Some Knife Design Issues You Must Know - WE Knives Big Banter Knife Review

[@OUTDOORS55]

Big Banter→ amzn.to/3W62U9d Other knife in video→ amzn.to/3DG5QmH ⬇ As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@leetucker9938]

the links don't work in the UK

[@Succulentquarter]

BTW, If you use honey or capital one shopping, he will earn no money from the stuff that you buy.

[@micon9460]

Hows it going man. Quick question for ya....you ever tried sharpening on lapping paper?

[@Briancollectsknives]

I love the idea of sharpening the choil, it never occurred to me before.

[@marcuscrowell6964]

This is a galaxy brain idea

[@kringsja9913]

yeah that actually sounds like a great idea, i mean there's no reason not to sharpen it, is it?

[@OldTantoGuy]

Sharpening the sharpening choil... I mean it is right there in the name - it just took Alex to show the rest of us the secret!

[@RyTrapp0]

I always wondered why they aren't just sharpened by default - they're so damn annoying as it is, that's the least they could do

[@ĶČXXĻ-ĀxÐ]

Same. This is a brilliant idea. Simple, effective, and easy to implement. I’m definitely doing this to the knives I have with sharpening choils. This idea also puts some skipped self defense blades back in play by sharpening the sharpening choil. Thank you.

[@SustenanceNCovering]

Being right handed, I may not be as smart as a left handed person, but also being right handed I'm not smart enough to be able to recognize that fact. In other words win/win.

[@OldTantoGuy]

Awsome! This video is evidence that the old Alex is really back. Thank you for being you - we are prayin for ya.

[@paulmarrinan8188]

The level of sarcasm in this is top notch. I really appreciate it.

[@Polska1116969]

It's not a notch, it's a choil

[@TucoDog-ho6fw]

Definitely an advanced level.

[@JC-dt7jv]

Im sure there was some sarcasm he *left* out.

[@csorgatz]

Fellow lefty, THATS why I enjoy your videos....

[@brandoncuevas5636]

I'm a lefty aswell

[@luc8254]

Hey, just dropping by to say thanks for all the quality information you put out there for us! I just sharpened my knives for the first time today, thanks to you I was able to purchase with knowledge all the tools that I needed and got me to where now I have razor sharp knives for the first time in my life! I will never use a dull knife again in my life thanks to you. Thanks a bunch! 🙏🙏 The content you make on this channel is a gift to humanity!

[@jozsefizsak]

I've only ever had a little bit of interest in knives but a channel this good is impossible to resist, so I'm learning more and enjoying myself at the same time! 😊

[@NeevesKnives]

As I always say it's not about the choil it's about the plunge grinds, the choil means nothing unless the plunge is done right, and can even cause issues like your having with catching. I agree the finger choil could have been removed then you could choke up to edge even if it had a sharpening choil, again the plunge grinds is what's important as far as what a sharpening choil is for.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I agree! I did a segment on that but cut it out due to time. 👍

[@kvernesdotten]

The part that I dont really get about sharpening choils is that most people who put one on there (if it didnt already come with one) says its so you can get to the heel better while sharpening. Which makes sense for 4 seconds until you realize that the portion they talk about is the same portion that they essentially removed anyway so you dont really get more out of your edge and on top of that you now have a gaping hole in your blade that, like you pointed out, snags on things. At least the unsharpened bit didnt actively cause harm! Thank you, this has been by Ted Talk. Tune in next week for my rant on bolsters.

[@kinguin7]

I think it just looks/feels neater, but I agree I wish companies wouldn't put them. Anyone that cares can just add it easily enough.

[@ShiozakiSama]

I have never had a Sharpening choil big enough to snag on anything. I also dont gorilla fist my knife and rip it down Leeroy Jeknins style. Knives should ABSOLUTELY HAVE CHOILS. Why? Because of your gatekeeping. Adding a choil the size that a CRKT Endorser or Benchmade Bugout has, is for a large percentage of people, not realistic or logical. IT is great you had a specifit set of files that can grind away that much material, or a machine that can do so, and that is what YOU have, not every has that. I do, but I also think the ACTUAL way to solve this, is have an option. Just like Tip up or tip down. Sharpening choil or non sharpening choil in the options when buying a knife. I guarantee there is a very sizable portion of people to rival choil free opinions, that either want the choil, or dont care. I dont care personally.

