I was kind of hoping you would include the pros and cons of each knife shape... Like, what's the real difference, other than aesthetics? Most of them seem pretty self explanatory, yet others are more 'weedy' as to the application differences.
Now that you know the name of each blade type, be proactive if you want to learn something else. Take the blade shape name and Google it for more information, you're not at a disadvantage because he didn't list everything you wanted to know, he imparted a lot of knowledge, take the boost and run with it.
Never said I was at a disadvantage, just stating that based on title of video, I was expecting something else. And as far as 'imparting a lot of knowledge'... I would disagree. to each there own though. Peace bro!
How about a blade shapes part 2 ?? What each shape can or can’t do well. I’ve never really got tantos, until I bought the recon 1 tanto. I love it. It just works well for me.
Got me a tanto fixed blade a few years ago, so I have a very robust tip, since I remember snapping off one or two tips in the past. I thought I buy preventive that time. German knife laws made me do it, to be frank. I didn't knew the law here says that's weapon character, since the blade shape is made for stabbing and does other tasks sub-optimal. At home it takes "abuse" quite well though. Well, it's a multitool! 😅👌
My grandfather used his spey bladed Case Knife to spey cats and casterate other unfortunate unsuspecting beasts on the tobacco farm, near Motueka in New Zooland, he'd push the poor cats head and upper body into his rubber gumboot and then operate with his appropriaely named spey blade, sweet as, no worries mate, not unless you were a well hung Tom cat anyway.
David C. Andersen: Thank you for ANOTHER great episode. I buy MOST of my knives from The Knife Center for 3 reasons: your efforts (#1), the great service and the great selection.
This is a great video idea, seen lots of people espousing inaccurate information about blade shapes as facts so it is good to see some clear and accurate information from someone as knowledgable as yourself.
Still a lot of inaccurate information when he's calling a coping blade a sheeps foot, and by calling a knife with a curved edge a sheeps foot. It seems the modern knife crowd rarely knows what a sheeps foot actually is, but that giant mouse or whatever is more of a very exaggerated drop point because the curved edge disqualifies it as being a sheeps foot. From the very beginning a sheeps foot blade has always had a straight edge, the modern knife crowd seems to only focus on the spine/tip forgetting that the edge must be straight.
sheep foot knives originally were designed to trim sheep hooves as name indicates and its shaped like that so you dont stab the sheep foot and its to give it a straight cut (which also is favoured by whittlers too as "coping" knife)
@@dougbulldog9947 thats true and dave said that clippoint make a good edc knife for various tasks explains why the stockman pocket knife was the perfect combo for most cowboys out there
I just got one of those danglers for my condor headstrong and it made it so comfortable to carry. It is now my EDC thanks to that simple leather piece.
Hey David, cuminatycha from London England. I have to say that your English pronunciation is impeccable. Many Americans (and I love 'em all) just do not know how to pronounce some English words, but you David are the exception. It's a pleasure listening to you... plus the fact that you know what you're talking about. Happy Holidays!
Hey David thanks for featuring my question and a extra thank you for your great explanation. This really helped me understand blade shapes and opened my eyes to some future choices. Absolutely love the videos and always look forward to the next. Again thank you for taking the time on my questions and I’m sure I’ll have more soon
As someone who watches your videos but rarely comments I would like to thank you for this piece on blade shapes. It was very interesting and quite informative. 😎
Man i always scoffed at danglers. But i also always complain when my carry digs into my side when i get in and out of trucks/equipment. Dangler may actually be my answer. Nice use case description David 👍🏻
I think you could get even more "weedy". I'd love to see a video recapping shapes and covering grinds. Using real production examples is an excellent idea. My question for DCA: how has the knife world changed in the last few years for supply/fulfillment? It seems like new offerings like Demko's were gone before they were available. Benchmade 940s, the ancient green guy, don't even seem to stay in stock. Is this how it's always been?
My most beautiful blade award goes to Trailing Point blades. So awesome and cool and beautiful. Second place for Tanto and in the third place the Wharncliff.
Great episode. I learned some new things for sure. One style that I noticed was not discussed was the seax. Not a big deal, but definitely a distinctive and historic style. Thank you for all that you do. Be well and be safe.
Wait a minute. Frank friggin William Abagnale rolls up seeking your advice? Well it’s official, you sir are THE expert of industry and I’ll never take another RUclipsrs knife advice over yours. You sir, are officially a legend if you didn’t yet realize it!
I love this topic, it has endless answers to endless questions. One country have at least 20 different shapes and styles to do 20++ types of work. Another country have 2 types of design to do it all. Professional slaughters may have 2 to 10 different shapes and points to a knife to make their job easier. Woodworkers have their own types of shapes and lenghts to make their work more precise and easier. There are a ton of professions that use a knife actively, including your local minion shop employee that restock the shelves with the food you eat everyday..Knives is something that everyone use and not everyone give any thought to.
