Your Complete Guide To Pocket Knives and Their Uses

Most people have heard of pocket knives but don’t know that there are different types, styles, and blades. Pocket knives have been around for centuries and have a rich history. This guide will help you explore more about pocket knives and their uses.

The Beginning of the Pocket Knife

The first versions of pocket knives were around before pockets became a thing. It was the seventeenth century, and the proto-pocket knives were small and discreet. This small size was to make carrying easy and safe. Iron or bronze were the preferred materials for blades, and the handles were wood or bone.

Another significant difference between ancient and modern pocket knives is that the older version’s blades didn’t lock into place. They swiveled on a pivot, and the handler had to hold the knife open with the tang. It resembled a modern-day straight razor more than a pocket knife.

Iron-producing challenges made these vintage pocket knives pricey and difficult to purchase. Change happened in the 1600s when Sheffield, England, improved smelting technologies, allowing the mass production of knives. Farmers, gardeners, and herders liked the simple folding design knife, which became known as the peasant or penny knife. These names come from the class of people who purchase the knife and the cost.

Modern-Day Pocket Knife Types

Knife engineers saw the difficulties handlers faced keeping the blade open manually and began developing pocket knives that would eliminate the manual function. Enter the slip joint knife! The blade gets held open by tension.

Each side of the handle has a different job. One side has the blade pivoting around a joint, and the other contains a back spring, which is a flat bar. The tang rotates against the back spring, and this pressure keeps the blade open.

This mechanism quickly became the go-to for pocket knives. Several modern-day pocket knives use the slip joint method; you probably own a handful of them. These are the types of pocket knives you can find today.

Camper

Camper-style pocket knives contain various tools that many campers and outdoor adventures find handy. You’ll usually find a screwdriver, scissors, a can opener, and more. This style is great to pass down for generations because they’re convenient and incredibly useful.

You may also know camper-style pocket knives by their other name: multi-tool knife. The most iconic type is the Swiss Army knife, which we’re sure you’ve heard of before.

Congress

The Congress pocket knife is a classic slip joint that contains four blades: pen, coping, spear point, and sheepsfoot. It received its name because the blades come together to form a congress when folded away in the handle.

Fun Congress Knife Fact

During his rail-splitting days, Former President Abraham Lincoln carried a Congress-style pocket knife with him.

Barlow

Invented by a man in England with the last name Barlow, the Barlow-style pocket knife has two types of blades with an elongated handle. These two blade types are pen and clip point. Once the people of the United States caught wind of this pocket knife, it quickly became popular. There’s a rumor that George Washington’s mother gave him one for good behavior when he was young.

Canoe

The canoe knife looks like, you guessed it, a canoe. It contains two blades on either end of the handle. The most popular combination is a pen and drop point blade.

Pen

The inspiration for the pen knife came from the quill. These writing tools required delicate specialty pen blades to create the point needed to write. They first began as fixed blades, but the pen pocket knife came to be for convenience. Everyone then could write when creativity struck.

The pen pocket knife offers a low profile that discreetly fits your pocket. It contains multiple blades with opposite-end pivoting blades. It’s discreet enough to wear in your suit during work or a wedding. It will quickly and efficiently cut a string, trim a stick, and tackle other small tasks.

Various Blade Types

Not all blades are the same. If you’re a pocket knife enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of most of these blade types. If you’re new to the knife world, you may get confused about what each type means. To help everyone understand the different types of blades, continue reading to explore the pocket knife blade types.

Pen Blade

As discussed above, pen blades were first introduced to sharpen quills. Of course, we don’t have to sharpen our pens nowadays, but the blade type still exists because it can handle delicate tasks. The small blade isn’t incredibly sharp, but it will easily trim a shirt string, cut open a package, and more.

Clip Point Blade

This blade type is one of the most common types you’ll observe on pocket knives. How did the clip point blade get its name? It’s due to the back third of the blade being “clipped.” The clip can either be concave or straight.

What’s the clip point blade ideal for? The sharp, controllable tip is excellent for piercing and has lots of cutting edge. The one downside of the clip point is the narrow, weak tip. You can’t jam the point into pieces of wood or other strong, hard objects.

Sheepsfoot

The design of the sheepsfoot blade was to help shepherds trim sheep’s hooves. It contains a straight dull back that begins to curve towards the tip. It’s become a popular blade for whittlers to use. There are sure to be shepherds out there using it for its intended purpose, but most people use it for other things.

Drop Point Blade

The drop point blade gets its name because the straight spine drops to a curve near the tip. The spine begins to slope to meet with the bottom of the edge at a sharp point. They handle similarly to a clip point blade, but a drop point blade has a stronger tip than the clip point. It’s also great for piercing and can handle dense, thick objects.

It all comes down to your personal preference when choosing the right pocket knife. Refer to this pocket knife guide to help you make the right decision. Pocket knives are something many individuals love passing down for generations, or you can start a new collection. Turn to The Knife Connection when you’re ready to buy a pocket knife or another high-quality blade. We offer plenty of brands and styles, including Winkler Knives. You’ll appreciate the selection we carry.