Straight to the point

[StrangeDaze]

I was wondering what peoples opinions on favorite knife tip styles are, why, and how they have changed over the years. What got me thinking about this was Tanker 1/66 's modified buck 124 with the spear point. i now find myself favoring knives with spear or drop points. I used to look for trailing or clip points, and i still think they look cool and function well for certain tasks but for most tasks i find myself grabbing for or wishing i had a drop or or more often a sharp spear point. There is just something about having the point closest to the centerline of the knife that makes it really easy for me to control and i feel its very utilitarian. I dont do much meat processing (unfortunately, hopefully that will change soon), i do however love and practice bushcraft and survival skills daily and thats where i really end up using the tip of my knives the most.

 

[Tanker 1/66]

StrangeDaze It's mainly esthetics for me. I just like the looks of a spear and drop point. But then again i also like my Bk17 and 29 and who doesn't love the Buck 110 That's just a hawg and squirrel processing machine right there. Most of it for me depends on the task at hand.
Edit: Ahh Hell just read post #9

 

[The Warrior]

Becker content added:

 

[StrangeDaze]

Becker content added:

Have you ever rendered a becker wharncliffe?

 

[JD Miller]

If the 9 was a drop point instead of that swedged point, the tip would be stronger

 

[Roguer]

I like spear points and drop points, its the main reason I got two BK2s for a 1/4" 5" blade with a good thumping and whumping hilt, with a saber grind for a middling knife.

 

[johnnyyukon]

clip points seem much easier to throw and stick.

tip: you shouldn't throw nice knives, but it sho' is fun!

But homeboy, to everything, turn turn turn, there is a season for cuttin' up thangs that need cuttin', um, under heaven.

 

[The Warrior]

Have you ever rendered a becker wharncliffe?

Yes.

 

[91bravo]

I tend to favor spear points the most, but really like clip points and even wharncliffe shapes. Hell, I love knives period!

 

[CoolBreeze135]

A substantial drop point is definitely my favorite. I like having a point close to center for drilling, etc... but I also prefer a little more belly than many true spear point shapes.

 

[bearfacedkiller]

I like many blade shapes. I am not a huge fan of false edges and swedges. This is probably the wrong place to say that as Kabar seems to love them.

I agree that the tip being in line with the center line is helpful but it can be achieved more than one way. A negative blade angle can accomplish this while still having a straight or relatively straight spine. If a blade has a neutral handle angle then I do tend to favor a spear point, drop point or even clip point shapes.

 

[Lapedog]

For me the clip point is best used on a fighting bowie where it is sharpened.

I really like the reverse tanto on the 940. Great way to get a strong tip i. The centre. I like alot of knives that have that "Dao" or "Scimitar" shape. It lets the tip be full thickness and strength while still being in the middle.

That said I even like the dreaded American Tanto for urban EDC tasks. The part where the two edges meet (the yokote) is great for cutting a piece of paper laid down on a flat surface.

 

[Pàdruig]

I think my blade tip preferences are most certainly dependent on the task.

A much younger me was quite enthusiastic about clip points and my very first fixed blade purchase was a Buck 119 as a teenager. I thought I was Rambo with that knife, it was awesome! Being home schooled and raised on a farm, I did a fair amount of work for neighboring farms, including a nursery down the road. My nerdtastic inner warrior never failed to come out when I was alone in the greenhouses. Cardboard boxes were hidden ninja enemies, weeds were dastardly slime goblins, no uncut snapdragon or geranium was safe from the soon to be dull edge of that most venerable of 119s. That was a killer blade, I still have it too. Probably could use a a new edge and some polish. I was thinking the other day that I wonder how it would look sandblasted...

I digress.

Eventually I grew up (took awhile though) and my blade preferences evolved. My preference towards clip points very much is determined by how they are executed. Long sweeping or narrow clips tend to not do much for me anymore. I like broader, shorter clips as they tend to be better suited for the utilitarian tasks that I would typically subject the knife to. Spear points are my absolute favorite though, in terms of just straight up utility in a fixed blade.

For everyday use with pocket knives, I actually prefer some form of straight edged blade. Wharncliffe, sheepfoot, lambsfoot, etc. They provide the most everyday utility out of any other blade shape for my day to day cutting tasks.

So yeah, blade shape and point preferences are most certainly dependent on the needed tasks and aesthetics certainly is a factor too. If something is well executed, it can look pretty awesome to me, even if it isn't my usual preference.

 

[SALTY]

Though I may be in the minority, I prefer the BK15 style though I like them all ... for different purposes/reasons.

 

[Jonny1280]

Aesthetically I've always been drawn to clip points. (I.E. Ka-bar USMC)
In my practical knife use I find I'm usually 91% drawn to a good drop point. (BK-16, Fiddleback Bushfinger)
However, I do enjoy the trailing point of the BK-5. It's just a very fun and useful blade.
When chopping I find myself drawn to semi-heavy Bolo and Kukri shapes.
The one blade shape I've never been crazy about is a spear. It's kinda close to a drop, but I've yet to find a spear point that calls to me.