Hi,this question is for both Mr Andersen and Seth, what would you like to see done, invented or happen in the knives industry that hasn't happened yet? It could be some new invention or design or some collaboration between companies or designers, whatever you wish would happen during your lives in the world of knives and metallurgy. Thanks for the great content and Merry Christmas to all.
I checked in the weeds and found out the reverse tanto is actually a Spey blade and spyderco has leaf shaped blades, Just wanted to share that with you DCA! Keep the awesome videos coming.
CLIP stands for Cut (C), Slice (LI), Puncture (P), C + LI + P = CLIP and speaks to the blade design's intended uses. A Sheeps Foot Blade is one from history that was traditionally used on ships to cut rope, which explains its design. Wharncliffe (named after the man who created it) was an adaptation to facilitate wood carving, having the straight edge of the coping blade and a fine tough point with the girth of a thick spine behind it to do fine detail carvings on tough wood. I read these historical facts in an old book or article many years ago. Shape and thickness play a role in the knife's intended use, so one shape is not necessarily better, but one blade compared to another may be a better choice for the task at hand.
New big fan by the way. However, in my humble opinion. The difference between a sheep's foot and a worn cliff blade. Is the spine and or tip shape. Thank you for what you do. I have learned alot today.
I think Spyderco calls that shape a leaf. I'm almost positive that's what they call it. Several of their knives use that shape. My Paramilitary does. No matter what they call it, it is a very useful shape for a lot of tasks.
The pm2 does not use a leaf shape blade, it uses the clip point / straight spine style blade. The classic Spyderco leaf blade can be seen on knives like the Manix 2, the Sage and stuff like that.
love this video. I loved Blade HQ's video too but that felt like an intro class or the intro to the semester type video about this topic and you're like the end of year prep for finals so let's review everything in detail and answer any lingering questions type video.
Ive seen that Ontario Besra before and liked it but kind of kept it moving. Now that I see it again I'm going to grab one. That blade shapenis a great work/utility shape. And for the price I don't mind beating it up.
Really appreciate going through the blade shapes, as it's been a confusion for me as well. A follow up to that: what differences in performance/function is there between different straight-edged shapes? e.g. between a straight sheep's foot, wharncliffe, and cleaver (I'm especially confused about the use of cleavers). Also, when is a tanto better than a drop point?
The differences is in the tip strength and how fine a task you can do with a tip. Wharncliffe is the weakest tip, sheepsfoot is medium and cleavers should have the strongest tip. All that said there isn't much of a point (no pun intended) in carrying a pocket cleaver since you don't get any benefits of a cleaver nor a sheepsfoot. The tanto is superior to a drop point at two things, that is stabbing and cutting clamshell packaging. Still a good blade shape tho.
DCA, you've convinced me I need a dozen knives I can't afford. When are you leaving your warehouse unlocked, unmonitored and unstaffed? PS set the timer on the coffee pot.
Depending on what you are cutting and how you are cutting the thiness and precision of the blade geometry will be better at "splitting" the material being cut. For precise, shallow cutting (say, scalpel), the steel doesn't really matter as long as it can get relatively hard and is ground with precision at the very edge and the blade is sufficiently thin. You can see this effect with razors and with utility blades as well. You can even use an piece of aluminum soda can to cut very effectively, just not for very long, as the edge will deform/get damaged quicker than a properly heat-treated blade steel.
@@senoB Thank you for the info! I guess where the confusion comes is the whole thickness behind the edge thing. How come the pocket cleavers can cut at all? Why does my Mora knife cut cardboard better than my craft knife? I'm hoping David and the team know what I'm even trying to ask. Maybe just looking up the basics will be enough. Can you get Delica-like slicing on a less wide/tall blade like a CEO?
The taller the blade, the slower the thickness increases from the edge and the less resistance from passing through material. So pocket cleavers like Kizer Sheepdog cut very well, but are bad at delicate tasks requiring a acute point or blade tip. Craft blade vs Mora: Craft blade will have higher initial sharpness and cut better but will dull a lot faster. Mora has better steel but less than ideal geometry for long cuts though cardboard. Delica (see Cardboard Killers by DCA and Thomas) will be much better than both. Lastly, you would need to regrind the CRKT CEO to have a thinner blade stock to match the primary blade bevel angles of the Delica. The shorter the blade, the quicker it thickens as you move away from edge and the more it wedges through material and experiences resistance.
@@DullPoints there's a lot to blade and edge geometry, but a thinner blade will tend to have less drag than a thicker blade. A fully flat ground blade also can reduce friction, but also tends to have a thinner edge because of the gradual thinning of the the blade from spine to edge.. In some cases a knife that isn't very sharp can slice through materials effectively because once the edge bites in the blade geometry allows the knife to move through without much friction. But everything has some unique geometry that has uses in different tasks and materials. At my old job I had to cut through these super thick cardboard edge guards for pallets and I had a thicker knife that actually helped the material split rather than cut through them. Most tasks you'll do with a 3-4inch blade will go better with a thinner blade though.
