Ultimate Guide to the Types of Knife Blades and Edges

Being aware of the different types of knife blades and understanding what each of them is meant for is the best way to make the most of their functionality. If you’re new to the world of knives, this guide should help you determine what knife blade types to go for.

Combat knives are available with a wide variety of knife blades and edges. You must be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of knife blade in order to find the best one to suit your needs.  

Whether you are an avid hunter or in the Military don’t be that guy that goes “You got a knife on ya?”. Be prepared. Use this guide to explore the different blade types worth investing in for your personal situation.

Types of Knife Blades (Shapes)

Choosing types of knife blade shapes isn’t just about aesthetics – it’s a critical decision that will impact your outdoor adventures, military effectiveness, or survival fitness.  Each shape offers unique advantages, from precise slicing to effective sharpening. 

Here’s a detailed guide on the different blade shapes, their uses, and their strengths to help you choose the right one for your adventures.

Drop Point Blade

The Drop Point gets its name from the downward sloping of its spine as it extends from the handle, leading to an accurate tip. This slope makes it easier to control the blade and get maximum precision.

Drop point blades have wider bellies with long, smooth edges perfect for cutting and slicing stuff in the wild. The tip is wider, too, so it’s extremely strong and won’t break easily. 

Whether you’re skinning animals, making shelter, or dealing with challenging situations, the drop point is your best buddy for survival.

Clip Point Blade

The Clip point is one of my most reliable knife blade types for surviving outdoors. The clip point features a classic frontiersman look— a straight spine that appears like a part of the tip was carefully clipped off. The clipped part makes the tip thin and sharp, perfect for poking and detailed work. 

Drop Point vs. Clip Point

When comparing drop point vs. clip point blades, the latter is sharper and better for piercing and stabbing. Both types have wide blades, which makes them pretty good at chopping. I’ve personally used both for preparing firewood.

Spear Point Blades

Spear point knife blades feature a symmetrical, pointy shape resembling a spear. Their pointiness makes them perfect for piercing and poking. 

Their double-edged design provides excellent thrusting and stabbing, making them a reliable choice for self-defense! 

You can use the spear point for drilling into wood and creating numerous tools, including pegs for shelter and spatulas for cooking! 

Tanto Blade

Inspired by the Japanese Samurai swords, the Tanto point blade shape is specially crafted for law enforcement and military personnel. The Tanto’s edge slopes to meet the spine at a sharp point, creating a larger main edge and a smaller edge where the blade curves away.

The blade’s angled tip gives it impressive strength, ideal for poking and prying. Its tough structure and unique shape has made it the top choice in everyday pocket knives. 

Wharncliffe Blade

Out of the different types of blades, the Wharncliffe blade is specially crafted for delicate tasks like whittling and fine cutting. 

It features a straight edge and a sloping spine that angles into a thin, long tip. This thin tip makes it an excellent pick for precision cuts and penetration, making tasks like box opening a breeze. 

And the best part? This straight blade is extremely easy to sharpen, making it a good everyday carry option for everything, from crafting survival tools like snares and traps to tackling small DIY projects.

Trailing Point Blade

If you’re a hunter or an avid fisherman, this blade style is for you! Trailing Point blades feature a curved cutting edge that meets the spine above the handle, offering more surface area for effective cutting. 

With the tip as the highest point, it has a broad, curved belly and a sharp tip. So, it’s perfect for skinning animals and precise slicing. 

Standard / Straight Back Blades

Among the types of blades, the standard blade, sometimes known as a “straight back” has a straightforward design. With a straight spine and classic belly, it’s a versatile choice. 

While you might spot it more in the kitchen than in survival situations, it’s got your back for various tasks. Its sturdy build, accurate slicing, and strong stabbing abilities also make it a useful tool outdoors.

This blade style is particularly useful for field dressing – the process of preparing hunted meat for consumption. Its excellent control and durable tip make skin and deboning the meat easily, ensuring you can enjoy delicious meals even during outdoor adventures. 

Hawkbill Blade

The hawkbill blade style is the opposite of trailing point blades. Its hooked design resembles a wicked talon, often seen on karambit knives for tactical purposes. 

While primarily a self-defense tool, the hawkbill blade features an aggressively curving edge that’s excellent for pulling cuts. 

Its shape is perfect for cutting through rigid materials like rope and shrubs, making it a go-to for heavy-duty tasks.

Summary Table Comparing Knife Blades Types

Here’s a table summarizing all the different styles of knives blades. 

Blade	Shape	Best For
Drop Point	Downward sloping spine with precise tip	All-purpose shape great for cutting, slicing, carving, skinning, etc
Clip Point	Straight spine with clipped tip, resulting in sharp tip	Poking, piercing, and detailed work
Spear Point	Symmetrical, pointy shape, resembling a spear	Piercing, stabbing, drilling, and crafting tools
Tanto	Straight spine, flat edge, and sharply angled tip	Opening packages, crafting, piercing, and self-defense
Wharncliffe	Straight edge with a sloping spine that angles into a thin, long tip	Precision cuts, whittling, DIY projects, and everyday carry
Trailing Point	Curved cutting edge	Cutting, skinning, hunting, precise slicing
Straight Back	Classic design with straight spine	Multi-purpose style great for heavy-duty work and field dressing.
Hawksbill	Talon-shaped	Pulling cuts, carving and skinning

Types of Knife Blade Edges 

A knife’s edge determines its cutting power. Here are the types of knife blade edges you need to know. 

