Choil Or No Choil? - Advantages and Disadvantages

[@gagelink2457]

Thank you for this video man, I posted on the bark river Facebook group asking why would you have handle material there or more edge and no body could really explain it except a few people. This is very thorough you answered every question I had and even more some. Thank you again I really appreciate it

[@jonduncansakurawallknifegarden]

I’m actually down the middle because I like a really useful choil that I can actually use as more than a good lead on my sharpening stone. The choil doesn’t have to be there for me - the only reason I wouldn’t buy a knife is if there was a char owning choil that hooks onto my material and stops me suddenly while slicing through cardboard or rope. The hogue Ritter is a good example of this. I get that caught on everything because I cut against the heel of the blade and against the scales like a chef’s blade. I don’t think I need a choil but I have found it useful in come cases even on knives that I thought I wouldn’t use it on, like a Civivi Praxis. And there’s no shame in using a pocket folder for other things - that’s why we carry it. It’s a multi tool in our pocket that’s over powered and that’s why we love it. No shame or harm in having better tech and stringer and faster materials !! 👌🏼

[@grimflipz]

No choil... If you have a good enough handle, no need to lose cutting edge

[@ricktemmen6272]

This is a subject that I always think about in knife reviews and tend to be disinterested in knives without the choil. I love a large choil like on my Spyderco Manix and Dragonfly. Great video. To each his own. Thanks for this video Pal.😎👍

[@bighen556]

These types of discussion videos are what separates you from the pack so keep it up! Also why you have moved to my number 1 favorite knife channel. Not to detract from the others of course. This is a wonderful community.

[@andrewt248]

I don't find a finger choil to be completely necessary, but I do insist on a sharpening choil. If a knife doesn't have one (I'm looking at you, Spyderco), I add one.

[@gpearce11]

For me it depends on the knife. For example, I have XL hands, so I prefer a choil on smaller (sub 3.2in generally) knives, as it helps keep the knife small, yet still fit my hand. For larger knives (3.5in plus) I find it a matter of preference. Once there’s plenty of handle room, the extra edge to blade is nice, however, if you ever need to do detail work with a larger knife, a forward choil is almost required. That’s why I prefer a 3.3-3.5in knife, because I like the extra handle size, and I prefer a choil just in case I need to choke up, but if everything else is perfect, the absence of a choil definitely isn’t a deal breaker, as the blade isn’t too big. If that XM18 had a left hand option it would probably be my Excalibur as well, a position currently taken by a left hand Sebenza 31 or BM Anthem, neither having a choil (or even close to my price range, which is closer to the RAT 1).

[@lewisward4359]

Excellent presentation MC. I appreciate your thoughts. Using a knife to do simple cuts in woodworking is part of the cobbler tradition. As a woodchuck, I endorse that. As the Scandinavian proverb states: "A knifmeless man, is a lifeless man." I have a wonderful Schrade slip joint with bone handles from the late 40's called the carpenter.Spear point main blade, an awl for making/expanding holes with excellent heat treatment, the other blade is a a wood file, screw driver and metal scraper.

[@rickkerans8485]

I was in construction for several years and I think that was one of the most heard sayings next to the painters can fix it. Needless to say as a painter I hated both of them. Choil or no choil. It really depends on what I am cutting and how precise it needs to be. I just about always will fall into give me more blade till it becomes time to sharpen the knife. So many sharpening choils are done so badly I wish for a finger choil. Enjoyed the topic . It was fun thinking about it.

[@michaeldavidson6853]

No choil! My grandpa taught me to keep my finger off the business end!

[@JoelHunterGun]

Thanks for these types of videos. These are important issues you never hear anyone talk about. It's because of creators like you that the knife world will be better off in the future.

[@stevebowman90]

I love the choil if it’s done right. At least a sharpening choil if nothing else. Love the Manix 2 and the XL. I tend to cut mid blade or towards the tip vs the handle. As I get older, the ergos become more important.

[@woofbark4475]

A good discussion of the benefits of these different designs.

[@lostpoke1]

Enjoyed your point of view, We have not heard of using pocket knife for plywood, interesting.

[@johngordon2929]

NO CHOIL damnit, it ruins the Shaman, give me more cutting edge that I paid for with that high price of that knife. How can you have a bigger knife with such little cutting edge. Lame!

