? on blade length

[SVanderkolff]

How do you measure blade length. Most of my knives have a curved bolster so there could be as much as 3/4 of an inch difference in blade length if measured from the botom of the blade versus the top. Is there a standard way to measure this?
Hope this isn't a dumb question.
Thanks
Steve

[dogman]

In you case, I would say the center of the front of the bolster.

[Bob Warner]

At first I would agree with Bob.

One thing to think of.

I read that there was a question on blade length during a trial for some guy that stabbed someone. According to the guy, the blade length was legal because the sharp edge was within the limits of the legal measurement. He lost this arguement because the lawyers convinced the jury that the blade length was the longest measurement of the blade, tip to the farthest point of the guard (bolster in this case).

Just something to think about.

[Deck H]

What Bob said. At least that is the law in Texas. Blade length is the measurement from the tip to the guard/bolster.

[Jason Cutter]

Steve, What everyone's said so far is correct. But in terms of laws, they tend to differ a bit. Of course, the edge length is something else again. A simple way to define blade length is to say, how long is the piece of steel outside of the handle. I then consider edge length separately.

In my descriptions of my own knives, I state both blade length as well as edge length. On many of my compact knives, the edge starts almost immediately after the bolster or guard, effectively putting as much edge on as small a knife as possible. On my larger hunters, I design a choil to choke up the grip. The edge on such a knife would be at least an inch shorter than on the other sort. Eg.- 4inch blade and 4inch edge vs. 7inch blade, 5-3/4inch cutting edge

When I describe it that way, most people get a better mental picture of what I'm on about, especially those who have seen or bought my knives before.

Just a few other things to consider.

Cheers.