What's your favorite blade shape?

Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
337
Leaf, reverse S, warncliffe...

I have many different shapes and sizes of Spyder blades but I always seem to revert back to the leaf. It just seems to have the right balance of curvature, durability, pointy-ness and ease of sharpening. What's yours and why?
 
I would have to go with the semi-skinner. I have found it to be very versatile and suit my needs the best.
 
It really depends what I'm using it for. However, generally for most chores a drop point seems to be my favorite overall.
 
Whatever you call the bladeshape on the Calypso Jr., Manix, etc. I call that a modified wharncliffe, but I guess Spyderco calls it a leaf. The general characteristics: very sharp point, mostly-straight edge.
 
Wharncliffe for me. Sheepsfoot, at least the Spyderco interpretation of it, as second choice.
 
Wharncliff for every day office type work where I'm pulling the knife towards me rather than pushing away, where I would like a belly. Even when pushing away, the wharncliff would still serve better for my office type needs.
 
I like them all, especially the profile of the Para for utility work, it is so well thought out and works for everything!

I am VERY drawn to wharncliffe and Hawkbill profiles as well, not quite an obssesion, but I find them highly attractive :cool:
 
"Whatever you call the bladeshape on the Calypso Jr., Manix, etc. I call that a modified wharncliffe, but I guess Spyderco calls it a leaf. The general characteristics: very sharp point, mostly-straight edge."

That is what I find most usefull as well. I liked the blade of the Benchmade 921 Switchback a lot. It is a Wharncliff with a little bit of a upsweep. That is what I like or even as much upsweep as the Para but no more. I like my blades to be longer than they are wide and have a pointy tip.

Some blades I like:
BM 921 and 856.
Spyderco, Centofante II, R-2, Calypso Jr. and large Calypso, Para, Military, Delica, Police.

I like sheepfoot blades and hawkbills but they are not always the most useful. I had to cut some hole in a plastic bucket with my Spyderco Rescue and it was harder than it would have been than if I had my BM 921 or Para or Police. Because you need to stab into the lid and then make your cut, the point is very helpfull.

I don't hunt so I have no use for a skinning type blade with a lot of upsweep. If I had to skin something, I would know I was hunting and I would bring along my skinning knife. Hunting is a planned activity so there is no need to have that type of blade just in case. I am never going to be caught off gaurd and be stuck in a situation where I may need to skin a rabbit.:D
 
TANTO!!:D


But seriously i do like the Bob Lum tanto models. I also like the chinook blade. These are my favorite looking ones.

For functionality i'd have to go witht he manix.
 
I weigh in with the double flat ground leaf shape. Right now I find it the most useful and versatile shape and the most beautiful. These things can change with time.

A double flat grind makes slicing is easier because of the gradual increase in thickness all the way from edge to spine. Unlike hollow or other grinds, there is less tendency to bind in deep cuts. And, if the knife is used for prying during the cut, the flat grind makes it easier to feel and predict the result. Less chance of slips due to uneveness in the grind.

The Spydy leaf shape offers just enough curve in the blade to cut adequately on flat surfaces. It offers great strength and a sharp point too (although any blade can be broken with enough abuse). The leaf shape is not specialized for any one task, but can do most of them well.
 
I like the “modified clip point” of the Military, Calypso, Scorpius, etc… (I think the Endura and Delica share this shape too). The blades are relatively narrow, plus they have a nice, thin tip and some belly.

Leaf shaped blades display very similar properties and work great too. The only difference is the spine has a slight convex curve to it, making the blade wider.

Blades with some concave curve to the spine, like the Chinook I and the Persian, look very cool to me. Unfortunately, the points on those knives were a bit too high for my tastes for everyday use.

True Wharncliffe blades work really well as EDCs. However, I've found that there are some occasions when a little bit of belly can come in handy.
 
I love drop point, tanto, and whatever the blade shape is on my Calypso, Jr.
 
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