Please explain the swedge

PitchAndMoment

PitchAndMoment

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Feb 22, 2013
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I'm having trouble understanding the practical purpose of thinning the spine of a knife.

My instinct tells me it would reduce resistance and increase penetration when stabbing, while also avoiding the legal complications of a knife that's truly double-edged. However, I see lots of knives that appear to be designed without combat or stabbing in mind still sporting this feature, especially among the companies and knife makers tend to use them more prolifically.

Is there an additional practical use for this design feature, or is this an issue of aesthetics and arbitrary preference?
 
I think aesthetics is one reason. Cuts down on weight just a tiny bit. I can live with out swedges myself.
 
IMO for the most part there for aesthetics...although it can shave a little weight of a knife I guess.
 
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It makes the point finer so it's easier to do fine work with a thicker stock. Its a way of making a knife more versatile

just my two cents
 
PitchAndMoment said:
I'm having trouble understanding the practical purpose of thinning the spine of a knife.

My instinct tells me it would reduce resistance and increase penetration when stabbing, while also avoiding the legal complications of a knife that's truly double-edged. However, I see lots of knives that appear to be designed without combat or stabbing in mind still sporting this feature, especially among the companies and knife makers tend to use them more prolifically.

Is there an additional practical use for this design feature, or is this an issue of aesthetics and arbitrary preference?
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Usually double edges aren't as much of a legal issue as they are practical. You can't really have a double edge on a folding knife.

I think your instinct is on the right track for why they do it but I don't know why your mind automatically went to combat and stabbing. There are several tasks you use a knife for that require piercing cuts.
 
In some cases they allow for tuning the balance (large knives). In many cases the swedge is about aesthetics
 
In my view, swedges are almost always there just to make the knife interesting to the eyeball. And they generally succeed.

 
Scurvy092 said:
Usually double edges aren't as much of a legal issue as they are practical. You can't really have a double edge on a folding knife.QUOTE]

Double-edged knives fit the definition of "dagger" in Texas, and are therefore illegal to carry on your person in public. I assumed if Texas, of all places, outlaws it then it would probably be taboo in most othere statesas well. Please educate me if that is not the case.

But in the end, your point is valid - practical issues abound. . . which added to my confusion about the swedge. As in - why approximate a mostly impractical feature unless there is some other redeeming value. Balance, weight reduction, and aesthetics all make perfect sense.
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A swedge can improve performance, as it effectively thins the blade some, particularly at the tip, while retaining the full thickness at the base. On a well made slipjoint, like a GEC, the swedges are sometimes asymmetrical, which allows them to cram the blades closer together without them rubbing each other.
 
The rounded swedge on this guy will let you choke up for fine work or skinning and gives a nice spot for your hand if you use it as a draw knife. It also has a nice rounded spot that you can use to pound & soften materials for cordage or and it won't chew up a baton as much as the squared spine back by the handle.

no4big.jpg
 
I believe, as others have said, swedges have multiple purposes/ benefits: weight balancing, piercing performance and aesthetics. I could see how they wouldn't be beneficial in certain applications such as fixed blades that are used for batonning.

I'll say this: The Umnumzaan has a mean swedge and an amazingly fine tip and no other knife I've ever used pierces with as much ease, it's almost scary.
 
seems to depend, I think mainly for appearances, but certain knives it is clearly for increased piercing performance.

look at the spyderco police and tell me that Swedge doesn't turn it into a piercing beast. Likewise the frn native's swedge gives it a great tip, whereas a more subtle swedge like on the Centofante models seem more about appearance, though they still thin the tip a bit.

I am a huge proponent of acute tips, and I love a good swedge.
 
older combat knives had to have tough points to prevent breakage during stabbing. this, even with thin stocks. there are a number of ways to do this. one is the tanto point which puts the point nearly level with the spine (where the blade is thickest.) for points below the spine, a cruciform (four-sided section) tip is often created by swedging or adding a false edge. this makes a more durable tip than a triangular one (a regular tip with only the 'v' of the primary bevels meeting the spine. a triangular tip makes for a sharper point but is usually weaker.
 
hank_rearden said:
older combat knives had to have tough points to prevent breakage during stabbing. this, even with thin stocks. there are a number of ways to do this. one is the tanto point which puts the point nearly level with the spine (where the blade is thickest.) for points below the spine, a cruciform (four-sided section) tip is often created by swedging or adding a false edge. this makes a more durable tip than a triangular one (a regular tip with only the 'v' of the primary bevels meeting the spine. a triangular tip makes for a sharper point but is usually weaker.
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Are you suggesting that adding a swedge to an existing point will strengthen it?
 
I think he may be talking about a Besh Wedge. It basically has a flat tip to give the tip strength.

Edit:

Here is what I remember the original design looking like:

image_7937.jpg


And this is what it seems to advanced to by most companies:

BU850BKX.jpg
 
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