The clip point --simple formula, endless variety

[pertinux]

I was looking through my collection the other day, and it struck me how much I like the clip point. It's easily my favorite main-blade shape, and it's kind of amazing how much variety such a simple shape can provide:


When you think about it, there's really only a handful of variables at work here:
1) Ratio of spine-length to clip-length
2) Angle of clip relative to spine
3) Angle of blade to spine (how much the blade seems to be 'reaching down' from the spine)
4) Size of the 'belly' of the blade (physical size and the degree to which it's curved)
5) The angle at which the clip and the edge meet

I'll admit, you made me look, too!

Thanks for the thoughtful post, and your picture.

I didn't have things set-up to take better ones of my own knives, but that doesn't always stop me:

My favorite changes (that's half the fun of having a collection, right?) but with them all laid out side-by-side like this, I'm struck by how much I like the GEC and the Kabar -- they balance out rather well, I think. How about you? Do you have a favorite clip point whose lines are just-so, or do you tend to pick your favorites more from the handle end of things and leave the blade to distinguish itself only by how well it does its job?

Like you, my favorites change. The clip blade on the #26 is comical in its foreshortened form; I like it because it makes me laugh. If I had to pick just one for visual proportion and balance, I'd go with the clip on the Teamster Jack (a #66) The clip on the red Case stockman is possibly my second choice, but don't quote me on that.

One thing I've discovered is that I really like small clip blades, but not on tiny knives. The swoopy little secondary clip blades on the #25s (as seen at the bottom of the first picture) are a favorite, especially when paired with a wharncliffe main. I like the proportion of blade-to-handle, much more than if a similar blade were on a smaller knife.

Likewise, the Pemberton is a very nice combination, the substantial-for-size clip blade with enough handle to hold onto.

I forgot to get a close-up of the top four knives, one of which clearly sees a lot of use (in addition to the Russell, which has seen a lot of use, before it was in my hands). For me, that amber TC barlow just works, figuratively and literally (heh); even though its blade shape might not stand out to me visually when compared to others, the knife as a whole really comes together for me.

Thanks for this thread, and for everyone's pictures and thoughts. I'm not nearly done looking and thinking about this. :thumbup:

~ P.

 

[ISKski]

I don't remember who it is, but someone on this site has either a primbles or robeson green bone stockman with a long skinny clip that is the most ideal blade shape for me.. (hoping they'll quote me with a picture)

and the third one down in this picture that Waynorth posted is also pretty close to a perfect blade shape for me..

 

[kamagong]

Trand
Can you tell us more about that A. G. Russel Wharncliffe Trapper? Is it still available? It is sweet!!

I don't think that's a wharncliffe trapper, but rather a peanut.

- Christian

 

[2Dead]

Trand
Can you tell us more about that A. G. Russel Wharncliffe Trapper? Is it still available? It is sweet!!

Christian is right, its actually called the "Pinched Peanut". It's blades are made out of VG10. The one I have has Chinese Quince wood covers but I know they also have them still with both European Stag and Mammoth Ivory. They did have MOP at one time but I waited too long to get one...

 

[knarfeng]

Being a stockman fan, I have no choice but to love clip blades.

My favorites are the ones Camillus made. Those folks understood clip blades for sure.

Ignore the garish covers and just look at the sweet shape on this Camillus-Remington. To me, this is the very definition of "clip blade". It's one of the reasons this is one of my favorite knives.

 

[kamagong]

Trand,

Is the shield on the pinched peanut glued or pinned?

- Christian

 

[pertinux]

One thing I've discovered is that I really like small clip blades, but not on tiny knives. The swoopy little secondary clip blades on the #25s (as seen at the bottom of the first picture) are a favorite, especially when paired with a wharncliffe main. I like the proportion of blade-to-handle, much more than if a similar blade were on a smaller knife.

Here are some whittlers from a recent thread that feature clip blade secondaries, the small-clip-to-larger handle proportions that I'm liking more and more:

~ P.

 

[scruffuk]

But what about THIS kinda clip?





I think the clip on my GEC/Tidioute White Owl is really VERY close to spot on for me, as is the Douk-Douk above. In fact, the latter is probably more so, given its straight back, and the edge/spine being all but parrallel.

The point of the knife being in line (or as near as) the centre line of the handle is also very important, both asesthetically and physically (ergonomically and practically), in a user IMO.

.....the small-clip-to-larger handle proportions that I'm liking more and more

Oh really?

 

[pertinux]

...the small-clip-to-larger handle proportions that I'm liking more and more....


~ P.

Oh really?

Yes, really.

I'd be more concerned about what you may have edited out had you not already demonstrated your good mood today:

Not an angry from me, so good luck folks!

(Another contribution to the "some typos are funnier than others" body of work. )



Doe the Douk-Douk's clip blade have a more specific name, or is it a category/shape unto itself?

~ P.

 

[Jack Black]

(Another contribution to the "some typos are funnier than others" body of work. )

He's messing about on his space-phone again!

Doe the Douk-Douk's clip blade have a more specific name, or is it a category/shape unto itself?

~ P.

Turkish clip I believe.

 

[scruffuk]

Blimmin' iPhone! I must apologise though, seemingly my typos are getting worse.

Jack is correct P, it's know as the Turkish clip. Its supposedly called this due to its resemblence to a Scimitar's 'tip'.
I've noticed some recently calling the Californian clip a Turk lately....which is odd....given they look NOTHING alike.

 

[2Dead]

Trand,

Is the shield on the pinched peanut glued or pinned?

- Christian

I believe its pinned. There is a hole in the scale that matches up with the shield and I don't see any glue residue.

 

[kamagong]

Good to hear. A knife of that quality deserves a pinned shield.

- Christian

 

[pertinux]

Does the Douk-Douk's clip blade have a more specific name, or is it a category/shape unto itself?