Because of the original intended use of a sheepsfoot blade (marine rope cutting on a rocking ship's deck) the point has been de-emphasized or even eliminated to avoid stabbing oneself by accident in that environment.The edge is also very straight so that the rope can be cut perfectly straight with a push cut on a flat surface. If it has an edge with any significant curve at all, it's not a sheepsfoot because it won't function as one.
Hey DCA! This has been a really great primer for beginners like me! Really appreciated! Reminds me of the rundown of lick styles that Seth did. Would you consider doing vids like this for other features of knives (different grinds, handle materials, etc)? Thank you!
A single-edged Deba knife is a knife specialized for dismantling fish. Normally, Japanese people don’t use Deba knives for any other purpose. and It would be difficult to sharpen it. For multi-purpose use, I recommend Santoku or Gyuto. The sharpening method is the same as for Western knives.
Thanks so much for that thorough breakdown of tip types! 😃 It’s pretty funny, but I was going to ask about a straight-spines knife like in a Mora, and then you casually answered the question at the very last minute. 😂
Personally I would say a clip point blade is a blade where a section is clipped out. Therefore a harpoon is not a clip point, because it ads on top. Just what I'm thinking
I'm looking for a hard use gentleman knife. Something "classy" that can take quite a bit of abuse and won't be too out of place on a construction site. Preferably something slim just want to add something to my edc collection.
Great video, as far as laser engraving for gifts I would suggest being cautious with steel type when engraving through coatings, with high carbon steels you may find it rusting where exposed, if it's your own knife or the receiving person knows how to properly care for non ss knives then they look great
Excellent presentation my friend!! I've learned so much and thank you for your extreme knife knowledge!!! Blade shapes are intended for specific task. I Love them all!! Take care my friends!!!
Awesome video guys. Thanks. Regarding the Spyderco (Spidey-cliffe), if it wasn't for their signature hole (thumbhole) I think the spine would make their blades a Wharncliffe. Imagine a line from the tip to the handle.
I love your videos DCA! you are my very favorite RUclips personality! My question is, Can you explain blade grinds (ie. what is a high flat grind)? Thank you in advance!
Great video - I can now appreciate the fine points of deviations / modifications from the classic blade shapes. Thanks. Speaking of different kinds of "weeds," how about some 'language weeds' :) In American English (at 1:34), primer (meaning a 'basic text' / 'first-level; instruction) would be pronounced "primmer" (like "skimmer") by stateside speakers. Brits would likely say primer like climber, whereas Americans tend to use that to mean a "first coat" of paint... Also, at 7:18: "Sheepsfoot and Wharncliffe are one of the only ones that *proscribe* a very specific edge profile..." Make that "prescribe" (as in dictate or require), whereas "proscribe" means "forbid" (just the opposite of 'requiring'.) Whew. Talk about going into the weeds. Really - very much enjoyed the video and got a lot out of it!
Great stuff David. Thanks! Looking for four steak knives without serrations (I hate tearing the meat) that I can easily steel and keep sharp. Something under $200 would be great.
@Frank William Abagnale - While the Americanized "Tanto" point has a great cool factor, it's a profoundly unsuited tip for most everyday activities whether in the city , on the farm, or camping in the outdoors. It's marketed as the toughest tip out there, and Lynn made a HUGE name for himself by stabbing steel doors and hoods with it (never been attacked by a hood, though.) However, it's the reinforcement that gives strength, not the shape. The SRK or better yet, the AK-47 Field Knife by CS is a MUCH better choice with no loss of strength. In fact, if you go with the CPM-3V SRK or the AK, you'll have a considerably stronger tip than either Tanto-type.
Hey DCA, perfect follow up to this episode: what's your opinion of the best blade steels for each "type" of knife? Sort of a visual dictionary of the best use of some of the most popular steels. It would be helpful to get your insight to highlight a variety of steels based on the intended use, especially when it can feel like the knife world is an ocean of either D2 or M390. Thanks!
Hi David. 1. What blade shape is easier to sharpen by whetstone? 2. What blade material is less wasteful in terms of whetstone used in order to have sharpened? Hoping you still get this message!
DCA those streak knives look cool, but how would you sharpen those little serrations. I would think those would dull over time after you cut a steak into a ceramic plate or any hard plate for that matter. Love all the content. My favorite video from any channel I follow is new knives. Thanks man.
Triangular sharpeners like the Spyderco Sharpmaker can handle most serrations. Me personally? I'd probably grind through them and make them a plain edge :D -DCA
DCA !!! Yur Da MAN !!! Great video on blade shapes … Next !!! Let’s do grinds ??? Then really get deep into the weeds on blade alloys & their practical applications ! Keep On, Keeping’ On !!!
