How do drop, clip, spear and tanto points differ?
Drop points curve the spine down, clip points cut away part of the upper tip, and spear points place the tip near the centerline. A modern tanto has a distinct angular transition near the tip. Spyderco and Benchmade describe these patterns in their shape references. The names alone do not establish a finished blade’s strength or intended use.
How do sheepsfoot, wharncliffe, hawkbill and reverse tanto differ?
A sheepsfoot has a blunt rounded tip, a wharncliffe slopes to an acute tip, and a hawkbill curves the edge inward. Reverse tanto places the angular transition on the spine side. Inspect both the spine and the edge rather than deciding from one corner of a photograph. Maker labels vary, so retain the exact model description.
| Pattern | Outline |
|---|---|
| Drop point | Spine curves down toward the tip |
| Clip point | Part of the upper tip is cut away |
| Spear point | Spine and edge meet near the centerline |
| Tanto | Angular transition near the front of the edge |
| Sheepsfoot | Straight edge with a rounded, blunt upper tip |
| Wharncliffe | Straight edge; spine slopes to an acute point |
| Hawkbill | Inward-curving cutting edge |
| Reverse tanto | Angular transition appears on the spine side |
Which catalog examples have maker-confirmed shapes?
The Buck Folding Hunter in this catalog has an explicitly documented clip-point blade. Other shape examples are omitted when the catalog does not carry an opened maker shape statement. The linked profile keeps the exact variant and source date attached. This is a specification example rather than an inference from a photograph.
Buck 110 Folding Hunter — ebony and brass: 0110BRS, standard ebony/brass, satin clip point. Buck source; checked 2026-11-04.
What is a trailing point blade?
A trailing point curves upward so the tip sits above the main line of the spine. Benchmade describes the pattern in its blade-shape reference. It is outside the requested eight-pattern table, but helps separate a raised tip from a drop point. Check the exact maker’s intended use instead of assigning a use from the outline alone.
What is a bowie blade shape?
A Bowie pattern commonly has a clipped upper tip and a curved cutting belly. Spyderco notes that the pattern has many variations. The name does not specify one fixed dimension or cross-section. Retain a maker’s more exact profile description when it is available.
Sources and scope
These references document materials and construction rather than a measured result for a finished knife. Open the original source to check its definitions and limits.
- Spyderco: blade shapes; checked 2026-11-04.
- Benchmade: blade shapes; checked 2026-11-04.