15 Types of Pocket Knives & Uses: Full Guide

Single-bladed pocket knives have a somewhat larger blade because the focus is on one blade only. They also have a locking mechanism that enables you to use them for tasks that require a lot of force.

Although single-bladed knives are sturdy, you can’t use them for a variety of tasks because they only have one blade.

These generally have two to four different types of blades. Because the various blades can complete a wider range of tasks, they are very practical for camping and traveling.

However, multi-blade knives are not as strong and long-lasting as single-bladed knives due to the extra number of blades.

This pocket knife has more than just blades; it also has other tools. For instance, a Swiss Army knife may include a can opener, a nail file, a pair of scissors, a corkscrew, a saw, a toothpick, tweezers, and a magnifying glass.

Of course, they are bulkier than single and multi-blade pocket knives as they carry more tools. They’re especially handy for camping.

Pocket knife edges originally were plain; serrated knife edges are a relatively recent invention. When you need to cut with a sawing motion, this kind of edge is perfect. The serrations give the blade additional strength, which also allows you to use this blade on the harder stuff.

Finally, serrated edges are thinner than plain edges. As a result, they can cut more effectively than knives with a plain edge.

Comparatively speaking, serrated-edged blades are more awkward. They are naturally more difficult to sharpen. If you’re unsure of how to do it, you’d have to send it back to the maker for re-sharpening.

Plain-edged pocket knives have a simple straight edge with no serrations on them. If you need to make really precise cuts, the straight edge is best because it is more stable than serrated edges.

Their stability allows you to make accurate and clean cuts. It is also simpler to sharpen them. Its incapability to make sawing cuts is its main flaw. Knives with serrations are superior for this.

The plain-edged pocket knife and the fully serrated pocket knife meet here. There are serrated and non-serrated areas on the cutting edge. Because it offers the best of both worlds, this kind of knife is actually very common.

Both difficult cuts and fine work can be made with the knife. Additionally, because the straight part eliminates that, it is less clumsy. The difficulty of sharpening the serrated portion of the blade is one major drawback.

The spine of the drop-point blade is convex and gently curves toward the tip. It’s one of the most typical blade shapes. The design offers a wide edge for slicing and makes it simple to remove the blade from the handle.

Hunters prefer drop-point blades because they are great for all-around use.

Pocket knives frequently have this shape as well. The spine appears to have been clipped off near the tip, and the edge curves upward.

The end result is a blade with a broad cutting edge and a sharp point.

Puncturing, precise cutting, and slicing are all possible with this blade.

A needle-point knife is distinguished by its symmetrical blade with two edges on either side. It can pierce and penetrate easily due to the blade’s shape.

The thinness of the needle-point blades, however, makes them more brittle than most items in their category. Additionally, they are frequently considered weapons and are thus prohibited in many states and nations.

The spear-point blade’s symmetry gives it the appearance of being similar to the needle-point blade, but closer inspection reveals their primary differences. Blades with spear points are thicker and stronger than those with needle points, though they may not always be sharpened on both sides.

These blades are employed in daggers and throwing knives. Because of this, many places view them as illegal possessions and consider them to be weapons.

The sheepsfoot blade’s flat or slightly curved edge serves as its identifying feature. Although the spine can have many different shapes, it typically curves downward at the tip.

Sheepsfoot blades were initially made to be used for trimming sheep hooves, but due to their dependability when handling different cutting jobs, they became a useful tool for survival and outdoor living.

The Wharncliffe blade structure is similar to the sheepsfoot blade because it has a straight edge and a curved spine. The Wharncliffe blade’s tip is more pointed than the other due to the spine’s beginning to curve at the handle.

Many situations where a sheepsfoot would be used are instead handled with this blade.

Although quills are no longer necessary, many multi-blade pocket knives still have a pen blade in the mix.

It is a small blade that is not very sharp, but it is useful for tasks that call for delicate handling.

Tanto blades lack a curved belly and instead abruptly angle upwards toward a nearly straight spine to form an aggressive tip. The blade’s form is modeled after the short samurai swords of old Japan.

Tanto blades are ideal for clean slices and chops due to their heritage, and the prominent tip makes them the perfect tool for piercing tough game skins.

The Spey blade can be found on stockman and trapper folding knives. Originally intended to aid in castrating and spaying animals used for herding, Somehow “spay” got turned into “Spey.” That’s how the story goes, at least.

The Spey blade has one straight, razor-sharp edge that rises to meet a short, dull point. Blades for spears can be either long or short. They typically are long on trapper knives and short on stockman knives.