Hey DCA, I look forward to the series every week. I’m a big fan of the Scandinavian brands and see Mora represented well on the channel but where is the love for Helle, Kellam and Brusletto?
I’ll be back Tomorrow moring to rewatch again this when my sons not running around. Great information. Santa’s knife is spot on. YOU BUY THATS LEAVE IT ON TABLE AND TELL KIDS SANTA LEFT HIS KNIFE BEHIND. I’d believe that especially the way they knife looks. Then I’d pull out my deer antlers and show them it matches. Try it out. Thanks dca mr Tomas. Had me cracking up. Great questions and anwsers. Have a merry Christmas to all.
Hello! As a hobbyist knife maker and knife enthusiast, I have a wide array of knives. I am struggling with storage/display. I currently have a box but am wondering if you have a better solution
Hey DCA! I'm debating on upgrading to a titanium pocket clip for a few of my knives, but I don't want to sacrifice ease of access. What is the best/worst style of pocket clip for single handed use in and out of the pocket for a variety of pants materials? Thanks!
Well... Some designs over presented while others missed ... Dagger blades and rest needle point knives or some ethnic blade designs like Kris and Kirri or some I can't recall the name - like one knife I had trade with a Laotian mountain tribe old man that is a very distinct design itself and finally Karambit - I really wonder what blade design it would fall into ??? And so many more that are not matching any of the popular designs you presented here ... But you know.. THANKS for another educational video - even with the unavoidable commercial promotions...! Good job and keep it up !
Wharncliffe should have a perfectly flat blade and no acute point (over 30 degrees). This is in line with ship knives that cut well, but won’t be as likely stab the sailor if the ship shifts suddenly. Sheepsfoot has a curved belly and the point is 45 degrees or over. The curve helps in slicing the hoof while the tip avoids hurting the sheep if it reacts or the guy trimming slips on the cut.
Sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe ??? My opinion is if you visualise a tangent to the curve of the spine where it meets the cutting edge, and that tangent is less than 45 degrees to the centre line of the knife, it’s a Wharncliffe. If it’s greater than 45 degrees it’s a sheepsfoot.
I think you could classify a lot of the enigmatic spyderco shapes as flat clip points or drop points with harpoons It’s just the “harpoon” takes up most of the blade
Love your videos. Can you tell me why do so many knives have a sharpening choil that's big but way too small to fit a finger. Why not just make a sharpening choil no bigger than say a quarter inch diameter? This is especially annoying when it's a small blade that would benefit from a bit more cutting edge.
I was kind of hoping you would include the pros and cons of each knife shape... Like, what's the real difference, other than aesthetics? Most of them seem pretty self explanatory, yet others are more 'weedy' as to the application differences.
Yeah that's what I was looking for as well! Hopefully something to discuss in the future
Thanks for saving my time
@@5T3LTH You had nothing else to do you deplorable.
Now that you know the name of each blade type, be proactive if you want to learn something else. Take the blade shape name and Google it for more information, you're not at a disadvantage because he didn't list everything you wanted to know, he imparted a lot of knowledge, take the boost and run with it.
Never said I was at a disadvantage, just stating that based on title of video, I was expecting something else. And as far as 'imparting a lot of knowledge'... I would disagree. to each there own though. Peace bro!
How about a blade shapes part 2 ?? What each shape can or can’t do well. I’ve never really got tantos, until I bought the recon 1 tanto. I love it. It just works well for me.
great idea
🥺Yes please! Please make a part 2!
👉👈
Got me a tanto fixed blade a few years ago, so I have a very robust tip, since I remember snapping off one or two tips in the past. I thought I buy preventive that time. German knife laws made me do it, to be frank. I didn't knew the law here says that's weapon character, since the blade shape is made for stabbing and does other tasks sub-optimal.
At home it takes "abuse" quite well though. Well, it's a multitool! 😅👌
Drum I'll never stop beating: "reverse tanto" is a clever rebranding of the spey blade.
dude u are right! i hated calling it reverse tanto i like spey blade better
I'll March to that drum.
"Modified"
My grandfather used his spey bladed Case Knife to spey cats and casterate other unfortunate unsuspecting beasts on the tobacco farm, near Motueka in New Zooland, he'd push the poor cats head and upper body into his rubber gumboot and then operate with his appropriaely named spey blade, sweet as, no worries mate, not unless you were a well hung Tom cat anyway.
@@dougbulldog9947 thank you for sharing that cool story.
I genuinely look forward to this show every week.
best channel.
@@pugdad1248 can't forget ol' Nick either !
David C. Andersen: Thank you for ANOTHER great episode. I buy MOST of my knives from The Knife Center for 3 reasons: your efforts (#1), the great service and the great selection.
I'm in the same boat.
AK
This is a great video idea, seen lots of people espousing inaccurate information about blade shapes as facts so it is good to see some clear and accurate information from someone as knowledgable as yourself.
