Hey everyone, David C. Andersen here coming at you from the
KnifeCenter and welcome to KniFAQ episode number 95, the
knife series where I answer all your questions, whether they're
sharp or dull. And this week, amongst other things, we're
taking a look at thin bladed knives and thick bladed knives
and why you might want to choose one over the other. Let's get
into it (KniFAQ)
alright, if you're new to this series, the deal is this. You
folks leave your questions knife related, sometimes otherwise,
but usually knife related down in the comments section below
these videos. And we will go through and pick out a few good
ones to feature in a future episode. So that's the deal. All
right, our first question today comes from Chase Purdue, who
says May I request a video on blade geometry, you may request
it. I've heard the phrase geometry cuts. But is there more
you can tell us about the details. Sure thing. So I guess
the feeling or the the drive or thrust, it's a good knife
related where the the thrust of the phrase geometry cuts, it
gets to the fact that the less resistance you have behind an
edge, the easier it should be able to cut through something.
And I think a great way to kind of give an example of this with
to like things is the Spyderco Endella right here, you've got
your standard blade shape with a full flat grind. And you've got
the Emerson wave version with a saber flat grind. Very different
cutting characteristics between these two, you know, take a look
at the spine, they start out the same thickness just a little bit
under 1/8 of an inch. But because of the full flat grind
and the tapering nature of the blade shape on the the standard
version, the thickness gets less and less as you go down towards
the edge itself, versus the more full thickness spine you see on
the Emerson wave version. Obviously, that creates a little
bit more resistance when you're cutting through something. Now
depending on what you're cutting, it may or may not make
much of a difference. Something that you know, classic example
we like to give if you're breaking down boxes like big
boxes of cardboard, thinner blades will bind up less as you
slice through it. Thicker blades will take a little bit more
effort. It's just kind of the nature of the beast. And you can
apply this towards just these these like minded things right
here. Very cool knives by the way. Now, of course blade
thickness overall is also going to have an impact on the
geometry. And also the edge itself. How thin or thick it is
behind the edge is part of the geometry as well. Take for
instance, this Civivi cogent it has a extremely thin sharpened
edge, a lot of Civivis do in fact, which on this blade here,
which is similar blade thickness to that Andela also has a high
flat grind is going to be nice and efficient, nice and bitey
right behind that edge as well. So take a look at all the
factors when you're thinking about the geometry and you know
what geometry is going to cut best for you whether it's thin
something like this or if you need something thicker for
example. Hope that helps. All right, next question comes from
Matt Lynch. Hey DC DCA and team might be a simple question but
one I can't find an answer to what's an ideal blade height
assuming blade length is equal. I think there's a reason you
can't find an answer to that question. It's honestly because
there isn't one and I'm not trying to like cop out here but
it truly is there is no one single ideal for geometry let's
let's get right down to it. That's what we're talking about
here. Because you know, we'll take two different knives right
here. That Adela we just looked at and this artisan cutlery
proponent KnifeCenter exclusive right here. Very different
knives, similar enough blade length, in fact, sharpened edge
on these pretty close, not too far off.
Both of them are ideal for different things. The Endela is
going to be a much finer slicer much a little bit you know
compared to to this other knife can be a little more delicate,
little more depth a little more precise. Is that ideal? Again,
depends on your needs. What if you need something that you
might be tempted to abuse a little more, take a little bit
more of a beating well, maybe something with a thicker blade
stock, because again, you're talking about you know height
versus length, thickness comes into play again you have to
consider that as far as everything else goes. For
instance if they made this in dela in a blade stock as well.
As this proponent and still give it a full flat grind like this,
it's gonna be a very different beast and might be less ideal
for a more precise cutter. But then again, it's going to be
more robust too. So not meaning to kind of like throw your
question under the bus. But you know, what do you have to
consider what you need your knife to do for you, and then
approach it from the back end that way first, if you need
something more robust, that can take a bit of a beating, that
you can be more indiscriminate and how it is used. Maybe you
want something a little thicker again, thickness is not
something you've been mentioned here, but that's something that
should be considered. If you need something to just you know,
open boxes, open the mail and packages from the store
something thinner might be more ideal. Hope that helps, truly.
