I haven't been to this thread in a bit. I keep forgetting about the sticky ones at the top.

I just skimmed through a bunch of the posts and wanted to add my two cents.

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One: I ALSO like 3/16" for this knife. PLENTY thick, PLENTY tough and a good balance of toughness and slicing ability for a knife with a blade this size and shape. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />


TWO: Most seem to feel the same as I do about the choil - or at least similar.

Some don't want any choil.

**** But, at the very least, MOST at least want a much smaller choil that doesn't waste so much usable blade..

Although, I agree in some cases with those who feel no choil is better. I tend to apply that on a case by case basis. Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. On knives from 4" - 6", I tend to view choils as a compromise. They offer a bit more control when choked up, but take away from blade length.

Sometimes I want to choke up to shorten the blade length I am working with. Sometimes on some knives I don't feel I need to choke up and happily use the blades edge right up next to the handle.


Personally, having both the Bog Dog and SS4, I find a having a choil to be "acceptable" on this size knife with mudders. To me (IMO), the Mudder handles have a very NATURAL design for choking up into the choil, but I would rather have certain changes made to the choil shown on the S5 "Proto":

- Rounded choil (not square) for better feel and comfort

- A smaller choil - to a reasonable size that doesn't waste blade edge.

- Closer in to the handle with no guard extension - like on the Bog Dog and SS4
- The guard is NOT needed in this knife IMO. And it creates at least three negatives IMO:
a) The knife is not going to be as comfortable in the choked up position with the guard as it creates a larger than natural gap between the index and middle finger when choked up.
b) It pushes the blade edge even FURTHER away from the regular grip
c) It reduces the amount of usable sharpened edge by being larger than needed.


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I suppose in all fairness, "Some" might like the guard. For those who view this knife as a fighter, then I suppose a guard might protect your fingers from another blade's edge..... for those who honestly believe they might use this in a knife to knife fight..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> - However, personally, I try to focus my knife design preferences on how I KNOW I will use the knife. This knife could be used defensively if needed. But, I don't honestly or seriously believe I will ever be in a situation to have to go toe to toe in a knife to knife fight. If so, the odds are that in that situation, I will be stuck with my EDC folder anyway. So, I vote for a more usable and ergo friendly non-guard design like the Bog Dog and SS4. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Also, some may feel the larger guard might help keep their fingers from sliding up onto the blade. Fair arguement for some in some cases. However, if this is a concern, I would rather a design for a guard be MUCH thinner front to back with just a slim protrusion of a guard dropping below the Res-C.

Forgive my crappy "Hurried" Photo-chop, but something like this:




.... I could clean up the photoshop a lot, but since it may be of NO value, I won't waste my time unless Dan needs me to - in which case I will GLADLY offer my services and time on this AWESOME project for free. But, even if Dan is interested in changing the choil, I doubt my services are needed on this. I assume the general idea is clear.


*** Basically, the choil on the SS4 and Bog Dog works very well. I vote for sticking with that.



Since Dan has said the knives shown are (if I understood correctly) just proto-types, then maybe (??????????) he is open to change/suggestions on the choil of the S5 (??????????)

If not, I am not going to loose to much sleep over it. I still say the S5 will be great. But, the choil could be better IMO.

On the other hand, if I shouldn't be posting such thoughts, mods feel free to delete my post.

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