Still a lot of inaccurate information when he's calling a coping blade a sheeps foot, and by calling a knife with a curved edge a sheeps foot.
It seems the modern knife crowd rarely knows what a sheeps foot actually is, but that giant mouse or whatever is more of a very exaggerated drop point because the curved edge disqualifies it as being a sheeps foot.
From the very beginning a sheeps foot blade has always had a straight edge, the modern knife crowd seems to only focus on the spine/tip forgetting that the edge must be straight.
sheep foot knives originally were designed to trim sheep hooves as name indicates
and its shaped like that so you dont stab the sheep foot and its to give it a straight cut (which also is favoured by whittlers too as "coping" knife)
And spey blades were used for speying or casterating a variety of beasts
@@dougbulldog9947 thats true and dave said that clippoint make a good edc knife for various tasks
explains why the stockman pocket knife was the perfect combo for most cowboys out there
I just got one of those danglers for my condor headstrong and it made it so comfortable to carry. It is now my EDC thanks to that simple leather piece.
Hey David, cuminatycha from London England. I have to say that your English pronunciation is impeccable. Many Americans (and I love 'em all) just do not know how to pronounce some English words, but you David are the exception. It's a pleasure listening to you... plus the fact that you know what you're talking about. Happy Holidays!
Lol
Every single knife review video I've seen from this guy is EXCELLENT. Thank you for your service sir.
Hey David thanks for featuring my question and a extra thank you for your great explanation. This really helped me understand blade shapes and opened my eyes to some future choices. Absolutely love the videos and always look forward to the next. Again thank you for taking the time on my questions and I’m sure I’ll have more soon
As someone who watches your videos but rarely comments I would like to thank you for this piece on blade shapes. It was very interesting and quite informative. 😎
I second Thomas, the Spydie-cliffe it is!
Man i always scoffed at danglers. But i also always complain when my carry digs into my side when i get in and out of trucks/equipment. Dangler may actually be my answer. Nice use case description David 👍🏻
This was an outstanding episode! Tons of great information! NOW we need an episode on the different grinds and their best uses!!
I think you could get even more "weedy". I'd love to see a video recapping shapes and covering grinds. Using real production examples is an excellent idea.
My question for DCA: how has the knife world changed in the last few years for supply/fulfillment? It seems like new offerings like Demko's were gone before they were available. Benchmade 940s, the ancient green guy, don't even seem to stay in stock. Is this how it's always been?
My most beautiful blade award goes to Trailing Point blades. So awesome and cool and beautiful. Second place for Tanto and in the third place the Wharncliff.
Lol who ever animated that intro is brilliant. It was even funnier because I had the video accidentally on double speed😂
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. More please.
thank you, i found this channel some months back and have learned a lot and enjoy all the content. and just wanted to say thanks to you and seth
Great episode. I learned some new things for sure.
One style that I noticed was not discussed was the seax. Not a big deal, but definitely a distinctive and historic style.
Thank you for all that you do. Be well and be safe.
Wait a minute. Frank friggin William Abagnale rolls up seeking your advice? Well it’s official, you sir are THE expert of industry and I’ll never take another RUclipsrs knife advice over yours. You sir, are officially a legend if you didn’t yet realize it!
I love this topic, it has endless answers to endless questions. One country have at least 20 different shapes and styles to do 20++ types of work. Another country have 2 types of design to do it all. Professional slaughters may have 2 to 10 different shapes and points to a knife to make their job easier. Woodworkers have their own types of shapes and lenghts to make their work more precise and easier. There are a ton of professions that use a knife actively, including your local minion shop employee that restock the shelves with the food you eat everyday..Knives is something that everyone use and not everyone give any thought to.
Hi,this question is for both Mr Andersen and Seth, what would you like to see done, invented or happen in the knives industry that hasn't happened yet? It could be some new invention or design or some collaboration between companies or designers, whatever you wish would happen during your lives in the world of knives and metallurgy. Thanks for the great content and Merry Christmas to all.
You've got my dream job. I'd give anything to be able to review knives for a living.
I checked in the weeds and found out the reverse tanto is actually a Spey blade and spyderco has leaf shaped blades, Just wanted to share that with you DCA! Keep the awesome videos coming.
I've carried a little clip point folder for years now. Does everything I need it to. Great little blade.
CLIP stands for Cut (C), Slice (LI), Puncture (P), C + LI + P = CLIP and speaks to the blade design's intended uses. A Sheeps Foot Blade is one from history that was traditionally used on ships to cut rope, which explains its design. Wharncliffe (named after the man who created it) was an adaptation to facilitate wood carving, having the straight edge of the coping blade and a fine tough point with the girth of a thick spine behind it to do fine detail carvings on tough wood. I read these historical facts in an old book or article many years ago. Shape and thickness play a role in the knife's intended use, so one shape is not necessarily better, but one blade compared to another may be a better choice for the task at hand.
