New to Forum and Hollow Grind question

[Dkeller717]

Hello everyone,

I've had Spyderco knives for years with my first one being a Delica in half serrated and half plain edge. Then I got two more Delica 4's in plain edge for defensive carry after I took defensive folding knife class about 18 years ago. The class was based on the "clip-it" knife. Very useful course. However I am recently going over Martial Blade Concepts videos which I find extremely informative. Shortly I will contact an MBC trainer close to where I live for some one on one training.

Other Spyderco knives I have are: Paramilitary 1 that is only tip down carry, a small one that I can't think of the name of at the moment, but you move the scales opposite of each other to release the lock and close it, and most recently a Yojimbo 2 in blackout with DLC coating.

I have some other brands too, but I always come back to Spyderco due to their quality and the ease of the "hole" for opening.

My only question at the moment is what is the advantage of the hollow grind on the yojimbo 2 instead of a flat edge grind?

[Michael Janich]

Dear Dave:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

I chose a hollow grind on the Yojimbo 2 for several reasons. First, it ensured great edge geometry for cutting performance and a long service life after multiple sharpenings. It also left lots of mass near the spine of the blade for high-speed openings--especially with my preferred method. Finally, based on Spyderco's in-house capabilities at the time (over a decade ago), the hollow-grind didn't require any contracted services, so it simplified production.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Mike

[Doc Dan]

A good hollow grind is a superb cutter. The blade is thin with a thicker spine for strength. I usually love true hollow grinds (as opposed to a saber grind, which some confuse with it). My favorite skinning knife is hollow ground. Buck uses hollow grinds exclusively because of cutting performance, but this makes sense because they are a hunting oriented company.

[yablanowitz]

Welcome aboard! The little knife with the scale release is called a Meerkat, and the lock is called a phantom lock. Lots of fun to hand to people and watch them trying to close it.

[Dkeller717]

Dear Dave:

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum.

I chose a hollow grind on the Yojimbo 2 for several reasons. First, it ensured great edge geometry for cutting performance and a long service life after multiple sharpenings. It also left lots of mass near the spine of the blade for high-speed openings--especially with my preferred method. Finally, based on Spyderco's in-house capabilities at the time (over a decade ago), the hollow-grind didn't require any contracted services, so it simplified production.

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Mike

Thanks. Mike.

[Dkeller717]

A good hollow grind is a superb cutter. The blade is thin with a thicker spine for strength. I usually love true hollow grinds (as opposed to a saber grind, which some confuse with it). My favorite skinning knife is hollow ground. Buck uses hollow grinds exclusively because of cutting performance, but this makes sense because they are a hunting oriented company.

Thank you. Do hollow grinds hold up for utility knives too?

[Dkeller717]

Welcome aboard! The little knife with the scale release is called a Meerkat, and the lock is called a phantom lock. Lots of fun to hand to people and watch them trying to close it.

Thanks.

[vivi]

A good hollow grind is a superb cutter. The blade is thin with a thicker spine for strength. I usually love true hollow grinds (as opposed to a saber grind, which some confuse with it). My favorite skinning knife is hollow ground. Buck uses hollow grinds exclusively because of cutting performance, but this makes sense because they are a hunting oriented company.

Thank you. Do hollow grinds hold up for utility knives too?

Yes. I've carried the Yojimbo 2, Yojumbo and Ronin 2 as pure utility knives over the years.

I also questioned going from full flat grind to hollow grind as a fan of the Yojimbo 1. But after having used the second gen series for years I can confidently say they both hold up to utility work and show excellent cutting performance. All my doubts have been erased through experience.

I use them for everything - slicing up cardboard, carving wood at the camp site, slicing up food etc. Great knives for their intended purpose I'm sure, but also nice for the mundane tasks I use them for.

[Doc Dan]

A good hollow grind is a superb cutter. The blade is thin with a thicker spine for strength. I usually love true hollow grinds (as opposed to a saber grind, which some confuse with it). My favorite skinning knife is hollow ground. Buck uses hollow grinds exclusively because of cutting performance, but this makes sense because they are a hunting oriented company.

Thank you. Do hollow grinds hold up for utility knives too?

For most uses, yes. They hold up quite well. There is a video somewhere of a knife with a high hollow grind getting abused and it was amazingly tough. If I can find it I post it to you.

[Wartstein]

I second Mr. Janich, Vivi and Doc:

- A sabre hollow grind will hold up for "utility" knives no problem and can really take a beating. I think as a tough beater knife many here would recommend a Pacific Salt (among others): Sabre hollow grind...

- A sabre hollow grind normally will give you even an "reinforcement" where knives are most likely to break/snap: At the tip. Especially compared to ffg. On the flipsider tips on sabre hollow grind blades are most times less pointy and in some tasks less useful by that

- As Michael said: A hollow grind blade will not get "thick" as soon as an ffg or true sabre grind blade after many sharpenings, but remain thinner a bit higher up the blade

- In quite some tasks a hollow grind performs even better than ffg (especially when cutting stuff with not much diameter), while in my experience a true sabre grind has not many advantages (in a FOLDER, I mean).
I´d put it like this: When it comes to versatility for all realistic folder tasks, and ffg gets a 10 out of 10 there: I´d say a sabre HOLLOW grind gets a 9, while a true sabre for me would only get a 4 or 5 in my personal "ranking".

[sal]

Hi Dkeller,

Welcome to our forum.

Blade shapes and blade grinds are, in my opinion, all good depending on what features you want the tool to perform. If you are into learning, you'll have to use them all and decide for yourself what shape/grind/steel/edge works best for you.

The use of a knife is a very personal thing. Your attention is on "the cut", whatever "the cut" is. What "flavor" is best for you?

I almost always carry two knives. a small efficient folder, currently a Manbug "Leaf" prototype and a larger folder in the 3.5" - 4.0" folder, which I use for everything from chores to meals. I'm "on Island" so it's often a Salt of some type or a proto or 1st article. I'm currently carrying a Caly 3.5 production folder.

sal

[Dkeller717]

Thank you everyone for the replies. All the information is very helpful.