Why the drop point love in Beckerland?

J

JWL

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Jul 20, 2010
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I don't mean to start a flamewar here, but can someone explain the benefit of a drop point over a clip point?

Ethan Becker is on file as saying he prefers drop points, that the BK16 is the knife he's wanted since he was a kid, etc. etc. What is the benefit of the drop point over a clip point?

Strength is the obvious answer, but it seems to me that a clip point might be superior for carving some things, ie, a bow drill or hand drill hearth board.

Can someone enlighten me?
 
I like continuous curves, and really really dislike concave clips aesthetically. Also, weakness. I don't do a lot of stabbing or prying so that's a wash. A drop point is also a bit less likely to suddenly grab something behind the knife, such as the gut sack of a deer you're field dressing. Of course technique matters most, but why not give yourself every advantage.
 
I love them both. For me, I see a drop as "more utility" and the clip as more "piercing".

I been rockin my 17 pretty hard since I gave The Colonel my 16 at the Gathering.

I do not feel under knifed at all.

Moose
 
Mainly aesthetics for me, I don't mind clip points at all, but it is true that many ppl will see a clip point as more threatening, a bk 17 will look more threatening if I pulled it out compared to a 16, in my part of the world anyway,
 
Adri4n said:
Mainly aesthetics for me, I don't mind clip points at all, but it is true that many ppl will see a clip point as more threatening, a bk 17 will look more threatening if I pulled it out compared to a 16, in my part of the world anyway,
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The drop point has more meat at the tip, so obviously stronger in certain uses, and the tips of drop points are more comfortable to push on with the tip of a thumb or forefinger when doing choked-up tip work. However I think also that the perception of menace or nefarious intent in most people's view of the clip point is a big factor due to the common shapes of issue military knives, and from Hollywood influences. Most production drop points seem to have a lot of belly and to be designed with skinning being much more a factor than penetration. So a lot of people don't immediately perceive them to be as threatening as a clip point which is obviously designed with penetration in mind. I like a fine point in the bush for several reasons. As mentioned by the OP they will get into tighter places for detailed work. To me they are better for boring small holes, better for removing splinters, and better for picking out debris that irrigation won't remove from wounds. I'm sure that having dealt with close up violence and having to defend myself with a knife more than once, that defensive capability also plays a factor somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind, but it isn't a primary consideration. As mentioned in another thread there is a strong resemblance between the BK-17 and the older pilot's survival knife. Perhaps for me that familiarity is a factor from me having carried a pilot's knife for so long during formative years of knife use and survival studies.
 
For me (I promise that I didn't just copy my answers from other "kids in the class" )

1. I don't stab/drill much, so a clip has little benefit for me.

2 . Way easier on your baton + can baton stock closer to the blade's length.

3. Thumb assisted cuts are more comfortable.

4. To me, drops just look better.

5. More spine to square/ scraping surface.

So we can see, I have about one objective and four subjective reasons for my love of the drop point; so I guess it's just a personal preference thing unless you find yourself drilling, stabbing, or doing fine work a lot.
 
An interesting technique I learned while butchering this season was to place the spine of the knife against the leg bone and to slide the knife forward. The drop point allowed the knife to be steered and levered without grabbing the bone with the back of the tip.

But sometimes I'll compromise..... Straight-clipped BK-17:

IMG_20120930_153124-small.jpg
 
JWL said:
but it seems to me that a clip point might be superior for carving some things, ie, a bow drill or hand drill hearth board.
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I've found the belly to be the deciding factor on this. My Izula 2 carves bowls in spoons and such much better then my mora companion mg. The Izzy has a deeper belly and it just works better.
 
I don't discriminate. Drop point. clip, upswept...they all need some love.
 
No love of drops here...

What's this "thumb assist" nonsense? What's a finger doing way out there on the end of a knife?
 
I think clip points look better.

We commonly debate that the drop point tends to have the advantage when batoning, but the clip point is better at boring small holes, digging out splinters, or cleaning under your fingernails. The drop point tends to work better for skinning, but a clip point is more efficient at piercing the initial hole to begin skinning. The clip point may be better in fighting situations, but I don't want to be stabbed with either.

We say that the the drop point is stronger, but is the difference really that significant? Maybe thin, narrow clip points are weaker, but comparing similar designs like the BK-16 and BK-17, is there a big difference, especially if the 17 is saber ground and the 16 is full ground.

I think that most of the difference lies in our minds, not in reality, and it really comes down to personal preference.
 
I've used a bunch of different knives over the years and I grew up reading about drop points. I tried to love them over the years, but there is simply too many things they won't do. At this point I believe I've given away all the drop points I own or retired them to kitchen duty where they are not a handicap.
 
zpstl321 said:
I've used a bunch of different knives over the years and I grew up reading about drop points. I tried to love them over the years, but there is simply too many things they won't do. At this point I believe I've given away all the drop points I own or retired them to kitchen duty where they are not a handicap.
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Interesting. I personally haven't noticed a drawback for either design myself. It just illustrates how differently people use a tool. I can't conceive of something a drop point wouldn't do for me.
 
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