Best EDC Blade Shape

T

TurnipGreens

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Oct 1, 2024
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Hello again! This is sort of a sequel to a previous thread of mine about EDC blade shapes. I tend to work in a specific style, whereby I go at a question from a couple different angles/shades to give me more to work with. My first thread was broad and a bit hypothetical; this one is more about what I actually need day-to-day. Whereas the other thread had multiple blades in view, this one focuses on singles blade shapes; that said, if you feel you must include a combo, go right ahead.

The question: what blade shape (based on your experience/research) would be the best suited to my actual uses (listed below)?

What I need a knife to do well: cut rope, plastic tags on clothing, plastic ties on kids' toys and the like, open letters, tape on packages, small branches on plants, cardboard, and clamshell/blister packaging; pierce feedbags; cut out straight lines on posterboard.

A couple notes:
- I'm more asking about general blade shapes rather than specific knife models by given manufacturers, due to trying to keep this a bit more generally applicable for myself and be able to consider other factors outside sheer utility. Though, if you want to list a good model/maker with the shape, go right ahead.
- I know most blade shapes could do these tasks with at least good results, but I'm looking for what each of you thinks is the best, even if it just edges out the others.
 
These all sound like general utilitarian tasks that would be served just as well by a razor blade and would benefit very little from much belly if not hindered. Therefore, my recommendations are the wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, or the tanto.
 
In your question is the word "pierce". I came to the same conclusion for my own use so I look for blades with reasonably keen points. Currently my carry knives are Spyderco PM2, Spyderco Manix 2 and Benchmade 913 Stryker. In reality there are a lot of blade shapes that could work for me. Clip points could also work for me, such as some of the larger Buck lockback knives. The amount of belly that the blade has doesn't matter to me. Some wharncliff and sheepsfoot blades can have a good point and could work for me, I just don't like the look as much and there are plenty of others for me to choose from. What doesn't work as well for me are drop point blades where there is more chance for the edge to curl up around the tip and become less pointed.
 
I find that the so-called "American tanto" such a you would find on a Cold Steel Recon1 does all those things you need to do easily, as long as its sharpened correctly so as not to lose the corner on the blade.
 
For the tasks you mention, just about any thin, sharp blade would do. An Emerson CQC-7BW works well for me as an all-round utility knife.
 
I'm going to go the road less traveled here and say hawkbill is my preferred general utility shape. I like the that it pierces at a 90 degree angle from the handle and cuts on a draw instead of a push. I've never had a hawkbill go wild cutting upon a clamshell or zip tie. I can also quite easily get a thumb directly behind the tip for precision work, and the blunt side of the tip is very safe to use as a lever.

I also like a good wharncliffe for many of the same reasons. My edc is usually a Spyderco Rockjumper and Cold Steel Tigerclaw with that silly ring removed. MAM does a nice, inexpensive wharncliffe that cuts like a razor, and the Cold Steel Tuff and Mini Tuff are also nice.
 
I like the tip of my knife at or below the pivot for disassembling boxes. It's not really a big deal though, high tip knives do the job too, just have to angle your wrist a bit more, or work further below you, or flip your knife over, etc. If you love how a knife looks, that's probably the knife for you.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
I'm going to go the road less traveled here and say hawkbill is my preferred general utility shape. I like the that it pierces at a 90 degree angle from the handle and cuts on a draw instead of a push. I've never had a hawkbill go wild cutting upon a clamshell or zip tie. I can also quite easily get a thumb directly behind the tip for precision work, and the blunt side of the tip is very safe to use as a lever.

I also like a good wharncliffe for many of the same reasons. My edc is usually a Spyderco Rockjumper and Cold Steel Tigerclaw with that silly ring removed. MAM does a nice, inexpensive wharncliffe that cuts like a razor, and the Cold Steel Tuff and Mini Tuff are also nice.
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I've considered the hawkbill, but heard mixed things. Some say it's an awesome general EDC. Others say it is terrible for general utility EDC and is only good for niche functions.
 
Have a Buck 301.

Three different knife blade types out of one folder.

D***it time to accept I lost mine and get a new one.
 
I'm trying to think of a blade shape I DON'T like for edc...?
Haha

I agree with alot said above.... I like modified sheepfoot (with a little belly), drop points, spear, and even trailing points or close with a woodcraft shape.

*Edit my current edc looks like a steak knife. It's not, but it Could be.
 
For general use, particularly those like you listed, I like something with a tip that's not too swept back, without much overall belly, but not necessarily a wharncliffe. Spyderco Delica, Kershaw Leek, Benchmade 940, etc. The edge-forward tip allows great control for draw cuts, precision tip work, etc. I don't care much for tips with a lot of belly, drop points with little drop, or clip points unless the clip is at least halfway to give it a needle point, and there's not a lot of belly.
 
Kershaw Blur is in my opinion the perfect blade shape.


Hard to beat a wharncliffe/ Olfa knife shape too though.
 
Probably the best of my bunch.
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