What Are the Different Blades on a Pocket Knife for?

Clip point blades resemble simple blades in that they have a (nearly) straight spine; however, clip point blades have a section that looks “clipped” at the end of the blade near the point, as if a small bite has been taken out of the end of the spine.

This clipped end can be straight or crescent-shaped. This clip makes the tip of the blade very fine and needle-like, so it is great for puncturing and piercing holes.

If you want to know more about clip point knives you can read our article about Clip Point Blade Advantages And Disadvantages.

Drop Point Blade

Drop point blades are named for their curve at the spine as they reach the point of the blade. Many chef’s knives have drop point blades.

Like the simple blade, drop point blades are multi-purpose and good for general cutting and simple tasks, with the added benefit of a more precise tip that can be used for puncturing and piercing.

The curved “drop” at the spine of this blade is usually sharp though, so be sure not to apply pressure at the top of the spine on this kind of blade.

Spear Point Blade

Spear point blades have a symmetrical point and a tip that is aligned with the center of the blade. They are usually double-edged.

This sort of blade is ideal for piercing or use as a thrusting weapon and is considered a dagger (although the term dagger applies to other types of blades as well).

It is not practical for everyday use and instead is typically used for fighting.

Needle Point Blade

Needle point blades are similar to spear point blades but taper more to form a needle-like tip. They are usually more narrow than spear point blades, especially at the point.

Hawkbill blade

The Hawkbill blade is a workhorse of a blade style.  It's inward curving belly, arched spine, and pointed tip make it a very sturdy blade that is very suited to cutting things such as rope, wire, branches and any other difficult cutting tasks.

We take a closer look at this traditional work designed blade in our post about Hawkbill Blade Advantages.

Tanto Blades

A very popular and very strong blade style is the tanto blade.  It was inspired by the traditional Japanese Tanto knife, however, it has been modernized for western knife users.

The modern Tanto blade has a very angular tip which comprises to separate angles that come together to for a triangular tip.  This tip style allows for the spine of the knife to remain thick right up to the point which gives this blade style great strength.

While the usually straight belly of the main blade can make certain slicing tasks inefficient, the Tanto blades extreme point strength excels at puncturing tasks.

Spey Point Blade

Spey point blades have a mostly straight edge with a defined and sudden curve at the point of the blade. The spine is also almost straight with a downward curve at the end to meet the upward curve of the sharp side.

The shape is useful in fine work and helps prevent accidental punctures. Named after its use in spaying animals, spey point blades are also used to skin animals.  Our detailed post about the Spey blade can be found here.

Ceramic Knife Blades

Ceramic knife blades are become more of a common things in many kitchens.  Their extremely hard blade makes them appeal to many people.  Ceramic knife blade hardness allow them to stay sharp for a lot longer than a comparable steel kitchen knife. Although, this extreme hardness also makes them quite brittle and susceptible to chipping and breaking.

If you want to read all about Ceramic Knife Pros And Cons and find out if they are worth it then have a look at our detailed post by clicking the link.

Blades other than knives

While a knife is an everyday blade that many of us carry, there are many different types of blades on other tools.  Tools such as axes, hatchets, and tomahawks are all very useful and can be used for different cutting and chopping activities.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many types of blades available. The type of knife you want to purchase or use really depends on your daily activities and your intended use of the knife.

For hunting, you may want to purchase a pocket knife with a spay point blade or trailing point blade.

For puncturing small holes or piercing, you may want a drop point blade or clip point blade.

If you plan to use the knife for self-defense or fighting, a spear point or needle point blade may be what you need.

You can’t go wrong with a simple blade for everyday tasks.

Try out the different blades on your pocket knife on various projects and see which ones work best for you.

Ultimately, pocket knives are a very personal item, and you can only go wrong by choosing a knife that you are uncomfortable using and that doesn’t make the kinds of cuts you want.