What is the purpose of drop and clip points?

[johnnyKnives]

As it relates to a hunting knife, some knives have (I don't know just what I read) have drop point and clip point. To me that means some are slender and some are wider knives. What does it matter? What is one for versus the other.

Example, the buck vanguard has the wider looking knife. I think this is the drop point. The Buck 102, 105, 110, 119, have the thinner look to them. I think these are the clip point.

My application is small game but I don't know why I woud want one over the other.

Thanks.

 

[jetsrb32]

If you want a skinning knife then go for a knife with a wide belly

A drop point is a great all around general use knife

The clip point is also pretty versatile but I would go w/ a drop point

Check out the Buck Omni hunter or Alpha Hunter
http://www.newgraham.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=66

-Steven

 

[enderwiggin]

Clip points are drop points with a portion of the blade "clipped" off to leave a sharper tip that is still pretty durable.

There are plenty of other ways to get a needle sharp tip though, including flat-ground blades, where when looking at the tip of the knife,the blade is seen to widen in a sharp "V" shape all the way up to the spine, or with hollow-ground blades.

 

[johnnyKnives]

so I could use any of them and come out just as well for small game? (besides the 119 too big)

 

[dalee100]

Hi,

You can certainly use any blade point style. Just depends on what you like. Besides the drop and clipped point I like the spey. Much smaller and tighter radius curve at the point. Making it handier for me to skin small game with. Check out a Trapper slip-joint. Those two blades are generally considered the best blades for small game skinning by the guys who do a lot of it, trappers.

But there is no right or wrong answer to your question, just the style YOU like.

dalee

 

[StretchNM]

It is partially design but more a function. A drop point drops down from the spine of the blade to the tip - drops down in a straight line. A clip point, as someone said, is a drop point which is then clipped. Both have a sharp "point" to the tip, but the clip point endeavors to come to an even "pointier" tip.

A pointy tip is useful for starting a cut when the edge is not razor sharp enough to do so, and sometimes when the edge IS razor sharp. That pointy tip will pierce the hide or skin with less effort and with less risk of inadvertantly cutting too deeply on the initial cut. You can also "drill" better with a pointier tip.

In the end, like everyone said, it's all a matter of personal preference. Someone with more skill than I could make any tip work when I might need a clip or other style of blade.