Pros and cons of spear point folders

S

SGT

Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
117
I have always been a drop point fan in folders , but latey thinking of getting a spear point.What are some pros and cons if any of the spear or drop point? Thanks.SGT
 
I would say that the the tip on the spear-point would be finer. That has a few advantages when doing detail work over the drop point. I would also say that the drop point would have "more" belly for cutting. I really perfer the leaf shape blade on the Spyderco's you get the best of both. Thanks. Just my opinion.
 
Look at the swiss army knife!

They are spearpoints.

As someone told me, spearpoints are some of the best blades out there for doing just about everything. :)
 
I have a CRKT M16 which I bought because of the spearpoint, must be the best if you need to stab, so good design.
 
One of the things that can set spear points back from regular blades such as drop points is that the grind can start sloping down towards the edge starting in the middle making the angle at which the blade goes to the point greater so it may not slice as well. Otherwise I love spearpoints and think they are a very ideal blade shapes.
 
I much prefer spearpoints, a tanto con for me would be sharpening that edge.
 
Any blade shape will have strengths and weaknesses. Spear points are frequently criticized for having weak points and poor slashing characteristics. Although this can be the case, it doesn't have to be if the blade is properly designed. Also, there is a right way and a wrong way to slash with spear points (although this is true of slashing with any knife, spear points will amplify mistakes in your technique relative to other blade designs). The spear point blade has been with us since the begining of tool making. If it was a bad as some people make it out to be, it would have died out a couple of thousand years ago.
 
I'd always thought that spear points were supposed to be one of the strongest of the "pointed" blade shapes: drop point, clip point, wharcliffe, spear point. Of course, sheepsfoot and hamaguri points are stronger, but I don't consider them "points" since the primary bevel doesn't go all the way to the point.
 
Yes, I also am under the impression that spearpoints characteristically have very strong tips.
We're talking about spearpoints, not daggers. Daggers are usually very narrow and can be weaker at the tip if lateral stress is applied. Spearpoints are not as narrow, and are geared toward utility cutting, not thrusting.
That being said, spearpoints are my favorite shape for general utility. I carry a SAK every day (spearpoint). If I carry a larger, stronger knife, it's usually an Emerson CQC-10 (spearpoint). Of course, instead I sometimes carry a BM 710 or a Spyderco, or one of several slipjoints (usually a Queen toothpick), but even then some of my slipjoints have spearpoints (canoe patterns, for example).
 
It sounds like we need to define exactly what we're talking about. Many different grinds are called spearpoints by people. I usual think of a spearpoint a flat ground blade (but not a full flat grind) with a grind line somewhere near the midpoint of the blade, that runs the length of the blade and ends at the tip. Something like the blade on a Benchmade 710. The tip is generally very strong with this type of grind.
 
I think "spearpoint" refers to the blade profile, or silhouette if you will.
It means that centerline runs, well, down the center of the blade. The point/tip is in line with the centerline. When viewed from the side, there appears to be an equal amount of metal above and below the centerline. The 710 is really a drop point, although it's almost a long clip.
Compare these pics.

Spearpoint:
CQC10_BTS_LG.jpg


Drop point(s):
yhst-93727123504836_1885_3763359

a_BM210.jpg

In the case of a drop point or a clip point, the pointed tip of the blade is well above the "centerline," and the blade is not symmetrical top-to-bottom. The "centerline" is not really in the center, but more toward the spine than the belly.
The blade on the BM 710 is more of an elongated drop- or clip-point.

Here's a traditional "California Clip" for comparison:
phpqDqkNe_300x300_13474.jpg

And a Benchmade 710:
bm710_5.jpg
 
That type of blade follows the same principle as the blades I consider spearpoints (symmetrical top-to-bottom, centerline true to center), but it's a little thinner making it closer to a dagger profile, IMO.
 
I agree with puukkoman that the pro-tech's in the picture aren't what I would consider a spear point, but are closer to a dagger point. On Darrel Ralph's site, you can see the difference between the spear point and dagger profile Mad Max blades.
 
I don't agree that the Protech isn't a spear point. I think a dagger point has a longer non-tapering blade that is symetrical.

However, I quess these differences of opinion are what make horse races.

Here is what I consider a classical dagger shape. Notice the long blade with very little taper.

http://www.fernknives.com/sog/desert-dagger/261/index.html

As an aside I can't believe anyone would pay $125 for a knife with these specs. I thought SOG was a little higher quality as far as materials.

Also daggers tend to be double-edged. Here is a beauty by famous maker Don Fogg.

http://www.dfoggknives.com/daggerforge.htm
 
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