A Look At Sporting Knife Blade Types
You can tell a lot about a hunting knife by carefully examining its shape
. Each different sporting knife design is shaped to carry out its intended duty. This rule also holds true for culinary knives. For instance, a cleaver is rectangular and extremely strong so as to allow the user to chop through tough tissue and bones. Flexible boning knives for cleaning fish are often curved, which allows the knife to more easily cut through flesh.
There are several different common shapes for sporting and hunting knives, and each one has its own common uses, advantages and weaknesses. Here's a look at how to tell a knife's use by its shape:
Clip-Point Blades
The blade of a clip-point sporting knife curves slightly up, like many kitchen knives. However, the back side of the blade cuts in about halfway down the knife, creating a thinner, sharper tip. Sometimes, the back edge of a clip-point blade is also sharpened, which is handy in piercing applications. Pocket knives, folding knives, and Bowie knives often have clip-point blades.
One weakness of a clip-point blade is that, depending on the severity of the cut back section, the tip may be quite skinny and weak. Indeed, the tips are known to break easily. If you need a hunting knife for skinning game, a clip-point blade is not the best choice as it may break off in the animal. What clip-point blades do well is facilitate cutting in tight places. The tip may also be used for piercing and picking at items, although prying actions will often destroy the tip. Overall, a clip-point blade is a good sporting knife for generalized camping tasks.
Drop-Point Blades
The back of a drop-point blade curves down in a convex shape toward the blade tip. If you imagine a typical kitchen knife, the back of the blade usually runs straight from the handle to the tip. In contrast, a drop-point blade curves on both sides, somewhat like a spear blade or dagger. The main knife in a multi-tool often features a drop-point blade.
Many hunters and sportsmen consider drop-point blades to be the most versatile, useful shape for a hunting knife. These sporting knives are generally stronger and more durable than clip-point blades, since they are usually thicker along their length. Drop-point blades may be used for any number of applications, including skinning game. Many hunters prefer using this type of sporting knife for dressing game because the entire blade may be used while skinning and dressing meat. (Using the whole length of the blade accelerates the dressing process while minimizing the chances that you'll tear into the meat). Drop-point blades are the overall choice for durability and versatility in hunting knives.
Skinner Blades
Designed especially for skinning game, skinner blades usually have a round, blunt shape. The lack of a sharp tip makes it less likely that you will damage meat while using skinner knives. Once you skin a big game animal with a skinner blade, you'll appreciate why avid sportsmen invest in this special variety of hunting knife. Skinner blades separate skin from flesh quickly and effectively.
Spear-Point Blades
Both edges of a spear-point blade curve into the point. This symmetrical blade design is perfect for stabbing and thrusting, which explains why daggers usually feature this type of blade. Spear-point blades are generally not useful for preparing game or conducting camp chores.
Gut Hook
Regardless of which blade shape you choose, it's wise to look for a sporting knife with a gut hook. A gut hook is used to "unzip" the animal's belly. It is shaped so as to minimize the chance that the animal's guts will be punctured. (If the internal organs are punctured, the taste of surrounding meat may be negatively impacted.)
In addition to considering a blade's overall shape, it is wise to carefully examine each knife's handle, heft and comfort. While using a knife, you should feel that the tool is an extension of your hand and that it is easy to maneuver. Knife blade shape can tell you quite a bit about the best uses for a hunting knife, but it can't tell you the whole story of whether this could be the right blade for you.
by: Tom C. Huntington
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