Reverse Tanto = Clip Point?

M

MatthewSB

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Just got a Benchmade Contego, labeled as a "reverse tanto". It's a clip point, just like the HK 14715, why the new name?

A blade with a straight cut at the tip has always been a Clip Point, am I missing something?

For the record, I dig the knife, just wondering when "reverse tanto" became a thing :D
 
Marketing. It is a really steep clip point and Bm isn't the first to offer the blade shape. Check out some of the folders by EKA, knives like the Normark/Swede have very similar steep clip point.
 
Likely marketing, just as likely could be what the designer called it/asked it be called.
 
Well, technically, a Wharncliffe is a style of straight-edge distal-drop-point with (usually) a distal taper, but the specific name is a simpler way of describing it.
A "sheepsfoot" blade should resemble its namesake, with a steeper drop-point occurring further along the blade, it can have a straight or slightly curved edge (belly).
A "spear-point" can be on any blade style wherein the point is beveled like a spear-head, be that a dual-edged dagger or a false-edge 'swedge'.

The "reverse tanto" is indeed a bizarre way of describing a dramatic clip-point. However, clip-points can have a straight-clip or rounded (like a finger-nail clipping) and can extend all the way from the guard or be present only at the last bit of tip. Benchmade or Osbourne wanted a way to differentiate their style from that of others. The choice is "bizarre" because it suggests that the direction of the cutting-edge is reversed, as if the clip and spine were sharpened rather than the belly! *shrug* Go figure.
 
And Allen Elishewitz refers this design as a 'Modified Warncliff" on the Hogue EX-04

BTW, Congratulations on the 810! I think it one of the best all around AXIS folding knives in the currently available BM line up.
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pbcg said:
BTW, Congratulations on the 810! I think it one of the best all around AXIS folding knives in the currently available BM line up.
Click to expand...

It's actually the fixed version, I'm really liking it except for the garbage sheath it came with. No worries, I'll make a better one, just got a whole new high tech kydex lab setup :D

That Hogue is beautiful!
 
MatthewSB said:
It's actually the fixed version, I'm really liking it except for the garbage sheath it came with. No worries, I'll make a better one, just got a whole new high tech kydex lab setup :D

That Hogue is beautiful!
Click to expand...

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I thought you meant the 810 folder.

As far as the blade design though (Reverse Tanto) not sure exactly why they named it that but from the Rift to the Contego, I've loved that design from day one.

I'm sure you'll be very pleaded with it so congrats still in order! The reinforced tip should really shine on the fixed version.

The Hogue EX-04 is one of my favorite knives. Allen posted a great series of utube vids on it's development and explores it's great range of utility. Also one of my favorites blade designs.
 
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