Why is the clip point so popular?

mikeymoto

mikeymoto

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Why is it that the clip point blade seems most common on slip-joints? (I'm thinking particularly of Medium Stockmen, and Barlows here, of which I have the most in my slip-joint collection).

From what I understand, the "clip point" blade is best used for piercing with the tip. Is this really a job best suited to a folding knife that does not lock?

I am surprised that so many seem to find the clip point blade so useful; I for one do not. I recently was looking around at production barlows, in the market for one, and I had the darnedest time finding a non-clip point two blade barlow. I found several spear point 2-blade barlows, one of which I bought (from Case). I really would find it attractive to see 2-blade barlows with, for example, a wharncliffe main and spear or drop point blades instead!
 
The clip point is popular (in my view) because it is practical.

It offers a point for tasks that require a point, yet still offers belly. (Think of starting an incision, or putting the blade into a small opening etc.)

One doesn't have to push hard (as in boring a hole or reaming) to have a point be useful on a slipjoint. Also, the tension of the backspring(s) plays a part in the equation.

Knowing how to use your knife safely is fundamental.

All that said, I enjoy all manner of blades on my slippies... clip, drop point, spear, wharncliffe, sheepsfoot, pen et al. They all have their uses and do some jobs better than others. The clip is a good jack of all trades.
 
mikeymoto said:
Why is it that the clip point blade seems most common on slip-joints? (I'm thinking particularly of Medium Stockmen, and Barlows here, of which I have the most in my slip-joint collection).

From what I understand, the "clip point" blade is best used for piercing with the tip. Is this really a job best suited to a folding knife that does not lock?

I am surprised that so many seem to find the clip point blade so useful; I for one do not. I recently was looking around at production barlows, in the market for one, and I had the darnedest time finding a non-clip point two blade barlow. I found several spear point 2-blade barlows, one of which I bought (from Case). I really would find it attractive to see 2-blade barlows with, for example, a wharncliffe main and spear or drop point blades instead!
Click to expand...

Frankly, I'm at a loss to think of anything I do with a knife that a spear point will do better than a clip point, except maybe spreading peanut butter.
 
Picking splinters is one thing that the clip point is ideal for. Spear and drop points are almost useless for that task. I prefer the clip blade for most anything. I won't buy another knife without a clip styled blade.
 
The clip blade is a modification of a "normal" blade, with the spine edge closest to the tip "clipped" so as to make the tip thinner and sharper, making it better at piercing and getting in tight places than a "normal" blade, and keeps the belly to make it easy to slice and chop, Bowie knives are clip blades also, and as has been already said is a great jack of all trades blade
 
I'd like to see more Wharncliffe blades on offer as I find these not just appealing but useful.

When it comes to cutting fruit or food prep/slicing the CASE Sodbuster works better for me than any clip blade, on hard apples I even fear they might snap as you have to 'stab' with them rather than lever.
 
I would also like to see more Wharncliffe blades and I find the turkish clip blade (the one that Schrade used) more useful then the regular clip blade.
 
One popular criticism of the clip blade is that the tip isn't very strong, that it breaks easily. Well, as far as I'm concerned, a knife shouldn;t be used as a pry bar, so there is no reason for the tip to break. I know accident happen, but with proper care, the clip point blade is probably, as many here have said, among the most useful of blade shapes.
 
The clip blade on my case peanut is the most practical blade I use. I EDC other blades but I always come back to the peanut.
 
There are a lot of times that if I can work the tip of a blade into an opening or under something I can do the job. I don't expect to be pushing hard with my slip joint tip. I often just work it into a space and the lever the blade to do some cutting. I like all the blades on my stockman. I use the sheepsfoot blade for opening boxes. The little spey blade opens the mail. The large clip point is for deeper cuts or things like cleaning rabbits. The clip point on a Buck 110 allows it to work on both rabbits and deer. You get a big blade with enough belly and yet a fine point to get into the pelvis of the rabbit.
 
Be excellent if somebody could post some pix from old catalogues showing blade shapes on slip-joints.And any defunct patterns?

I've got a feeling that before the 1960s the Spear blade was more popular than the Clip, but I could be wrong.

Can somebody explain the difference between a Clip blade and Turkish Clip please?
 
As far as Sheffiled knives go, you are correct Willgoy. In an repro of a 1885 wostenholm catalogue I have, there are very few clip blades. The most common are spear and sheepsfoot. No pics at the moment I will have to scan some pages. I do have a few pages of spear points from a 1910 Rodgers catalogue. However, the large clip inthe second photos is to die for. I hope these are of interest.

scan0013.jpg


scan0007-1.jpg
 
As a kid in England, the penknives had spear or pen blades.
Larger clasp knives had sheepfoot blades.

But all the sheath knives had clip blades, with a top swedge.
(Not including the Green River)

These were all mostly Rogers.
I do not remember another brand!
 
Nice pix as usual s-k! ALL those knives are immensely appealing looking, let's have our Forum Knife 2009 modelled after one!

When it says in the ad "Under Five Sovereigns" I take it it means 5 monarchs and not the monetary unit..... Worth their weight in gold now though!
 
willgoy said:
Nice pix as usual s-k! ALL those knives are immensely appealing looking, let's have our Forum Knife 2009 modelled after one!

When it says in the ad "Under Five Sovereigns" I take it it means 5 monarchs and not the monetary unit..... Worth their weight in gold now though!
Click to expand...

A quote from wikipedia
"it must be remembered that a £1 in 1895 was the equivalent in purchasing power of £150 as of 2007"

So "Under Five Sovereigns" would be "By Appointment to ..."
When a product is used by the Monarchy or the Prince of Wales, it has the right to have a copy of the Royal Arms and the heading "By Appointment to ..."
 
A clip blade on a slipjoint is a good one,'cause you can choke up & pinch the blade & use the tip section ,using it for some things a small pointy pen blade could be used for.Use the belly of the blade for slicing cuts.You kinda could consider it 2 blades in one.A single blade clip point trapper is a real good all around pocket knife
-Vince
 
willgoy said:
Can somebody explain the difference between a Clip blade and Turkish Clip please?
Click to expand...

what some people call a turkish clip is actually a california clip blade, like a case 54 trapper or muskrat those are california clips, a turkish clip will look similiar but usually more elongated and the edge will be curved up as it gets toward the tang
 
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