Knife Points and Grinds

Every once in a while a question comes up that just has to have a little more than a one word or one sentence reply. That question was: "I hear the term hollow ground mentioned a lot when knives are discussed, can you explain that please?"

To put it simply, it is the shape of the cutting edge of a knife or other sharp instrument after it has been sharpened. There are two other main shapes as well as hollow ground. They are flat ground and convex ground, or any variation in between the three shapes.

The simplest and easiest to do is the flat grind. It is also the most common of the three and is in the middle of the three grinds as far as strength, ease of cutting, and the length of time it will stay sharp, all other things being equal. From the edge line, or the small cutting surface of the blade, a flat surface is ground to a point on both sides of the blade.

The hollow ground, or concave ground blade is considered to be the sharpest of the three types of grinds, but it’s also the weakest because of its very thin final point. It is a good edge for slicing, but not strong enough for chopping. The thin edge makes it susceptible to chipping and dulling very quickly. Unless you have the proper equipment it is wise to have them re-sharpened or shaped by a qualified person.

The strongest of the three is the convex or the reverse of the hollow ground blade. It usually has the shortest cutting edge which is slightly rounded to a point making it ideal for large chopping and hacking knives such as cleavers. Again it is a little difficult to do without the proper sharpening devices.

To recap, the flat grind is the middle of the road as far as strength and cutting ability, but easiest to sharpen and maintain. The hollow grind is the sharpest, easiest cutting, but dulls quicker, could be damaged if used improperly, and should be sharpened by qualified persons. The convex or slightly rounded edge is the strongest, but not easy to slice with and also should be sharpened by someone who has the proper equipment and knowledge.

As in all things sharp, a little care is required to keep them in proper and safe working order.