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Re: Claws on deinonychosaurs




In the real world, assassins knives are curved. They cut throats better.
Frank (Rooster) Bliss
MS Biostratigraphy
Weston, Wyoming
www.cattleranch.org

Yes, in the real world, many blades are curved. Many swords produced in the Middle East were curved, as are Western sabers, katanas and many knives.


The curvature on these blades does not help them cut better in cutting tests, however.

They do cut _differently_ to some extent (ie. they tend to be used with the main contact point further from the tip), but they do not cut more effectively. Assassins knives may be curved for handling, or from a construction standpoint (my knife, for example, tapers on the blade side more than the side without an edge, so it is curved in profile). They do not cut more effectively, however.

Also, 'assassins knives' are recurved, not decurved, to the best of my knowledge, so I don't think they are often claw-shaped. Decurved knives are produced; I do not know what their purpose is.

--Mike

On Wednesday, November 2, 2005, at 08:06 PM, frank bliss wrote:

On Nov 2, 2005, at 1:32 PM, Michael Habib wrote:

Well, two comments on curvature and cutting surface:

1) The cutting surface would only be increased in length if the claw were curved in the other direction (recurved).

2) The concept of a curved edge (be it a claw, tooth, sword, etc) adding appreciably to total cutting power by adding edge length is something of an urban legend. The total amount of 'added edge' is pretty minor. Curved edges have advantages, but cutting is not one of them. A straight edge cuts just as well. (I, personally, was quite surprised to learn this little tidbit).

Cheers,
--Mike