Cool story bro
Lol no. Clip means it's clipped off.
New big fan by the way. However, in my humble opinion. The difference between a sheep's foot and a worn cliff blade. Is the spine and or tip shape. Thank you for what you do. I have learned alot today.
Great topic covering the blade categories. I knew we'd be seeing lots of weed graphics. I liked Thomas's suggestion of spydie-cliffe!
i was thinking spydie point
I think Spyderco calls that shape a leaf. I'm almost positive that's what they call it. Several of their knives use that shape. My Paramilitary does. No matter what they call it, it is a very useful shape for a lot of tasks.
The pm2 does not use a leaf shape blade, it uses the clip point / straight spine style blade. The classic Spyderco leaf blade can be seen on knives like the Manix 2, the Sage and stuff like that.
love this video. I loved Blade HQ's video too but that felt like an intro class or the intro to the semester type video about this topic and you're like the end of year prep for finals so let's review everything in detail and answer any lingering questions type video.
Casströms dangler is great. Would like to see more makers of that simple product.
Ive seen that Ontario Besra before and liked it but kind of kept it moving. Now that I see it again I'm going to grab one. That blade shapenis a great work/utility shape. And for the price I don't mind beating it up.
Really appreciate going through the blade shapes, as it's been a confusion for me as well. A follow up to that: what differences in performance/function is there between different straight-edged shapes? e.g. between a straight sheep's foot, wharncliffe, and cleaver (I'm especially confused about the use of cleavers). Also, when is a tanto better than a drop point?
The differences is in the tip strength and how fine a task you can do with a tip. Wharncliffe is the weakest tip, sheepsfoot is medium and cleavers should have the strongest tip. All that said there isn't much of a point (no pun intended) in carrying a pocket cleaver since you don't get any benefits of a cleaver nor a sheepsfoot. The tanto is superior to a drop point at two things, that is stabbing and cutting clamshell packaging. Still a good blade shape tho.
DCA, you've convinced me I need a dozen knives I can't afford. When are you leaving your warehouse unlocked, unmonitored and unstaffed? PS set the timer on the coffee pot.
Great video! May I request a video on blade geometry? I've heard the phrase 'geometry cuts' but is there more you can tell us about the details?
Depending on what you are cutting and how you are cutting the thiness and precision of the blade geometry will be better at "splitting" the material being cut. For precise, shallow cutting (say, scalpel), the steel doesn't really matter as long as it can get relatively hard and is ground with precision at the very edge and the blade is sufficiently thin. You can see this effect with razors and with utility blades as well. You can even use an piece of aluminum soda can to cut very effectively, just not for very long, as the edge will deform/get damaged quicker than a properly heat-treated blade steel.
@@senoB Thank you for the info! I guess where the confusion comes is the whole thickness behind the edge thing. How come the pocket cleavers can cut at all? Why does my Mora knife cut cardboard better than my craft knife? I'm hoping David and the team know what I'm even trying to ask. Maybe just looking up the basics will be enough.
Can you get Delica-like slicing on a less wide/tall blade like a CEO?
The taller the blade, the slower the thickness increases from the edge and the less resistance from passing through material. So pocket cleavers like Kizer Sheepdog cut very well, but are bad at delicate tasks requiring a acute point or blade tip.
Craft blade vs Mora: Craft blade will have higher initial sharpness and cut better but will dull a lot faster. Mora has better steel but less than ideal geometry for long cuts though cardboard. Delica (see Cardboard Killers by DCA and Thomas) will be much better than both.
Lastly, you would need to regrind the CRKT CEO to have a thinner blade stock to match the primary blade bevel angles of the Delica. The shorter the blade, the quicker it thickens as you move away from edge and the more it wedges through material and experiences resistance.
@@DullPoints there's a lot to blade and edge geometry, but a thinner blade will tend to have less drag than a thicker blade. A fully flat ground blade also can reduce friction, but also tends to have a thinner edge because of the gradual thinning of the the blade from spine to edge.. In some cases a knife that isn't very sharp can slice through materials effectively because once the edge bites in the blade geometry allows the knife to move through without much friction.
But everything has some unique geometry that has uses in different tasks and materials. At my old job I had to cut through these super thick cardboard edge guards for pallets and I had a thicker knife that actually helped the material split rather than cut through them.
Most tasks you'll do with a 3-4inch blade will go better with a thinner blade though.
Thanks David those steak knives are absolutely perfect.
Happy to help! -DCA
Because of the original intended use of a sheepsfoot blade (marine rope cutting on a rocking ship's deck) the point has been de-emphasized or even eliminated to avoid stabbing oneself by accident in that environment.The edge is also very straight so that the rope can be cut perfectly straight with a push cut on a flat surface. If it has an edge with any significant curve at all, it's not a sheepsfoot because it won't function as one.
