Traction grooves – yea or nay?

S

storyville

Joined
Aug 11, 1999
Messages
1,111
In various reviews over the past few months, I’ve noticed far more disapproval than approval for traction grooves (i.e., those grooves on the spine around the handle/blade juncture, and sometimes in the index grip on the bottom). Most comments have indicated discomfort – from slight reddening and soreness to blisters, even – caused by the grooves after extended use.

So, do YOU like or dislike them, and why? Are they more "aesthetic" than functional? In what situations might traction grooves be important? Does it matter whether they are filed/milled into the blade spine or the handle material? Etc., etc., etc.

Thanks,
Glen
 
I say Nay.

Give me a round spine, no groves and I will make my own traction.

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~Greg Mete~
Kodiak Alaska
 
i put thumb notchs on almost all of my field knives, the benifits are that when your thumb presses on the notchs i know exzacly were the edge is day or night, my hunter customers love it for working in the cavity of a animal when its cold and your fingers are numb and the blood makes everything slippery.................................laurence wwwrhinoknives.com

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i like them on fixed blades and larger knives but cant stand it when they put them on a smaller pocket knife

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PHIL 4:13
 
YEA!
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Heck YAH!, and if they are too "sharp", a little file-work will fix that problem.
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Dann Fassnacht
Aberdeen, WA
glockman99@hotmail.com
ICQ# 53675663
 
I especially like them on the spine of a larger fixed blade. It helps to get some gripping surface when you choke up to do close in stuff with the point.

In the finger well, I more often than not will get chafed by texturing. The Simonich/Wegner fixed has the best I've seen - very subtle, but workable.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
I put them on alot of handles as long as they are not in a place where the sides of your fingers will rub them (like near the guard). A bunch of military guy that I used to make knives for liked them and called them "reminder" notches.....so when it was pitch black....you immediately knew which side of the blade was up. As far as notches on the spine, I like to round the spine and then lightly notch it....like in this pic,. <img src=http://www.geocities.com/bladernnr66/myknife.jpg>
 
If you make them deep to make up for bad handle design, they really suck. If you put them where they will wear on the web between your thumb and index finger during hard cutting (think thumb ramps that are right over the index finger cutout), they really suck. There should be no traction grooves on the lower rear (pinkie finger) of the handle. Those suck.

If you make them shallow and smooth enough so that they offer a little traction without being ucomfortable, then it is OK to add them for looks. I would much rather have a smooth handle that is designed well.
 
I vote Yea.... I like them personally and have not experienced any problems mentioned after extended use.
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Hey, good replies all. I like the specific details. Steve stated nicely what I've been "sensing" for a while -- that a well-designed handle may eliminate most reasons for needing traction grooves.

Xrayed -- great blade! That's the only way that I still really prefer the grooves -- slight up on a rounded blade spine.

Glen
 
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