Spear or Clip blade?

[BenLong1018]

Which one do you prefer? I think I would prefer the clip over the spear just because it would more than likely have better piercing power.

 

[Peter Parker]

I like the dickens out of both but just ever so slightly prefer the spear; for me the spear is easier to maintain.

 

[Rsmith_77]

spear IS easier to maintain
but i do prefer a clip blade on a pocket knife
although i am drawn to drop points on my fixed blades

 

[pinnah]

For slip joints, strongly prefer spears.

For larger folders, prefer drop points.

The only spear point I've liked is on the Buck 112, but that's a very short clip and the blade has a lot of belly.

 

[richstag]

Why are you guys saying a spear is easier to maintain? I believe you, I am just wondering.

Im not sure I have decided for certain which of the two blade types I prefer. Sometimes I wonder if I lean towards one or the other just because of the overall knife they are on. Although, my GEC 54 big jack has both spear and clip and I used the spear 99.99% of the time. Hmmm.

Then again the spear is in front of the clip on my 54 so its the closest and easiest to open. IDK.

 

[confucius37]

I think I'm with Kevin, it depends on the particular knife for me. I will say that I find alot of use out of the tip of a clip point however. I use the tip to poke small holes, scrape things out of small spaces and sometimes I even cut something with it!

I don't think I'd spend too much time thinking hard on it, I'd go with the one I thought looked better for the particular knife.

 

[Bigfattyt]

A lot of the spear points have less sweep to the edge, out at the point. More like a warncliff hybrid. That does make sharpening the edge out front easier for some.

The Spear on my S&M Grandad barlow is like that.

The spear blade on that also gives more real estate to pinch open!

I don't have any problems sharpening clip points, but do like the pinchability of the spear point.

I like them all.

 

[rockgolfer]

Buy a moose with both, carry it for awhile and find out???

I like both. I agree that really some frames look like they where made for one or the other. Clips are more delicate with the tip. Spear is my choice for a harder use knife.

 

[richstag]

Gotcha, thanks T.

My 85 is closer to a modified wharncliffe. The ability to pinch a spear is another great one I forgot.

My 54 to me the edges actually seem about the same. The big difference was the clip was ground very thin and the spear was ground thick. I sharpened both differently. Clip is high polished and the spear was not. Clip only has patina near the spine from sweat from my hands.

 

[pinnah]

On slip joints, I suspect the issue may be related to one's primary use. I can understand why some prefer the small clips for piercing and if one is doing a lot of small game and fish cleaning, they may work better.

I tend to use my knives for shop use and food prep and after too many years of bike shop life, have come to accept a certain amount of bearing grease as a dietary supplement. In the shop, I prefer the quasi-warncliff shape of the US style (Ulster, Camillus and certainly NOT Buck) spear point. It's great for press cutting materials when they're laying on a flat surface. You have the belly of the blade to slice and the down pointed tip to get through that final bit. And for food prep, the wide belly of the spear makes it easy to spread stuff.


Modified Ulster Camper by Pinnah, on Flickr

Any time I use a clip point slip joint, I get very, very frustrated with the blade, usually along the lines of these 2 (for me) tasks.

NOTE: the clip on the Buck 112 is tolerable for both of these for me, but it's a rather unique clip point.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I usually prefer thinner blades with good piercing tips. That usually means a clip will be my preference, as most typical spear blades will be somewhat thick at the tip. BUT, a well-executed spear isn't so bad either, and I'll agree, they're probably among the easiest of edge profiles to sharpen up.

 

[jacktrades_nbk]

For me, the clip is more aesthetically pleasing, and i do love the thin tip. I know the wider spear may be more useful in food area, but for the few times i use my small pocket knife on that, i can manage with a clip as well.
That said, after i carried an alox soldier for years, and it has done everything i needed, it's weird how i now avoid putting a spear point blade in my pocket, and always going for the clip.
Still, i do like to use the small pen on my jack knives, which is still a spear.

 

[1066vik]

I am not fond of concave clip points - I like spears, drop points, and straight clips.
Preference goes to the drop point, then spear, then straight clip.
Concave clips have the weakest tip of these 4 styles.

 

[confucius37]

I am not fond of concave clip points

I agree with this one, I converted my opinel to a drop point because I broke the tip off.

 

[markpmc]

Clip for me. I'm warming up to the spear w/ a barlow I carry from time to time. But the clip just looks like a blade should (IMO).

 

[BenLong1018]

The reason I started this thread is because I'm planning on picking up a White Owl for my birthday and I'm not sure if I want the clip or the spear blade. Very good points as well guys you've kind of got me leaning towards the spear blade.

 

[confucius37]

I would like to point out one thing on the white owl, the clip version, the blade doesn't stick out of the handle. On the spear version the blade sticks out significantly more.

 

[pertinux]

I would like to point out one thing on the white owl, the clip version, the blade doesn't stick out of the handle. On the spear version the blade sticks out significantly more.

... But it's perfect all the same.

~ P.

 

[sturzi]

I THINK that I prefer clip points. I just checked, and apart from my SAKs I only own clip points. Woohoo, found another reason for my next purchase
But seriously, I love those pointy tips. A spear isn't a show stopper, but if there's a choice it's always been a clip until now.

 

[yablanowitz]

I usually pass on a knife with a spearpoint main. I've only had two blades fold on my finger in use, and both were spearpoints. After the second time I figured out why. On a piecing cut, the sharp edge cuts through the material and the flat spine doesn't. On a clip point, that's no big deal. On a spearpoint, it can push the blade down enough to fold it.