Blade Shapes
August, 2012 Bowie: Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie Knife
ex. Ontario SP10 Marine Raider Bowie knife has a clip-point blade with extra belly. This style was designed by Jim Bowie and made famous in his Sandbar fight in 1827 (look it up). He died fighting from his sick bed at the Alamo. A courageous man's awesome knife.

Clip-point: Ka-Bar Short USMC Fighting Knife
ex. KA-BAR USMC fighting knife has a clipped (concave) back to make the tip thinner and sharper and therefore better at piercing, picking, and cutting in tight places. An excellent combat knife. Most fighting and survival knives are clip-points.

Drop Point: Zero Tolerance Ranger Green Folder, SpeedSafe # 0301
ex. Zero Tolerance 301 is good for general use and very good for hunting; this type has a lot of belly to aid in sweeping movements like skinning.

Skinner: Boker Dozier Anchorage Pro Skinner #02BO250
ex. Boker Dozier Anchorage Pro Skinner has a lot of belly without a sharp point for skinning and field dressing.

Spear point: CRKT M21-02G, G10 Handle, Plain Edge
ex. CRKT M21 Special Forces is a symmetrical blade with the point in line with the center. It is double-edged with a central spine for strength and penetration. Another good fighting knife, but not as good as other types for general field use.

Tanto: Benchmade Tanto Griptillian #553SBK
ex. Benchmade Tanto Griptillian's edge of the blade meets the spine at a 45 degree angle to reinforce the tip, generally diamond shaped. This type is excellent for stabbing and is more of a combat knife since it doesn't have any belly. The reverse tanto is the same idea with the spine angling down to meet the cutting edge.

Trailing point: Kershaw Tremor # 1950
ex. Kershaw Tremor: the upswept tip allows a lighter knife to have more curve on the edge. Particularly good for slicing, slashing, and skinning.

Wharncliffe: Kershaw Leek # 1660CKT
ex. Kershaw Leek: the spine curves down to meet the point. The blade's straight edge makes it the easiest knife to sharpen. Good for slicing and tip work but the lack of belly makes it unsuitable for skinning.