[@acmhfmggru]

​@@ShiozakiSamabang on. Most people just want a sharp object that cuts well and they don't need to sharpen too much.

[@da54177]

It's not about the extra sharpened edge, it's about being able to access the whole edge with a stone without gouging into the abrasive. A lot of stones will struggle to get the whole edge evenly if there isn't a sharpening choil, leading the sharpened portion to slowly creep forward over time with repeated sharpenings, as well as gouging out the edge of your stone if you try to hit the whole thing. That said, I definitely think that having the blade's edge going all the way to the finger choil is better than having a sharpening choil.

[@da54177]

For an example of the edge creeping forward Google "old sharpened knife", you'll see some knives with a rounded portion near the handle from this problem.

[@antoninuspius1747]

Hey Mr. OUTDOORS55. Started watching your vids to learn how to sharpen knives and thank you very much!!!!! I wanted to add a couple comments/tricks I used as a complete novice that really helped me that I haven't seen you talk about. Maybe you have and I just haven't seen them. First is how important it was TO ME to get the height of the work surface just right. I found it critical to have the stone on a work surface such that my forearms are parallel to and at the same height of the stone surface. Not angled up or down. The other thing I did which helped immensely was locking my upper arms/elbows against my body and turning almost my entire body. I actually used a swivel stool and pretended I was a robot LOL. I probably won't need to do these things once I get muscle memory but it really helped to start. THANK YOU very much again!!!!

[@NoneUpsMan]

I never get in this early... requisite "please teach us how to sharpen convex edges thanky" statement. Love your videos!

[@Painterrap]

I have to agree with the sharpening choil being annoying and unnecessary!! I wish all of these companies would grind their knives like Spyderco!!

[@randy-9842]

Thanks, Alex - love your honest reviews (with insight and logic), humor and humility!!

[@RyTrapp0]

I don't mind the finger groove choil IF the whole knife is ergonomically designed with it in mind(it shouldn't feel like your hand is "in the wrong spot" if you drop your index finger into it). Doesn't quite look like that's the case here unfortunately. The safety aspect is cool I guess, but I'm pretty indifferent on that; pretty indifferent towards finger groove choils in general I suppose. But I hate the sharpening choil, REALLY annoying 'feature'. I'll take the 'slightly more difficult to sharpen' aspect over the 'that POS keeps grabbing this material!!!' aspect. I remember when I first started getting into knives, before I even knew what a 'choil' was I just assumed that those little notches were meant to be sharp, like they were meant for cutting stuff like fishing line or small wire. Blew my mind when I realized that those choils aren't typically sharpened, such a waste of usable edge.

[@joelfishness]

You made a great point about the choil's role in closing a liner lock. I've always subconsciously used the choil that way on the Kershaw Leeks i've carried over the past decade or so. Got my first non-Leek recently and immediately closed it on my thumb. Now I know exactly why.

[@JS_Precision]

You didn't slap it enough on the table.. soooo... I can't trust this review.

[@cavemandanwilder5597]

He didn’t even wear a steel gauntlet! Smh

[@Edcreviewer]

The one with the steel gauntlet adds no usable info to the knife Community amd just collects the money... Alex does adds plenty of usable info to the community.

[@clandestinetactical]

lol 😂

[@lando8913]

It must withstand 90lbs of force on the spine with the handle securely clamped or its complete trash. That happens all the time in the real world.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I did it a couple more time off camera 😉

[@Headtube]

Holy crap! An honest knife review!

[@timwagster9458]

So glad you sorted this knife out for your prefferences. Whatever you do, Do Not Carry TIP DOWN. That was a terrible scary transformation. Thanks for the video. 👍🏻😁

[@nuuwnhuus]

Lefty here, appreciated the jokes. 🤣Maybe 10 percent of your audience would like a video on other left handed issues to look out for.

[@rickt.1870]

Did you ever notice that most steak knives are only sharpened on one side? They're meant to be used right-handed only, and don't cut worth a crap when used in the left hand.

