Thumbs ramps: Yes or No?

sph3ric pyramid

sph3ric pyramid

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
861
I've come to the conclusion that I don't particularly like thumb-ramps. They force your thumb to a single position, and make it harder to choke up on the blade. While I understand that you can apply additional with the thumb-ramp, I'd rather have a slightly canted blade.

My preference is a knife which has the handle and the spine of the knife in one continuous line, with treads on both.

What do you think?
 
If they are in the right spot on the spine, and if the checkering/notches are not too sharp cornered, I like them. Too many thumb ramps are in the wrong place on the knife, and do kinda force you to hold the knife differently to utilize them. Certain blade designs look good with them. Example: Bob Terzoula's folder(I forget the model).
 
I guess my issue is with production knives. My latest is the SERE 2000, which has a thumbramp.

While I understand that production knives are made to accomodate the largest segment of users, I find that knives with thumb ramps cramp my hand, so I find myself looking for knives without thumb ramps as they're more likely to be flexible in use and more friendly to my above-average sized hand. On a true custom, this wouldn't/shouldn't be a problem. Added to that, I don't/can't handle most of the knives I buy.
 
Depends on the knife and the use. Some are done well (spyderco delica)some aren't. I don't particularly like traction grooves. IMHO if the handle was made to properly fit your hand, it wouldn't slip. Seems like they're too sharp sometimes, using a problem to correct a problem.
 
I also think it depens on the knife. I love the grooved thumb ramp on my small Sebenza. The grooves are perfectly cut and not sharp at all, nice and smooth. I have other knives without a thumb ramp, and find them perfectly comfortable as well. It just depends on the knife. There have been a few knives I have used with thumb ramps that I didn't like though, but I've never really been dissapointed by a knife not having them. If they are done well I can appreciate them but if there isn't one, then I'm unlikely to be bothered by it.
 
Originally posted by sph3ric pyramid
I guess my issue is with production knives. My latest is the SERE 2000, which has a thumbramp.
Click to expand...

There is no thumb ramp on the SERE 2K. The knife's handle forms a guard of sorts where you may place your thumb, but a thumb ramp is something different, in fact being a part of the blade. Examples of knives with (good) thumbramps include the Emerson CQC-7 and the Benchmade Nimravus series.

I dislike knives with a guard at the top, since it makes it awkward to put one's thumb on the top of the blade itself when using the knife. However, proper thumb ramps like on the knives that I've mentioned are fantastic and give great control and leverage on the knife when whittling for example.
 
I wouldn't call it a guard. What does it guard your hand from? The only function it serves is to increase leverage. Hence, a thumb ramp. The difference between the thumb ramp on the SERE 2000 and the Spyderco Military/CQC-7 and similar blades is that on the latter examples pressure is applied directly on the blade.

I have less of a problem with knives such as the CQC-7, though, because of how the thumb ramp is positioned forward of the handle.
 
Some thumb ramps are placed in such a way that prevent a strong Filipino grip, They are sometimes too close and pronounced, ensuring that you must use them for thumb position and then you wind up with a weak grip.
 
I like thumb ramps if they're rounded and smooth like the Delica, Endura, Police, and Military models by Spyderco.

But I don't like the ones with sharp peaks, like the ones on the Spyderco Vesuvius and Calypso Jr and Meerkat.

I also don't see the need for grooves on thumb ramps, except maybe on a skinning knife that is certain to get bloody.

Allen.
 
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