How to Choose the Right Blade Shape

Choosing the right blade shape is one of the most important decisions you can make when picking a knife, because it helps determine how it will actually cut. Each blade shape represents a different set of compromises, making it better at some tasks than others. So, whether you need splinter-picking precision, smooth slicing, robust strength, or a well-rounded combination of all three, this page will help inform you so you can find the right blade shape for you.

Drop Point

Characterized by a spine that “drops” down gently and a belly that rises up to meet it, drop point blades offer lots of variety and are arguably the most well-rounded blade shape for any and all cutting tasks. Because of the drop to the spine, it’s easy to keep the tip from unintentionally piercing whatever you’re cutting. This is why why many hunters, for example, choose drop point blades for skinning when they want to keep the hide intact.

Spear Point

A spear point is symmetrical around the tip, which is positioned on the midline of the blade. Both the spine and the belly of the blade should curve away from the tip with the same slope. Technically, spear points are a subset of drop point blades.

Clip point

Unlike the gentle slope of the spine on a drop point, the spine of a clip point blade veers towards the tip at an abrupt angle, “clipping” the forward portion of the blade. The line from the spine to the tip can be either straight or concave. Generally, clip point blades have a pointier, more acute tip, which makes them great for tasks that require precision or penetration.

Trailing Point

If the tip is higher than the spine of the blade at the handle, it is said to have a trailing point. You may also hear this blade shape referred to as “Persian” or “upswept.” Trailing points are often used on butcher’s knives, because they can offer both a long, curvaceous belly for slicing and a thin, precise tip for penetration.

Wharncliffe

Named after the 19th-century English Lord that first dreamed it up (which is why we capitalize the name even to this day), a Wharncliffe blade has a perfectly straight edge and a spine that tapers dramatically to meet it at a very precise tip. Because there is no curve to the edge, Wharncliffe blades tend not to slip out of a cut. This helps makes Wharncliffe blades both particularly easy to control, and aggressive in their cutting power.

Sheepsfoot

Traditionally, sheepsfoot blades have a straight spine that runs parallel to the edge until it drops steeply to meet it at a broad, somewhat blunted tip. These days, the definition is not so strict and includes blades with some belly and spines that don’t necessarily run straight. As long as the tip is below the midline and still somewhat broad, we are happy to call it a modified sheepsfoot.

Hawkbill

These blades are easy to spot because of their concave, hook-like silhouette. Much like a claw, talon, or beak, this blade “gathers” material as you cut, making them highly effective tools that resist slipping out of a cut. In addition to combat knives like Karambits, Hawkbill blades can often be found on gardening and agricultural tools, where their ability to pull soft, delicate, or flexible materials into the edge is essential.

Tanto

Rather than a smooth, uninterrupted edge that stretches from heel to tip, tanto blades have a secondary point where the edge abruptly changes direction. It may be helpful to think of tanto blades as having two edges: one that goes from the tip to the secondary point, and another that stretches from that point back to the heel of the blade. Oftentimes, the forward edge will have a flat grind for added strength, while the other edge will have a hollow grind for better slicing performance.

Reverse Tanto (Spey)

Fans of traditional slipjoint knives might call it a spey blade, but the reverse tanto is essentially a sheepsfoot blade with a small amount of belly and a clipped tip. The spine resembles the angular edge profile of a tanto blade; hence the name “reverse tanto.” These knives typically have a strong, broad point that makes them excellent for hard work, as on the immensely popular Benchmade 940.

Straight Back (Puukko)

The spine of a straight back blade is perfectly flat, without any rise or drop from handle to tip where the edge curves up to meet it. The quintessential Finnish Puukko is a great example of this blade shape: simple, yet effective.

Recurve

The curvaceous recurve blade is defined by the shape of its edge: it curves inward (concave) at the heel before curving outward (convex) towards the tip. These blades offer a nice mix of the aggressive cutting ability of a hawkbill blade and the general cutting utility of a more conventional blade shape.