Pocket Knives are small folding knives with one or more blades that fit inside the handle and can be carried in a pocket, hence the name. They range in size from less than 3 inches (7.6 cm) to just over 9 inches (22.9 cm) and weigh between 2 ounces (57 grams) to 12 ounces (340 grams).
The blade length on most common folding knives is 2-4 inches, but some come with a blade measuring up to 7 inches. These knives are generally designed for general utility use such as opening packages and letters or cutting an apple or rope; however, larger ones may also be suitable for self-defense against animal attacks in rural areas where guns are not permitted.
Blades Used in Pocket Knives:
Knives come in a variety of shapes and sizes and depend on their blade design for intended usage. Here are the most commonly utilized blade shapes for pocket knives:
Clip Point Blades:
Clip-point blades offer a sharp point with a limited belly. Blades with this shape provide the most control of all the shapes; they are popular with skinners, taxidermists, and those who require an accurate, precise cut. Because they have no belly to speak of, they can be prone to breaking when used on hard materials like certain types of bone or thick polymer scales on knives and gun handles.
Spear Point Blades:
Spear point blades have similarly shaped points as clip-point blades but have more variability in their angle (sometimes between 15 degrees and 30 degrees). These blades, though rigid and strong in design, are also prone to breaking.
Drop Point Blades:
Drop point blades are characterized by their tapered point taper, which features a steep angle at the tip, transitioning to a more flat area at the back of the knife. They have a more forgiving belly than clip points and spears but are still susceptible to breaking. For this reason, they are commonly used by hikers and hunters who need to be more accurate with the use of their blades.
Beginners often undermine their durability when they use drop points unseasoned and poorly sharpened because of the difficulty of handling large amounts of pressure on small parts. The tip of the blade is often utilized for finer cutting, such as detailed cuts in smaller parts; many use the "chisel" tip at the end of a drop-point to open tin cans.
Sheepsfoot Blades:
Sheepsfoot blades are characterized by a straight cutting edge and an unsharpened back portion of the blade that curves into a rounded point. This design is commonly used on pocket knives because they are more resistant to breaking and less likely to slice through the user's fingers when slicing across materials (like a finger or rope). They are also less effective at piercing objects than other types of knife blades.
Wharncliffe Blades:
Wharncliffe blades taper at the edge and feature a front point lower than the blade's back point. They tend to lack sharpness and are not used commonly.
Hollow Ground Blades:
Hollow ground blades feature a concave grind while having a smooth transition from their edge to their backside. Due to their design, they are often utilized as kitchen knives due to their enhanced cutting ability, but they can be used as pocket knives or hunting knives if the user is careful when cutting with them. Often, these blades are thinner than others in order to fit in certain types of sheaths for pocket knives (such as ankle sheaths or thigh holsters).
Which Blade is The Most Efficient?
Pocket knives are a dime-a-dozen. But which blade type should be your blade of choice? Well, if you are looking for something that is small and lightweight with a solid sharp edge and little drag when cutting, then the drop point blade may be just what you need.
The drop point blade is created by tapering (or "dropping") the knife's spine from the handle to the tip of the knife. This not only creates an ultra-sharp angle but also makes it less likely for your skin to contact this area, reducing any chances of injury. Drop point blades are great for all sorts of everyday tasks, including:
Cutting boxes, food packages, clothing (even fabric), open letters, and envelopes.
Getting into tight corners, such as when painting a room or working on your car.
Prying up carpet lumps or nails.
These blades are also popular among hunters and fishermen. Since they lack a sharp "belly," they are not the best at skinning animals. Instead, they are commonly used to cut through bones and joints – tasks in which a belly blade would easily get stuck.
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