Why A Leaf-Shaped Blade?

redsquid2

redsquid2

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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What are the distinct advantages of a leaf-shaped blade?

I had a little Spyderco back in the 90's, but I lost it before I had much chance to use it. I don't really know what the advantages of this profile are.
 
Moxy said:
Aesthetics, stouter tip.
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Speaking of aesthetics, that looks like an awesome guitar in your avatar. Would you care to tell me more about it? I'm not a guitarist, but I love anything that is custom, customized, or one-off.
 
The profile allows for decent belly for slicing, usually a useful tip, and it is often full flat ground, which combined with the height of a leaf blade, enhances its slicing abilities. It's an awesome blade profile all around, and can look either tactical and cool (Striders) or very utilitarian and harmless (most Spydercos, my Big Chris custom skean-dhu).
 
Love me sum small leaf ;)

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Misanthropia said:
The profile allows for decent belly for slicing, usually a useful tip, and it is often full flat ground, which combined with the height of a leaf blade, enhances its slicing abilities. It's an awesome blade profile all around, and can look either tactical and cool (Striders) or very utilitarian and harmless (most Spydercos, my Big Chris custom skean-dhu).
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I very much agree. A leaf blade is a user's blade shape.

While I don't care as much for the aesthetics of a leaf blade, for usability it is almost impossible to beat. Gives you both great tip and lots of belly. And it sharpens very easily because of the uniform curvature.
 
redsquid2 said:
Speaking of aesthetics, that looks like an awesome guitar in your avatar. Would you care to tell me more about it? I'm not a guitarist, but I love anything that is custom, customized, or one-off.
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Thanks. It is a old beat up Epiphone SG that I refinished. I've been playing guitar since I was a Kid, and guitar refinishing is another hobby I recently picked up. It's got a flamed Maple veneer and I stained it green. It came out pretty good. It plays terrible but it looks sweet. haha.



 
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For me, it's the aesthetics; that's why of all the Spyderco's I own, my favorites are the Dragonfly's leaf shaped blade, the swedge, the choil, and in the case of the G10 model, full steel liners, spacers, etc.
 
Alnamvet68 said:
For me, it's the aesthetics; that's why of all the Spyderco's I own, my favorites are the Dragonfly's leaf shaped blade, the swedge, the choil, and in the case of the G10 model, full steel liners, spacers, etc.
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Heh, for me, the aesthetics are the main reason I don't own more Spydercos. I have a Native, a Delica, and a Tenacious(all of which I've used and are certainly good knives), but generally speaking I don't like the looks of their blades, the shape doesn't appeal to me, and the hole makes it even less appealing.
 
One result of a leaf shape with full flat grind is the spine can end up quite thick. I find the Caly 3 suffers from this.
A leaf shape makes the blade stronger: for a thin blade, the broader the stronger.
 
Moxy said:
Aesthetics, stouter tip.
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My leaf shaped blades, combined with a FFG, are the most delicate tips I own. Sharp and point, yes. Stout not so much. In fact most users aren't very pointy any more because they have been damaged somehow going back to that delicate thing.
 
DShiflet said:
Heh, for me, the aesthetics are the main reason I don't own more Spydercos. I have a Native, a Delica, and a Tenacious(all of which I've used and are certainly good knives), but generally speaking I don't like the looks of their blades, the shape doesn't appeal to me, and the hole makes it even less appealing.
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Thanks for posting good reasons for buying a Spyderco.

I like the looks and the functionality just fine.
 
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The leaf blade, like the scimitar, ghurka, tanto, sowbelly, etc. fulfills a purpose for different applications, the main one of which is to convince anyone not owning one to order one immediately.
;)
 
The wider blade profile also makes it great for scooping and spreading condiments on your sammich!
 
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