What are the advantages of the Insigno?

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Followthehollow

Joined
Apr 7, 2006
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Hello fellow accumulators!

I'm just wondering, what do you like about the Insigno over the standard profile? Is there any particular task this blade profile excels at over standard Seb?

I currently have an Umnumzaan and a small Seb 21 (among a myriad of other knives), and I'm thinking about adding a large micarta Insigno to my stable from a local shop. Either that or another small in damascus;) . I'll be making the trip Tuesday so I have until then to decide

Any particular reason you like or prefer the blade shape?


Thanks folks!

Pics are also welcome!
 
The Insingo has an advantage over the regular 21 in terms of food preparation. In my experience, the angle and shape of the blade allows for more efficient slicing and chopping on a cutting board.
 
It's a great all around knife. A big thing for me is that the blade profile seems to hone better/easier while stropping. The swedge makes for excellent piercing. What else? Oh, it looks extremely cool too!:thumbup:
 
While it does indeed make for an attractive knife, in my experience there are no advantages at all and I find the blade shape to actually be worse for some things. I like a bit of belly and a higher point on my knives and I find that allows performance across the board of knife use. In reality specific blade shapes have little advantage over each other if the knife is sharp and of quality materials. That said, I find the shallow belly and very low point to be rather restrictive and actually I believe that was the "point" of the design. (for use around animals and other situations where an acute point could be a hinderance).
 
I personally love the Insingo. The Tip is brutal but very strong and it just feels like you have so much leverage. Many things are much easier to slice and you have very easy access to the tip. It's very comfortable to just slightly angle the knife for use of the tip as opposed to the much more extreme angle you have to use for use of the regular blade shape's tip. I don't find there's anything that it performs worse at, at least in anything I use a knife for regularly, but I DO find it makes certain things easier and I just like the feel and look of it more, for the most part. I have a Large Micarta Insingo and I just love it. It functions and looks amazing and the blade shape is extremely easy to sharpen and strop. I love Wharnie blade shapes and I especially love modified Wharnie's/sheepsfoot's like the Insingo. Insingo means "razor" and it does feel like a razor. It's hard to explain but the feel and utility of this blade shape is just awesome.
 
Hi friends, I think that the lower point of the insingo blade is safer over the standard profile, the Sebie is an open construction and my small insingo is actually my EDC. It´s a tool but a jewell, it´s a beauty that works great. Sorry, my very poor English.
 
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I can see where it would have advantages over the standard blade, but do you lose some piercing or splinter picking abilities?
 
Specifically, I was rigging electrical wiring on a boat recently and had to remove a bunch of small plastic zip-ties. My small insingo seemed perfect for the task of getting under the plastic without piercing the wires. If I had to stab something, I guess a tanto would be better for that, but for most other task, I think it's a great shape and it looks a little unique too.
 
I find the Insingo is perfect for me at work(Maint. Supervisor) but the drop point is more well rounded outside of work. The belly on the Lg21 is more suited for me camping and hunting. Just depends on what you use it for.IMHO.
 
Followthehollow said:
What do you like about the Insigno over the standard profile? Is there any particular task this blade profile excels at over standard Seb?
Click to expand...

I've only had my small Insingo for a couple of days. I'm in retail, so I do a lot of shipping/receiving type work: breaking tape, cutting cardboard, shallow slicing to cut around and peel away old shipping labels. I rely on the point of the knife for almost everything. I've used every knife I own, almost, to do this – drop point, clip point, and tanto. The Insingo is better than all of them. Even after just two days, this knife feels completely natural and is exactly where I expect it to be. It's almost as if I only have to think about the cut and it's done.

To bring the point of most knives to bear I use a couple of different grips. I'll hold the knife like a pencil or choke all the way up on the blade. With the small Insingo I usually don't change my grip, and will hold the knife normally with my index finger along the top of the spine. The low point and slight belly makes for a very effective shape.
 
Interesting thing noted recently by my father when he looked at the Spyderco Para 2, Military and the Insingo is that the edge shape, not blade shape, are very similar. All have a similar slightly curved edge, not straight, but that sexy curve.

That might be why I like it so much. The slight curve yet straightish edge works for my day to day uses.
 
Evany said:
I can see where it would have advantages over the standard blade, but do you lose some piercing or splinter picking abilities?
Click to expand...

I know it seems like the piercing ability would be hindered. When I first ordered mine, I though "the only that I don't like is this thing is gonna suck at stabbing". However, it's just not the case. If I try to stick my finger with the Insingo, it feels sharper or more needle-like that the regular Seb. The tip is definitely stronger with the way the blade is shaped, but that doesn't mean it's not BRUTAL. I love the shape because it's so strong but so sharp with the swedge and just the way it's shaped. Not a lot of people realize it, I don't think, but the regular Seb blade shape has a pretty thick tip because it's a utility knife. It's strong, but not all that sharp, really. The Insingo is much more reinforced, but that tip is just brutally sharp and especially since the blade is much less upswept, it's easier to do detail work with the tip. If you tried to stab a tire or something resistant like that, the regular blade shape might be better because it's narrower at the edge and opens up gradually. However, the Insingo is actually a sharper tip in my experience and it's still great at penetration and performs much better than you might expect. It's all just part of why the Insingo blade shape is an awesome overall package and a great performer :)
 
Just picked it up!


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Followthehollow, great looking insingo. Mine will be here next week. This is is back up of my other two insingos. I EDC a large and love the blade shape for slicing and general cutting.
 
I think the blade design is unique, so I want to try a large Insingo. Have had quite a few Sebbies, large and small, but no Insingo. It's about time.
I'm working on it.
sonny
 
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