I absolutely LOVE your intro. It's seriously perfect
For a bladeshape I recommend leaf, as there are very interesting steel types for those XD
Hey DCA! This has been a really great primer for beginners like me! Really appreciated! Reminds me of the rundown of lick styles that Seth did. Would you consider doing vids like this for other features of knives (different grinds, handle materials, etc)? Thank you!
A single-edged Deba knife is a knife specialized for dismantling fish. Normally, Japanese people don’t use Deba knives for any other purpose. and It would be difficult to sharpen it.
For multi-purpose use, I recommend Santoku or Gyuto.
The sharpening method is the same as for Western knives.
Thanks so much for that thorough breakdown of tip types! 😃 It’s pretty funny, but I was going to ask about a straight-spines knife like in a Mora, and then you casually answered the question at the very last minute. 😂
Personally I would say a clip point blade is a blade where a section is clipped out. Therefore a harpoon is not a clip point, because it ads on top. Just what I'm thinking
I'm looking for a hard use gentleman knife. Something "classy" that can take quite a bit of abuse and won't be too out of place on a construction site. Preferably something slim just want to add something to my edc collection.
Check out *Eafengrow* knives, D2 steel extremely good value, extremely well made, sharp as fux out of the box steal of a deal
Great video, as far as laser engraving for gifts I would suggest being cautious with steel type when engraving through coatings, with high carbon steels you may find it rusting where exposed, if it's your own knife or the receiving person knows how to properly care for non ss knives then they look great
OMG that opening animation is fantastic. :)
Did I miss it, or did he do a blade shape discussion without mentioning a nesmuck?
Excellent presentation my friend!! I've learned so much and thank you for your extreme knife knowledge!!! Blade shapes are intended for specific task. I Love them all!! Take care my friends!!!
i would say the best example of an Original Japanese Tanto is the new CIVIV Trezoula fixedblade! That is a really traditional Japanese tanto!
Love your guy's jokes in the videos! That reindeer knife is actually beautifully made, especially for the price!
i'd like to see dca and crew pick apart movie blades. ie: rambo knives, crocodile dundee and so on.
Could be interesting.
Awesome video guys. Thanks. Regarding the Spyderco (Spidey-cliffe), if it wasn't for their signature hole (thumbhole) I think the spine would make their blades a Wharncliffe. Imagine a line from the tip to the handle.
I don't know when I'll use it but I have it so it's great. Works like a knife.
Great question Jeremy Fox!
Hey DCA, thx much, I learn quite a bit watching your various vids, this one was great
Excellent episode DCA and Thomas.
Tantos are my favorite. I am currently carrying my favorite kershaw with a tanto
Best show ever. Thanks.
I love your videos DCA! you are my very favorite RUclips personality! My question is, Can you explain blade grinds (ie. what is a high flat grind)? Thank you in advance!
Great video - I can now appreciate the fine points of deviations / modifications from the classic blade shapes. Thanks.
Speaking of different kinds of "weeds," how about some 'language weeds' :) In American English (at 1:34), primer (meaning a 'basic text' / 'first-level; instruction) would be pronounced "primmer" (like "skimmer") by stateside speakers. Brits would likely say primer like climber, whereas Americans tend to use that to mean a "first coat" of paint...
Also, at 7:18: "Sheepsfoot and Wharncliffe are one of the only ones that *proscribe* a very specific edge profile..." Make that "prescribe" (as in dictate or require), whereas "proscribe" means "forbid" (just the opposite of 'requiring'.)
Whew. Talk about going into the weeds. Really - very much enjoyed the video and got a lot out of it!
Great explanation of blade shapes, very insightful.
Woo hoo!
I had my question answered!
Awesome!
Congrats, it’s fun to be selected!
Great stuff David. Thanks! Looking for four steak knives without serrations (I hate tearing the meat) that I can easily steel and keep sharp. Something under $200 would be great.
I love the Viper Sakura set. About 208 for the least expensive set of four - kcoti.com/3GTCUE4 -DCA
@@knifecenter Thanks!
Harpoon tip is fire 🔥🔥
@Frank William Abagnale - While the Americanized "Tanto" point has a great cool factor, it's a profoundly unsuited tip for most everyday activities whether in the city , on the farm, or camping in the outdoors. It's marketed as the toughest tip out there, and Lynn made a HUGE name for himself by stabbing steel doors and hoods with it (never been attacked by a hood, though.) However, it's the reinforcement that gives strength, not the shape. The SRK or better yet, the AK-47 Field Knife by CS is a MUCH better choice with no loss of strength. In fact, if you go with the CPM-3V SRK or the AK, you'll have a considerably stronger tip than either Tanto-type.
Almost all my pocket knives are Western Tanto, working with floor tile, that chisel style point sure comes in handy.
