps secure the grip to keep your thumb from sliding backwards along the spine.
Click to expand...

This is the perfect explanation for a thumb ramp. But regardless, I still think knives are better without them.
 
I ground the thumb ramp and guard off my SOD. Kind of looks like a camp tramp now I'm told (except for the square choil). After modding the knife I really took to it. I felt the thumb ramp detracted me from resting my thumb further up the spine when doing close up work. The guard did the same. Removing these two annoying humps lets me now really choke up on the sod. I can get my index finger in the choil and 2nd finger on the hilt (where the guard used to be) and my thumb way up on the spine.

Holding the SOD like this makes it much more lively. Makes no difference when using it as a chopper since where I hold it is the same as before. I suppose it is less effective at stabbing things due to lack of a guard. I find that I don't really stab things though so its okay by me.

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I had the thumb ramp removed from the Gunny before it was shipped.

Personally I can't see the need for them.



Kind regards
Mick
 
kgd said:
I ground the thumb ramp and guard off my SOD. Kind of looks like a camp tramp now I'm told (except for the square choil). After modding the knife I really took to it. I felt the thumb ramp detracted me from resting my thumb further up the spine when doing close up work. The guard did the same. Removing these two annoying humps lets me now really choke up on the sod. I can get my index finger in the choil and 2nd finger on the hilt (where the guard used to be) and my thumb way up on the spine.

Holding the SOD like this makes it much more lively. Makes no difference when using it as a chopper since where I hold it is the same as before. I suppose it is less effective at stabbing things due to lack of a guard. I find that I don't really stab things though so its okay by me.

KGD IS CORRECT

THE CAMP TRAMP IS THE SECOND FROM THE TOP

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Both the Knife above it(Mud Razor and the one below it Tank Buster)-have thumb ramps in the handle

I think the mod that he did to his SOD is excellent and allows him to choke up on the blade with a lot more comfort.
Click to expand...
 
I dunno.... I'm 33.3/33.3/33.3 in my opinions on them.

I think the most functional blade type for an 'all tasks, one blade' knife is a dead straight spine-

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I used to come down hard on the 'little bitty thumbramp' until I got my hands around the idea of using the handle side of the thumbramp for the HAND in a choke grip:

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But sometimes you really want a gigantic full on ramp.

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And I think the really big ones are much more than a thumb ramp. It can become a major part of the grip of the tool as whole.
 
hey, that's my knife! Speaking of which, Cristophe, it is doing a real bangup job for me. I oiled the scales the other day to make sure they don't crack this winter season.
Thumbramps can give you a bit of leverage on the tip, it can be nice for fine woodwork and other detailed tasks but really is not a vital feature. In fact they can get in the way sometimes...
 
good idea. I do a semi regular linseed oil soak overnight and just let it dry for a few days. sometimes tung oil if I'm in a hurry too.

Now, guess who owns which of the other knives :D
 
I think some of it depends on how your hand is shaped. It's personal preference IMHO so everyone is right. If you don't like them, then you're correct not to want them. The opposite is also true. I for one think they are comfortable. A thumb ramp in a small to medium blade is something I look for and appreciate in a knife. Just so happens that most of my small to medium fixed blades have a thumb ramp of some sort. I also think how you use it (Thumb position) is preference as well. I for one use the handle side of the ramp. And I find it quite comfortable and it works for me. As long as your getting the work done you need done, and you're doing it efficiently and safely... you're using your knife correctly.
 
koyote said:
Now, guess who owns which of the other knives :D
Click to expand...

mine looks similar to that top one :)



thumb ramps huh? i dont mind the ramp on the bravo-1 but would like to remove the ramp on the SOD like kgd.

i do like some jimping but it aint a must.
 
I think the Herter's improved bowie was an attempt to make it more functional.

I also do prefer a straight spine.

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I like the thumb ramp on the Bravo1 and the Gunny. I didn't like it on the Becker BK-7, of course, I didn't like the BK-7 anyway. I also wouldn't like it on my RC-3, or any of my other knives.

Doc
 
I despise thumb ramps just like I do choils on smaller blades.
I do like some spine jimping (NWA's +1) where the thumb naturally rests.
 
I find a thumb ramp's purpose is similar to choils and finger grooves and complex contoured handles. They are wrong shape, wrong size and in wrong places. All these features tend to advertise fixed set of "safe" holds in which every user is supposed to use the tool. I don't really care much for any of that stuff... well with some very few and random exceptions.
 
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