Hard metal cutting tool holder blade and cutting tool having such holder blade

A cutting tool holder blade (100, 101) having opposite ends (136) and a longitudinal mid-axis (A) lying on a mid-plane (P) and extending between the opposite ends (136), the cutting tool holder blade (100, 101) comprising:

• at least one insert clamping portion (102) having at least one insert pocket (104), the insert pocket (104) comprising:
• a base jaw (106) having a base jaw abutment surface (108);
• a clamping jaw (110) resiliently connected to the base jaw in a unitary one-piece construction, the clamping jaw (110) having a clamping surface (112) facing opposite the base jaw abutment surface (108) and an insert stop surface (114);
• a curved inner surface (116) extending from the base jaw abutment surface (108) towards and along the clamping jaw (110), the curved inner surface (116) having a front extremity portion (118);
• an insert receiving slot (104a) defined between the clamping surface (112) and the base jaw abutment surface (108),
• wherein:
• the holder blade (100, 101) is formed of hard metal;
• the at least one insert clamping portion (102) has a front plane (F) extending perpendicular to the mid-plane (P), the front plane (F) passing through a forwardmost portion of a front surface (122) of the at least one insert clamping portion (102);
• the clamping surface (112) overhangs the front extremity portion (118) of the curved inner surface (116), in a direction towards the base jaw (106) and away from the front plane (F);
• and
• the insert receiving (104) has an insert insertion direction (DINS) which is generally parallel to the front plane (F) and generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal mid-axis (A) and the mid-plane (P).