Why are Harpoon shaped blades popular currently?

[calm]

I like the shape and could see the lowered area behind the main point on the blade as a good place to rest your thumb when cutting. I could also see a use in them in stabbing, as once the main wide front part of the edge goes through you will not have a lot of friction from the rest, lowered part, of the blade.

They can definitely not be used as harpoons, as they are not designed to hook when pulled out.

Is there a specific reason they are currently popular?
Have they replaced the cleaver shape that used to be popular a few years ago?
Is it because Kizer makes them good and low cost? ( have some on order and have some harpoon based blades, but never gave it a second thought. They just happened to have that shape).

 

[calm]

 

[DocJD]

Visual appeal mostly .

Instinctive race memory of hunting / fighting , arrows and spears ?

 

[JearBeatus48]

They are just really cool looking. I’m not sure if they add to robustness in tip strength or assist with piercing but the thumb ramp and looks are cool.

 

[XJ-linux]

The design isn't just novelty or anything like that. The knife as designed by George Brooks had a sharpened raised back edge for chopping. A few of the first production Woodcraft knives apparently had this then it was changed to just a swedge.

I agree. It has several uses. I'm just contending most folks have been buying them for aesthetics, which is fine by me.

didn't know about the chopping aspect, so thank you for posting that!

 

[Blues]

Makes it easy to scrape something you'd rather not use the edge for.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Makes it easy to scrape something you'd rather not use the edge for.

Fish scaling, maybe....but a sharp 90° spine could also in a pinch, probably.

I don't think I have any harpoons, maybe 1-2.
Some of the ones posted are subtle, and those are the ones I like

 

[Ron Texas]

It might be a fashion thing, or just different from the dominant drop point blade. I don't have one, so maybe I need one.

 

[DocJD]

The design isn't just novelty or anything like that. The knife as designed by George Brooks had a sharpened raised back edge for chopping. A few of the first production Woodcraft knives apparently had this then it was changed to just a swedge.

On a fixed blade especially , a sharp swedge could be functional .

 

[unclekurty]

 

[jmh33]

View attachment 3168563

That’s SOOOO Kool!!!
John

 

[jfk1110]

My Marbles Fieldcraft in 52100 from Mike Stewart's era there, a smaller model of the Woodcraft, is one of my favourite knives. Wish a major maker would bring it back into production. I asked Kabar, but they had no plans to do so.

Tops put something. Out recently....

Post in thread 'Just pix of knives' https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/just-pix-of-knives.1043847/post-21813894

 

[jmj3esq]

 

[beeinak]

Great chores knives- I have 2 of these. Brutalica Tsrap in D2.

 

[The True North]

Are they though?

 

[Mick Boardman]

Just a cool blade design.

 

[beeinak]

Removed

 

[Blues]

Was that towards my post? If so, yes that particular knife is very handy.

I have a feeling he was addressing the thread title.

 

[beeinak]

I have a feeling he was addressing the thread title.

I removed my post. Thank you sir.

 

[Hammer67]

Moar 'poon

 

[MarbReds]

+1 for looking cool.