Drop Point vs Clip Point?

[TripleB67]

I recently asked about a EDC with a blade length between 2.0 and 2.5". After some great recommendations here, and a lot of research, I've got my choice narrowed down to either the Cold Steel Tuff Light or the Civivi Baby Banter 2.

The Civivi Baby Banter 2 comes in two versions:
- standard version with a Drop Point blade
- TG version (that includes toothpick and tweezers) with a Clip Point blade

Which tip is most useful for this type/length of knife?

And if anyone has used one/two/all three of the knives mentioned above, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you in advance for any and all help!

TripleB67

 

[DrRollinstein]

For me personally, clip point feels cooler and more nostalgic, but drop points tend to be better overall.

Sometimes coolness beats out usability for me, not gonna lie.

 

[Railsplitter]

Ask yourself what kind of tasks you will mostly use the knife for and imagine using each blade type for those tasks. That should give you a good idea of which blade is best for you.

 

[Grip]

Depends on use. Clip points do look sexier.

 

[HwangJino]

I love this blade shape, very useful for my everyday tasks.

 

[knarfeng]

The Civivi Baby Banter 2 comes in two versions:
- standard version with a Drop Point blade
- TG version (that includes toothpick and tweezers) with a Clip Point blade

Which tip is most useful for this type/length of knife?

And if anyone has used one/two/all three of the knives mentioned above, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you in advance for any and all help!

TripleB67

I don't have any Banters, but the Baby Banter is a smaller knife with less than a 2.5" blade. I consider that for short blades a drop point is preferable rather than a clip point.

 

[Lesknife]

I think it depends on how aggressive you are with the tip. Some people are prone to use more force, stabbing into dense materials and to pry with the tip more than others. I learned at an early age to be careful and not pry with the tip or throw it like a westerns movie. Lol. I haven’t broken or damaged a knife tip since I was a little kid by simply taking care to use it properly. Otherwise it is personal preference and what you want to try.

 

[TripleB67]

I'm not sure about the coolness/sexiness factor of each shape of blade, but the TG version seems cool because of the tweezers and toothpick that are in the knife . Takes me back to when I used to carry a Swiss Army knife.

I guess I should have mentioned the other major difference*: the standard version has a Nitro-V blade and the TG version has a 14C28N blade.

Thanks for all the input!

I guess photos might be helpful. Baby Banter 2 first pic and Baby Banter 2 TG second pic.

TripleB67

*the handles are different as well...the standard version offers a choice (depending on color) of canvas micarta or aluminum and the TG version with G10.

 

[abcdef]

Zulu wins with me.

 

[eveled]

If the point is at the mid line of the blade, it doesn’t make much difference.

Clip points can have a much higher point and more belly. Which is my preference.

 

[Battle Creek Knives]

I havent been around in a handful of years and now all this rave about super steels, and I thought s30v was good enough, and hard enough to sharpen...

in my experience over the years steel comes in 3rd regarding toughness, 1st is blade geometry 2nd Heat Treat obviously... not every batch of knives will be the same, that said I've had an old kershaw skyline 15 or so years ago when they first came out with sanvic steel or whatever It was, basic run of the mill budget knives, I used it as a beater in construction, it cut lead roof jack's, shingles in a pinch, drywall, wire and more wire. Literally couldnt break it, abused it so much over the course of a year or so, I had to buy another before they discontinued it or something. That said when I got the new knife the blade was wider, the user had been sharpened so much became thinner...

moral of my coffee rant is, dont let a blade steel sway you to spend more money if its going to be a knife thats actually used to cut more than paper and string, if you intend to use the knife like intended, buy the shape thats going to hold up, to me its the drop point hands down. But I like the look of the clip so id prob pick that one regardless of steel...

 

[SharpBits]

I'm not sure about the coolness/sexiness factor of each shape of blade, but the TG version seems cool because of the tweezers and toothpick that are in the knife . Takes me back to when I used to carry a Swiss Army knife.

I guess I should have mentioned the other major difference*: the standard version has a Nitro-V blade and the TG version has a 14C28N blade.

Thanks for all the input!

I guess photos might be helpful. Baby Banter 2 first pic and Baby Banter 2 TG second pic.

TripleB67

*the handles are different as well...the standard version offers a choice (depending on color) of canvas micarta or aluminum and the TG version with G10.

From those pictures, I like the clip point version.
However, the extra tools are a nice add-on, so which ever model offer those is likely the one I would buy.

 

[TripleB67]

From those pictures, I like the clip point version.
However, the extra tools are a nice add-on, so which ever model offer those is likely the one I would buy.

The TG model is the clip point and the one with the extra tools - so a win/win

I think I am going to go with the TG clip point with the 14C28N blade (and toothpick/tweezers).

IMO, I just think I'll be happier carrying it because, again IMO, the coolness factor with this knife is a bit higher for me with the coloring and the "tools". Standard 1st two pics, TG model 2nd two pics.

Thanks for all the help and input!!!

TripleB67

 

[Maximumbob54]

I would just like to add they also have a Baby Banter with a Wharncliffe blade and it released I'd swear a week after I bought the drop point version. I found the drop point hard to keep that short curved edge sharp. Not sure if the nitro-v is softer or I was asking too much of it. That flat edge would be far easier to sharpen. It is just a liner lock though, not a crossbar lock.

Edit to add: I don't find nitro-v and 14C28N different enough to tell the difference in use. Between them it's just whichever one has the better heat treatment.

 

[edgelion]

Many times when using a drop point I wished it was a clip point instead. Never have I used a clip point and wished it was a drop point.

 

[Weiss]

2¢: I like clip points, and when it comes to the Baby Banter, I really like the TG version with tweezers and toothpick. That's just neat-o, and I'd much more likely use that blade than the wee one on my Swiss Army knife, which also has tweezers and a toothpick.

 

[DocJD]

Cold Steel Tuff Light

Get one of these in any case ! Great little box cutter and project knife .

 

[HwangJino]

Yeah i like the point a little under the middle line, im not doing any stabs/thrust. Sheepfoot is too flat, a small amount of belly is perfect.

 

[VorpelSword]

As a Boy Scout in the 1960s, about any knife I had seen was a clip point. I remember when Loveless brought out his "Drop point Hunter" it was a really new look in knives. I never quite got to like that profile. I carried a Buck 110 or 112 for years as an at-work EDC, and never got to really like it.

Today my EDC is a Leatherman Wave with its little drop point, but I'd rather have a different profile. I have an esthetic affinity for a more "utility" profile with a straighter spine and a bellied tip that curves up to meet that spine. An example that I admire is the CRK "Backpacker".

Another blade profile that I like is the discontinued Schrade SCHFSM one piece. I think the hollow handle makes it heavy and the tool kit ion the handle s absurd for a "survival" kn ife . . .but I do like the blade shape.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Drop points may be sturdier, but clip points work, too. Buck's 110 clip point blade is a classic IMHO, works great for just about any cutting chore. Doesn't work quite so well when used as a screwdriver, however, another reason never to loan your knife.