What is a drop point knife?

Author: Marcelle Witting PhD  |  Last update: Monday, November 24, 2025

Drop point is a style of knife blade that slopes on the spine of the blade from the handle of the knife to the tip of the blade. This allows the spine of the blade (where the blade is thicker, and thus stronger) to continue forward to the tip of the blade.

What is a drop point knife used for?

Drop Point Knife

Characterized by a convex-shaped, sloping spine and a lowered point, they're especially useful for controlled cuts—hunters find that a drop point blade's large belly facilitates skinning. In addition, drop point blades have very strong tips that resist breaking, which is crucial in survival situations.

Is a drop point knife good for self-defense?

As for whether or not this sort of knife is optimal for fighting, the answer is clearly no. It is definitely not as good as a 10 inch blade, or a sword for that matter. It's not optimal for anything other than portability, convenience, and concealment.

What is the difference between clip point and drop point knives?

The drop point knife allows for more control when cutting, has a slower withdrawal time, and better negotiates "drawn out" (carving like) operations. The clip point lends itself to a quicker "stabbing" advantage with less drag during insertion and faster withdrawal.

What does drop point mean?

The dropping point is the temperature at which the first drop of a molten substance precipitates from a standardized cup with a defined orifice under controlled testing conditions in a furnace. The drop point is a suddenly occurring event, as the liquefied drop is accelerated by gravity as it escapes the cup.

What Is a Drop Point Blade and When You Need One

Which is better, tanto or drop point?

The tanto excels in heavy-duty scenarios but isn't as versatile, while the drop point is versatile and practical but lacks the tanto's piercing power. If you need a knife for rugged, strength-based tasks, go with the tanto; for general use, hunting, or outdoor activities, the drop point is your best bet.

What is the significance of drop point?

The dropping point of a lubricating grease is an indication of the heat resistance of the grease and is the temperature at which it passes from a semi-solid to a liquid state under specific test conditions. It is dependent on the type of thickener used and the cohesiveness of the oil and thickener of a grease.

What is the difference between S30V and 420HC?

Developed specifically for knives, S30V contains vanadium, enhancing its wear resistance and ability to retain a sharp edge. Conversely, 420HC is a lower-end stainless steel that offers excellent corrosion resistance and is much easier to sharpen but falls short in edge retention and wear resistance compared to S30V.

What is the purpose of Tanto blade?

Tanto knives are recognisable by their angled tip, a design that is taken directly from combat weapons. The sharpened angular tip is designed to puncture through armour, allowing the wielder to use both striking and slashing attacks.

What is the history of the drop point knife?

What we do know is that the modern drop point knife design is commonly attributed to Bob Loveless, a renowned American knifemaker. He popularized this blade shape in the mid-20th century, with his designs becoming iconic for their utility and aesthetics, particularly in hunting and outdoor knives.

What is the best knife to carry for self-defense?

Best Self Defense Knives Breakdown
  • Best Value Knife. Kershaw Emerson CQC-7K. Amazon: $43.
  • Best Fixed Blade. Giantmouse GMF1. Giantmouse: $135.
  • Best Tactical Knife. CRKT Provoke. Amazon: $175.
  • Best Auto Knife. Benchmade Claymore. Benchmade: $260.
  • Best Overall Knife. Spyderco Para Military 2. Amazon: $200.

What does EDC mean in knives?

The abbreviation EDC stands for: EveryDayCarry. An EDC knife is a knife you can carry with you every day.

Are drop points good for stabbing?

This style is very similar to that of the clip-point, however, this one has a stronger tip, and is actually less suitable for stabbing. One of the favorite characteristics about a drop point style is the long cutting edge. This makes it a perfect shape for your tactical or survival knife.

Where should a knife never be placed Why?

Never place knives at the edge of counter tops or tables. 4. Never leave knives in soapy water in the sink. This is a bad habit that easily leads to accidents.

What is a petty knife?

A petty knife is a multi-purpose double-bevel knife that is smaller in size than other Japanese knives, so it also allows for in-hand work such as coring and peeling, as well as other smaller tasks for which larger knives are deemed unwieldy.

What is the advantage of a drop point blade?

It's great for skinning and gutting white-tailed deer, elk, or any other big game. The drop point won't get in your way as much as the points on other blades do. It isn't so aggressive, and it's much easier to control when it's in the hand, making for a much cleaner, easier gutting process.

What are the disadvantages of a tanto blade?

The general attitude here is that Tanto blades are not as practical as other blade designs. The tanto geometry is better suited for stabbing than for use as a cutting utensil. Also, tanto blades are much harder to sharpen.

Is drop point or tanto better?

If you need a knife for rugged, strength-based tasks, go with the tanto; for general use, hunting, or outdoor activities, the drop point is your best bet. Ultimately, your blade should match your needs.

Why is S30V so popular?

CPM S30V is a martensitic stainless steel specifically designed to offer toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Its unique chemistry has been balanced to promote the formation of vanadium carbides, which are harder and more effective in providing wear resistance than chromium carbides.

Why does Leatherman use 420HC?

420hc. Found on many classic Leatherman® multi-tools, this stainless steel offers good edge retention and toughness. It is also relatively easy to sharpen. While it may not be considered a premium steel, is still a high-quality material and is ideally suited for an everyday working blade on a multi-tool.

What steel has the best edge retention?

Vanadium carbides are among the hardest that form in steel, and chromium carbides are in between iron carbide and vanadium carbide. Steels with very high vanadium content like Vanadis 8, CPM-10V, K390, CPM-15V, etc. have extremely high edge retention.

What does high dropping point mean?

The dropping point is the temperature at which the grease passes from a semisolid state to a liquid under defined test conditions. A grease should have a dropping point that is safely above the highest operating temperature so the grease will not run out of the application.

What is a drop point in the military?

The term “Drop Zone” (DZ) in military operations refers to a specific area where airborne troops, equipment, or supplies are parachuted from aircraft. It is usually marked and designated for a particular mission and is chosen for its suitability and strategic advantage.

What is NLGI grade 2 equivalent to?

A grease with an NLGI grade of 1 has a consistency like tomato paste, where a grease with an NLGI grade of 3 has a consistency more like butter. The most commonly used greases, such as those used in automotive bearings, would use a lubricant that is NLGI grade 2, which has the stiffness of peanut butter.

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