chisel grind: right- or left-handed?

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

heron

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2007
Messages
1,062
Location
NE Ohio
Just a quick question about chisel-ground blades. It seems to me that if the grind is on the right side, it would favor a right-handed user; left side grind for southpaws.

I thought of this when looking at the Razel on CRKT's site--they're all ground on the left side.

Comments?

Heron
 
Left side grind is right handed.

Pull or push cuts equal out the one-side grind for a right hander.

They would do nothing but dig in if ground on the right side.
No matter how shallow an angle you tried to hold them at.

BTW: I hate them, regardless of which side they are ground on.
Because they still won't cut straight.

rc
 
I agree.

I have three friends who are accomplished, world renown knife makers and I've asked each of them more than once why they do that. I don't think I ever got a straight answer.

It seems wildly counterintuitive for 85% of the population. 85% if you believe those numbers foisted on us by the sinister (PI) lefties.

They probably shouldn't be handling sharp objects anyhow!:evil:

Todd.
 
I gave a straight answer in post #2.

And I'm not even a world renounced knife maker.

That is the correct answer though if you think about the edge angle while trying to whittle on a stick!

rc
 
rcmodel said:
I gave a straight answer in post #2.

And I'm not even a world renounced knife maker.

That is the correct answer though if you think about the edge angle while trying to whittle on a stick!

rc
Click to expand...
You can probably see I was typing as you posted.

Makes sense to me - wonder why those guys get all mystical and scary when I discuss it. Probably offended by whittling.

Todd.
 
No, they don't want to fess up its way easier & cheaper to only grind the edge on one side so they don't have to match the grind lines on both sides.

And then feed the customer a line of mystic BS about how much better it is for them to use a knife that won't cut straight..

IMO: Chisel grinds are best used on wood chisels and lawn-mower blades!

That's my story, and I'm sticking too it!

rc
 
They aren't interested in explaining it is mostly a useless fad and that they're pandering to make money off of it.
 
Wow, quick feedback. And that is counterintuitive, for certain.

I was thinking of a chisel grind as used on a wharncliffe/hawkbill blade shape for cutting rope or cord, or used for pruning small tree limbs--basketmaking. Would that be any good?
 
Chisel grinds are fine in particular applications (great for the pruning and basketmaking you noted) where you need to get right against a surface to make your cut. They're not any better for cutting rope and for many standard pocketknife applications they're inconvenient.
 
Ok, good, I can use that information.

Full disclosure: the knife in question doesn't exist in the real world (mine, at least). It's a prop in a SF story I'm writing, and the chisel grind is important to identify the handedness of its user, who is a basketmaker.

Thanks so much!
 
Well why didn't you say so.

Here's what you do.

Make your fictional character a one-handed basket weaver.

Who lost his other hand in an unfortunate accident using a chisel grind blade making his first basket at the age of 9. :D

You could call him Sir Shearedhand or something?


rc
 
Last edited:
Well, there's a little forensic aspect to this ... the main character is an alien boy whose mother (the basketmaker) died in childbirth. The knife is among the few possessions she had, and one of the human characters is looking at the knife. He recognizes it as being made for left-handed use and wonders if the whole species is predominantly left-handed. That turns out to be so.

Anyway, thanks again, all!
 
Handedness in knives is usually defined by the grip. A curved grip or any asymmetry will show the handedness of the user. If someone doesn't understand that the grip is formed for a left or right handed user it will just feel "wrong". Crown antler grips very often are handed and feel "right" in the strong hand and "wrong" in the weak.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Coyote3855
  • Locked
Sharpen flat grind blade.
Replies
2
Views
842
7X57chilmau
7
J
  • Locked
Design feedback
2
Replies
48
Views
2K
Jason_G
J
T
  • Locked
The "chisel" part of a Graham Razel.
Replies
12
Views
768
The Tourist
T
S
  • Locked
Wow...grinding bevels is HARD.
2
Replies
29
Views
1K
BRad704
B
Valkman
  • Locked
Swarfy Goodness
Replies
7
Views
806
Valkman
Valkman
Back
Top