nice and thin, please. 1/16".
I have to disagree on this thickness. 1/16" is 0.0625" is EXTREMELY thin. Even a short 3" - 3.5" blade at 0.0625" will have a fair amount of easy flex in the blade. I don't care for my field blades to have that much flex.
I wouldn't be interested in anything too much thinner than 1/8" (0.125") for field use.
Also, thinner blades intended for "Cutting" and "Slicing" are BETTER served with a "SATIN" blade <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> (sorry Bruce! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />).
0.11" - 0.15" would be fine (with me) and PLENTY thin (IMO). I have a bunch of Barkies around 0.11" - 0.15" and they do fine detail work VERY well.
I have one "Kitchen" Barkie that is 0.072". It is a very good slicer and kitchen knife, but I just "feel" it is thinner than I prefer for the field.
I am sure the 0.072" blade is tough enough for what it is intended to do and it slices VERY well, but it just "feels" way too thin for what I like for field use and I am not convinced that it cuts much better than 0.11" - 0.15" knives unless you want to peel grapes! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
For the record, the old Swamp Rat Bog Dog (Very sweet knife) is about 0.14" thick and pretty darn thin.
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I have seen knives over 1/4" thick profiled and sharpened to make VERY fine feather sticks.
Thickness can have some effects on a knifes abilities, but usually the edge profile and sharpness are much more relevant to how a knife performs.
If you feel a blade that is 0.11" - 0.15" is too thick, it is probably not. It probably just needs a thinner edge profile. Consider reprofiling/thinning the edge to a smaller angle. - Time to invest in a grinder, some fine belts and compounds! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
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Since the SS4 has about a 4.125" blade. And since the Mudder handle is just a hair under 5", I feel a SY Baby Coot should'nt be much longer than about 3.6" so it is reasonably smaller than the SS4. And probably no shorter than about 3.5" because of the handle size. - (????) Maybe <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> ????
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Also, for a shorter blade, I prefer less belly - offers better control on detailed cuts for task use (IMO). I generally like a little belly, but I feel a shorter blade is better served with a flatter edge. To me, a Spearpoint more along the lines of a Busse AD might be better. I also prefer a choil in close and tight.
What do you guys think about something like this (visualize SATIN! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />):
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