What's your favorite blade shape/tip configuration for a folding EDC?

T

Trout Tamer

Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
1,526
Well, the title says 1/2 of the story :rolleyes: I'm wondering if you have a favorite blade/tip style for both an EDC (which is gonna be a folding knife in the majority of cases) and for your go-to outdoor/wilderness knife?

My most-carried EDC is a BM 551 Griptillian in D2. It has a modified drop point, which makes it pointier than the standard drop. I really like it, but at one time, I EDC'ed a CS (Americanized) tanto Voyager... it took a bit of time, but I really grew to like this shape of blade, too. The one thing it really lacked was some type of belly or curve, whch gretly aids in slicing. All things considered, I reckon my favorite EDC blade tip is a modified drop point... pointy enough to pierce readily, but not as fragile as a narrow clip point. However, I want to get a spear point knife some day, something along the lines of a BM 732, and see how it works for EDC chores...

FOr a wilderness fixed-blade, I'm actually really liking my Greco Explorer. It has a very unique blade shape, as today's large camp knives go. It has a large front belly, reminiscent of a bolo? machete, with a slight recurve by the base of the blade. It's not the pointiest tip (but it does have a surprisingly sharp point to it, given the width of the blade directly behind it), but it is excellent for general field work; even works well as an improv spatula! :D So, when it comes to a favorite wilderness blade shape, the jury is still out... I do know that I prefer stout and durable over finely fetured construction that is adept at detailed cutting...

what about y'all? What are your favorite blade shapes, both for EDC and for wilderness trips? Are they different from each other? What do you like about each type?
 
My favorite EDC profile is a drop point with a very high hollow grind. Sebenzas have a good example, but I prefer the look with no top swedge. The Loveless style drop point is the best description. My A.G. Russell Gent's linerlock with burl handles, and Ti bolsters it the shape exactly. Here's a pic from A.G. Russell's site that has the exact blade shape, and handle design that tops my favorites chart.
phpHypCpg.jpg
Here's where you can get them. Do I own one yet? No. :(

I love the look of the blade, and the tip is right in line with the handle. I love the high grind, which makes the blade a great slicer. There's still enough width along the top of the blade to add strength, and the handle provides great grip.

Daniel
 
My favourite blade styles are drop points and spear points. I like how they look and they offer a lot of versatility. Plus, they have strong points.

As to the kind of grind. If it is well executed, I'll use any kind (except a chisel grind), but I do preffer convexed and flat ground blades for outdoors use.
 
Personally I like wharncliffes. They may not be perfect for everything, but they are my favorite. Aside from that, I find myself using drop points the most.
 
For EDC, my fave by far has become wharncliffe's and modified wharncliffe's. A relatively straight edge (doesn't have to be perfectly straight) and a very sharp point are exactly what I want for EDC. Sharp point on a wharncliffe easily punctures everything including those hard plastic clamshell packages, the fact that it's low makes it very easy to control. Straight edge is useful across the board, including more useful for improvised food prep as we might do with our EDC.

If I'm stuck with a knife that has a belly, I'd pick a clip-point with as little belly as possible: again, because the clip makes the point sharp, as opposed to a drop point.
 
I am much in agreement with Joe on the Wharncliff. By far my favorite shape to carry. Second would be a good Spear point blade. In truth though I have found the straight edged more pointed style of Wharncliff to be preferred. I like more of a point on my Wharny for picking splinters and getting into tight areas for carving and whittling. The sheeps foot and lambs foot blades are good but not pointed enough for my tastes.

In general I can do anything with one of my Wharncliff blades that I can do with any other style of blade. I've used them for all tasks and while some may be pushing the limits of the usefulness it can get by even for skinning and field dressing in a pinch.
 
AcesAndEights said:
Personally I like wharncliffes. They may not be perfect for everything, but they are my favorite. Aside from that, I find myself using drop points the most.
Click to expand...

I am partial to modified wharncliffs like the Ronin/Yojimbo design. They cutlike crazy and have a good point.

BTW does anyone else know the significance of "Aces and eights"?
 
Flying Turtle said:
BTW does anyone else know the significance of "Aces and eights"?
Click to expand...

AKA - "Deadman's Hand." This is the hand that Wild Bill Hickock was purported to be holding when he was killed during a poker game. :eek:

Dan...
 
I like a nice Wharncliff also (like the Kershaw Ken Onion Leek), but I recently obtained a Spyderco Chinook II and I'm having lots of fun getting used to that radical curve.
So far the Chinook II has performed just fine for everyday cutting tasks.

Oh yeah, and it looks awesome too!

Good luck,
Allen.
 
Dan Harris said:
AKA - "Deadman's Hand." This is the hand that Wild Bill Hickock was purported to be holding when he was killed during a poker game. :eek:

Dan...
Click to expand...
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
 
BlondieAlmostEdge said:
i like wharnies too, but for every day I like a nice leaf shape with a full flat grind
Click to expand...

If by "leaf shape" you mean something like the Calypso jr., Manix, or delica, I consider those "modified wharncliffes". They have a mostly straight edge, and top comes down to a very sharp point. Maybe I'm playing a semantic game, but this shape is what my fave is, I like it even better than the classic wharncliffe.

Joe
 
I like wharncliffes and modified wharncliffes the best, or blades that follow those curves. The Microtech Lightfoot LCC or Spyderco Calypso Jr are just about perfect. I like the tip-penetrating slashing ability of a straighter blade, which makes packaging easier to open. My daily carry knife (most of the time) though is a clip point (Benchmade 710HS) that I'm admitedly using for the steel rather than the blade shape, although I like the shape just fine.
 
I consider the "leaf shape" (like the Manix and Calypso Jr) to be more of a modified drop-point.

Allen.
 
Drop point/modified drop: 6
Wharncliffe/modified wharn: 8
Spear point: 1
Clip point/modified clip:2

By my count, those are the approximate numbers of favorites, keeping in mind that some blade shape were not clearly defineable and some people voted for more than one shape.

I've never found the looks of the Wharncliffe to be terribly appealing, but with all of the positive feedback on here, I'm re-thinking my position. In lieu of that, what would y'all recommend as an intro to the world of Wharnies? Not to sidetrack this topic too far... :p
 
Spyderco is the king of modified wharncliffe. If you aren't going to be prying with it, and want an amazing scalpel that's incredible to use, pick up a Calypso Jr. For something bigger but still lightweight, check out the endura (4" blade). For super robust, the Manix (3.75" blade and built for hard use). I haven't handled the R2 yet, but it's a lightweight 3.5" blade that seems like a good EDC, probably be picking one up myself.

Joe
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top