Drop Points and tip height

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rice.flac

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Sep 12, 2025
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So I recently acquired a Benchmade Bugout. Naturally, it replaced what was in my pocket before which was a Civivi Trailblazer. Both are drop point blades however, I noticed that the Trailblazer has a "higher" tip. It made me wonder if this was an aesthetic choice on the designers end or are there tradeoffs between a drop point that dips lower from the spine? I tried to get the best pictures I could of what I mean. It seems really small but it feels profoundly different in use, which is what prompted me to bring this to the forums and see if I can learn something!

ECXrFEz.jpeg


fcr6N1p.jpeg


Eim9O4G.jpeg


Sorry if the pictures aren't super scientific tried to capture what I ment the best I could.

So aesthetics? function? what gives!

Thank you for reading!

EDIT: actually got the pictures to post right
 
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A higher point on a knife (relative to the handle) means more wrist actuation before getting the point involved in a cut, whereas a lower point is easier to bring to bear in a cut. Some cutting tasks you want to limit point engagement, like skinning, so a higher point is desirable, and some tasks call for greater point engagement, like scoring, so lower points and blade shapes like wharncliffes with very low points excel there.
 
Same with food on a cutting board. And making space for my knuckles. I often choose a "Skinner" to do picnics and food prep. (If it doesn't have that kitchen knife style drop.)
 
rice.flac said:
So I recently acquired a Benchmade Bugout. Naturally, it replaced what was in my pocket before which was a Civivi Trailblazer. Both are drop point blades however, I noticed that the Trailblazer has a "higher" tip. It made me wonder if this was an aesthetic choice on the designers end or are there tradeoffs between a drop point that dips lower from the spine? I tried to get the best pictures I could of what I mean. It seems really small but it feels profoundly different in use, which is what prompted me to bring this to the forums and see if I can learn something!

ECXrFEz.jpeg


fcr6N1p.jpeg


Eim9O4G.jpeg


Sorry if the pictures aren't super scientific tried to capture what I ment the best I could.
Click to expand...


You will love that Bugout. I have the same one. Great knife once you start using it and ignore the butterfly tax.

Also own a Benchmade Proper. A smaller knife with a lower blade point. Gives me amazing point control.
 
I wouldn't agonize over this.

One aspect is esthetics . . .does it look good to you.

The other consideration would be practical usability, does it work well in the way ups use it?

Only you can decide.
 
The higher point on a folder makes it less apt to close when pushing the point into something.

If a knife is designed for stabbing in combat then a central point makes sense. But I find high points or low points more useful in more mundane tasks.
 
I am definitely in favor of a lower point on a knife because it feels much better for edc tasks, draw cuts, etc.
I absolutely love sodbusters and opinels, but the high point almost even with the spine is the one thing I dislike about them, and is one of the reasons I dont carry them all the time.
 
Why not mod one of your Opinels chevyrulez1 chevyrulez1 ? Give it a trim. Could be fun.
 
We could talk for hours about what makes a good tip.... There are compromises all around.

From
Piercing
Slicing
Angle of use
Chopping

I could give reasons for both depending on the situations...and every knife from chefs knives to choppers....each has it's benefits in use
 
I think a lot of blade shape is just up to the designer and what looks good, but can affect performance.
These are based on some of my observations, I'm not an expert: Take a rectangular blank, grind the end of it into a curve and you have a basic knife. The point is high, not very pointed, not good for thrusting, but the curved end is better for skinning. A drop point is intended to be good for skinning but less apt to puncture organs when unzipping the skin from inside. A clip point does somewhat the same thing but moves the point farther down and provides a keener point. A spear point is intended more for thrusting but a clip point can do this too. Then blades like sheepsfoot are better for cutting things just along the cutting edge. So you can see that slight changes in a blade shape can affect performance in different ways.
 
rice.flac said:
So I recently acquired a Benchmade Bugout. Naturally, it replaced what was in my pocket before which was a Civivi Trailblazer. Both are drop point blades however, I noticed that the Trailblazer has a "higher" tip. It made me wonder if this was an aesthetic choice on the designers end or are there tradeoffs between a drop point that dips lower from the spine? I tried to get the best pictures I could of what I mean. It seems really small but it feels profoundly different in use, which is what prompted me to bring this to the forums and see if I can learn something!

ECXrFEz.jpeg


fcr6N1p.jpeg


Eim9O4G.jpeg


Sorry if the pictures aren't super scientific tried to capture what I ment the best I could.

So aesthetics? function? what gives!

Thank you for reading!

EDIT: actually got the pictures to post right
Click to expand...
This is big one for me, since l start a lot of my work with a piercing or drilling motion. Tip on/below center line for me.
 
Another thought to ponder - when does a drop point stop being a drop point and become a spear point?
🤷
 
^^For me, when the radius of the spine and the radius of the edge are equal and symmetric, or nearly so. Like a typical Kephart for example. There is some grey area in there, to be sure…
 
JBoone said:
Another thought to ponder - when does a drop point stop being a drop point and become a spear point?
🤷
Click to expand...

I consider a lot of that to be subjective/arbitrary.
 
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