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To guard or not??
- Thread starter CKE2
- Start date
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mtnfolk mike
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2006
- Messages
- 10,040
no gaurd....:thumbdn:
they do serve their purpose.... but i personally can't stand them... they just get in the way...
i think i only own, maybe 2-3 knives with a gaurd...
they do serve their purpose.... but i personally can't stand them... they just get in the way...
i think i only own, maybe 2-3 knives with a gaurd...
I prefer no guard. When you choke up on the knife, or want to turn it sideways or at an angle in your paw, the guard will either interfere or feel odd. I don;t mind a slight guard (with minimal protrusion) on the underside of the handle at hilt. I don;t like the top guard at all.
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2007
- Messages
- 2,798
Guard = Abomination!
1. They limit your grip options.
2. "But you can't safely push cut without a guard..." BU** SH**! Well, unless you don't know how to use a knife. You want to push cut or even stab, put the but of the handle in the heel of your palm and push cut and stab to your hearts content.
1. They limit your grip options.
2. "But you can't safely push cut without a guard..." BU** SH**! Well, unless you don't know how to use a knife. You want to push cut or even stab, put the but of the handle in the heel of your palm and push cut and stab to your hearts content.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2005
- Messages
- 72,694
I like an intergral guard, with the handle set back from the edge (like a kitchen knife!) - Best of both worlds 
I think conventional guards are overrated for small knives which aren't intending for stabbing and just get in the way. I do like some form of tactile barrier between edge and blade for working in the dark though, either a small 'spur' or better still an intergral guard as above.
I think conventional guards are overrated for small knives which aren't intending for stabbing and just get in the way. I do like some form of tactile barrier between edge and blade for working in the dark though, either a small 'spur' or better still an intergral guard as above.
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2003
- Messages
- 1,850
I like a bit of a gaurd, and countours on the handle for a bit better grip .
I have biggish hands , little 4 inch knives often come with little skiny handles that dont give me a good grip , and I am not real comfy using them because of the fear of slipping .. I end up holding the knife way firmer than needed , and get cramped etc as a result .
a generous contoured , and easily gripped handle is good for me ... a guard is that bit better as long as its not a bowie style set up , just enough to let me easily know that this is the end of the handle when my hand is wet tired and slippery ..
I have biggish hands , little 4 inch knives often come with little skiny handles that dont give me a good grip , and I am not real comfy using them because of the fear of slipping .. I end up holding the knife way firmer than needed , and get cramped etc as a result .
a generous contoured , and easily gripped handle is good for me ... a guard is that bit better as long as its not a bowie style set up , just enough to let me easily know that this is the end of the handle when my hand is wet tired and slippery ..
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2007
- Messages
- 122
I dont like guards either, but if i had to choose, i would choose a finger guard over a "full" or "two sided" guard. I like the ability of having my thumb on the back of the blade and I think most guards prevent that option.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2005
- Messages
- 6,105
Ditto to pretty much everything said. Don't like how they look, don't like how they feel. I hate rear guards. I don't mind a built-in contour of the grip (like the 510) that has sort of a 'lip' before the blade.
I don't really get how they help much unless you do a lot of stabbing with your blade. Even when drilling I've never really found myself in a spot where it was likely/possible to slip my hand down the blades edge.
I don't really get how they help much unless you do a lot of stabbing with your blade. Even when drilling I've never really found myself in a spot where it was likely/possible to slip my hand down the blades edge.
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2003
- Messages
- 1,461
No gaurd. They can get in the way when striking with a sharp rock for fire.
That being said, I like the handle to have taper front and back to prevent slippage. There are some production knives out there that fit the 'bushcraft' profile that taper in just one direction.
That being said, I like the handle to have taper front and back to prevent slippage. There are some production knives out there that fit the 'bushcraft' profile that taper in just one direction.
barrabas74
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,180
Smaller knives, no gaurd. Bigger ones like my bowies I like a gaurd. I found on hunting knives many times a guard especially a large one can get in the way.
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2002
- Messages
- 1,551
No guard on the spine side, never, no way. It prevents you from putting a finger on the spine for leverage and detail work.
Guard on the front? On a blade the size you're talking about, no guard. I use that first inch of the blade by the handle a lot. Guard gets in the way.
Guard on the front? On a blade the size you're talking about, no guard. I use that first inch of the blade by the handle a lot. Guard gets in the way.