All right, next question comes from rail Childress. Hey DCA
thanks for the content. I like to carry thin bladed pocket
knives from time to time. I have a Civivi Lumi and a Spyderco
Ladybug and K 390. But I've not been able to find many knives in
the three to three and a half inch blade range with a
thickness of less than point one to five cents an eighth of an
inch must be a locking blade in my price range is 40 to 150. So
yeah, no worries actually an eighth of an inch thickness is
pretty achievable in in that size range. And I'll start with
a few that are a little bit less than for instance this ESEE
Avispa right here. See I've got I don't want to rely on my
eye-crometers for this one. Let me get you an exact measurement
here. We're at point 114 So just under 1/8 of an inch thick, and
we have a broad enough blade with a full flat grind that it
is going to cut like a pretty thin knife and the price on this
is very affordable like $37 for this one right here with an
awesome eight blade. I believe it is and FRN handle yes it is
and a stainless steel frame lock so the whole knife carries nice
and slim despite having a full three and a half inches to work
with there gonna be a drop in sorry about that. Very nice
slicey blade on the affordable end of the spectrum. I got a few
others here that are about the same you mentioned Spyderco and
Civivi. Well, I've already shown a Spyderco and Civivi here that
meet your your criteria the Andela here, point 1145. So
again, just under an eighth of an inch price on these quite
affordable are quite reasonable I should say for a Japanese made
knife nowadays $92 And you've got 3.4 inches of VG 10 steel
with that full flat grind and especially the further out
towards the tip you're cutting the thinner it is going to be
that distal taper which is what that's called where the spine
slowly tapers towards the tip is another thing to consider. It's
going to make this almost eight inch thick knife or the chin
eight inch thick steel back here near the pivot. Feel thinner the
closer out towards the tip you go. So really the area where
you're cutting. Just for example, let's see let me try
measuring it out here. Right in front of the opening hole we're
at point 109 So it's already a little bit thinner still than
that eighth of an inch. So that's all part of the the
geometry of the knife doing the cutting. This is a Civivi cogent
we just looked at. Also I think it's I measured this before,
think it's also
point 118 So very reasonable they're thin edge is going to
cut really efficiently high flat grind is going to work great
price on this knife is about 7150 very attainable, you've got
a core screen micarta handle there and nitro V blade steel,
button locked flipping action, very addicting and very
satisfying of course to use. And of course it's finger safe and
very lefty friendly to that can be a really good option and
fairly lightweight for its size and girth I'd say about 3.4
ounces. Not too bad. Now these things are all kind of right up
at knocking on the limit of the thickness you're looking for the
obvious answer that I haven't mentioned yet is something like
the Benchmade bugout which we've shown a lot lately so I don't
have it here on the table here. But that and some of its
competitors like the Hogue Deka now also available in a MagnaCut
blade with an injection molded handle in addition to the 20 CV
version with g 10. These are about $128 and you can get them
in this modified wharncliffe or a clip point blade about three
and a quarter inches so neatly splitting the difference there.
But I think the one knife that is really pushing the pushing
forward the limit of longer thin blade options out there is the
recently real used to Benchmade tagged out finally dropped this
previous week, we've got a 3.5 inch blade CPM 154. The
thickness comes in at point eight, nine, very, very thin. So
we're talking more, something more along the lines of 330
seconds of an inch rather than an eight. We have got a full
flat grind, you've got a little bit of taper once the clip point
kicks in, because it's coming down and everything is getting a
little bit narrower as it goes out towards the tip. Very, very
precise and efficient slicer right here. Maybe that could be
something that you're looking for. And speaking of lightweight
for its size, this knife is 2.1 ounces, for a three and a half
inch, truly full sized knife experience. So very easy to
carry. And a very nice thin bladed pocket knife for you to
take a look at. All right now we come to the lightning round for
today. Joe Maselli asks, greetings, it is almost apple
picking season where I live, any recommendations for a good apple
knife to bring along. So this is kind of funny to think because
I've been apple picking and I've never needed a knife for the
picking part because we could just pick it pick it off the
ground. But I did have my bug out with me. And we did use it
to slice slice an apple, which I think food prep would be like
the one consideration you might want to consider for this type a
knife. And in that case, a thinner blade is going to be
ideal. Any of these knives from the previous question are going
to work well. One thing I didn't mention there, though, that
could be worth a really good look is something from Opinel,
especially one of their synthetic versions like this
number eight, right here, the number eight outdoor 39 bucks,
you've got a Sandvik 12 C 27 blade, full flat grind, thin
enough, it's going to be efficient, you've got some
serrations there if you do need to kind of like trim some stems
or something not that I think you will, you've got a lock. And
if the kids get lost or you get lost separated from your party
whilst in the Apple Grove, not likely. But you've got the
whistle there to rally the troops so to speak. Maybe check
out that or any of the other you know, thin bladed pocket knife
of choice. All right, next question in the lightning round
comes from Robert the hill Robert fell Bruce Flippity tabs,
it looks like they would tear up your pockets some more often
than others. Of course, what is your experience with that
shredded pockets or not? I've honestly never had a problem
with the flipper tab messing up the pocket. But this is where
I'd love to hear from our comments section. Have any of
you experienced that, if you're worried about it, maybe stick
with something that either lacks any kind of jimping or even if
it has jimping if it's not a too sharp type of jimping. And if
the edges of the flipper tab are chamfered. So you don't have
anything kind of sharp to grab. And honestly most kind of are
like that these days. So I don't anticipate that being a problem.
Probably more of a consideration would be the actual texture on
the handle underneath the clip. As any, you know, long suffering
knife addict will tell you sometimes the texture from a
knife can where the outside of your pockets were the hem of
your pockets over time, so maybe we'll get that instead. But
again, comment section let me know have you folks experienced
flipper tabs? messing up your your pockets? Or maybe the
things in your pockets?
Let us know. Finally, our final question of the day our Most
Serious question of the day, which comes from kids 666, Hey
DCA, what blade would you carry? If you were tasked with taking
on the predator? Thomas sees the knife on the table. He's already
zooming out just a little bit. Because classic movie. I think
we can all agree. And it's all about getting to the chopper.
Right? So you gotta go to the chopper. Like perhaps this
custom Jason Knight right here. The forged, fuller chopper kukri
esque, very vicious? Any better answers out there? Let me know.
Anyway, that is all we have for this episode. Make sure to leave
your questions down in the comments below, and it'll have a
chance to get featured in a future episode. If you want to
get your hands on any of these blades. There will be links in
the description that take you over to KnifeCenter.com and
don't forget, we've got our knife rewards program too. Which
means if you're putting your money down on one of these
knives today, you'll be earning some free money to spend on your
next ones. I'm David C. Andersen from the KnifeCenter and that's
Thomas behind the camera and we're signing off. See you next
time.