[@metal_complex]

Yes. That is one side of the argument. Thank you for reiterating that 👍

[@hardleydangerousmaun]

I like a choil for Ergonomics and on spydercos, but it can be frustrating when it takes up a 1/3 of the blade! The Military is a nice compromise - a useable choil but it doesn’t reduce cutting edge. Saying that on my zt 0562 and Ritter Hogue I don’t find I’m missing a choil at all. Maybe it’s a Spyderco thing?

[@bkturley9964]

Zero choil for me. I prefer a short full flat grind for pocket carry. I find the binding caused by a choil a total hassle

[@brianf9619]

Definitely more Blade . But if the choil is made in a way that it doesn't shorten the blade length , it's not bad , like the CS AD-10 or a blank spot like the Rat or the Recon 1.

[@oliver6able]

It doesn’t have to be a finger sized choil but their must definitely be a choil! The worst knife I’ve ever owned (and sold) was a spartan blades harsey folder and it was because they didn’t put a choil on it! Spyderco’s aren’t to bad, but there needs to be a choil for a prolonged knife life.

[@kevins6246]

I like and use both, have 5 blades with a choil and 2 without the ZT 0562CF and a no choil 3.5" XM-18 Skinny Slicer, don't own a Shaman yet but will in the near future and plan on getting a Hinderer Eklipse which doesn't have a choil, just waiting to see if he updates the 3.5" with the same handle as the new 3".

[@randyf.9188]

I prefer more cutting edge. I like how Spyderco does them, it's a good compromise.

[@esoteric5277]

Seeing the Hogue-Doug Ritter on a discussion about fingerchoils made me think of my favorite Frankenstein-knife🤨 Check the Enlan EL-04 (on eBay, Amazon or AliExpress) if you'd like a Manix with thumbstuds and no forward fingerchoil. Maybe not quite the best of both worlds, but pretty nice for a small price😈 I've hade a thing for finger choils ever since I bought a Byrd Robin (because it was on sale🤔). The choil gives you a full handed grip on what's essentially a tiny knife, and it also makes for a much more versatile tool: I can clench the choil with my index finger (or pinkie in reverse) for a very secure grip, or can I rest my middle finger on the choil with index on the spine (or gripping the blade between thumb and index) for more controlled cutting👌. I feel a longer blade (>3.5") kind of defeats the purpose of a forward finger choil. Because a long blade is just too much of a good thing to do detailed cutting work. And having to carry a larger knife I'd much rather have more cutting edge than the added benefit (?) of a finger choil.

[@terrancewilliams7613]

I like that a lot actually learn something you didn't ramble...

[@alexanders1445]

Choice fit for knives designed and built for use. Notice I didn’t say HARD. Case in point: the Strider SnG and for arguments sake we’ll use the newer versions coming out of Mick’s shop. Pretty generic materials with 20cv steel, aluminum from scale and a ti framelock. But the ergos and grind are clearly meant for prolonged use. In my opinion choice are perfect for when you know you need more controlled cuts.

[@cainkopczynskie6296]

I love a good finger choil weather it's in the whole blade like the cutjack or if it's half and half like most spydercos

[@frankiejdwm_edc1037]

I'm in construction and trust me I know about "good enough"; you just gotta make it pretty afterwards with caulk, spackle, capping, paint, etc 😠🔨🖌😎

[@metal_complex]

Hahahaha YES 🤣👍

[@XsoldoutX]

Oh my god give me a Pm2 or a Manix 2 all day. Finger choil and excellent ergonomics & feel for me? Yeah dude. Give me those two knives and a ZT 0562cf and I’m good on folders. For like a month.

[@PanhandlePrepping]

Let’s be honest, for most guys it comes down to this… Can I clean my fingernails with it? Can I use it to smooth a jagged fingernail? Can I cut a wayward thread with it? Can I cut open an Amazon box or some plastic packaging with it? Can I use it as a screwdriver in a pinch? Will it look awesome if I slice an apple with it and eat it off the blade? Can I deploy it in such a way that makes me look tacticool? Then it’s “good enough”.

[@johnnyboy1586]

I prefer a very small choil or no chiol

[@jakethacke4617]

I guess im the odd man out. Choils are not a make or break feature for me. In my opinion steel choice aesthetics and ergos are way more important

[@metal_complex]

I get that 👍

[@Mojo-fg7ps]

No choils on pocket knives, just on fixed blades!