Combo Edge 

Combo edge knives have serrations on one half and a plain edge on the other. This combo offers the best of both worlds – the slicing precision of a plain edge and the chopping power of serrations. 

It’s ideal for survival and hunting as the serrations can help cut through bushes while the plain edge ensures accuracy.

Plain Edge 

A plain edge blade lacks serrations, providing a straight, sharp edge for precise and efficient cuts. 

Its clean slicing action is perfect for cutting through vegetation, fabric, and other course materials you might encounter in the wild. Plus, it’s also great for carving wood and preparing food. 

With quick sharpening and corrosion resistance, a plain edge blade is a trusty companion for outdoor adventures.

Serrated Edge 

Featuring tooth-like serrations, these blades master cutting fibrous materials and handling challenging objects like rope. Although slightly less precise, their durability and versatility make them essential outdoor survival tools. 

Double-Beveled Edges

The double-beveled blade features a cutting edge that has been ground on both sides, resulting in a razor-sharp edge that’s seen on almost all knives, from your trusty pocket knife to the one sitting on your kitchen counter. 

It’s particularly useful for carving wood, constructing shelters, and crafting tools with precision and efficiency.

Single-Beveled Edges 

A single-bevel blade is unique as only one side of its metal has been ground to form the edge. It’s an excellent choice for tasks that involve scraping, such as removing bark from wood or cleaning surfaces. 

Here’s a summary of the different types of blade edges.

Type of Edge	Description	Best For
Combo Edge	Features serrations on one half and a plain edge on the other	Survival and hunting, slicing, chopping, cutting through tough surfaces
Plain Edge	Straight, sharp edge	Precise cuts, carving, preparing food, cutting vegetation, and general outdoor tasks.
Serrated Edge	Features tooth-like serrations	Cutting fibrous materials, handling rope, and tasks requiring extra durability and grip
Double-Beveled Edges	Features a razor-sharp edge ground on both sides	Carving, constructing shelters, crafting tools, and versatile outdoor tasks.
Single-Beveled Edges	Unique edge with one side of metal ground	Scraping tasks, removing bark, and cleaning surfaces.

Types of Blade Materials 

Blade shapes provide clues about a knife’s purpose, but the blade material tells even more. So, it’s essential that you choose a material based on what the knife will be used for. 

Here are a few key blade traits influenced by the material:

• Blade strength
• Edge durability
• Corrosion resistance
• Sharpening ease

Here are the different types of materials and their uses. 

High Carbon Steel Knives

Most blade materials have steel due to its rigidity, durability, and corrosion resistance. This alloy, formed from iron and carbon, offers a unique balance of strength and versatility due to its extra carbon content. It’s strong and tough, making it an excellent combat knife material. 

High Vanadium Steel Knives

High vanadium steel stands strong against both the elements and impacts. Its sturdy structure effectively combats corrosion and rust. 

Its remarkable edge retention sets it apart from others. It allows it to stay as sharp as its initial cut, even after extended use. 

Whether it’s wood carving, survival tasks, and heavy-duty cutting, this durable, sharp blade is the key to smoothly conquering those rough challenges.

Stainless Steel Knives

Stainless steel is the top blade choice in various commercial items. With 11% chromium, it features remarkable corrosion resistance. It has a minimum of 1.2% carbon content, ensuring maximum durability and strength. 

This combination of sharpness and corrosion resistance is particularly great for outdoor adventures like camping, hiking, and fishing, where a blade that maintains its edge and fends off rust is a game-changer.

Thermoplastic

Believe it or not, knives don’t always have to be metal. Thermoplastic knives feature a special blend of plastics, offering remarkable sharpness without rust and corrosion worries.

What sets this thermoplastic blade material apart is its resistance against rust, making it a great companion for outdoor survival. 

When you’re out in the wild, rust-causing moisture and unpredictable weather won’t dull its edge! 

Tool Steel 

As the name suggests, tool steels are common in tools like screwdrivers and wrenches. They have exceptional durability and harness. 

One of the go-to tool steels for crafting knives is D2. Its remarkable edge retention keeps your blade sharp and ready for extensive cutting and carving tasks.

From wood carving to building shelters, its enduring edge and strength shine in challenging situations where dependability matters most.

Here’s a summary of the different types of blade materials. 

Blade Material	Description	Best For
High Carbon Steel	Strong and durable steel alloy with more carbon.	Fine-detailed work, carving, and wood-work
High Vanadium Steel	Resistant to corrosion and rusk	Heavy-duty cutting and rugged tasks
Stainless Steel	Corrosion-resistant with excellent durability	General outdoor tasks including cooking, building shelters, and fishing
Thermoplastic	Made of a blend of plastics that is rust-resistant and lightweight	Outdoor survival, preparing meals, and minimalist backpacking
Tool Steel	Durable with superior edge retention	Demanding outdoor conditions and carving wood

Final Words on Blades Types

When looking for the right knife, consider shape, make and material. Remember it’s not just a convenience, your knife can make a huge difference out in the field. The right blade will enhance your survival abilities and redefine your entire experience. Each type of knife blade offers its unique edge, quite literally.

Whether you’re out on a military exercise, deployed, hunting or exploring the outdoors, I hope this guide helps you find your perfect type of knife blade.