Should You Look For Bowie Knives With A Drop Point Blade?
Some Bowie knives come with drop point blades. Depending upon your perspective on the matter, this is either more or less traditional than the clip point blade with which Bowies are more often associated. The drop point designs go back as far as the knives and the extremely clipped blades are sometimes entirely modern inventions.
A drop point is similar in design to a clip point, with a few differences. On a clip point, the spine of the blade drops down well before the point, giving it its distinctive clipped appearance. On a drop point Bowie knife, the spine continues almost all the way to the point. This offers a number of advantages to users. For instance, because the spine (the thicker part of the blade) extends farther, the blade is stronger. It can handle heavier tasks than can thinner blades.
The single most important advantage for Bowie knives with a drop point blade is the fact that the entire blade can be used for cutting, whether you are cutting through hide on game or skinning a fish. This is considerably better than other designs that force you to cut mostly with the point.
Bowie knives were originally designed as fighting knives. A clipped point blade, to put it bluntly, is intended as a death-dealing device. It concentrates the force of a thrust on to the point of the blade and the small size of the initial portion makes it easy to slide this blade into the body when stabbing. It’s no coincidence that many sabers have this blade design, as well. Where lethality is concerned, there are few more effective designs among edged weapons.
You need to determine if this type of blade is right for your needs. If you anticipate needing to use your Bowie knife with stabbing motions, then a drop point is probably not the best option. You might consider a spear point or a clip point knife. However, the fact remains that drop point designs are some of the most versatile options in the world.
Blake is a business consultant for an online bowie knifes store featuring survival knives.