What is the purpose for Randall's blade concave cut-out?

N

Naphtali

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May 20, 2002
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Randall and Morseth semicustom knives, and, for example, Ed Fowler's custom forged knives have full narrow tangs. When working portions of their blades are the same length, a Randall will be about .5-inch longer because of a concave cut-out at the bottom rear of the blade where it meets the guard.

I've read the explanation for this design in an older catalog. But I don't really understand its purpose.

I would appreciate assistance for better understanding of these competitive designs.
 
You mean a choil? They are found on many knives, from small folders to large fixed blades. Some folks like them because it gives them more grip options (chocking up on the blade for detail work, for instance), some hate them and consider them a waste of blade length.

I'm a bit ambivalent on the choil issue. I've got knives with that feature that I like a lot, and knives without it that I find equally appealing. As long as it's not a huge choil on a relatively short blade, I'm fine with it. I like what some people call "50/50 choils", in which part of the choil is in the actual blade and part in the handle (see the picture below)

DSC_3612_resize.jpg
 
While there are various uses for it, I also wouldn't ignore the possibility of it being largely "just for looks".
 
It is also the product of a forged blade. The bar of steel it is forged from is usually pretty close in size to the ricasso area, so when the blades edge bevels are hammered in, they naturally extend down. The length of the ricasso can also help with cutting tasks on a cutting board as it will keep the guard away from the board allowing the knife to use more edge.

But as Goosey pointed out, you did notice the style. They are set apart from the rest.


-X
 
Forging does not dictate that the edge extend below the ricasso. You can easily work the steel and forge a blade without the recessed ricasso, all it takes is a little practice. Bill Moran taught me this lesson after I asked if the recessed ricasso was the only way you could forge a blade. He said "Certainly not, here is how you do it" and proceed to teach me.
 
It makes it easy to sharpen, too. You wont hit the handle when sharpening because there is extra room before the actual edge starts.
 
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