There are many knife blade types, and each one serves a specific purpose. The shape of a blade can make a big difference in how well it cuts, slices, or pierces.
Some knives are for everyday use, while others are for special jobs. By learning about different knife blade shapes, you can make better choices and get better results in the kitchen or outdoors.
Understanding the different knife blade types will help you choose the best tool for the job.
| Blade Type | Common Uses | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Clip Point | Combat, Detail Work | Sharp, thin tip |
| Drop Point | Hunting, General Use | Strong, versatile tip |
| Needle Point | Precision, Penetration | Extremely fine tip |
| Spear Point | Throwing, Piercing | Symmetrical point |
| Tanto | Tactical, Chopping | Strong angular tip |
The blunt tip knife blade shape features a rounded tip, hence the name. This blunt or rounded tip prevents accidental cuts and improves safety in situations when you don’t want to puncture objects. For this reason, it is typically used for dive knives. The blunt tip prevents punctures in important equipment while underwater.
Some may have a single straight or serrated edge, but the best dive knives are double-edged, with both a straight and serrated edge. This allows them to slice and cut with minimal effort. There may also be a notch for cutting fishing line. The blunt tip could be used for digging and chiseling. If you need to pierce or stab anything, though, this knife will do you no good.
The clip point knife blade shape features a curved edge on both sides and a thin tip. This type of blade takes a portion out of the back, which creates a second curved edge and a thinner tip. It can be used for small or hard-to-reach places. The clipped edge on the back of the knife is usually concave, but can also be straight. This type of knife offers more control, but may not perform well for more heavy-duty tasks. The clip point is a popular self defense knife.
The Dao knife blade shape features a single sharpened edge and a straight spine. It is a variation of the Dao sword, which is a traditional Chinese single-edged sword.
This blade is used mostly for slashing and chopping typically used in cleavers to chop hard vegetables and meat. The single curved edge chops effectively and the dull, straight spine improves safety.
The drop point knife blade shape features a slight curve and a convex curve on the back of the knife. It is used for most pocketknives since the shape of the blade can be applied to many different applications. This type of blade provides extra strength but is not meant for piercing. The drop point is by far the most popular blade shape today, thanks to its versatility.
The harpoon blade features a sharp edge and dull spine. The spine features an upward ramp on it. All harpoon blades have the upward ramp on the back, but aside from that, there are many variations in appearance. Some are pointed like a spear or feature straight or curved edges.
Usually, the belly remains straight, with a gentle curve appearing in the top third of the blade. The harpoon knife blade shape is mostly used for cutting tasks. The ramp on the spine offers extra stability and safety, offering the ability to apply pressure for increased cutting force.
The Hawkbill knife blade shape features a curved cutting edge and a mostly straight dull back. The spine curves straight down at the end, in the same direction as the sharp edge. This creates a sharp point that faces downward.
The Hawkbill is used for tasks where you would pull the knife blade back, such as cutting carpet or pruning plants. The sharp point and edge make the knife very useful for cutting and piercing, while the dull back allows you to handle it safely and apply pressure for more force and control.
A gut hook is more of an individual feature than a type of knife blade shape in itself. A gut hook knife blade is any blade that features a hook on the back of the blade. This small sharpened hook appears out of the spine near the end of the blade. It’s used for field dressing game while hunting, and is designed for the easy skinning of an animal without damaging any meat.
The leaf knife blade shape features a sharp edge that curves upward and a dull spine that slopes downward to meet it. It also usually has a large hole at the end of the spine nearest the handle, used as a thumb hole for easy deployment.
A thumb ramp over the thumb hole features grip jimping, which allows you to hold the knife easily. It’s considered an all-purpose knife blade that is excellent for pocketknives. The benefits of this type of knife are the sharp point, easy grip and deployment, and small compact size. However, the fine point can chip and break after regular use.
The needle point knife blade shape features a symmetrical edge on both sides, which tapers sharply to a point. It is used for daggers that are meant for close range combat and throwing. It’s excellent for piercing, but it is not especially strong.
The pen knife blade shape features a symmetrical curve on both sides of a center spine, similar to a spear point blade. However, unlike a spear point, it’s only sharpened on one side. It may also feature a more gradual curve. It is used for small folding pocketknives. The main benefit of a pen knife is its small size. The Swiss Army Knife is the most popular example of a pen knife.
The serrated knife blade shape features a sharpened edge with notches, usually called teeth, that make it excellent for cutting. This type of knife is usually single-edged. It is used for kitchen knives, some pocketknives, and any other knife that will be used primarily for slicing and cutting.
Serrated blades are more difficult to sharpen than smooth blades, but they stay sharper longer because there is less contact area. They cut faster than smooth edges, but the cut is not as clean or precise.
The Sheepsfoot knife blade shape features a sharp cutting edge and dull back. Both the edge and back are straight, with the back curving downward at the end.
This blade was originally used for trimming sheep hooves. The dull back allows you to use your fingers to increase cutting force and control. The lack of a sharp point means the knife cannot be used for piercing.
The spear point knife blade shape features a symmetrical curve on both sides of a center spine. It is used for daggers and small knives that are used for thrusting and throwing. The blade is typically sharpened on both sides, making it an excellent self defense blade shape.
The Spey blade shape, as seen in this Knafs EDC Pocket Knife, has a straight edge that curves up at the end. The traditional blade style also has a small clip on the back, and a very slight point.
