The thumbramp on the S5 is problematic AFAIC. It only really worked as you described when I choked up on the blade. But the choil is so shallow that doing so exposed my index finger to the back of the blade. That's why I had Vic remove the thumbramp on my S5. Now I can comfortably extend my thumb on top of the spine for additional control without choking up on the blade and without the apex of the ramp hitting me square in the middle of my thumb. And that works perfectly for me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
If you're going to keep the thumbramp, scoring the back of it for use with a firesteel sounds like a good idea. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />
I have wondered this as well, as the squarish choil compared to the rounded choil on the S6 & DM. But I see things from a different point of view(hunter first & foremost!). So the square choil & thumb ramps just do not work for me in a 'practical' sense. But saying that. Used for stabbing, batoning, prying situation, I can see how it could be useful. Still, I think it's still not needed. Just MO though.
Our SOD has the same sort of thumb ramp & square choil. Choking up on that knife is just not comfortable for what I do. And some here might say what do you mean?
I choke up to a knife different to most men. Most I see use their index finger. I do not. I use my middle finger with my index on the spine to guide my strokes with skinning/boning-out. But like I said, that's how I use all my knives.
Plus the ramp gets in the way when performing 'gutting & down the leg' strokes.
It's hard to explain in words but the hunters here will know what I mean
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