[@CristiNeagu]

2:43 Comedy gold right there. And I agree with some of the other comments. I would really like to see a guide on sharpening serrated blades, please.

[@jameshaulenbeek5931]

Depending on the type/hardness of steel, you can use normal (tool steel) files - round and triangular/square profiles. If it's a hard tool steel or high performance knife steel, similarly shaped diamond files are better. The Spyderco CBN and ceramic triangle stones also work well, and I think they have another stone with a teardrop profile that may work better.

[@tombrown4683]

​@@jameshaulenbeek5931thanks for the imput. I bought a small triangle file for just that purpose.

[@kenibnanak5554]

Interesting. Your comment about the choil nipping the thumb made me pull out my Dewalt Premium work knife, which has no choil, but is also of different design, and which I have been EDC for so long the yellow is totally gone from the handle body to see how Dewalt addressed the issue. The Premium took a 3rd approach. Their knife blade has a slightly protruding lug below the ricasso area which hits the thumb if the thumb is still in the way of the blade. Since over the years I have gotten fairly smooth in one handed opening and closing of the Premium, I hadn't really noticed the slightly protruding blade lug, nor why it is there. Suffice to say if somehow my thumb remained in position over the lock while my index finger is closing the blade, the lug at the blade's bottom hits the thumb and my thumb naturally moves out of the way. So it is interesting. Another thing to watch for when selecting a pocket knife.

[@ConerdFrederickson]

I was noticing something similar with my civivi knife. It does have a choil but more importantly the flipper tab on the knife runs into the thumb operating the liner lock once the blade hits about 90 degrees and you basically can't continue closing the blade without moving your thumb out of the way. Its something that I had noticed subconsciously ever since I got it but I hadn't really thought about it as an active safety benefit until now.

[@adanma17]

Great video Alex, then you got people who add Sharpening choils to the spydercos.

[@victorfranca85]

I like it when it’s all about the knife

[@kinguin7]

Yesssssssss finger choils are silly, except maybe on tiny knives where it gets you a more full grip. And what you said on sharpening choils, imo not as bad but they're more ubiquitous so arguably more annoying overall...

[@clandestinetactical]

The cut at 2:56 with the metal 🤘 and hair is one of the funniest things you’ve ever done 🤣

[@Tyler-Woody]

That killed me😂😂😂

[@TacticalLlamaEDC]

Once again another great video! Amazing breakdown with objective backing. Thank you Alex for the great content!

[@mannynieves493]

Good informative video. I hope the best for you and family on this new year 🙏.

[@timblackburne77]

I really enjoy your videos, thanks for taking the time to educate us. Happy new year mate.

[@boskone]

There's also an easy solution, for designers, to the "thumb guillotine" issue: button or crossbar locks. I do like a small sharpening choil, but not a huge one nor a finger choil. The Kizer Azo Drop Bear manages a small sharpening choil with a finger-safe close.

[@boskone]

@@danwoods8195 Yes, I did. Oops.

[@JamEWalsh]

I dislike sharpening choils exactly for the reasons you mention. It's common to hear reviewers complain about the lack of sharpening choils though, so I've always just assumed I was somehow wrong to dislike them so much. Anyway, thank you for the validation! Great review; direct and to the point.

[@meanderinoranges]

Sharpen the sharpening choil. 🤯 I never thought of that one.

[@heathenshaunt681]

This is all why I love my fixed blades better all the way around easy to use sharpen access etc

[@nate6889]

Best video I could've started my year with

[@therogers4432]

Yup... ^THIS, 100%^

[@robertmickatavage510]

I’m a lefty, but have learned to use my right hand for “righty” knives, saws, tools & such. Use BOTH sides of your brain! Excellent vid btw.😊

[@Third297]

Amazing information and entertainment, all in one.

[@FilipeFaria080]

Why your videos are so funny!!! Informative, intelligent (besides left hand stuff) and funny! Tks for sharing my friend!

[@TdSharp]

100% agree on the choil problem. I often times find myself cutting plastic wrap of pallets. When the choil gets the plastic instead of the edge, its a real pain. The worst I've experienced this with is a spyderco smock(love it otherwise though).

