There are many functional features in knives, such as the full tang vs partial tang differences, that increase how those knives can be used.
It’s also possible to get a knife that has a design element on it that is in no particular way useful but is there just to make it look good.
It is a fact that if you have ever wondered about the location of holes in a knife blade, you are at the right place.
So what is the significance of holes in some knife blades – and should you care about them?
Why some knives have holes
There are some reasons that are easy to understand, while others may be more difficult.
To determine which is which, I will leave it up to you.
Let’s get started.
Weight Reduction
Knives often weigh a lot, especially the blade. This is especially true for knives that are well-made.
The cutting edge of the knife is one of the most important parts to us. Despite being important too, the other parts of the blade support only the cutting edge.
By stamping out a chunk of the blade body, the knife manufacturer would cut down on all that weight. However, the knife’s functionality would not be impacted.
Managing Friction Better
When you are cutting certain foods, they will naturally cause some friction since they are starchy.
For this experiment, you may want to pick up a piece of potato as well as a mushroom. Using a knife without first cleaning it, make the cut through the raw potatoes and the mushrooms.
You’ll find that there’s more friction between the knife blade and the mushroom slices as a result of the starchy potato juices.
In the case of a knife with holes, the juice from the potatoes would not stick as much, therefore reducing friction when cutting mushrooms.
As a result, this type of knife with holes is perfect for people who prepare many meals on a daily basis and are not able to pause between cutting one thing and rinsing the knife blade off before cutting the next.
Storage
There are some manufacturers of knives who leave the knife holes in there so you have an additional knife storage option.
Such holes are visible on some models of MAC knives. Due to that design element, the knife can be hung up rather than left on the counter.
To store knives properly, you don’t need to buy one with holes. Discover other tips for storing knives here.
Ease of Use
There is a high chance that a hole in the blade of a folding knife helps in opening it.
Despite being copied by other folding knife brands, Spyderco designs are famous for carrying such an element on their blades. Copying shows that this idea works.
With this type of opening mechanism, folding knives that can be manually opened can be operated by pressing the blade up with your thumb. A semi-assisted opening knife may also benefit from this type of opening mechanism.
Prevent Stickiness
Almost the same as pointing out how to eliminate food friction earlier.
In order to ensure that your knife stays sharp, you should purchase a knife that doesn’t get stuck with food items if you do a decent amount of food prep. It is designed with holes near the tip of the blade so that foods items will not stick to it when cutting or bringing the knife out of the drawer.
As a result, you will find features such as these on some cheese knives, for example, which are designed to be used with this type of sticky meal.
Style
Hole-punching as part of a knife’s design is also a style element I cannot dismiss.
In today’s marketplace, manufacturers are doing a lot to differentiate themselves from the competition. Our knives can feature a variety of handles, including knives made of wood or even ones that have more complex designs, such as those on the Coolina series.
In that case, although the holes might serve a secondary purpose (such as reducing weight), they could just have been designed as an extra layer of detail for decoration purposes.
Self-defense
It is also said that knives that have holes are more easily removed from a stab wound than blades with straight edges.
In my opinion (and honestly, I hope that I will never have to test this out myself) I have not personally tested this out. However, you might want to give this idea some consideration if you are part of the military.
In addition, those who might use a knife as a form of self-defense should check to see if this is something that they are likely to consider.
Even if there is just a small aspect that would allow you to use a knife more effectively for self-defense legally, I believe that is something worth considering.
Cost Savings
It is possible that even though the knife manufacturer wants to develop a great knife, the price point isn’t all that appropriate.
In order to save on the knife, they might choose to cut some metal instead of using it.
In the event it is performed by a reputable company, this shouldn’t be an issue. Although they have reduced the metal that should go into the knife, it will still be engineered in such a way that it delivers on what it promises, despite the reduction in metal.
For Bayonets
Bayonets with a hole in them serve as pivot for wire cutters built into knife sheaths.
The knife becomes more functional with this design, and the sheath gets some action too!
Manufacturer Trademarks
Earlier I mentioned that some manufacturers, such as Spyderco, made pocket knives with holes in their blades. The company is not the only one to manufacture knives with holes.
The rockstead brand is yet another company that launches knives with small holes in them – something that the company does to make its impression on the market.
It is highly recommended to buy a Rockstead knife if you are looking for a knife that’s made well and designed with holes such that the functionality of the knife remains undisturbed, while at the same time making a visual suggestion that will allow buyers to recognize Rockstead knives more quickly.
Should you get a knife with a blade hole?
The answer depends on a number of factors.
If the knife hole helps you perform the intended task, you need to know why it is there in the first place. By logically deciding whether to have a hole on your knife, you can make an informed decision.
Unless otherwise specified, a knife is an aesthetic design element and should only be chosen if you are attracted to its aesthetic appeal.
Naturally, I am considering the knife is made by a reputable manufacturer and is of high quality. Other than the hole, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Additionally, if your knife has holes, it will need some extra cleaning time.
In most cases, knives can be cleaned by hand or wiped down. There may be times when you will need to spend extra time cleaning debris and dirt out of the inner openings of the knives, perhaps with a Q-tip or something similar.
As a result, you don’t want the juice residue from different food items interacting with the next food item you cut with the knife.
Final thoughts
You can fairly accurately guess why a knife blade has holes next time you see one.
It might be the case that the manufacturer meant for the hole to be used for one particular thing, but users would find a different use for it. The same can be said for the reasons mentioned above, as there is not just one single reason.
Make sure the knife has the hole you need, though, and that you know how to handle the blade properly.