Top Knives Blade Types That Keep the Best Edge

The knife-edge is the most important part of a knife. It is what gives the knife purpose by providing the cutting abilities. There are different types of edges that exist today, and each of them has been designed for a specific purpose. But which knives keep the best edge, and how long do they maintain them? What are the factors that determine how long a knife maintains that edge? These are the questions that we will be answering today to help you make a better decision when choosing the right knife for yourself.

Types of Knife Edges

There are different types of knife edges, both for fixed and pocket knives. Before spending your money on any type of knife, it would be important to understand each edge that exists and how to get the best out of it. The following are the main types of knife edges.

Drop Point Edge

This is a common type of blade that features a drop-point design where the blade itself has a convex spine that curves downwards from the hit of the handle to a sharp point. This gives the blade better control and a much bigger belly that makes it ideal for slicing. Knives that feature this kind of edge are ideal for hunters and campers who have no qualms being out in the wild on survival mode.

Sheepsfoot

This has a straight edge and a spine that curves downwards to connect at a point. The slightly concave shape gives it a good handle that works very well for slicing tasks. At the same time, the sharp edge that extends to the point makes this type of blade best suited for piercing tough materials. This could come in handy when skinning an animal after a hunt. Sheepsfoot gets its name because the blade was used to trim the sheep hooves in the past before it was adopted for other tasks.

Wharncliffe

A Wharncliffe knife edge is the type that almost resembles a sheepsfoot blade, only that in this case, the blade is a lot shorter and curves on both sides to meet at a point in the middle. This makes the blade ideal for piercing tasks and can make for a good defensive knife in the hands of a well-trained knife handler. A good number of knives that feature this edge are pocket knives as they are too sharp to be left exposed and too short to have a sheath, so it doesn’t make sense fitting them to a fixed knife.

Clip-Point Edge

This is another common type of knife edge that has a spine that dips inwards into a front section before extending up towards a pointed end that is slightly curved upwards. The actual cutting edge then curves upwards from the hilt, extending into a soft climb just before meeting the point. It is normally attached to a pocket knife setup and is a very suitable knife for precise tasks like skinning and cutting up delicate and small objects.

Straight Back Edge

Also called the normal blade, this is the type that has a straight spine that is backed on the other side by a slightly curved cutting edge that rises gently from the hilt of the handle. The knives that feature this edge are never that big and are mostly pocket knives that are used for small tasks like opening boxes or cutting small items around the house and sometimes on outdoor excursions. It is a nifty knife that you could carry along as a backup option but never as your main knife if you intend to go out in the wild hunting or camping.

Tanto Edge

This is a unique edge that originated from the Far East, and it features a very straight blade that starts from the hilt with a straight cutting edge, then sharply rises towards the end to meet the point at almost a right angle with the tip extending a little bit outwards. This gives it a very strong and stable balance that is ideal for dealing with complicated and labor-intensive tasks. Some are made to be as big as a mini sword, but it is a fixed blade that can take any size. This is the type of cutting edge that you would want if you are looking for an efficient and reliable slicing option.

Hawkbill Edge

This is called a talon edge at times, and it features a blade that has a spine and an edge that curves downwards to create a very unique down-facing blade that is ideal for slicing. It is the type of knife that comes in quite handy if you are dealing with the disemboweling task of a big animal after a hunt, as it can dig deep into the body to slice everything in its path without any issue. It can also come in handy in pruning vegetation as the edge can stay sharp for a very long time.

Needle Point

This is an edge that is pointed and sharp with both sides designed for cutting, much like a needlepoint, hence the name. It is a type of knife edge that gives the user great piercing ability, and it can come in handy as a defensive knife or something to land the final kill on an animal that you just hunted. However, it is one of the most fragile blade designs, and you should never subject it to intensive tasks. It is also a type of knife edge that is banned in most places around the world as it is considered to be a deadly weapon.

Conclusion

All these are knife edges that can serve your needs if you maintain them well. The length that a knife edge maintains its sharpness is reliant on how you treat the blade, and this is why it is recommended that regular sharpening is conducted once in a while. For more information on knife edges and how they affect functionality, check out our website (Shieldon - best fixed blade knives).

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