What is it with Guards?

[straitshot]

I'm curious each time I read that guards "get in the way". How? The only time a single guard gets in my way is when my index finger wants to move up onto the blade.

I prefer knives to have a single guard or at least handle features that serve the same purpose. A double guard I can understand being a hindrance sometimes, but I'd rather have that than none at all. When my hands are cold and wet and I'm tired and maybe a little careless it might save me some grief. Besides I like the looks of them when well done.

All the fretting about folder locks just doesn't jive with the indifference toward the absence of an effective guard on a hard use knife. What am I missing here? Regards, ss.

 

[marcinek]

I agree with you on the "single guard or handle features".

But in my book, the top guard gets in the way. Particularly if you want your thumb along the spine of the blade, say for making a fuzz stick or whittling.

Also, unless "hard use" means stabbing trees, oil drums, or car hoods, the top guard shouldn't really come into play. The same is true with folder locks...unless you are going around stabbing stuff the lock isn't that vital.

That said, if you like the look....I say go for it! What you like is the only thing that really matters in the end. Its your knife!

 

[smitty0331]

I personallt wouldn.t want A knife that I couldn.t whittle with ie : a knife with a top guard.

 

[Elen]

All the fretting about folder locks just doesn't jive with the indifference toward the absence of an effective guard on a hard use knife. What am I missing here? Regards, ss.

Well, two things.

1) Many of the people who feel they have a need for a hard use knife wouldn't use a folder unless it was all they had. I'm one of those people. Folders are simply already broken knives, inherently unreliable. I don't fret about folder locks because I don't use folders, and I'm certainly not the only one.

2) The "best" part of the cutting edge of a knife is the one nearest to your hand. This is because the nearer your hand is to the edge, the better the balance and the control you have over the cut. What does this have to do with anything? Well, if there is a finger guard in the way, you obviously can't move your grip, that is, your hand, as close to the cutting edge as you could if there wasn't a guard blocking your way. Finger guards are nice for a lot of people, for a lot of stuff, but for woodworking and similar work that requires high precision, they plain and simple suck with utmost intensity.

But like Marcinek already said: it's your knife, do what you like. If it works for you, then it works for you, and there's no point in fixing something that isn't broken. :thumbup:

 

[Confederate]

The top fingerguard may get in the way with some knives and in some situations, but if you ever use one for defense, the closest thing to a full hilt is the way to go.

One of the most comfortable knives I use and carry is the CRKT M21-04. It has an index fingerguard, but ridges along the top to stabilize the thumb. It's a very comfortable knife and the bottom guard is an extra security for the linerlock design. But I've also got a M16-14SF with a top guard, and I've gotta say, I like it a lot. Being a tanto, it has control issues of its own, but the full hilt feels great -- plus I can shift my index finger from the bottom guard to the top and retain considerable control by so doing.

I do like all folders to have a lower guard because it helps keep the hand from sliding down the blade. The original CS Recon One was a well balanced knife with a strong lock, but it didn't stabilize the hand very well. Going to an abrasive G-10 grip helped, but I would have preferred a guard or a deeper indent. I think the CRKT Ryan 7 went too far, however.