Finger choils on bushcraft knives, yes or no?

[Imagedude]

Do you like to have a finger choil on your bushcraft knife? Is it an essential feature or a waste of blade space?

For those who don't know what a finger choil is see http://heinnie.com/Knives/ESEE-Knives/Rat-Cutlery-RC-3/p-92-421-2622/

 

[Cypress]

Personally, I like them. But I also like a hilt on my knife. A shallow choil combined with a short hilt gives enough space to get a firm grip with your index finger, which gives more control when choking up on the blade. I push forward on the top of the blade with my thumb while pulling back against the hilt with my finger. It's a very secure grip.

 

[ged]

It depends what I'm doing. There never seems to be a 'right answer' for me on these polls!

Sometimes I want the blade to run right up to the handle, so that whatever I happen to be cutting can't 'slide off' the edge onto a part that won't cut, and stop the cut in its tacks. Granted this is more likely to be at work than when I'm camping.

Sometimes I don't.

O don't do a lot of whittling and carving and I've never been one to choke up a lot on blades, most of the time I only use something small anyway. If there is a choil it's often a bit on the small side for my fat fingers, so if I can't have it both ways I'll leave it out, thanks.

 

[John Fenna]

I am confused here...
According to Pat Farey in "Knives: an illustrated encyclopedia of knives for fighting, hunting and survival"
A "finger choil" is on the handle side of the guard -and is also called a finger grip - and is a depression in the line of the belly of the handle.
A "choil" is on the blade side and is a depression of variable size from tiny to finger size and apears mainly under the ricasso.
From the link I assume you mean what PF calls a choil, not a finger choil.
Both are unwelcome on my working knives, as are deep guards, as they get in the way and/or restrict grip options and/or blade control.
I like a knife with a contoured handle and an edge that comes up to the handle itself.

 

[BillyBlade]

It's not for me. I was taught you never have any finger the other side of the handle guard. If you do, one day, it'll bite you. So no, a choil is not something I look for in a knife.

 

[Retired Member southey]

not bothered, as long as I can use the knife comfortably for long periods then I don't care,

 

[JonathanD]

It's personal choice and really depends on the knife design. On some designs it works, on others it doesn't. If you like them and use them then obviously they are an important feature. I don't have them on my knives except folders like the UKPK which are not intended as bushcraft knives.

The poll will only give an individuals personal preference and any answer given will not be wrong. Again, like Ged, there is no option for me to vote on.

 

[Retired Member southey]

AHRGH! hahaha I hate polls! hahahaha Why did i post, is there any hack that stops them coming to the top unless someone actually types a response?

 

[Woodcutter2]

I am confused here...
According to Pat Farey in "Knives: an illustrated encyclopedia of knives for fighting, hunting and survival"
A "finger choil" is on the handle side of the guard -and is also called a finger grip - and is a depression in the line of the belly of the handle.
A "choil" is on the blade side and is a depression of variable size from tiny to finger size and apears mainly under the ricasso.
From the link I assume you mean what PF calls a choil, not a finger choil.
Both are unwelcome on my working knives, as are deep guards, as they get in the way and/or restrict grip options and/or blade control.
I like a knife with a contoured handle and an edge that comes up to the handle itself.

It's not for me. I was taught you never have any finger the other side of the handle guard. If you do, one day, it'll bite you. So no, a choil is not something I look for in a knife.

I agree with both these gents thoughts, having a finger against the blade like the linked Rat RC3 example is asking for a nasty slice one day.

 

[silentpaddler]

Thanks guys,I learn some new trivia every day here. Never heard the word before. How is it pronounced.. like choyle or koyle?

I answered 'don't care' on the poll, obviously. Really, as long as a knife is sharp, that's all that matters. I'll find some way to hold it.

 

[Cypress]

How is it pronounced.. like choyle or koyle?

Like choyle.

 

[Longstrider]

IMHO they're a waste of space on virtually any knife. Leave the ricasso really small so that the edge comes back very close to the handle and there's no need to 'choke up' on the knife in use. The only reason I can ever see for 'choking up' is in order to apply more pressure on the workpiece without having the knife lever back against the hand. Make the edge come back close to the handle and then use that part of the blade closest and you already have effectively 'choked up' without having to hold anything but the handle, which gives both leverage and comfort. Why waste up to an inch of usable blade to put a choil in when you can make the thing have an edge that runs full length, or as close as makes no odds ?

 

[Bushwhacker]

Why waste up to an inch of usable blade to put a choil in when you can make the thing have an edge that runs full length, or as close as makes no odds ?

There's a point to be made for making the other end longer.

 

[Paganwolf]

absolute waste of the part of the blade with best mechanical advantage.

 

[Siberianfury]

its the part of the blade i use most, the smaller the ricasso the better.

 

[Scottishwanderer]

No way.

I like the edge to run all the way up to the handle so that a piece of wood can be flush with the handle and get more fine control.

 

[JonathanD]

No way.

I like the edge to run all the way up to the handle so that a piece of wood can be flush with the handle and get more fine control.

That is exactly what a finger choil is there for and allows though. The benefit it has is that the scales (if they are bulky) don't get in the way and interfere with the object you are cutting. It's all about the knife design. On some it really works and is an advantage, on others it is pointless and badly worked in. Depends on how you use the knife too.

I don't have them on my fixed blade knives. But I do on my parangs and find them essential for that style of blade.

 

[Highbinder]

The only knife I have liked a choil on was:

I prefer knives without.

 

[Scottishwanderer]

That is exactly what a finger choil is there for and allows though. The benefit it has is that the scales (if they are bulky) don't get in the way and interfere with the object you are cutting. It's all about the knife design. On some it really works and is an advantage, on others it is pointless and badly worked in. Depends on how you use the knife too.

I don't have them on my fixed blade knives. But I do on my parangs and find them essential for that style of blade.

I want the wood flush with the handle at 90 degrees to the blade a choil wouldn't allow it.

Then again my knife is 3.5 inch and gets used for everything so anything specialist like a choil would be a disadvantage.

 

[Nice65]

I've an ESEE3 (originally RAT3) and love it. It's one that gets packed on almost any trip. But I don't like the choil, it interferes with cutting things like fabric which catches, and I feel my finger is too close to the sharp bit. Particularly as Longstrider convexed it for me.

I'm voting no, with good points made by Ian and JohnF. Highbinders' Bark River a few posts up is the only time that a choil is beneficial, ie; a small working knife.