Selecting the right knife can be just as challenging for a man as it is for his wife to pick out new shoes or a handbag. He can spend hours comparing them, weighing all the options, thinking through every detail… and in the end, he still decides he needs at least two or three...

In this article, we took a closer look at various blade types so you can choose the grind that suits you best – whether you need a knife for everyday carry, outdoor activities, tactical use, or for work and hobbies. It’s possible that a certain blade type might not appeal to you at first glance, but you might end up using it far more often in practice. We’ve arranged the blade types from the most commonly used to the less frequent ones.

So, pour yourself a coffee (or something stronger if you prefer), get comfortable, and let’s dive into the world of blades together! 

DROP POINT

The Drop Point is one of the most popular and versatile blade shapes, commonly found in hunting knives, EDC (Everyday Carry) knives, and tactical knives. This design is renowned for its strength, versatility, and excellent control during cutting.

Characteristics:

• Sloping spine – the top part of the blade slopes slightly downward toward the tip, allowing for better control when cutting.
• Robust tip – thanks to the gentle slope, the tip is sturdier compared to a clip point blade, reducing the risk of breakage.
• Versatility – suitable for a wide range of tasks, from everyday carry to hunting and tactical applications.
• Long cutting edge – provides a more efficient, controlled cut, ideal for processing food, leather, or other materials.

Uses for a Drop Point Blade:

✔ EDC knives – perfect for daily tasks like opening packages and slicing.
✔ Hunting knives – excellent for processing game due to its long cutting edge.
✔ Tactical knives – widely used in military and rescue applications.

The Drop Point is considered one of the most reliable blade shapes, which makes it popular among users who seek a balanced compromise between strength, control, and cutting efficiency.

Folding knives with a Drop Point blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Drop Point blade:

 

CLIP POINT

The Clip Point is among the most recognized and widespread blade shapes thanks to its sharp, precise tip, which makes for efficient piercing and detailed cutting. Commonly used in hunting, tactical, and EDC knives, it’s especially iconic in Bowie knives.

Characteristics:

• “Clipped” spine – part of the blade’s spine is lowered, creating an aggressive, pointed edge.
• Long, sharp tip – a thin tip for precise cuts and easy piercing.
• Prominent cutting edge – suitable for detailed work as well as deep cuts.

Uses for a Clip Point Blade:

✔ EDC knives – ideal for precise tasks and everyday use.
✔ Hunting knives – great for detail work and processing game.
✔ Combat and tactical knives – favored by military and for self-defense due to excellent piercing ability.

The Clip Point offers an aggressive tip combined with a long cutting edge, making it perfect for tasks requiring both precision and efficiency in cutting and piercing.

Folding knives with a Clip Point blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Clip Point blade:

 

TANTO

The Tanto blade is known for its aggressive design, originating from traditional Japanese swords. Popular in tactical and combat knives, it delivers exceptional tip strength and excellent penetration capability.

Characteristics:

• Distinct angle between the main cutting edge and the tip – rather than having a smooth curve, the transition is sharp and angular.
• Reinforced tip – thanks to its construction, the tip is sturdier, making it ideal for stabbing and piercing tasks.
• Straight cutting edge – often without the usual curve, improving control for straight cuts.

Uses:

✔ Tactical and combat knives – used by military and for self-defense.
✔ Survival and outdoor knives – perfect for tasks requiring a durable, strong tip.
✔ EDC knives – some modern EDC knives feature a Tanto blade for added toughness.

The Tanto blade is an excellent choice for those seeking durability and piercing power. It’s ideal for tactical situations but less suited for fine, detailed cutting.

Folding knives with a Tanto blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Tanto blade:

 

SHEEPSFOOT

The Sheepsfoot blade is designed for maximum cutting control and minimal risk of accidental stabbing. Originally used for safely cutting rope and other materials on ships, it’s now popular in rescue knives, kitchen knives, and EDC knives.

Characteristics:

• Straight cutting edge – allows precise, controlled cuts.
• Rounded spine – eliminates a sharp tip, reducing the chance of unintentional piercing.
• Wide blade – provides stability and strength while cutting.

Uses:

✔ Rescue knives – ideal for cutting seat belts and bandages without risking injury.
✔ Kitchen knives – often found in knives for slicing cheese and vegetables.
✔ Craft knives – suitable for precise cuts in wood, leather, or plastic.

The Sheepsfoot blade is an excellent option for those who require a safe, precise, and controlled cutting tool with minimal chance of accidental stabbing.

Folding knives with a Sheepsfoot blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Sheepsfoot blade:

 

WHARNCLIFFE

The Wharncliffe blade is similar to a Sheepsfoot blade but features a gentler slope toward the spine, providing better control and more versatile use. It’s ideal for precise cuts and detail work, while still maintaining a safe, ergonomic design.

Characteristics:

• Straight cutting edge – enables accurate, controlled cuts with no curve.
• Gradually sloping spine – from the handle to the tip, which creates a better angle for cutting.
• Sharp, precise tip – unlike the Sheepsfoot blade, the Wharncliffe has a finer and narrower tip for improved precision.

Uses:

✔ EDC knives – great for precise, controlled cuts.
✔ Tactical knives – used in self-defense and rescue situations.
✔ Craft and working knives – suitable for cutting carpets, paper, leather, and other materials.

The Wharncliffe blade is an ideal choice for those who need maximum precision, control, and a sharp tip for detailed cutting tasks.

