The clipped point knife is one of the most popular blade shapes available. Clip point folding knives and clip point fixed blade knives are known for their utility. Classic examples include a Buck 110 folder, still a favorite for many hunters and outdoorsmen, and the Bowie knife.

Clip point blades get their game from the sharp tip at the end of the blade that is perfect for piercing. The clipped point typically starts near the midpoint of the blade and can be curved or straight. It’s one of the most common knife blade types, along with spear point, drop point and trailing point blades.

Clip points are great for what they do, and many have endured in popularity for decades. However, many choose to get the utility of a clip point knife with added design features, ergonomics and style found in designer knives such as the KRUDO DAO, KARSINO10 or MOZAIK.

Features of a Clipped Point Folding Knife

Designs vary on clipped point fold knives, but all feature the clipped portion of the blade that leads to a sharp point. It’s a type of blade featured often in both folders and fixed-blade knives. They have become popular over the years, especially with outdoorsmen who value the blade’s versatility.

The upper spine of a clipped point knife is clipped to form a point that is designed for piercing and puncturing. The design of the knife also gives people more control over how they use the point, making clipped point folding knives ideal when there’s a need to make a very precise cut.

The clipped portion of the knife may taper to a curved or straight point. While it’s not always the case, a curved blade often has a sharper point than a straight point.

Examples of Famous Clipped Point Knives

Clipped point knives have remained popular for many centuries. Flint knives found at an archeological digs on the Drim, a river in Macedonia, indicated that ancient civilizations had clipped point knives. There are many examples of more well-known knives that are clipped points.

The famous fixed blade Bowie Knife created in Arkansas in the 19th century comes with a curved clipped section leading to a sharp point. It’s up to many outdoor tasks and considered one of the best knives ever made. However, it’s perhaps most famous for its use as a weapon by Jim Bowie, who died at The Alamo in Texas.

The Buck knife has been a staple of hunters for decades. A Kansas blacksmith named Hoyt Buck invented the knife named after him while trying to find ways to temper steel so it can hold an edge longer. The Model 110 Folding Hunter, introduced in 1964, remains popular to this day.

The main advantage of a clipped point is the sharpened point and plenty of belly along the blade for slicing. The disadvantage is that the narrow point can more easily break in some cases. However, the best clipped point folding knives and fixed blades offer versatility and utility.