Buying a new knife isn’t as simple as just buying a knife. You need to have a plan.

There is something intriguing about a knife. It doesn’t matter if it is a butter knife or a throwing knife. There is a history behind them that just captures the imagination. If you are looking to buy a new knife then you need to ask yourself some questions about what yo are expecting that knife to do for you. After all, not all knives are the same and if you have a specific use in mind for your knife, then you need to plan ahead to make sure that your knife does the right kind of job for you. Let’s take some time to look at the most popular blades that you can have for your knife of choice.

1. A clip point blade has a standard form except that the back near the point is “clipped” so that it is curved as well. This second edge can be sharpened as well if the owner decides to put in the effort. The sharp point can be used as a pick as well.
2. A drop point blade curves in on both sides to a single point. These are often found on a Swiss Army knife. The point on this blade is stronger then the point on the clip point blade, but is less suitable for piercing.  This type of blade is a favorite for survival knives because it is so robust.
3. If you are using a Westernized tanto style knife, then you have a blade that is very strong because of how it is designed. It has a chisel point that is thick near the point and on the surface quick close to the the points on traditional Japanese blades like the katana and the wakizashi blades.
4. The spear point blade is symmetrical blade that has a spine that runs down the center of the blade. They may be sharpened on one or both sides depending on your interest. Most throwing knives are designed with a spear point blade as the foundation for their design.
5. A curved trailing point knife. While this knife also has a flat edge until you reach the curved portion, you will find that this type of blade is best for slashing and slicing because it has a larger belly than many of the other knives you might see.
6. The standard curved edge with at straight back. This is the kind of blade that you will often see, especially for kitchen knives because it not only provides you with a cutting edge, but with the straight blunt edge on the back, you can provide extra pressure on that flat edge to help you with cutting. They are so common because they are so useful for everyone.
7. With a needle point blade you have a symmetrical blade that is extremely tapered. These double edged blades are often found on many forms of fighting blades. The narrow point is great for stabbing, but is also very likely to break if it is abused. Along with being called a knife, it can also be considered a stiletto.
8. The spay point was a blade that was traditionally used for spaying animals before more modern tools were developed. It has a single almost completely straight blade that curves upward at the end to meet a straight clip. While spay point blades are not good for stabbing, they are great blades for skinning purposes.
9. A sheepfoot knife is a tool that is designed for delicate work such as whittling and trimming the hooves of sheep. It has a straight edge and a dull straight back. It is finished with a dull, curved edge as well. The straight edge is sharp enough for cutting with the assistance of pressure from the curved edge.
10. Finally, we have the Warncliffe blade. This blade is very similar to a sheepfoot knife, but you will find that the curve on the back edge starts closer to the handle of the blade. It also has a much thicker blade than most other knives of similar size.

What kind of a knife are you looking for your needs today?

Now that you are aware of the many different kinds of blades that are available, you will be able to get a better idea of what it is that you need for your next knife purchase. Each of the blades that we discussed has a purpose that it is best suited for so you will want to make sure that you are able to find the best knife for you purposes. Within each of these categories, you will still find a wide variety of options so that you can find a look that works best for you as well as giving you the best blade to meet your needs.