Do you need a finger guard?

We can post our different opinions about guards, till the cows come home (and we do because - forum).

shinyedges said:
When the hands are cold and dexterity is very low while concentrating on the task at hand because it NEEDS to get done, accidents happen.
Click to expand...
For sure. The one moment of not paying attention/hurrying a task/relying on routine/letting your guard down (pun intended) etc is when one gets bitten.
 
Yes, to the original question. Safety is up to the user. My traditional slip joints have no guards. Used appropriately and with reasonable expectations, they present no hazard.
 
I really do not like the feeling of my hand sliding onto the blade. Been awhile since I last did that but still clearly remember! Sort of slow mo memory... slide & slice. I do more than pull cuts so finger guard, self guard, something guard between my finger and the blade is my preference. I have knives without yes. I do not like choils with few exceptions (PM2).
 
shinyedges said:
When the hands are cold and dexterity is very low while concentrating on the task at hand because it NEEDS to get done, accidents happen.

Under controlled environments in a backyard where the only task being performed is a wet stab "test" Yea the likely hood of a slip is minimal.
Click to expand...
I've Never slipped in l
shinyedges said:
When the hands are cold and dexterity is very low while concentrating on the task at hand because it NEEDS to get done, accidents happen.

Under controlled environments in a backyard where the only task being performed is a wet stab "test" Yea the likely hood of a slip is minimal.
Click to expand...
I've never had an issue.

Safety is the user not the tool.

The worst cut I've ever gotten was a knife with a guard. Go figure.

We can show you anything you want to see, test with fat? Blood? In the cold? Breaking down an animal? No problems.
Either way, it's not going to change your opinion, and your not going to change mine.

So meh.

Those who can do.

I agree to disagree.

Some people need guards, some want them.

I don't like them, they get in the way and I don't need training wheels

I apologise if my personal opinion upsets you, I'm just wanting to share my views on the subject even if they counter your opinion.

No worries

Shawn
 
For me and my uses, yes. About the closest I come to non-guard on a fixed-blade is a Mora.

Actually, the idea of my clenched hand sliding forward on a sharp blade is one of those really un-fun thoughts. So yes on the guard.

Boss
 
DeadboxHero said:
I've Never slipped in l

I've never had an issue.

Safety is the user not the tool.

The worst cut I've ever gotten was a knife with a guard. Go figure.

We can show you anything you want to see, test with fat? Blood? In the cold? Breaking down an animal? No problems.
Either way, it's not going to change your opinion, and your not going to change mine.

So meh.

Those who can do.

I agree to disagree.

Some people need guards, some want them.

I don't like them, they get in the way and I don't need training wheels

I apologise if my personal opinion upsets you, I'm just wanting to share my views on the subject even if they counter your opinion.

No worries

Shawn
Click to expand...
What exactly do you do that you've accrued such a vast experience on which you've based your opinion? Clearly you must butcher dozens of animals a week or instruct people in knife use or fighting?

Hmm.

Saying you don't need saftey features is asinine. It's not an opinion.

People say they don't need a helmet, untill they do....

People say they don't need seat belts, until they do....

I just find it funny the people with significantly more experience than you decide to incorporate a finger stop of some sort in their design.

But I get it, you're an expert and know better than the countless makers and designers as well as users that have more experience than yourself.

You started this condescending tone by the way, with the ignorant "babies" comment.

Another "expert" who knows better than all the other makers who are "babies" :rolleyes:
 
22-rimfire said:
For a long term and regular use woods fixed blade, I want a guard. I have it both ways, but if I were choosing one to take to the woods not knowing what I am likely to do with it, I prefer the guard. The Buck 192 is a classic and well known example.
Click to expand...

Judging from your post and other posts in this thread, its a matter of personal preference snd thats of course fine.

I like some knives with guards and others without.

As for woods use, it must be noticed, that generations of users - for whom a knife was a daily used tool - have used knives without guards. They must have been doing something right, since they managed to survive a sometimes harsh enviroment using basic gueardless knives.

There is something appealing about a simple basic tool, which works.

Again, I have knives with guards and other knives without a guard. I like both types.
 
BladeScout said:
Judging from your post and other posts in this thread, its a matter of personal preference snd thats of course fine.

I like some knives with guards and others without.

As for woods use, it must be noticed, that generations of users - for whom a knife was a daily used tool - have used knives without guards. They must have been doing something right, since they managed to survive a sometimes harsh enviroment using basic gueardless knives.

There is something appealing about a simple basic tool, which works.

Again, I have knives with guards and other knives without a guard. I like both types.
Click to expand...
Generations before us used poison as medicine, doesn't mean they did anything right.

As far as purpose specific knives not needing any finger protection, I agree not every knife needs to have a guard. Wood carving specific knives like often did not have finger protection incorporated.

Even knives way back when had finger protection incorporated though when danger of slipping on to the blade was more likely.
 
I will admit my opinion is biased, I don't sit around and carve spoons. I raise, butcher and process animals in a far northern state that gets cold temperatures early and late in the season.

My "woodwork" is limited to cutting 50 cord a year for my outdoor wood boiler and that's done with a chainsaw.

So much of my knife preferences are gotten through what I actually use knives for. Shrug.
 
Nah, Guards are optional.
Safety is the user, not a feature.