[@TheBeardedBurton]

I 100% get this frustration as a lefty, but I’ve learned to just use my right hand. In return it allows my free left hand to have access to something more important that goes bang.

[@99blackbirdxx]

Great informative video ! I am also left handed but over time adapted to many not so precise tasks with the right hand. I was born(1962) and it was common practice to force right handedness but my mother did not relent(she was also left handed) Later in life i had realized that i was cross eye dominant as well as having dyslexia. I had a severe left hand injury back in 21 and had to fine tune a few things. So as a left handed person in a still right handed world I do recognize the subtle differences the MFG's could do with little cost as to have the same scale relief and thumb stud clearance on both sides. The cross eye dominance is a big thing when involved with shooting sports and aligning things by eye and an easy to check(how to determine your dominant eye) Also left Handed scissors are a must have as I have had a pair that my mom gave me when I was in my 20's Sorry if this is long and can delete if you don't find it useful. But as a long time lefty that works with his hands a lot thought I would. HNY 2025!

[@DRum886]

Sharpening the sharpening choil?! 🤯 Now that is a fantastic idea!

[@TheByAccidentMan]

Happy New Year Alex! Here's to a kick-ass 2025!

[@sushix3443]

Sharpening the choil is a great idea, maybe even angled like veff serrations

[@DouglasRosser]

Great explanation. I used to wonder why people liked the Paramilitary 2 because it had so little cutting edge for the size of the knife. Now I own three of them. Nothing safer to close 'blind".

[@kellyvcraig]

I have a Spyderco Paramilitary I ground off about 1/64" of the scale, at the release, and, by doing so, made a night and day difference in how easy it was to flick open.

[@theapex1120]

I own the Big Banter, Baby Banter, and Banter Banter and I love them all.

[@ccfrankenstein7363]

I totally agree what you said about the choils. I wish my praxis didn't have a choil but more blade.

[@nosrin1988]

As a fellow lefty, I've fallen in love with channel lock knives, thanks to the Ozark D2s, and have a lot of them now, only thing I'm going to carry now. they're so much fun to fidget with! as far as flipping the belt clip though? I'm still not sure if I care about that to be honest.

[@tomschauerte5719]

The idea of a sharpened choil is actually awsome :D

[@davidharvey1798]

There’s some popular trends in the knife community and I’m pretty sure they’re started by people who lightly use knives. Two of those things are sharpening choils and finger choils. Both of which I hate on a big user knife. So I’m glad you touched on this and I was nodding my head in agreement the whole time. I’ll add that finger choils are acceptable to me on small blades like the baby banter.

[@MrBearbait75]

Love the humor! Have you ever done a comparison of field sharpeners? I get my knife as sharp as I can get it before I go camping, bushcrafting, hunting, etc., etc. What are the top hand held sharpeners to take into the field to sharpen my knife when it gets dull while away for my primary sharpeners? Hope it is a good suggestion for a series! Blessings

[@OUTDOORS55]

Not yet 🙂

[@BeenJamminMiner]

Can we do the difference between a cutting board and lets say....ceramic plates? Love the vids!

[@MrBowser2012]

I’m torn on the finger choil. It does offer a great choke-up position, but it is often a problem for cutting in the regular grip. On a small blade, they just make me angry.

[@jakass]

I can attest to the baby banter being great, especially for areas that only allow smaller knives

[@lonewolf11577]

Lefty here! One of your best videos, you made me smile a lot. 👍

[@Green_Guy]

Yeah, most entertaining, and most informative. Can't wait see the eventual video on the Misdemeanor.

[@Mrplacedcookie]

Sharpening choils is hopeless in real world, snags on everything. Happy new year!

[@michaelwaldeck7081]

I have a Kizer baby and I love the choil that builds onto the handle because it gives you greater options when using the blade but this of course is a fixed blade. This allows you have the full use of the handle but also change your fingers for thumb on the blade work. This cuts down on the bulk of a knife with a larger handle and your finger is nowhere near the blade on a pinch grip etc. For me it works but other people would prefer more blade.

