12 Types of Knife Blades You Should Know

Knives have been around since the Stone Age, made out of rock and bone. They were used as weapons and chopping tools, but not as cutting tools. So much has changed since then. Today we have knives made of all sorts of materials, and they've evolved into multi-purpose tools to help us do just about anything in the kitchen: slice bread, cut potatoes for frying... even spread butter!

But there’s more to it than that. There are some unusual cool knives with particular purposes—like a tomato knife for slicing tomatoes without squishing them or an apple peeler/corer/slicer for peeling apples quickly with just one tool. Most chefs today will have a collection of knives with different sizes, shapes, and uses all carefully organized in a knife block.

You'll learn plenty more about knives in this article. We’ll start by looking at the different types of knife blades—which ones do what and why. Then we’ll look at how they are made and the best ways to care for them so they last for many years.

Types of Knife Blades

There are many different knife blade types on the market, and it's important to know what each one is so you can purchase one that best suits your cooking needs. Tip of the day: Don't buy a cheap knife because it'll rust and cause more harm than good.

Plus, stainless steel knives tend to be more expensive but last much longer than cheaper models. Buying a knife with rubber hand grips will make cutting your food easier and give you better control over the blade.

1. Straight Blades

A straight knife blade is one of the most versatile types of blades in the kitchen because it can handle just about any vegetable you want to cut. A straight knife blade has a long, slender "cutting edge" with parallel sides and no backside or bevels. This means it can be used to slice through relatively soft objects like carrots, celery, and other vegetables. Cool pocket knives often feature straight blades.

However, these blades cannot perform many of the meat-cutting tasks that are typically assigned to a chef's knife. Thus, many people opt for an additional blade known as either a deba or yanagiba.

2. Drop-Point Blades

Drop point blades are the most popular blade type on knives. They are designed to be tough and can endure hard work in the field. Drop-point blades are often used for hunting but can be useful in the kitchen as well.

3. Sheepsfoot Blades

Sheepsfoot blades have an oval shape and a flat back, making them easier to sharpen and have less chance of breaking. Keep in mind that this does not make it a better material for all conditions as drop points will hold their edge longer than sheepsfoot blades do.

4. Wharncliffe Blades

Wharncliffe blades are very similar to drop-point blades, although they have more of a curve at the tip than drop-points do. Wharncliffe blades are also much rarer on hunting knives than drop-point blades, as they are not as durable. Wharncliffe tends to work well with hands found on a wider variety of knives.

5. Clip-Point Blades

Clip points are similar to drop points, although they have a fine tip instead of a thick tip. This makes them much easier to sharpen and is often used for kitchen knives because it is less likely that the blade may break than other blade types. A bowie knife often features a clip point blade.

6. Gut Hook

Gut hooks or clip points are designed for cutting fabric or material that cannot be cut by other blades such as sheepsfoot blades and Wharncliffe. They have a very fine tip, like a drop-point, which makes it easier to cut small materials like string. Most skinning knives have gut hook blades.

These knives are all mostly used for hunting and are very versatile in that they are made to withstand heavy use. They are also used in the kitchen and come in many different designs. For example, clip points can be triangular shaped, but are also made with a wide variety of different shapes.

7. Tanto Blades

Tanto is a type of knife from Japan and the Philippines. They are traditionally 20 to 30 cm long and can be used for stabbing or seppuku (suicide). Tanto pocket knives can be single-edged or double-edged, and some tanto have a thickened back known as a ridgeline, which is designed to reduce sticking in soft flesh.

Older tanto were not designed for piercing armor but instead for slicing through relatively thin objects such as silk fabrics - the "blade" of these older blades was therefore ground from both sides so that it resembled an average kitchen knife - while later blades tended to be more typically shaped.

8. Hawkbill Blades

Hawkbill Blades are sharp, durable, and have a wide range of uses. They’re made of a special material called stainless steel. This means they don’t rust, so your blades stay sharp for years and the metal doesn’t chip off like it can with cheaper metals.

Stainless steel blades will sharpen to the same level every time because they don’t wear down from repeated use like other materials. A karambit knife usually features a hawkbill blade but is a little more curved.

9. Needle-Point Blades

Needle-point blades are the most common type of blade used in crafting for cutting thread. They are a small part of what is called the crewel needle, which is a decorative form of an embroidery needle. However, throwing knives used to play the knife throwing sport often feature needle-point blades.

The blades have a sharp point and an eye to help them go through the tiny holes in fabric that they need to use to create different types of stitches. These blades are commonly used in quilting, sewing, and other craft work as they can be inserted into tightly woven fabrics or difficult-to-reach areas.

10. Spear-Point Blades

A spear point blade is a knife with a straight cutting edge. The back of the blade tapers to form the point, which is also known as a tang." Spear point blades are often stiletto knives that have straight cutting edges and taper towards the tip to form points or tangs.

They can be used for stabbing, slicing, and chopping in their various uses for performing activities like hunting and combat. Many people use spears as an integral part of their everyday lives whether it be fishing or hunting large game such as deer or elk.

11. Spey-Point Blades

Spey blades are a very popular kind of broadhead. They are a traditional sort of broadhead that was later replaced by chisel blades and fixed-blade broadheads.

They are now becoming increasingly popular for bow fishing because they allow for an accurate release as shear pins hold the blade in place during flight, meaning it won't rotate in flight. It also features a very simple design, however, it is relatively easy to make.

12. Trailing-Point Blades

Leather belts are made from various kinds of plant-based materials, such as wood or vegetable fibers. The material is glued to a thin strip of metal and then folded over itself. The belt’s decoration may be formed from inlays or patterns cut into the leather during manufacture, otherwise called “trailing points” due to their shape.

Trailing point blades are manufactured by shaving the material away from the edge of a blade on a belt grinder, leaving a thin sliver of material. The edge is then finished to remove the roughness of the grinding. When done properly this leaves an exceptionally sharp, durable, and strong cutting edge that may be used for cutting fabric or paper without fraying.

The trailing points on natural fiber belts are typically thicker than those made of synthetic fibers and due to their construction with heavier material, typically have less elongation when stressed. These are often used as utility belts by medical and other first responders.

Knives: The Most Useful Tools!

They come in all shapes, colors, sizes, and purposes. Strangely enough, they are considered the most useful tools ever created by humans. From peeling potatoes to cutting carrots to chopping onions — knives can do it all! They’re also very simple tools that anyone can find on a rack at any store or they could just save up for one of their own.

Knives are also used as self defense weapons. Most people keep a knife in the house for protection, but can easily be used for other purposes. However, many people hold back from buying knives because they think that they will never have to use them. For example, my dad kept telling me to get a knife because I was too young to be able to take care of myself.

Other than having its uses in the defense field and in the kitchen, knives are also useful when making objects such as furniture or houses. People like to make their own furniture and houses to save money. They also like to make things that can fit their needs or the needs of their children.