This blade is used for skinning and spaying animals. The combination of straight edge and small curve make the knife very effective at skinning different kinds of animals. However, the lack of a sharp point means the knife cannot be used for piercing anything.
The straight back knife blade shape features a curved edge and a flat, dull side. It is mostly used for slicing and chopping. The dull back of the blade allows you to safely apply pressure with your hand or fingers, increasing the cutting force. The drawback of this dull side is that it adds weight to the knife, making it heavier to hold and use.
The talon knife blade shape is very similar to the hawkbill knife blade. However, instead of a square-looking back that curves down steeply at the end, the curve is more gradual, giving the blade a shorter, talon-like appearance (hence the name). It is used in much the same manner as a hawkbill blade, by pulling the blade back for cutting materials such as carpet and linoleum. The sharp point is good for piercing, the sharp edge cuts efficiently, and the dull back protects your fingers from cuts when applying pressure.
The Tanto point knife blade shape features a chisel edge. It is inspired by Japanese swords – specifically, the tip of a broken samurai sword which was said to be able to penetrate anything, including armor. It is a popular style for modern tactical knives. The Tanto point knife has no belly, so it will not be able to slice, but it makes up for that in tip strength.
The trailing point knife blade shape features a long curved edge on both sides, which curves up into a thin point. It is mostly used for skinning and filet knives. The curved edges improve the knife’s ability to slice and skin, and make the blade lightweight. The drawback is that the back of the knife is sharp, so you cannot use your fingers to apply pressure to the back of the blade to increase force.
The Wharncliffe knife blade shape features a thick blade, a straight edge, and a dull back with a gradual curve. Similar to the Sheepsfoot blade, the back of the knife curves downward, but it has a gentler curve, rather than a sudden curve at the end.
This blade shape was originally used by sailors, since it’s easier to use in unstable conditions on the sea. It’s still used today for slicing. The dull back makes it easy and safe to use and control, and the thick blade gives the knife strength. The lack of a sharp point protects you from accidental punctures, though it also eliminates the ability to pierce or penetrate.
Knife blade shapes serve important roles in daily cooking, outdoor tasks, and protection. The steel in your knife affects its edge retention, sharpness, and resistance to rust.
The most common knife blades include:
Some knives have blade shapes made for specific uses. These designs help with jobs like rescue, outdoor work, or food prep. Specialty and utility blades include:
| Blade Type | Common Use |
|---|---|
| Wharncliffe blade | Precision cutting |
| Sheepsfoot blade | Rescue, safe cutting |
| Hawkbill blade | Pull cuts, landscaping |
| Trailing Point blade | Skinning, slicing |
| Gut Hook blade | Field dressing |
| Spey Point blade | Skinning, livestock |
| Nessmuk blade | Outdoor, hunting |
The Wharncliffe blade has a straight cutting edge and a gently curving spine. You get great control, which is perfect for precision tasks and wood carving. The sheepsfoot blade is similar but has a flatter spine, making it safe for rescue knives and slicing ropes. Both are useful when safety and accuracy matter.
Hawkbill blades and the Karambit have a strong curve, like a talon or “S” shape. This makes them good for cutting through tough material, trimming plants, or opening boxes. These are common in jobs where you need to pull through the material.
The trailing point blade features an upward curve at the tip. It’s useful for skinning and slicing in hunting knives. This shape is seen in the Nessmuk knife and some kitchen knives too, making sweeping motions easier during food preparation.
Other useful shapes include the recurve blade for tough cutting tasks and the leaf blade for general utility. Some blades, like the pen blade and straight back blade, are popular in pocket knives for daily use. The right kitchen knife blade shape can make food preparation much easier.
Chef’s knives are great for chopping and dicing vegetables, while paring knives help you peel or trim with more control.
Santoku blades are ideal for precise slicing, and serrated blades work best for cutting bread without crushing it. Each shape is made for a specific kitchen duty to make cooking easier.
Stainless steel resists rust and is easy to care for, making it popular for kitchen knives. High-carbon steel holds a sharper edge longer, but it can rust if not dried and cleaned well. Some specialty steels combine toughness, sharpness, and resistance to corrosion, helping knives perform better for longer.
A Wharncliffe blade has a straight edge and a spine that curves down to meet the tip. This makes it different from the more common drop point or clip point blades, which have more curved or angled tips. The Wharncliffe shape is often chosen for controlled, precise cutting tasks and safety.
Drop point blades have a thick, strong tip that is less likely to break. Clip point blades are thinner with a sharper, more precise tip, useful for detailed work. Tanto blades have an angled tip and are excellent for piercing. Each shape gives you different cutting strengths and weaknesses, depending on your daily needs.
Some blades, like the Hawkbill, have a curved shape designed to hook and pull materials, making them popular for cutting rope or carpet.
The sheepsfoot blade is favored in rescue situations because it cuts safely without stabbing. Other specialty shapes work well for fishing, woodworking, or survival in harsh environments.
Tanto blades and dagger blades serve well in tactical settings because their strong tips pierce tough materials. The double-edged dagger works for thrusting, while the Tanto’s reinforced tip breaks through hard surfaces. Collectors and professionals who need specialized tools often prefer these blades.
Knife Buzz offers independent product reviews on a wide range of knives used in the kitchen, home, and outdoors. We make it easy for you to find the right knife at the best price.