 

[19-3ben]

If the 9 was a drop point instead of that swedged point, the tip would be stronger

And it would not eat batons.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I like all point styles. The point just has to be on a knife blade. There are some knife blade profiles that I like more than other. I really like spears and clips for throwers. Drops, sheepsfeet and wharncliffies for cutters and critter cleaning. My least favorite in appearance is the American tanto. It's a great profile for a box opening machine, BUT it is a royal PITB to sharpen properly. Over time, most of my tanto points have slowly morphed into a spear/saber point wanna-be.

 

[StrangeDaze]

I think my blade tip preferences are most certainly dependent on the task.

A much younger me was quite enthusiastic about clip points and my very first fixed blade purchase was a Buck 119 as a teenager. I thought I was Rambo with that knife, it was awesome! Being home schooled and raised on a farm, I did a fair amount of work for neighboring farms, including a nursery down the road. My nerdtastic inner warrior never failed to come out when I was alone in the greenhouses. Cardboard boxes were hidden ninja enemies, weeds were dastardly slime goblins, no uncut snapdragon or geranium was safe from the soon to be dull edge of that most venerable of 119s. That was a killer blade, I still have it too. Probably could use a a new edge and some polish. I was thinking the other day that I wonder how it would look sandblasted...

I digress.

Eventually I grew up (took awhile though) and my blade preferences evolved. My preference towards clip points very much is determined by how they are executed. Long sweeping or narrow clips tend to not do much for me anymore. I like broader, shorter clips as they tend to be better suited for the utilitarian tasks that I would typically subject the knife to. Spear points are my absolute favorite though, in terms of just straight up utility in a fixed blade.

For everyday use with pocket knives, I actually prefer some form of straight edged blade. Wharncliffe, sheepfoot, lambsfoot, etc. They provide the most everyday utility out of any other blade shape for my day to day cutting tasks.

So yeah, blade shape and point preferences are most certainly dependent on the needed tasks and aesthetics certainly is a factor too. If something is well executed, it can look pretty awesome to me, even if it isn't my usual preference.

the 119 was the first blade i ever bought as well, i was 15, i ended up losing it in a breakup however when i was 20
When it came time to replace it i found the 124 and it was calling my name! And i definitely agree with point preference being task specific, i just find drop/spear points most useful for bushcraft tasks which i find myself doing allot of. Its pretty useful for everyday stuff too so i guess it being a versatile shape is why im drawn to it. And thats just as far as points go, not blade shape per se. Not to say you cant do those things with other tip configurations i just find it easiest for me. I feel the same way about clip points now as well. I used to like the long, even upswept points but now i like short and straight.
It sounds like you and i had a similar upbringing. Very cool

Though I may be in the minority, I prefer the BK15 style though I like them all ... for different purposes/reasons.

I love my 15, and the 5. The 5 is the only knife ive ever considered getting 2 of.

Aesthetically I've always been drawn to clip points. (I.E. Ka-bar USMC)
In my practical knife use I find I'm usually 91% drawn to a good drop point. (BK-16, Fiddleback Bushfinger)
However, I do enjoy the trailing point of the BK-5. It's just a very fun and useful blade.
When chopping I find myself drawn to semi-heavy Bolo and Kukri shapes.
The one blade shape I've never been crazy about is a spear. It's kinda close to a drop, but I've yet to find a spear point that calls to me.

i love the 5, its an amazing blade. Bolos are my favorite for chopping as well. Cant really get behind kukri for some reason and i cant put my finger on it... they arent that much different from a bolo or an enep.

 

[Tanker 1/66]

the 119 was the first blade i ever bought as well, i was 15, i ended up losing it in a breakup however when i was 20
When it came time to replace it i found the 124 and it was calling my name! And i definitely agree with point preference being task specific, i just find drop/spear points most useful for bushcraft tasks which i find myself doing allot of. Its pretty useful for everyday stuff too so i guess it being a versatile shape is why im drawn to it. And thats just as far as points go, not blade shape per se. Not to say you cant do those things with other tip configurations i just find it easiest for me. I feel the same way about clip points now as well. I used to like the long, even upswept points but now i like short and straight.
It sounds like you and i had a similar upbringing. Very cool


I love my 15, and the 5. The 5 is the only knife ive ever considered getting 2 of.
i love the 5, its an amazing blade. Bolos are my favorite for chopping as well. Cant really get behind kukri for some reason and i cant put my finger on it... they arent that much different from a bolo or an enep.

The Bk4 would probally change your mind about kukri style blades. It very rapidly became my favorite knife once I learned its ways

 

[StrangeDaze]

Btw i added a poll for anyone interested. Again this is not so say that you cant do certain things with certain points or that one is superior to another. Im just curious as to which you find most useful, aesthetic and easiest to manuever in the tasks you find yourself using the point of a knife and how that may have evolved with your hobbies/skills.