~ P.

Turkish clip I believe.

Jack is correct P, it's know as the Turkish clip. Its supposedly called this due to its resemblence to a Scimitar's 'tip'.
I've noticed some recently calling the Californian clip a Turk lately....which is odd....given they look NOTHING alike.

Thanks, guys. Scruffuk, it's that last bit that had me confused. I, too, have seen [what I understand to be] California clip blades often referred to as "Turkish clips," whereas the blade on the Douk-Douk has a lot more going on.

~ P.

 

[waynorth]

I understand a Turkish Clip to be a much thinner blade than the Douk-Douk's, but there are varying opinions, depending on whose catalog you peruse.
I've always liked the Clip on this early Tested Barlow. Bad scan as you can barely see the nice swedge along the clip.

 

[Modoc ED]

These are some of the knives I keep in the house - the rest are out in the shop. The clip blade (as a main blade) is represented more than any other type blade - something about the clip blade that I prefer.

Someone above said that a clip blade made a good skinning blade and they are right. However, a Sod Buster type blade, a drop point blade, and a spear blade will also get the job done when skinning.

 

[rune1279]

I'll admit, you made me look, too!

Thanks for the thoughtful post, and your picture.

Yeah, I’m a little relieved to see it’s taking off. After I posted it there was this extended silence, as if I’d said something particularly stupid... or geeky. (...or inadvertently reignited the long dormant war between the Cult of the Clip and the Spear-point Society, I dunno.)

The peanut looks great with a long pull and a swedge -- they ought to do ‘em all that way! (Also, apropos of nothing, but I’ve got a guess as to what your favorite color is )

Your photos make a good point I forgot to -- a longer spine and shorter clip give you the perfect spot for a long-pull framed with a nice swedge.

Like you, my favorites change. The clip blade on the #26 is comical in its foreshortened form; I like it because it makes me laugh. If I had to pick just one for visual proportion and balance, I'd go with the clip on the Teamster Jack (a #66) [....]

I like the Teamster Jack blade too -- and it doesn’t do that strange thing I’ve started to notice on GECs. If you look at its neighbors you can kind of see it -- the blade is a long straight line, a short, tight-radius curve for the belly, and then a short straight line out to the tip. As opposed to say, the Cases, that do one blended together curve all the way out. (I probably only noticed originally because I find this shape tricky to sharpen...)

I forgot to get a close-up of the top four knives, one of which clearly sees a lot of use (in addition to the Russell, which has seen a lot of use, before it was in my hands). For me, that amber TC barlow just works, figuratively and literally (heh); even though its blade shape might not stand out to me visually when compared to others, the knife as a whole really comes together for me.

You can just tell the Charlows are going to wear beautifully over the years. (I like the slight recurve that tends to get sharpened into the straight part of a blade over time.) On the other hand the Charlows are so well-liked it’s hard to imagine any of them will get sharpened carelessly!

Thanks for your thoughtful reply,
--Mark

 

[KP]

I didn't care for it as much at first, but it's grown on me quite a bit.

I'm gettin a lot of mileage out of these pics...

 

[pertinux]

I've always liked the Clip on this early Tested Barlow. Bad scan as you can barely see the nice swedge along the clip.

Another knife that just plain works, soup to nuts. Very nice, Charlie!

Yeah, I’m a little relieved to see it’s taking off. After I posted it there was this extended silence, as if I’d said something particularly stupid... or geeky. (...or inadvertently reignited the long dormant war between the Cult of the Clip and the Spear-point Society, I dunno.)

Patience, man. Some of us needed time to take pictures and think, at least a little bit.

The peanut looks great with a long pull and a swedge -- they ought to do ‘em all that way! (Also, apropos of nothing, but I’ve got a guess as to what your favorite color is )

Brown?



Yes, I do like the peanut with the long pull and swedge, and also the as-ground blade finish. It's not a favorite knife-- for something of that relative size, I prefer the mini copperhead just beneath it-- but as far as details it's as good as it gets. Especially given the color; Case gets it right with their Mediterranean Blue.

One of these days, I'll get a better picture of these together-- most of which happen to sport clip blades and thus were in the previous pictures:

I like the Teamster Jack blade too -- and it doesn’t do that strange thing I’ve started to notice on GECs. If you look at its neighbors you can kind of see it -- the blade is a long straight line, a short, tight-radius curve for the belly, and then a short straight line out to the tip.

I think I see what you mean...? The clip blade mains on the #25s aren't quite as truncated as those of the #26s, but they still look more like the lower half of a wide spear than a true clip blade, as I first noted once I had both in hand:

This is my first spear main blade in a 25 pattern, and it is proportionally broader and "leafier" than that of my White Owl. However, the clip main on GEC's barlows is so flat, I'm not sure there is going to be much difference in feel between my ebony barlow's clip and this newer one's spear-- they look surprisingly similar in cutting surface/geometry, as if the clip blade is almost just the lower half of the spear.

You can just tell the Charlows are going to wear beautifully over the years. (I like the slight recurve that tends to get sharpened into the straight part of a blade over time.) On the other hand the Charlows are so well-liked it’s hard to imagine any of them will get sharpened carelessly!

You'd be surprised. Or rather, perhaps "skill-lessly" might end up resulting in the same look as "carelessly."

Thanks for your thoughtful reply,
--Mark

Thanks for the topic, and especially the clear picture to get things rolling.

~ P.

 

[Jack Black]

I understand a Turkish Clip to be a much thinner blade than the Douk-Douk's, but there are varying opinions, depending on whose catalog you peruse.
I've always liked the Clip on this early Tested Barlow. Bad scan as you can barely see the nice swedge along the clip.

The Barlows still being produced in Sheffield have a clip that is similiar eg