[@joet81]

I am a lefty as well, I carry knives in both pockets and I own mostly frame lock and liner lock knives. I'm so used to it now- I don't ever switch the pocket clip around to lefty and it feels really weird if i do. Can't say I've ever had an issue deploying any of my knives, but i know that some lefties hate that we get left out. It would be nice if more companies did lefty knives

[@HootMaRoot]

I feel your pain as I'm also left handed, and the amount of tools and equipment I have to modify to use unless I want to pay an extra premium for them to have made the item left handed

[@triumphant39]

And the discussion on the "primary choil" is why I prefer knives like this. That being said, they could easily offer versions of most of these knives with and without it, like in the case of some fixed blade knife makers offerings.

[@arizonarangerwiththebigiron]

I agree about the sharpening choil and i think its better for larger blades and if its gonna be on a blade thats under 5" it should be small enough so it doesn't snag as easy like 1 to 2 mm.

[@ln2pro629]

The hair metal reference was appreciated

[@Carnivorous_edc]

The spine whacking at the end was funny 😂😂😂

[@GordonHenderson]

Another Lefty here. Great stuff! Many years ago I used to SCUBA dive and traditionally divers would carry the most useless huge knife strapped to their leg. They were good for nothing but you had to have them. I quickly changed that for a very short knife with a choir actually a big notch which I sharpened with a little round file just like you - purpose was to cut monofilament line should you ever get wrapped up in the wretched stuff - it was easier to have this knife tied to my harness, to unlatch and cut the line with. (while subsequently laughing at your buddy also wrapped up in it, desperately trying to get to their mahoosive blade off their leg then thrash about like a madman trying to cut invisible line...) I subsequently supplemented the knife for scissors which were much more effective and used the knife to open a scallop or 2 when under water for a little snack... Current knife is a spiderco and it's just occurred to me that I can remove the belt clip spring and put it on the other side, however being in the UK, carrying an exposed knife, even a UK legal one is just asking for trouble.

[@outdoorsythings2573]

New sub.. As a lefty i was 80% there, then how u fixed the little flicking knife open sealed the deal as iv also had that problem. Although i am a huge fan of sharping coils.

[@aetherkiryu]

quality content as always

[@markanderson8677]

I always thought the Banter should have an axsis lock, but I like your suggestions.

[@joet81]

It does have an axis lock now

[@JohnFrumFromAmerica]

100% agree with removing choils. Both decrease the utility of the knife. Especially on a knife with a big handle.

[@krenvan5724]

Great review!

[@artvandelay1720]

I appreciate finger choils because they give me some assurance the knife won't close on my hand if the lock fails. Mostly paranoia but redundant safety is nice.

[@chronovore3726]

Totally agree on forced finger choils. However, I do like sharpening choils on some designs, especially when it means avoiding a plunge grind. Nice idea to sharpen it! As far as closing protection, flipper tabs can do the job too!

[@COLDMKULTRA]

Do a Spyderco civilian review ... would be really good 👍

[@hdsamte]

Me on the otherhand love the sharpening Choil because i like the whole edge sharp at all times. And we all know what happens to the area with age and with age that area gets leftout and a new edge starts leaving that area out

[@Uncle_Red]

The 4" kme had a diamond rod attachment for serrations. One of the kme people did a video on doing a single serration.

[@JimMcPartland]

I've actually been looking at the Big Banter. I have the regular Banter and love it, just seems a little small for my hands. So i will probably get the Big Banter ( and maybe the baby Banter too! LOL

[@OUTDOORS55]

Its a SOLID knife. 🙂👍

[@curtissyarbrough8547]

Thank you for this review with the hardness test. I have all 3 banters. My favorite is the original. The baby is really close to too small.

[@Gringorican]

3:42 Yes!!! Everything thing you said here!!! AMEN!!! 🙌

[@loserisme13]

As a lefty, I just use an index or middle finger flick to open knives like that. But that choil seems really deep.