[@Keith_the_knife_freak]

How about the choil on the kapara?? I love it.. i like choils. Great video

[@chrisgonzales1615]

We always say close enough on the job LOL and you’re right it definitely happens a lot

[@metal_complex]

My dad LITERALLY had tshirts made with a hammer and screwdriver crossed on the front, with a caption below that says "good enough" 🤣

[@chrisgonzales1615]

🤣🤣🤣

[@chrisgonzales1615]

We actually have a guy on the job that we call close enough. That is his nickname because every time he fixes something I ask him how did it go and he says close enough.

[@chrisgonzales1615]

And trust me most of the time it’s nowhere near close enough it is way off. Maybe we should call him way off instead of close enough

[@metal_complex]

@@chrisgonzales1615 LMFAO 🤣👍

[@kenkelley6579]

If the choil allows me to use the knife without fear, I am all in. Some of the newer choils keep your hand too close to the cutting edge. The best cutting edge with the best leverage is closest to the handle for hard use. For detailed use, you are not working a knife to hard, you are just using the tip. Fine then, a choil let's you do that.

[@samsnook2656]

Picks up para 3 and talks about cutting a pineapple, literally cut a pineapple 30 minutes before with a para 3.

[@jonduncansakurawallknifegarden]

lol a cactus is something I might actually want to cut open 😂 I could see it! Choke wayyyy back!

[@MisterDeets]

I'm in the minority here. Most of the commentors that I have seen thus far love choils, but I only like finger choils on large and heavy fixed blade knives like bushcraft knives specifically. If you are going to possibly hold the knife at the back and use it's weight to chop things at times, but still want more fine control over a large blade, the finger choil makes sense. On all folding knives, I HATE finger choils. If you want a smaller and more controllable blade, buy that instead of a larger blade with those damnable choils sucking up useful blade real estate. Finger choils are not ergonomic to me as the handle is supposed to be the ergonomic bit. I do buy knives with choils on them because you can't avoid choils these days. I just don't get why people want a larger knife that performs like a smaller knife. Makes zero sense to me. I will make an exception for very small folding knives where you need more grip room, but that's my only exception. One night I was breaking down large boxes in low light conditions using my Spyderco Resilience and it was effortless to use because I could sink the blade all the way down to the handle in the corners of the thick cardboard and not have to worry about a choil mucking everything up requiring me to guess where the blade was using the middle or the tip of the blade or risk paper cuts having my fingers close to the cut by choking up on a blade with a choil. The clip kinda sucks on it, but otherwise it is a phenomenal knife for the money spent.

[@Tankman333]

here's another saying for dad......i cut it three times and it's still too short!

[@metal_complex]

LOL

[@JuanCheeto]

A choil and good thumb ramp can be nice for precise cuts but can also inhibit slicing imho

[@JerichoTheCity]

My first ever knife was a pm2 and I literally can't live without a finger choil.

[@WillEDC]

Choil for sharpening

[@JoeBidin-m6q]

No Choil !! Bushcraft and Work Knives don’t have Choils, fighting knives don’t have Choils…i’m not sold on Choils, your finger is on top of the cutting blade One slip cutting your finger in the field is no good .Having a finger “cut-out” behind the finger guard is the way to go.why take unnecessary risks?

[@rustyknifelover4463]

Not everyone, I like the forward choil. That said it isn't a deal breaker.

[@marinetothecorps4864]

Not all choils are for your finger, this is obviously discussing “finger choils”.

[@metal_complex]

C'mon man... is there something here that suggests this needs to be pointed out? Captain obvious 🤦‍♂️

[@gagelink2457]

@@metal_complex lmao

[@bigdavidcannon4]

In my case, All knives are beautiful.

[@luisbarrera5740]

ALL small knives should have a choil by default.

[@tabliechty9318]

Choils suck, plain and simple......

[@prestonluscher776]

Does anyone here have the Boker vox f3. That thing is a tank in the pocket

[@Tankman333]

Preston Luscher check out the boker albatross that was the original tank in your pocket

[@arrowheads46]

I don't care if there is a choil there or not :O

[@metal_complex]

Haha ... ok. You are the exception 😉

[@Sugardaddy501]

Im happy with a sharpening choil alone.

[@dark_gravity_edc]

You made me look because forward choils are not something I look for. None of my pocket knives have a forward choil but all but 2 fixed blades do. Now I'm gonna have to get a pocket knife with a forward choil. You have given me a lack of forward choil complex. Lol