Poll: Blade shape

[AF1928]

Not an expert, but this sounds like the best explanation!!

It's a drop point, not a clip.

A drop point is convex from the spine to the point.
A clip point is concave from the spine to the point.
There is no symmetry between the upper and lower edge so it does not have any spear characteristic.

This back of this blade is clearly CONVEX in shape as it curves to meet the point..... DROP POINT

 

[pinnah]

pinnah,

I’m going to make a couple of comments and that will be the end for me. You can have the last word if you wish.

First, you wrote, “IMO, the hump and swedge make that a modified clip” That must refer to the photo from MT_Pokt. The knife in the original post has no swedge. Does that change anything for you?

For the blade in question, the “hump” points towards a clip point, but the “convex arc” points to a drop point. Is one character more important than the other? Maybe we should say that the blade isn’t a good example of either pattern but has characteristics of both. Do we need to force it into one category or another, or should we admit the world is full of variation?

I think your “best of breed” and my “idealized vision” are probably similar. As humans we categorize all sorts of things constantly and decisions are based on some vague standard. Sometimes that’s useful and sometimes it causes problems.

Your “best of breed” usage is timely since the Westminster Show is almost ready to go. Judges know the breed standards forwards and backwards and have judged thousands of dogs, but, nevertheless, their decision is subjective. It’s pretty safe to say that were two experienced people judging the same dogs each might pick a different individual as “best”.

That Loveless is a great drop point. If I were picking a favorite example, it might be one of the Al Mar ebony handled Custom Series by Gerber. Even when we are agreeing we can have slightly different ideas.

Finally, we all need to remember that we are only talking about knives. Surprisingly, there are a few things in the world that are more important, but at the moment I can't think of any.

Bert

Bert, if I've said anything that makes is appear that we're debating in a manner that either one of us can have "the last word" I apologize completely. Not at all my intention. It's just nice to talk knives with others who care. Please don't stop talking.

I agree with everything in your posts above and you were very right that I got the pictures turned around. The blade you posted certainly is an interesting one and, in the end, it's interesting because it doesn't fit into any category neatly.

Let me toss out another interesting blade shape for consideration.

(I'll try to post an embedded link later).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pinnah/15304595874/in/album-72157628500397713/

This is an older 500. Drop point or spear point? I tend to think of there being a spectrum of blade shapes with curved spines: spey, drop point, spear point, pen, Wharncliff. Where the tip ends up has something to do with that. Sometimes I look at my old 500 and think zulu spear. Other days, drop point. <shrug>

I don't what to think of your blade. It's interesting, that's for sure. I think you're spot on in thinking something funny happened to it.

 

[bertl]

pinnah,

No need to apologize. I just meant I had nothing more to offer.

Bert

 

[DeSotoSky]

One more stab at it.....
The top edge can be clipped (descriptively) but ......
If the top edge has any concavity as it approached the point, it is a Clip Point (name)