I have a question that has been on my mind for a while now. I understand that the different areas of the blade have a very specific reason for being where they are. Also I understand the standard by which these areas are decided to be there. What my question is has to do with the choil. I am right now working with my father on designing a new skinning knife. I have been in the hunting business my entire life. What I mean by that is my father has been a professional hunting guide and taxidermist for over 40 years now. It is how I made money as a kid till I was a young man. Now I help around the shop when I am not making knives and not at my work. Using a knife to earn a living and using a knife once in a while have created a bit on a design issue for me.
How the choil area comes into play is when skinning. I have thrown away a "good" blade because of the choil and dealt with a crap blade. In the standards that I have seen with most all ABS blades the choil is pronounced and makes the riccaso separate the from the cutting edge. However when skinning the area behind the choil tends to catch on the hide a lot and when you are skinning 15-25 animals a day this becomes a pain. The design we are working on has no choil but does have a riccaso. So the cutting edge is the same as the bottom edge of the riccaso. I am a believer of "function over form".
Any insight would be great. Thank you
Those who dare will succeed or fail, but atleast they dared for greatness.
I think I know what you are talking about with the choil. Some makers Ed Fowler as an example do not put that low pinch past the recasso. I wouldn't call it a choil though. Typically a choil is somewhere you can choke up on the blade a little. Some master or journeyman may want to jump in here if I am wrong about that.
I have made a couple of stock removal knives that did not have that. Is this the kind of thing you are talking about? I reposted this picture from another section...I don't know if I can do that or not.
The use or not of a dropped choil is a personal preference. If I have reason not to drop it on a blade, I wont drop it and will make it in a similar manner as you describe. As the maker, I know what what I'm wanting to end up with and what will work for my needs.
While a large percentage of the ABS makers, myself included, inlist a dropped choil, I do not believe you are tied to that. Make what you want. A well designed knife will be recognized and appreciated by the user and observer.
I was encouraged not to use a lanyard tube in my handles because it would break up the flow of the knife. While I may use them less often on knives that will likely sit in a display, I will certainly install lanyard tubes when it would make a using knife more usable in the field. It really depends on the circumstances. I will make that call, since after all, I am supposed to be the "expert". Like you, I use knives and test them often.
Very often personal opinions are stated in the context of ABS discussions giving the impression that those opinions are ABS opinions. As an organization it has rules, bylaws, and a mission. Those are all written. About anything else should fall under the heading of opinion.
The question will generally arise about now as to whether a forged knife without a dropped choil will pass the ABS judging standards. I maintain that it WILL, if all other standards of design, fit, and finish are held to.
I look forward to seeing an example of your design.
Very often personal opinions are stated in the context of ABS discussions giving the impression that those opinions are ABS opinions. As an organization it has rules, bylaws, and a mission. Those are all written. About anything else should fall under the heading of opinion.
I completely agree with the above quote from Lin Rhea. This comes up from time to time in many areas and Lin expressed it well.
Dan Cassidy
Journeyman Smith
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