High-relief blades are one of the more popular edge geometries for Bowie knives. They are made using a consistent angle from spine to tip. They are similar to a flat grind, but their angle reaches all the way across the blade instead of just from the beginning of the bevel to the edge. They have a very distinctive look and are favored by some collectors. They’re also of great practical value and many outdoor enthusiasts swear by them.
Because Bowie knives are oftentimes used for taxing work, the high-relief blade is sometimes a good choice. This blade is very easy to sharpen. The angle is consistent so, to achieve the proper orientation of blade and stone, one can use a reference point anywhere along the blade. This makes them good choices for blades that are likely to be sharpened in the field, when you don’t’ have all your best sharpening tools with you to bring to the job.
The high-relief blade does have its disadvantages. The edge tends to be a bit brittle, though it is very sharp. It is also directly linked to the rest of the blade, unlike Bowie knives with a double beveled edge. Conceivably, the edge of a double bevel grind could be broken off the blade without taking much blade metal with it. On a flat grind, there is no separation between the blade and the edge. This is not, however, a compromised edge in any way. It’s very good for certain applications.
Flat blade and high-relief knives are sometimes a bit more expensive than other Bowie knives. The more common grinds, such as double bevels, hollow grinds and saber grinds are a bit easier to create and, thus, flat grinds are harder to produce. The quality of the steel used in the knife, however, will still have more bearing on how much you sharpen the blade and how it performs. Your preference where the blade grind is concerned may change with different tasks.
High-relief blades are very useful for specific applications. However, they are not good options for general use. The unique nature of the blade, even with special alloys used in construction, means that they can still be easily damaged by being handled the wrong way. Therefore, you should think very carefully about choosing this type of knife, even if it is a Bowie knife. It can be an excellent tool, but is certainly not right for all applications. If you need a good, all around knife blade, then you might consider a drop point blade or a clip point option.
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knife store featuring bowie knives for sale.
