Why is the clip blade so dominant?

[jc57]

Interesting conversation. I started out not especially liking a clip point but have come to prefer them over time, especially in a single-blade knife, but I will condition that by saying I like those that have an actual pointy end, and not those that have a curved or blunted tip.

My reason for liking them in general (assuming the pointy tip) is that they are good for piercing to get a cut started, but still have some belly to the blade. There are times when I am trying to cut something that I need to poke a hole first to get the cut started, or need a fine tip on. A true Wharncliffe can do most of those tasks pretty well too, but so can the clip.

I look at my Case Sod Buster patterns which I like to carry, but the lack of a point to the blade is my main drawback. Most spear points are rather broad and don't allow the precise tip work that you can get with a Wharncliffe or clip.

I kind of view them as a compromise blade - pointy tip with some belly. Does most of the things I want done. I like to have something with a straight edge (sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe) as well, which is in general why I like the stockman patterns since they tend to incorporate both.

When I carry a spear-bladed knife (such as my Vic Cadet) I always carry something with a pointy clip blade with it, like the Case Peanut or the Case 6344 Medium Stockman I have with me today.

 

[black mamba]

The knife I showed in post #21 also has the interesting and rarely seen pen clip for the third blade instead of a spey or pen.

 

[markv]

Are you talking about fixed blades or slipjoints specifically?

In all my slipjoints that have clipped blades the point is just as acute and fine as some of my wharncliffe blades from GEC. Thus it provides a very finite point alongside the bonus of having a nice sweeping belly. I don't believe they're dominant as I see a variety in all blade styles with slipjoints, wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, clip, spearpoint, modified sheepsfoot, fat spearpoint, coping blade. Many do prefer them aesthetically due to the swedge and fine point which allows a pleasing look to many, myself included. I for one do not find them fragile in nature, they are meant to ease puncture well but if you're stabbing and then prying with a slipjoint you're using the basis of a slip joint wrong.

The clip point blade also dates back to macedonian times and has a long and illustrious history, from knapped flint knives to the turkish clip all the way to the 'bowie' knife which is highly popular.

i pretty much agree with the above observations.
most blade shapes used on slip jonits are pleasing to me as well as functional.
took me awhile to warm up to clip blades .

buzz

 

[markv]

The knife I showed in post #21 also has the interesting and rarely seen pen clip for the third blade instead of a spey or pen.

the pen-clip is definitely a rather rare blade

 

[markv]

They have a point and a belly. Also, I think it's partly just a tradition thing.

you guys have covered everything i could think of in defence of the clip bladed slip-joint

buzz

 

[markv]

I personally have grown to dislike the very fine pointed and highly upswept clips that appear on many knives. But GEC gets them just right.

Buzz,
what is the name of the bone on this beautiful knife?
thanks for your reply

buzz

 

[Buzzbait]

Buzz,
what is the name of the bone on this beautiful knife?
thanks for your reply

buzz

That is GEC's burnt orange bone from back in 2010. Heck of a knife. As functional as it is beautiful.

 

[deskil]

A trailing point. Can't see I'm a fan either, but I suppose it increases the belly.

Indeed, it does.

The Case small Saddlehorn has the best combination of trailing point and clip blade design elements I've seen. Thls trailing point blade sports plenty of belly, concentrated forward, just before the point and provides for a proportionately long straight edge - while also not exaggerating the curve of the spine upward, toward the tip, as most do. Lay your index finger along the spine for ultimate tip/belly control. I think the clip blade speaks for itself, as one of the most aesthetically pleasing renditions, to my notion. Thanks to Mr. Bose, on all counts. :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Buzzbait]

Another gorgeous clip. This one is from a Camillus/Buck 301

 

[bleh]

Buzz,
what is the name of the bone on this beautiful knife?
thanks for your reply

buzz

is that a 72, 42, or 23? I can never tell without anything for scale.

 

[kamagong]

It's a 72. You can tell because it's a lockback. Plus, the 23 has never been made with a clip point blade.

 

[Buzzbait]

Yep. It's a 72. It's kind of a smaller pocket friendly version of the 42.

