Do we really need a finger choil ?

[Doc Dan]

I don't like finger choils as a rule. I like the one on the Military if I have to have one. It is not intrusive. Otherwise, I'd rather have more cutting edge and a handle with a finger guard that goes all the way out. I think choils waste good useable space.

[vivi]

I regularly use 10-14" knives at work that have no choil and they're easy enough to control. for cutting a cardboard box with a 3-4" blade a handle like the Resilience or Endura gives me plenty of control.

[rooster81]

I prefer choils for pocket knives, generally speaking, because choking up gives me better control for fine work.

The only knives that I prefer without a choil are wood working knives where you might need the added leverage and/or kitchen knives.

But what's great about Spyderco is there are enough models available that you should be able to find something that fits what you're looking for.

[PeanutButterFan]

Sal and Eric like finger choils. If you are someone who does not then spyderco may not be the brand for you.

As someone previously mentioned, spyderco makes plenty of knives that have finger choils and without. There are so many designs that it just seems silly to me to complain about a feature that many spydercos have.

It’s important to note the design philosophy behind spyderco knives. They design the edge first, then the blade to support that edge, and lastly the handle. Perfect blade to handle ratio is not a top priority for spyderco knives, generally. Also, the idea that a finger choil is just wasting potential edge real-estate, in my opinion, is invalid because the edge length is already established before the blade is even designed.

At the end of the day, they are all luxury items that no one NEEDS.

[SchoonerBum]

I can never decide if I like choils or not. My first Spyderco folder was a Native 5 Salt that I carried every day for nearly 3 years despite catching the Spyderco sickness and acquiring a lot more options. Then I picked up a Manbug one day and without thinking put my index finger in the choil. It went better than I would have expected (no blood drawn, surprisingly) but I switched over to my Pacific Salt 2 that very day, and I continue to be just as happy. All of my knives with choils are sock drawer queens right now but when we hopefully see a Stretch XL Salt appear I'll probably try the choil thing again.

At the end of the day I'm glad we have options!

[SRT392HEMI]

Just checked, and all mine have choils, so I guess I like em. Medium-average hands, but do find myself using the choil quite a bit.

[embry386]

They already make a standard, big, lightweight knife with max edge length and no choil. The Resilience is exactly that.

I dismissed it for a while because eww china / 8cr. but these days I would rather carry one over any Police or Military variation. The design is very good.

I agree 100%. Standard, big, lightweight knife with max edge length / no choil - and I have to add 4-way carry.

If I can't buy an expensive Spyderco that best fits what I want, I will reluctantly buy a less expensive one.

Oh wow, this picture is making me reconsider the Resilience. I've seen them before but always kind of dismissed them due to the linerlock, and didn't think of them when making that post.

I don't like linerlocks, but this knife might be worth trying anyway. And the lower price is a nice feature as well, won't feel bad about using it hard (or about buying multiples to keep in the car, the kitchen, etc).

[harpo1]

I own both the Resilience and Tenacious in S35VN and fit and finish is as good if not better than any other spyderco I own. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either of these.

[gad226]

Generally, with less than 3” blade, a choil feels natural. Over 3” the choil seems unnecessary, and even interferes with cutting.

[skeeg11]

Such a shame that that the Resilience is vastly underappreciated by many on this forum. Many feel that Chinese made knives must be low quality. No knife gets to be a Spyderco without meeting Spyderco standards. NONE. Most of the Spydercos I've purchased are task specific mostly with hunting and fishing applications in mind. My S35VN Resilience on the other hand is just a great solid all around general purpose utilitarian knife and blade design including SD against Russian bears. As far as build quality, fit, and finish go, it is right up there and I'm greatly impressed. And yesssssss, the Spydiehole is polished. Turning out to be even more of a gem than I had anticipated.

[vivi]

Such a shame that that the Resilience is vastly underappreciated by many on this forum. Many feel that Chinese made knives must be low quality. No knife gets to be a Spyderco without meeting Spyderco standards. NONE. Most of the Spydercos I've purchased are task specific mostly with hunting and fishing applications in mind. My S35VN Resilience on the other hand is just a great solid all around general purpose utilitarian knife and blade design including SD against Russian bears. As far as build quality, fit, and finish go, it is right up there and I'm greatly impressed. And yesssssss, the Spydiehole is polished. Turning out to be even more of a gem than I had anticipated.

I'm guilty. I overlooked it for years because I had an assortment top shelf spydies. Figured why would I carry a chinese linerlock in 8Cr when I had a micarta m4 manix xl, k390/pakkawood police, DLC Military and other nice knives.

After giving it a lot of carry this summer it's become my favorite knife to EDC.

For me the choil / no choil debate isn't as much about maximizing the edge to handle ratio as it is general cutting performance.

I typically don't buy knives that have sharpening choils because they get hung up on things I cut.

While having the start of the index choil sit lower than the edge helps mitigate this issue, things still get hung up on finger choils as well.

That's the main reason I like having the edge all the way to the handle. As a bonus, I get just as much control as with an index choil, but less snagging.

Even something like the Endura / Pacific Salt sometimes snags on things in the kick area.

[Doc Dan]

That snagging is a huge reason why I don't like choils. It is irritating and tears whatever I'm trying to cut. It makes more work.

[StuntZombie]

Other than the DF2, I have no interest in owning a knife that has a finger choil.

[JRinFL]

Cutting edge right up to your grip, no choil, no sharp opening hole, no clip screw holes, no funky serrations, no show stopping little tabs of titanium, no "out there" designs, no higher than expected cost. Did I solve all of this months complaints?

Oh, no, this has a terrible blade to handle ratio. Oh dear. We must all receive our Unicorn!

[billdoier72]

On a pocket folder? Yes.

I always thought it was a huge mistake the Delica didn't have one.

YMMV

[Tristan_david2001]

I’ve never had a spyderco that has a finger choil and didn’t think it enhanced the design or created a sure comfortable grip in hand. In the case of the Caly 3 and delica models, both very similar sized handles in the hand, but I feel I can get much better control over the blade on the Caly than I can the delica because of that awesome choil. The amount of models they have with choils that are home run designs and are beloved tells me finger choils are popular and preferred in the general market.

[PeanutButterFan]

Screen Shot 2022-08-23 at 1.49.43 PM.jpg

Cutting edge right up to your grip, no choil, no sharp opening hole, no clip screw holes, no funky serrations, no show stopping little tabs of titanium, no "out there" designs, no higher than expected cost. Did I solve all of this months complaints?

Oh, no, this has a terrible blade to handle ratio. Oh dear. We must all receive our Unicorn!

But no mAgNaCut so it’s worthless

[flipe8]

While I’m not opposed to choils, I rarely buy knives with them. I generally prefer knives with as much cutting edge as possible. I found the Caly 3.5 struck a great balance between integrating a choil while maintaining good cutting edge ratios.

[GarageBoy]

I like pronounced choils that you have to use (native 5, chaparral) or cutting edge that goes all the way to the handle (polestar)

[miohin]

I started out with a Tenacious and was shocked how much edge real estate the choil gobbled up when I got a Manix 2.

That being said, I prefer maximized cutting edge in concept but find myself carrying the Manix or Endura more than my Tenacious. Likely due to weight and the psychology of them being "nicer" than the fact that I prefer their ricasso/choil.