Where do you grip large knives with a choil?

[vivi]

Simple question.

On knives large enough for you to get a comfortable four finger grip without using the index choil, where do you naturally grip the knife?

Imagine someone hands you their Police 4 / Native Chief / Manix XL / Military / Ayoob / ATR / Szabo folder. You pop open the blade and grip the knife to check out the ergonomics. Do you naturally reach for the index choil or the full grip behind the choil?

I always reach for the grip behind the choil on knives this size. I've seen others do the opposite. Curious to see where the majority falls.

[Wartstein]

Though I am not necessarily a fan of choils (except on folders of Chap size and smaller):
In your scenario I actually would be more interested in the ergos when choked up on the choil and probably try that first

Why?
Quite simple just because IF a folder has a choil (which I would not need to have it in a larger model) anyway, I want that choked up position to be at least very good and comfortable and offer some "benefit". Otherwise the choil would really be just wasted cutting edge, and I would want the particular model.

Actually I think I use my folders more often "choked up" than in a regular grip - though this is equally true for both knives with choil (Manix, Stretch, Millie, PM2, Chap anyway) and such with Ricasso (Endura, Pac Salt, Delica, Endela - here I choke up on the Ricasso).

[Doc Dan]

No choils . A properly designed handle and finger guard is best.

[brj]

Away from the choil would be my instinctive grip.

I should also make a distinction on my user experience when using choils. I fully, totally, whole-heartedly dislike the type of handle that has a quite pronounced 'point' that forces your grip in a certain position (like seen on the Para3, ParaMilitary2 and countless other models). When I grab my Native Chief, I'm tempted to use the 'away from the choil grip' but that position, soo far away from the cutting edge, seems strange (even a bit ridiculous) so I'm somehow forced to move against my instinct to a choked-up grip.

By contrast, I still like and use those choils implemented with a seamless transition (like on the Military and ParaMilitary1), the hand grabs naturally the handle with the index behind the pivot (although the distance up until the cutting edge starts is roughly the same in the case of Military and Native Chief.

[aicolainen]

Some of my knife preferences are probably more linked to some type of OCD rather than practical benefits, but it's still very hard to look past them.

Choils on large folders is one such feature. I can understand why some designs and mechanisms wont allow the edge to go all the way back to the handle, and a well designed choil could be the best way to utilize this area. But generally, as long as there is enough grip area on the handle, I want the best edge-to-handle ratio possible. Might not have any practical utility, but the OCD is strong in this one.

For me, the choil make perfect sense in smaller knives like the Dragonfly and Chaparral. Those implementations are perfect, and gives you a very pocket friendly closed footprint, while still providing very good control with a full four finger grip in the open position. At least that's the case with my narrow hands.

I'm contemplating a P4LW down the road, but if Spyderco offered one of their large folders without a choil, that would most likely be my top pick.

[Thunderpants]

I would go, "Cool, a Native Chief! Never seen one of these before!" and in my excitement drop it blade down, nailing one of my feet to the floor. I'd probably ignore the choil when extracting the blade from my bleeding metatarsals, assuming I haven't immediately fainted.

[The Deacon]

Depends on how I'm using the knife. For most I'll grip behind the choil, but for finer work I'll use it, and for really fine work my thumb and most of my fingers are out on the sides of the blad and my index finger is on the spine.

[Menipo]

No choil. If a need a better control of the blade for (very) specific tasks, I would grab a smaller knife (with an angle suited to the task).

[Evil D]

I almost never use the choil on a Military. My Shaman on the other hand does feel more comfortable when gripping on the choil, the rest of the handle isn't really shaped right for a full 4 finger grip. Smaller knives like the Native 5 or Dragonfly I don't ever grip behind the choil.

[bearfacedkiller]

It depends what I am doing with the knife. The Military is my most carried knife and I often use it in either grip but I probably hold it behind the choil more often.

I like the fact the the choil on the Military is subtle and that I can use it naturally in either grip.

Options are good, sometimes you want more reach and sometimes you want more control.

[Sumdumguy]

99% No Choils, thanks.

The only models I can think of that have choils that I like(tolerate) are the Dodo, Dragonfly and Kapara.

Otherwise, TO THE GALLOWS!

(Also, I do like the way the Military's choil is executed. Very shallow, with a smooth transition from the main handle.)

[curlyhairedboy]

i'd say i'm around 50/50 using the choil vs not using it on my Shamans. I love having the option!

[SG89]

I use the choil as it helps me guide the blade better by using my finger as a way to avoid hitting the choil on the material being cut if that makes sense

[Albatross]

If the knife has a choil, I use it. I use the choil on my P4 all the time. Many times it feels like the knives were designed to fit the hand better, when using the choil.

[Pokey]

I'm with Albatross, I just tried my own survey with the large knives I have; if they've got choils, generally, I use them. On two of them where I wouldn't have to choke up and use the finger choil, (Manix 2, Para Military 2,) I do. The Advocate seem to be a flyer in the data though, I keep my index finger back behind the flipper tab.

On all the smaller models I use them when they've got them; most times you can't avoid it.

Another observation: On a knife that has "scallops" where you'd place your finger(s) they're called choils. On pistol grips they're called finger grooves.

[jpm2]

Regardless the size of the knife, I usually grip as close to the blade As possible for maximum control. Exceptions might be chopping and piercing.

[Maximumsmoochy]

I went through a anti-choil phase for a while, mostly on the basis of wanting additional sharpened length on a given blade.
Now I'm more agnostic - with Spyderco you kinda have to embrace the choil or you are gonna have bad time.

As far as my grip, I find most often my index finger lands right on the peak of the choil divider. This tends to put my hand entirely on the handle, but as far forward as possible. From there, I can scootch forward a little as required - generally I'll get into the proper blade-side of the choil if I need a little bit of "twist" or rotational control on the blade when I'm cutting. The thinness of the blade-side of the choil generally allows a little better leverage for this sort of rotational control as you get a little more bite back on the finger.

I like the fact the the choil on the Military is subtle and that I can use it naturally in either grip.

(Also, I do like the way the Military's choil is executed. Very shallow, with a smooth transition from the main handle.)

Echoing the Military fans here, the Military choil is a perfect implementation for my grip - the rounded hump separating front from back accommodates my index finger comfortably. The inverse of this is the Native or Stretch 2; with deep choil and pointy separating ridge, there's no middle ground.

[JRinFL]

I use either grip as needed, so I chose option 3 in the poll. I have said this before, the problem with choils is one of perception. If you perceive a choil as part of the blade, it is a negative, i.e lost edge. If you perceive choils as part of the handle, it is a positive, i.e increased grip options.

[Sharp Guy]

I use both grips depending. Usually on something larger I'd prefer to grip behind the choil but will choke up in some cases

[dan31]

The militarily does have the best choil. So easy to transition from 4 finger grip on the handle to the choil and back. I like the older stretch for the same reason. I don't like deep choils except the Native 5 as it feels likes its the primary grip for using the Native 5.