Hey DCA, perfect follow up to this episode: what's your opinion of the best blade steels for each "type" of knife? Sort of a visual dictionary of the best use of some of the most popular steels. It would be helpful to get your insight to highlight a variety of steels based on the intended use, especially when it can feel like the knife world is an ocean of either D2 or M390. Thanks!
Great video with just one exception. Santa is obviously Canadian.
Well done David C. Anderson!!
Excellent explanation! Love it, although some shapes are very difficult to define properly. Happy New Year 2022!
Hi David.
1. What blade shape is easier to sharpen by whetstone?
2. What blade material is less wasteful in terms of whetstone used in order to have sharpened?
Hoping you still get this message!
DCA those streak knives look cool, but how would you sharpen those little serrations. I would think those would dull over time after you cut a steak into a ceramic plate or any hard plate for that matter. Love all the content. My favorite video from any channel I follow is new knives. Thanks man.
Triangular sharpeners like the Spyderco Sharpmaker can handle most serrations. Me personally? I'd probably grind through them and make them a plain edge :D -DCA
DCA !!!
Yur Da MAN !!!
Great video on blade shapes …
Next !!! Let’s do grinds ???
Then really get deep into the weeds on blade alloys & their practical applications !
Keep On, Keeping’ On !!!
Man that sante’ fe blade works Delica is a beauty!!
Hey DCA, I look forward to the series every week. I’m a big fan of the Scandinavian brands and see Mora represented well on the channel but where is the love for Helle, Kellam and Brusletto?
Very hot take: the cold steel kris voyager and Kris ti-lites are multi harpoon, very modified wharncliffe.
Merry Christmas Knife Center🦉
You left out my favorite - the lambsfoot.
I’ll be back Tomorrow moring to rewatch again this when my sons not running around. Great information. Santa’s knife is spot on. YOU BUY THATS LEAVE IT ON TABLE AND TELL KIDS SANTA LEFT HIS KNIFE BEHIND. I’d believe that especially the way they knife looks. Then I’d pull out my deer antlers and show them it matches. Try it out. Thanks dca mr Tomas. Had me cracking up. Great questions and anwsers. Have a merry Christmas to all.
COOL STORY BRO
YEAHHH cool like a -38 degree day in the summer time. Have a good day.
Shout out to Daniel McCabe
Hello! As a hobbyist knife maker and knife enthusiast, I have a wide array of knives. I am struggling with storage/display. I currently have a box but am wondering if you have a better solution
Thank you for explaining blade shapes.
The Delica is a spiderfoot blade my brother! Modified! Lol
Thanks for making this video. Very helpful
Hey DCA! I'm debating on upgrading to a titanium pocket clip for a few of my knives, but I don't want to sacrifice ease of access. What is the best/worst style of pocket clip for single handed use in and out of the pocket for a variety of pants materials? Thanks!
Well... Some designs over presented while others missed ... Dagger blades and rest needle point knives or some ethnic blade designs like Kris and Kirri or some I can't recall the name - like one knife I had trade with a Laotian mountain tribe old man that is a very distinct design itself and finally Karambit - I really wonder what blade design it would fall into ??? And so many more that are not matching any of the popular designs you presented here ... But you know.. THANKS for another educational video - even with the unavoidable commercial promotions...! Good job and keep it up !
Great video. I was hoping you would tell us for which tasks the different blades are best used.
Wharncliffe should have a perfectly flat blade and no acute point (over 30 degrees). This is in line with ship knives that cut well, but won’t be as likely stab the sailor if the ship shifts suddenly.
Sheepsfoot has a curved belly and the point is 45 degrees or over. The curve helps in slicing the hoof while the tip avoids hurting the sheep if it reacts or the guy trimming slips on the cut.
I like "hybrid" as opposed to "modified".. but those pop up weeds!!🤣🤣
Don't worry about venturing into the weeds DCA us knife nerds love the weeds! Keep em coming love this series!
Sheepsfoot or Wharncliffe ??? My opinion is if you visualise a tangent to the curve of the spine where it meets the cutting edge, and that tangent is less than 45 degrees to the centre line of the knife, it’s a Wharncliffe. If it’s greater than 45 degrees it’s a sheepsfoot.
My cjrb gobi works great for field dressing and skinning deer.
I think you could classify a lot of the enigmatic spyderco shapes as flat clip points or drop points with harpoons
It’s just the “harpoon” takes up most of the blade
The one you paired for a sheepsfoot is very much like a kitchen knife shape.
Excellent video! Very informative
I just love cold steel voyager xl tanto fully serrated blade and the verqero xl fully serrated and I use it for only one purpose self defense
Love your videos. Can you tell me why do so many knives have a sharpening choil that's big but way too small to fit a finger. Why not just make a sharpening choil no bigger than say a quarter inch diameter? This is especially annoying when it's a small blade that would benefit from a bit more cutting edge.
how very practical and interesting. must watch
Thank you David happy holidays