survival

Pocket Preps: Recurve Blades

https://survivalmagazine.org/gear-reviews-testing/pocket-preps-recurve-blades/

The recurve blade is a design that has been around forever in some form, but in the past 25 years or so, it has really taken off and become a popular EDC profile. At one time, the design was made to facilitate chopping and hacking, but as knives and blade steels have evolved, so has the application of the recurve blade. Depending on which historian you believe, the design originated in the ancient world. The kukri, kopis, falcatta, golok, dao, scimitar, and other similar designs exhibit recurve styles with a larger curve and more weight toward the front of the blade. They were all almost undoubtedly choppers — whether meant to hack through thick vegetation or a warrior’s leather, metal, or wicker armor.

The geometry of the recurve potentially allowed for efficient slicing, and this pattern was popular on butcher knives and skinning knives in more recent centuries. We still see them on various choppers like machetes or kukris, but on the full range of EDC blades they offer another advantage: They pack more usable blade length into a smaller package. If you compare blades with even a slight recurve, you’ll find that you’re gaining the cutting power of a blade from 25- to 75-percent longer than the straight length measurement of the recurve blade. To simplify this, think of your 4-inch-bladed recurve
having the cutting power of a 5- to 6-inch blade.

If there’s a drawback to the recurve, it may be maintaining the edge. Much like the hawksbill — but not as bad — you’ll find that most whetstones and straight sharpening devices won’t work well with a more dramatic recurve. You can either send them back to the maker or manufacturer, visit or send to a professional knife sharpener, or invest in a round-shaped sharpening stone or rod.

The recurve was born out of basic geometry and has really improved over the centuries we’ve seen it in use. Whether you need something for slicing, chopping, or just a good self-defense blade, the recurve has a little bit more to it than meets the eye.

Mini My So

Bram Frank is a Grandmaster of Arnis and has developed a series of self-defense-oriented knives based on his teaching. The Mini My So is a small concealable folder featuring a recurve blade fit for an ancient warrior with respect to its design. Available in a variety of colors (pink, black/pink, black/tan) and three sizes (mini, medium, and large), this is a knife designed to be carried comfortably but ready to deploy instantly. This is a somewhat specialized design, and it’s advised that you seek training with Bram Frank or one of his instructors in order to fully understand the intricacies of its design.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 6.8 inches

Blade Length: 2.8 inches

Weight: 4 ounces

Blade Material: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel

Price: $100

URL: cssd-sc.com

North Fork

The North Fork has a dressy look to it with its stabilized Dymandwood scales, and the blade has one of the slightest recurves compared to the rest on our list. Benchmade offers this as a potential pocket skinning blade for processing game, but it makes for a very effective EDC knife. The Axis lock mechanism makes it easy to open or close the blade with one hand and a flick of the wrist.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 7 inches

Blade Length: 3 inches

Weight: 3.2 ounces

Blade Material: S30V

Price: $220

URL: benchmade.com

ZT 0350

Zero Tolerance is a division of KAI/Kershaw Knives, and this company prides itself on their designs coming from the demands of military professionals. The ZT 0350 is a good-sized recurve blade that deploys by means of the speed-assist mechanism. This is a scaled-down version of the ZT 0300, making it lighter and more pocket friendly. The G10 feels great in the hand with its natural texture.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 7.6 inches

Blade Length: 3.3 inches

Weight: 6.2 ounces

Blade Material: S30V

Price: $235

URL: zt.kaiusa.com

Golgotha

Mercworx Knives has a long and consistent history in the realm of tactical fixed blades. Made by professionals for professionals, these knives have seen serious use with elite troops all over the globe. The Golgotha sports a chili-pepper-shaped handle that locks into your hand in either the forward or reverse grip and is extremely comfortable. The blade is a bold-styled recurve that brings to mind a Kopis or Falcatta, albeit a scaled-down one.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 8.5 inches

Blade Length: 4.5 inches

Weight: 8 ounces

Blade Material: 154CM

Price: $375

URL: mercworxknives.com

Kiku FX Fixed Blade

SOG Knives has been partnered with custom knifemaker Kiku Matsuda for a number of years. He brings quite a few fixed blade and folding designs to the table with his compound recurve designs. The FX Fixed blade features a variety of different handle materials and colors, from natural linen Micarta in this one to orange G10. The handle material and texturing give this knife great ergonomics.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 8.7 inches

Blade Length: 4.1 inches

Weight: 7.4 ounces

Blade Material: S35VN

Price: $150

URL: sogknives.com

Commander

Emerson was asked to design a folding knife for use by the SEAL Teams, and the original submission was deemed too scary by the Navy brass, despite the fact the SEALs loved it. Emerson changed the blade design to a more utilitarian shape in the form of a recurve. He was asked to incorporate a blade catcher on the top of the blade for knife fighting. As silly as this may sound, the device, now known as the Emerson Wave Shaped Opening Device, opened the knife as it was drawn from the pocket, which soon propelled Emerson into an even higher demand from knife users.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 8.8 inches

Blade Length: 3.8 inches

Weight: 5.5 ounces

Blade Material: 154CM

Price: $269

URL: emersonknives.com

Deplorable Titanium

V Nives is one of the fastest-growing knife companies in the U.S., producing collaborative designs with custom knifemakers. The Deplorable Titanium is based on a design by custom maker Jerry Hossom. There’s an economical version of this model about $300 cheaper, but they sent us the version with the sculpted titanium frame lock handle. The sculpted handle offers a nice grip and imparts the look and feel of a custom knife. Whether you go with this one or the economy version, the Hossom-designed blade makes for an amazing recurve style even if it’s more of a strike point than a curve.

Pros:

Cons:

Overall length: 9.3 inches

Blade Length: 3.9 inches

Weight: 6.5 ounces

Blade Material: S35VN

Price: $370

URL: vnives.com

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