[@natehoover5266]

I like a 50/50 choil when its done right. The perfect example is the original Liong Mah Field Duty. Or even the Divo Buzz. And I appreciate a sharpening choil if ita small and keeps me away from the plunge grind. American Blade Works does a perfect sharpening choil and ive never gotten hung up in material because of it. They also give you a good choke up spot without changing the main grip to the knife or it being a problem when cutting. And ive successfully went my whole life in construction and never used my pocket knife on fiberglass insulation! Lol. But maybe ill try it today. Ill be doing some drywall too so maybe I'll try my pocket knife on that too!

[@WillLiam32]

Dude, you're hilarious. Love your videos

[@Bob_Adkins]

100% with you on the superfluous choyle!

[@ronaldtubbs9674]

I feel smarter ever time I see you in a video man.

[@JMWexperience]

Good review! Thanks.

[@MichaelMassie]

Yep, agreed about the double choil. I see a lot of knives these days that are essentially sharp fidget spinners, knives that are designed for the cool factor or to be unique so the average knife collector will snag one for the heck of it. In other words, knives designed for marketability, not usability.

[@SteelAddicted]

The spk lamia does the integrated handle choil perfectly imo. As it’s all handle until the edge and the edge has no choil cut into it. The edge is lower than the plunge line and has ample space away from the plunge line to sharpen, It’s done to perfection imo. Nothing to get hung up on but still super easy to sharpen the full length of the blade unlike say a Spyderco. Not that it’s hard to sharpen a Spyderco I just think the spk is easier and done better with the plunge choil integration. The spk also fixes the issue of getting hit with the blade when closing as well.

[@hificat101]

I really like choils, but I'm with you on the double choil. It's why I've never picked up a Strider.

[@benzjamin13]

I;m also left-handed, but since my pocketknife isn't used as much as my pen, I carry my knife in my right pocket and open with my right hand, but will switch it my left hand when I use the knife. When I'm done, I switch back to my right hand for closing. It's weird that I'm so used to opening, closing, and carrying a knife on my right, that I'm uncomfortable using my left hand for opening and closing. AND it's one of the very few things I can do right handed 😅

[@jimshort9266]

I’m mostly left handed but carrying and using a knife right handed doesn’t seem to bother me at all. What I find amusing though is that if I’m sharpening a pencil I will switch the knife to my left hand.

[@therogers4432]

@OUTDOORS55 Happy 2025 Alex, and I hope it's a good, and healthy, one for you 😊👍 You certainly appear to be firing on all cylinders again 💪😎, and that's amazing to see, so whatever you're doing please keep doing it, eh Brother?

[@whiteeaglestudios]

Really enjoyed your review... good points, all. Next time, you might consider pounding out a tune when banging on the bench. Just adding to your humor.

[@jacbosmitt]

All the specs on the big banter seem perfect but the giant forward finger choil is the only thing keeping me from buying one

[@artvandelay1720]

Sharpening choils are one of those things that made sense before flat diamond stones were cheap and plentiful.

[@slo_carry]

I really enjoy my big banter. I kinda wish there was a size between the banter and big banter.

[@JZPGod]

That’s why I got lansky for knives with stupid design or insane curve. I can sharpen Japanese knives but I have problems with some pocket knives. Cheers.

[@UnklKenny]

I think u would really enjoy the regular banter.

[@Tyler-Woody]

Love to see you and Jared Colab.

[@matthewsbernier]

None of Ben's designs ever fully with me until the new Lander 3 clip point. It's been a real long honeymoon since that arrived.

[@c.garison3770]

And with this video, you perfectly explained why the Spyderco Lil' Temperance 3 Lightweight in K390 is the best work knife with a 3" blade.

[@DinoNucci]

Wrong

[@monkpato]

I think you mean the Leafjumper.

[@tombrown4683]

Surely you were speaking of the Native Chief !

[@Krusher_Knave]

I also prefer more blade, but i would like to point out that finger choils that connect to the sharpened edge become more dangerous overtime as they get sharpened. A small sharpening choil thats closely followed by a flat portion of tang/handle is the most beneficial relationship in this regard. Most traditional knives do this beautifully. I wish we saw that more often on modern knives.

[@rustytygart405]

I sure would like to see you do more hrc testing I’m really interested in those kinda videos Aaannnddd I really want to see someone test some odinwolf knives everyone’s making such a fuss about