A convex ground blade is a durable knife grind that curves outward, making it ideal for heavy chopping and slicing. It requires a skilled metalworker and special sharpening skills, but if well cared for, it can serve the owner well. Cleavers and axes are often made with convex ground blades. Cooks should take care to store knives safely.
A convex ground blade is a specific type of knife finish or grind. Unlike many knife grinds such as a hollow grind, a convex grind curves outward rather than cutting inward along the edge of the knife. As a result, the knife is extremely solid and durable, making it ideal for heavy chopping and slicing work. Cleavers and axes are often made with convex ground blades. A high quality convex ground blade can get expensive, as a good grind requires a skilled metalworker.
The finish on a knife is known as the grind. When a knife is honed, it is honed and also shaped for a lifetime of use. In many cases, a knife will need to be sharpened periodically during its use, but it should only be sharpened once. Therefore, the grind must be firm and practical for the knife’s intended application. There are numerous different types of grinds, all with strengths and weaknesses.
When a convex ground blade is viewed in cross section, the blade can be seen to have a curved taper, with the thickest part of the blade at the top and the narrowest section at the bottom, where the knife edge is. The blade is not flat or angled, but is instead ground as two distinct curves on either side of the blade. Because convex grinding is often used to refine axes, some people call it ax grinding.
Because a convex ground blade is so thick, it requires more metal than other knife blades. It also needs a sturdy handle to support the weight of the blade. Care should also be taken when maintaining the blade, as a convex ground blade requires special sharpening skills. If well cared for, however, the knife will serve the owner well.
In the realm of kitchen knives, convex sharp blades are usually associated with heavy, solid blades like cleavers. In addition to being able to cut through thick material, a cleaver can also be used as a chopping tool when served sideways, and some cooks also use the opposite flat, wide edge of the cleaver for specific tasks. Cooks should take care to store knives in a safe place, using knife guards when kept in a drawer and making sure knives are out of the reach of curious pets and children. A convex heavy ax or cleaver can easily sever fingers if mishandled.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
