Short knives, no choil. Long knives, no choil. Middling knives, choil.

Up to a five inch knife, no choil. Honestly, how many of you have trouble with tip control on a five incher?

For longer than five inches, up to seven—eight at the extreme—a choil can help. Knives in this size bracket are long enough that tip control becomes problematic. But they are short enough that using a choil can improve tip control.

Eight inches to ten, twelve, longer…no choil. What’s the point? Or rather, where’s the point? Use a choil to choke up and the tip is still too far away for decent control. You’re better off with no choil and an extra sharp section of edge just in front of your handle. Something you can do intricate carving with. If you need good tip control, hold the blade near the tip and go to work.