Folding knives with a Wharncliffe blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Wharncliffe blade:

 

SPEAR POINT

The Spear Point blade features a sharp tip aligned with the blade’s center axis. This shape is known for its balanced ratio of piercing to slicing capability, making it a favorite in tactical, combat, and EDC knives.

Characteristics:

• Symmetrical shape – the blade curves equally on both top and bottom, ensuring balanced performance.
• Center-aligned tip – improves piercing ability and overall knife balance.
• Dual-edged design (not always) – some models have both the top and bottom edges sharpened, increasing piercing effectiveness.

Uses:

✔ Tactical and combat knives – widely used in the military for its strong piercing capability.
✔ EDC knives – some modern Spear Point blades are adapted for everyday carry.
✔ Daggers and fighting knives – frequently seen in historical and modern combat daggers.

The Spear Point blade provides a perfect balance between stabbing and slicing, making it an excellent choice for tactical purposes and confident EDC users.

Folding knives with a Spear Point blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Spear Point blade:

 

DAGGER / STILETTO

The Dagger and Stiletto are two blade types designed primarily for stabbing, often used in combat and tactical knives. Both have a long history in close-quarters fighting; nowadays, they are also found in collectible and tactical knives.

Characteristics:

Dagger

• Double-edged blade – sharp on both sides for swift, efficient thrusting.
• Symmetrical design – the blade typically has a Spear Point shape with the tip on the center axis.
• Wider blade – offers better slicing performance than a Stiletto.

Stiletto

• Narrow, elongated blade – extremely thin, designed mainly for stabbing rather than slicing.
• Less pronounced cutting edge – often sharpened primarily near the tip, preserving rigidity.
• Typical for Italian switchblades – an iconic design, especially among automatic and folding knives.

Uses:

✔ Combat and tactical knives – primarily used by military and special forces.
✔ Historical and collectible knives – frequently seen as replicas of historical daggers.
✔ Italian switchblades (Stiletto) – popular among collectors.

Both the Dagger and Stiletto have a strong combat character: the Dagger offers better balance between stabbing and cutting, while the Stiletto is optimized purely for quick, deep thrusting.

Folding knives with a Dagger / Stiletto blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Dagger / Stiletto blade:

 

HAWKBILL

The Hawkbill blade has a distinctly curved shape, reminiscent of a predator bird’s beak. This design specializes in efficient pull cuts, making it popular in work knives, rescue knives, and outdoor knives.

Characteristics:

• Pronounced curved cutting edge – the blade curves downward, allowing it to “bite” into the material effectively.
• Designed for pulling cuts – the shape naturally guides the blade into the material with minimal pressure.
• Limited piercing ability – while the tip is sharp, it’s not optimized for stabbing.

Uses:

✔ Work knives – used by electricians, gardeners, and craftsmen for precise slicing.
✔ Rescue knives – effective at cutting seat belts and ropes.
✔ Outdoor and survival knives – helpful for processing wood and vegetation in the wild.

The Hawkbill blade is perfect for professionals who need a reliable tool for pulling cuts. While it might not be the best universal blade shape for everyday use, it delivers outstanding performance in specialized situations.

Folding knives with a Hawkbill blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Hawkbill blade:

 

TRAILING POINT

The Trailing Point blade is characterized by its graceful curve, with the tip rising above the spine line of the handle. This design provides a long cutting edge, making it especially effective for precise, smooth cuts. It’s commonly used in hunting, filleting, and kitchen knives.

Characteristics:

• Curved cutting edge – provides a large cutting area, ideal for long pull cuts.
• Tip positioned above the handle’s spine – improves accuracy during delicate cuts.
• Thin, lightweight blade – allows for easy, controlled movements.

Uses:

✔ Hunting knives – perfect for processing hides and meat.
✔ Fillet knives – excellent for cleaning and filleting fish.
✔ Kitchen knives – suitable for detailed slicing and food prep.

The Trailing Point blade is an outstanding option for users who need a precise cutting tool with maximum control, and it dominates in hunting and kitchen applications.

Folding knives with a Trailing Point blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Trailing Point blade:

 

REVERSE TANTO

The Reverse Tanto blade combines the aggressive tip of a Tanto blade with improved cutting properties. It has become popular in modern EDC and tactical knives because it provides a highly durable tip while still retaining good slicing performance.

Characteristics:

• Sharp angle on the spine side – the tip is angled downward, giving it extra toughness.
• Long, straight cutting edge – offers better cutting efficiency compared to a standard Tanto shape.
• Strong, durable tip – similar to a Tanto blade but with improved cutting control.

Uses:

✔ EDC knives – an ideal combination of strength and cutting efficiency for everyday tasks.
✔ Tactical knives – the robust tip suits challenging situations.
✔ Outdoor knives – well-suited for woodworking and other materials.

The Reverse Tanto blade is a modern interpretation of the classic Tanto design, providing an enhanced cutting edge while preserving extreme tip strength. This combination makes it a favorite among EDC and tactical knife enthusiasts.

Folding knives with a Reverse Tanto blade:

 

Fixed knives with a Reverse Tanto blade:

 

Conclusion

Choosing the right blade depends on how you plan to use your knife. Each blade shape has its own strengths – whether you prefer the versatility of a Drop Point, the precise tip of a Clip Point, the aggressive Tanto, the safety of a Sheepsfoot, the accuracy of a Wharncliffe, or the balanced Spear Point. Selecting the right blade can make your life easier and help you avoid disappointment. And if you’re still unsure, there might be just one answer – you need more than one knife!

Pavol Jarabica
KNFS team