We've reached an impasse, so agree to disagree.
I feel just as strong about guardless as you do about guards.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Nah, Guards are optional.
Safety is the user, not a feature.

We've reached an impasse, so agree to disagree.
I feel just as strong about guardless as you do about guards.
Click to expand...
Ok Mr. Ideal conditions.

Excellent creditable experience you provided :thumbsup:.
 
shinyedges said:
Generations before us used poison as medicine, doesn't mean they did anything right.

As far as purpose specific knives not needing any finger protection, I agree not every knife needs to have a guard. Wood carving specific knives like often did not have finger protection incorporated.

Even knives way back when had finger protection incorporated though when danger of slipping on to the blade was more likely.
Click to expand...
Again, its just a matter of preference.

Some like 'em, others dont - never the twain shall meet, bla-bla-bla.

That being said, the poison analogy does not really apply.

Ingesting poison tends to kill you or at the very least be detrimental to your health with a fair degree of certainty.
True outdoorsmen using a tool with no guard succesfully for hundreds or thousands of years without getting killed or maimed are obviously doing something right.
However, you dont have to like knives with no guard. I perfectly understand the reasoning behind wanting a guard. It makes sense for a lot of people/tasks and is a most reasonable request.

Without checking, Id say, that most of my fixed blade knives have some type of guard..

I like both types - knives with and knives with no guard AND there should be room for both types of knives ... and not least for people liking one or the other type of knife ... or both.

What ever floats your boat and all that.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Nah, Guards are optional.
Safety is the user, not a feature.

We've reached an impasse, so agree to disagree.
I feel just as strong about guardless as you do about guards.
Click to expand...

There does indeed seem to be strong feelings about this.

I dont understand the agitation for either POV. There should be room for both types of knives. Its just knives, guys.

I assume your posted video was tongue in cheeck.

But bottomline; yes, an impasse and folks agree to disagree - thats fine IMO.
 
BladeScout said:
Again, its just a matter of preference.

Some like 'em, others dont - never the twain shall meet, bla-bla-bla.

That being said, the poison analogy does not really apply.

Ingesting poison tends to kill you or at the very least be detrimental to your health with a fair degree of certainty.
True outdoorsmen using a tool with no guard succesfully for hundreds or thousands of years without getting killed or maimed are obviously doing something right.
However, you dont have to like knives with no guard. I perfectly understand the reasoning behind wanting a guard. It makes sense for a lot of people/tasks and is a most reasonable request.

Without checking, Id say, that most of my fixed blade knives have some type of guard..

I like both types - knives with and knives with no guard AND there should be room for both types of knives ... and not least for people liking one or the other type of knife ... or both.

What ever floats your boat and all that.
Click to expand...
I agree on room both types. I disagree on your take of the poison analogy. You have no way of knowing how many injuries were sustained due to a lack of finger protection.. do you?

I do like the performance of a Mora which has no finger protection, I do see both sides.

Just my preference through experience is to choose a knife with slip protection. Under perfect circumstances knife slip ups never occur.

I still haven't encountered a perfect world yet though.
 
shinyedges said:
I agree on room both types. I disagree on your take of the poison analogy. You have no way of knowing how many injuries were sustained due to a lack of finger protection.. do you?

I do like the performance of a Mora which has no finger protection, I do see both sides.

Just my preference through experience is to choose a knife with slip protection. Under perfect circumstances knife slip ups never occur.

I still haven't encountered a perfect world yet though.
Click to expand...
Nope, no stats on fingerless Samì et al.
That being said, if people turned up on a daily basis with fingers missing, they'd have incorporated a guard PDQ.

Your preference is perfectly fine. Id hate using a tool, I didnt trust. Caution has to be exercised, when using any sharp tool - in regards to using a tool sans guard even more so.

"Under perfect circumstances, slip ups wouldnt occour" - amen to that.

And nope, sadly not a perfect world (as I dont have my (guardless)Skookum Bush Tool yet:oops:. At least I have my (guard equipped) Terävä Puukko 110).

Anyway, Ill leave you gents to this thread. Safely enjoy your knives regardless of type.
 
shinyedges said:
I agree on room both types. I disagree on your take of the poison analogy. You have no way of knowing how many injuries were sustained due to a lack of finger protection.. do you?

I do like the performance of a Mora which has no finger protection, I do see both sides.

Just my preference through experience is to choose a knife with slip protection. Under perfect circumstances knife slip ups never occur.

I still haven't encountered a perfect world yet though.
Click to expand...
Perfect world?

That doesn't mean everyone should wear a helmet at all times.

Of course how many lives would be saved if it was law that you needed wear a helmet at all times outside of your home.

I'm sure there would be less traumatic brain injuries from all the random accidents people never expected to happen. But that's ridiculous.

Just like saying a knife needs a guard.
 
DeadboxHero said:
Perfect world?

That doesn't mean everyone should wear a helmet at all times.

Of course how many lives would be saved if it was law that you needed wear a helmet at all times outside of your home.

I'm sure there would be less traumatic brain injuries from all the random accidents people never expected to happen. But that's ridiculous.

Just like saying a knife needs a guard.
Click to expand...
Except knives are dangerous tools, and in industries that use knives every day they take precautions against being cut. Chain mail is still used specifically for this reason.

You seemed to have ignored my questions about your experiences that led you to your opinion?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top