Even all the people (the "haters") in the thread who said they didn't like recurves or found them ugly?
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Why the hate on recurve blades
- Thread starter Itsthegrizzly
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Even all the people (the "haters") in the thread who said they didn't like recurves or found them ugly?
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Recurves do some things well. I usually free hand sharpen. An old habit that will never give the beautiful edge of a Wicked Edge for instance. I just fint it more difficult to sharpen it. I can do it but I don't feel the need to typically so I stay with straighter blades for daily use. Those get touched up every day if needed and I don't need to set up my aligner system which I do have.
I have gotten to prefer convex edges on fixed blades. Something I resisted for years.
Very nice knives as usual Final Option. I've never seen one of them before.
I have gotten to prefer convex edges on fixed blades. Something I resisted for years.
Very nice knives as usual Final Option. I've never seen one of them before.
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I don't care for recurves in general. I like to sit down and unwind by disconnecting my brain while stropping...therapeutic. A recurve takes more concentration than I'm willing to give it; therefore non-therapeutic.
This is my only recurve and if I could only look at it, that would relax me...therapeutic.
I don't hate em
This is my only recurve and if I could only look at it, that would relax me...therapeutic.
I don't hate em
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OK,,, I'm super new around here. but to me that isn't a recurve. It's just a curve. Maybe similar cutting action, but with a big diff to me. The gullet on a recurve will pull into what you are cutting. A simple curved knife is going to want to walk around and require more control.
Different strokes for different folks perhaps? I tend to do lots of rope, twine, and fishing line. Recurve is wonderful for that, especially if in a hurry. May get some sneers, but the knife most often in my pocket is an older Kershaw SpeedBump. One hand open and easily cut heavy Spectra, for instance, in a hamfisted but controlled way. I'm not likely to slide off and stick myself or anyone else in the process, nor does it take much effort, concentration, or control,,,, the more pronounced the recurve, the stronger all those factors are for me.
Just burgled a few days ago, and several of my favorite knives have new owners. 1/2 were recurves. Particularly, missing another brand new SpeedBump that I had as a backup for when my most used one dies, a Blur with the XDP189 composite blade that I'd give more recurve too over time, and a Leek that over time I had purposely made a bit concave near the base in my sharpening for a slight recurve.
So poking around today looking for some replacements, and simply amazed how difficult it is to find good recurves in some of the newer wonder metals. Blur in Elmax and the Zero Tolerance 350 are all I'm noticing so far, but pickings sure are slim, and neither of those has a very pronounced recurve, so I'd have to work them in over time.
Apparently my like of recurves is a rarity
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It certainly is not the recurve giant as in Big Mike's pic, but from the mid point to the tip if you were to draw a straight line you'd see the blade edge slightly curve up toward the spine. Not much in the way of a recurve to be sure. I probably could have taken a better picture...naw, I'm a lousy photographer.
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Knifeworks has a BM710 in M390 for pre-order.
Took a look. Maybe. Price isn't horrible. Only shows one side of the knife in the pics. Would personally like more recurve, and the blade/body is a bit longer than my thoughts. Tho a bit lighter than my current knife. So maybe.
I guess chances are good that I will gust end up getting something that looks like I could massage it into a recurve I like. That's what I did with the Blur and Leek afterall. The ZT200 has a more pronounced recurve to my eyes, but is certainly bigger than I was thinking too. The fixed blade Zt100 looks like a blade shape I'd like, but it is fixed and huge. Lots of recurved knives in the cheaper arena, but little/nothing in deeper recurves in the higher end box I'm looking thru. Well, if I massage my own again, I can call it a 'Super Custom' or something if anyone asks
BTW,,, one thing I didn't like on the Blur and Leek was the locks. The speedbump is easy to open and close with one hand. So I'm looking at those Hinderer designs, as appears easier to unlock onehanded than those linerlocks I've had?
Edit: Ackkkkk,,,, looks like Hinderer lock is no easier in video I looked at.
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- Jun 10, 2013
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I like them, but because of the PITA sharpening thing, I don't have many. I've always wanted to get one that's partly serrated in the recurve so it could really lock into cordage, but I've never gotten around to getting one. Thinking of that, I might do that soon... 
I see that, but no place do I see concave edge,,,, it's all convex
To be a recurve, the curve does have to change from outward curve (convex) to a inward curve (concave), hence the term "re-curve".
On some knives it's a small distinction, on others, like the photos I posted previously, it's more pronounced.
Here are a few more photos that show the subtle distinction.
This is almost a recurve, but the curve just flattens out, never recurving.
In the next two photos the the slight curvature that defines a recurve are visible.
Big Mike
I'm not a fan of recurve blades on folders. I also really don't understand the 'slight recurve' trend seen on so many folders. You get none of the benefits of a larger recurve (a huge belly) but you still have the major disadvantage of it being more difficult to sharpen. Are knife makers just making these because of aesthetic reasons? Because the recurve is more difficult to grind so they charge more? I don't get it.
With that being said, big recurves like the Emerson Commander not only look cool, but that big belly on the blade serves a very practical purpose. If you're going to put a recurve on a blade, put a big one or don't bother putting one at all.
With that being said, big recurves like the Emerson Commander not only look cool, but that big belly on the blade serves a very practical purpose. If you're going to put a recurve on a blade, put a big one or don't bother putting one at all.
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no hate here,love em.................
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As a retired mechanical engineer I found a straight cutting edge more useful for technical work. I do have a recurve blade on my Becker machaxe and it seems to work better for clearing brush since the recurve pulls the material into the sweet spot for easy cutting. Different strokes for different folks.
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Yeah, of what I've seen shopping around, that looks like the ZT200?,,, but with more recurve? It definitely catches my eye. Model has been around for awhile I guess. Unfortunate that ZT doesn't refresh it with the newer steels, or do a profile like that in the newer models
Hey Comedie,
That sir is the discontinued ZT 0121 fixed blade
its an awesome slicer and you can find them very well priced when they come up on the exchange
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It does not curve this way (at least mine doesn't), although it appears to. That is a bit of an illusion. Set the blade on a flat surface and you will see that it is not actually concave. I am a lousy photographer as well, but you should get the idea.
As far as recurves go, I do generally hate them. I think it makes the blade look like a lumpy potato. The ONE exception I've ever seen is RJ Martin's Q36.
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No hate here.
I love recurves, especially Emersons and Kershaws. I sharpen them with rods, and it works fine.
I love recurves, especially Emersons and Kershaws. I sharpen them with rods, and it works fine.