What’s the point?

[Eddie Mason]

I’ve commented before that folk here seem to concentrate on the blades and edges of their knives.

I shall return to the subject of handles when I’m back from a week in the hills.

So,
I have often wondered why our knives have to have a point on the blade. I can see that whittling might require one but - honestly - how often do we use the point?

I have cut 35mm from the tip of a chefs knife and made a useful spatula / spreader out of it. I don’t use a point in the kitchen for sure.

Up to the last century sailors used general purpose knives with the points removed. Military Jacknives don’t have a point.

And now Opinel have introduced the neo6. It’s a little sprung folding penknife for everyday use with the point “reassuringly rounded”.

How many of us would miss having a point on their knife? How often?

Don’t look at me! In my last camp I only used my closed knife for sparking the ferro. I’ll probably do the same this week when I’m up on one of my favourite hills. Arguably I don’t need a knife at all but that’s not my point.

Yep, I use one all the time - not least for getting the pips out of a lemon for my G&T. Uses include; initial gut hole for gralloching deer, hole in fireboard, getting splinters out of my bloody thumb (again), carving thanks to Freya and least but not last, opening envelopes.

 

[Everything Mac]

I frequently find uses for a blade with a point and I suspect I'd miss it if I didn't have at least a sharp corner to pierce bits with.
Gutting fish comes to mind.

It's almost like we're all individual and do things in an individual way. Thank goodness for that.

 

[Herman30]

I have often wondered why our knives have to have a point on the blade. I can see that whittling might require one but - honestly - how often do we use the point?

I can gladly get on with a knife with sheepsfoot blade.

 

[Silverclaws2]

Good ' point ', to say it's not often I have a specific need for the spear point tip of my SAK daily carry, but it's there in case I need it.

Another knife I sometimes use is a Currey Lockspike to note it doesn't have a pointed blade and I don't miss it, mind I guess the locking Marline spike fulfils that need should I have need to stab something

 

[OrangeSport]

I have the Neo 6 and the regular No 6 (with the lock ring removed)

When I'm EDCing the Neo 6 I do miss a point (piercing packages, cutting bruises from fruit, cleaning nails, preparing tinder etc)

Even my Sheepsfoot blades have enough of point for such tasks.