Blade Grinding and Blade Geometry knifeopedia
​
By applying different ways of grinding, various blade geometries can be produced:
Hollow grind
​
The cheapest way of grinding a blade. The blanked steel is just ground in the lower area. Typical way of grinding for very low end knives, but also for serrated edges.​
​
PROS
Inexpensive
​CONS
Thick blade above grinding area = high cutting resistance
A lot of cutting drag in area of concave edge
Thin and fragile blade on cutting edge

Flat grind
​
The blade is ground flat on both sides to a thin edge.​
​
PROS
Thin blade and potentially good sharpness​
CONS
Thin and fragile edge
Contact of food along the entire blade = sticking and drag; more power needed for cutting

Convex grind
​
The blade is ground on both sides with a convex geometry. Common way of grinding German style knives.
​
PROS​
Food contact only on small area of blade = less sticking and drag​
CONS
Thicker blade in area close to edge = less sharpness




Single bevel flat grind
​
Adding a flat bevel on one side of the blade. Common way of grinding for scissors, but not knives. Also found in cheaper look-alikes of traditional Japanese knives.
​
​PROS
Very inexpensive way of blade grinding​
CONS
Blade only works for either left- or right-handed people, not for both
Straight cuts are difficult
Single bevel hollow grind
​
Hollow-grinding of blade on one side, and adding a bevel from the other side. Way of grinding of traditional Japanese single bevel edge knives.​
​
PROS
Very thin edge and hence very high sharpness
Generally good stability of blade​
CONS
Blade only works for either left- or right-handed people, not for both
Straight cuts are difficult (which is intended for a very specific use)
Thin and hence fragile and sensitive edge
Combination grind
​
Almost flat grind on the upper part of the blade and convexing only in the lower 1/3 of the blade. Way of grinding of Japanese double bevel edge knives.​
​
PROS
Generally thin blade, with added stability in edge area
Best compromise between sharpness and blade/edge stability
Less sticking/drag
​CONS
More expensive, since more grinding steps