What are the uses for really WIDE folder blades?

darkaether said:
yes, and I've cut cheese with a wire of basically zero height and it works better than any knife because you don't have sticky blade drag. They aren't tall for any geometric reason, its for ergonomics or strength with thinner stock when a shorter blade would be more fragile than the designer would prefer.
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With folders it's often related to that. A broad handle for comfort means that the blade then either must be broad or offset if it wants to keep the edge in line with the grip profile for clearance during certain cuts. It's also possible to have a blade thinner than the handle at the pivot, but then the "excess" handle material can cause clearance issues in certain circumstances--similar to having a forward guard on a knife.
 
a wide blade also ensures verticality and uniformity, whether braced with the knuckles or free, during food prep. allude to slicing sashimi.
 
I can think of at least one instance of a use for a taller blade. Batoning through something. The taller the blade, the deeper you can force it through something with force applied to the spine.

The example I am thinking of here is the old english rope knife (aka wild cat driller, aka swell center platts pattern). These were used to cut through heavy rope/hose, by hitting the spine with a mallet or piece of woood. These knives have a huge blade, in relation to the length. Just a thought. They would also make a hell of a mano spreader for making man sized sandwiches!
 
A wide blade spreads peanut butter better than a narrow blade. A wide blade tend to cut straighter than a narrow blade. Conversely, a narrow blade is easier to steer in a cut to cut a curved line. A wide blade has greater beam strength. A wide blade allows the user to pinch the blade to make certain specialized cuts.
 
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