Without the long pull and swedge, the clip on my 42 isn't quite as pretty.

 

[22-rimfire]

Another gorgeous clip. This one is from a Camillus/Buck 301

Aesthetically, this is my least favorite clip blade design, but it is very functional allowing for a long pull/nail nick and a proportionally long straight cutting edge for general cutting and a slightly up swept point for detailed cutting and piercing. It is one of the reasons I tend to lean toward trappers with a slimmer knife. The variability of blades being called clips is pretty interesting. But in general, the clip blade is my favorite blade shape.

 

[Primble]

This one gave me clip fever!!! Wow!:thumbup::thumbup:

Yep - me too !!!

I like em. That is the only reason I need.

 

[bleh]

It's a 72. You can tell because it's a lockback. Plus, the 23 has never been made with a clip point blade.

I didn't realize they never made a 23 clip, but it could have easily been a 42.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

They do most jobs that a knife should be used for reasonably well. The small tip is very useful for fine work and piercing small holes in game, cloth, hides etc. The long belly can be used for a great variety of tasks (especially skinning). In fact, that long belly is can do much of the work any straight edge blade can do as well as the straight edge... at least well enough, where those straight edges would be miserable for many of the tasks the clip can do.

It's just an ergonomically friendly and highly adaptable blade pattern. Probably not my favorite pattern, but it just does many things one needs a knife for very well.

 

[22-rimfire]

To ask a stupid question, but what do they call the typical blade shapes on the 23? One looks like a GEC stylized clip to me and used on their larger knives vs a drop point.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

To ask a stupid question, but what do they call the typical blade shapes on the 23? One looks like a GEC stylized clip to me and used on their larger knives vs a drop point.

I think they've uses Clips, Drop Points, and Speys on that pattern.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

A certain obvious advantage of the clip blade was revealed to me, one day, when I used my 8OT stockman's clip to stab & retrieve the fruit of a prickly-pear cactus that had fallen off and nestled down amongst the cactus' thorns. The clip blade was the only blade in my stockman with that necessary pointy 'stabbing' tip, and with the necessary length to reach it, without poking my fingers in the thorns.

Aside from that, a clip blade is also perfect for cleaning trout (again, that pointy tip for initiating the cut, and removing fins). Also a perfect letter opener. And the long sweep of the gracefully-bellied edge is also very easy to sharpen. :thumbup:


David

 

[bleh]

I used to hate clip blades, mainly because of their ubiquity. But I've become more cultured as of late and there are several I like. I've quantified the shape of clips I like and the things that disqualify a clip for me, and for the ones that meet all the requirements, I love them.

If you're curious:

-I don't like fat blades, which is to say I don't like when the cutting edge forward of the handle when open. I prefer when the spine and the cutting edge are nearly parallel
-I like clips that take up about 50-60 percent of the blade. I don't like turkish clips or the ones where it's just the very tip that's clipped.
-I prefer swedged clips, a la Lanny's clips and the 77 clips.
-I HATE nail nicks that are forward of the clip. I don't care how easy it makes it to open, my finger nails are made from tempered steel and I hate the look.
-I also prefer when the clip is slightly convex rather than a straight line.
-I also prefer the point be roughly on the center of the blade. I don't like clips that have the tip nearly in line with the leading edge of the handle.

My first foray into clips was a 72, which I got due to the similarity to a Lanny's clip, which I'd been lusting after for some time. then I got the 77 BF knife, which is amazing. I'm still of two minds about the swedge being drawn past the clip, but it doesn't bother me too much any more. The sharp corners at the edge of the swedge tend to catch when penetrating, e.g. stabbing an apple. Then I sold the 72 and a bunch of other stuff and scored a Case Lanny's clip and it's perfect. I also recently picked up a Camillus #14 from the 40's or 50's that's got a clip main and checks all the boxes.

examples:
20150210_105912 by mrbleh, on Flickr
20141217_135930 by mrbleh, on Flickr
20150630_160246 by mrbleh, on Flickr
20150702_104450 by mrbleh, on Flickr