What is meant by "distal taper"?
- JonLeBlanc
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What is meant by "distal taper"?
In the spirit of the question asked recently about "detail work," I'd like to ask if I may, what is meant by the descriptive phrase "distal taper" (when referring to blade geometry)? I understand the concept of "distal" in general re "distal vs proximal" but I see the phrase "distal taper" used to describe many knife blades, and to be honest I've seen it misspelled quite a few times, which makes me wonder if not everyone entirely understands the idea that is trying to be conveyed. I certainly do not understand, but I'm a shoeless peasant so... Can anyone help me out?
My collection so far: 52100 Military (2); 52100 PM2 (2); 52100 Para3; Stretch2 V-Toku; KnifeWorks M4 PM2; BentoBox M390 PM2; BentoBox S90V Military; Police4 K390; S110V PM2; SS Delica AUS-6; Wayne Goddard Sprint VG-10
Wish list: Hundred Pacer; Sliverax; Mantra; 52100 PM2 SE; Kapara
Wish list: Hundred Pacer; Sliverax; Mantra; 52100 PM2 SE; Kapara
Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
When the blade is ground thinner from the pivot going towards the tip of the blade. This is a common feature on most Spyderco knives if you look at the blade thickness from the spine. On some blade shapes like a leaf shape or wharnie the blade is going to get thinner towards the tip regardless because the point of the blade is lower and down where the blade is ground down to an edge but that is not distal taper. An example of this is the Sliverax or most any saber or hollow ground blade.
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- araneae
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Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
Distal taper on left
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-Nick
Last in: N5 Magnacut
The "Spirit" of the design does not come through unless used. -Sal
-Nick
Last in: N5 Magnacut
The "Spirit" of the design does not come through unless used. -Sal
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Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
Maybe just me but the image isn't showing
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Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
Here's a Waterway next to a custom version, both with distal taper. The spine is thickest at the handle and tapers toward the tip.
:spyder: Spyderco fan and collector since 1991. :spyder:
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
Father of 2, nature explorer, custom knife maker.
@ckc_knifemaker on Instagram.
- dj moonbat
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Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
Distal taper is when the blade stock gets thinner as it gets farther (more distant) from the grip. Proximal taper would be when the stock thins as it gets closer to the grip. Because a lot of people don't know what "distal" actually means, you'll sometimes hear ANY taper in stock thickness along the length of the blade referred to as a distal taper.
- JonLeBlanc
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Re: What is meant by "distal taper"?
Ok thanks y'all, that's quite clear now.
My collection so far: 52100 Military (2); 52100 PM2 (2); 52100 Para3; Stretch2 V-Toku; KnifeWorks M4 PM2; BentoBox M390 PM2; BentoBox S90V Military; Police4 K390; S110V PM2; SS Delica AUS-6; Wayne Goddard Sprint VG-10
Wish list: Hundred Pacer; Sliverax; Mantra; 52100 PM2 SE; Kapara
Wish list: Hundred Pacer; Sliverax; Mantra; 52100 PM2 SE; Kapara