Types of Knives and Their Use

Knives are generally composed of two basic types. They are either working knives for common everyday use or fighting or combat knives. There are a few knives styles which can function in either a utilitarian capacity or a combat role. Most knives are usually specific to a particular activity, occupation, or use. Knowing which type of knife to use will help you be better prepared.

1.) A bread knife is a special knife with a longer, serrated blade especially designed for cutting different types of bread. The blade is usually straight with a blunt end. The serrations, or teeth, allow it to cut bread using less vertical force, i.e. downward pressure. This keeps the bread from being compressed or “squashed”. They also leave fewer crumbs than most other knives.

 

 

2.) A dive knife is one that is specially adapted for underwater use. Dive knives usually have tough thermal plastic handles, durable sheaths, and convenient blade release mechanisms.

3.) A hunting knife is normally a fixed blade used to dress game animals. It is often one with a normal blade, one with a mild curve or a curved and clipped blade. The length can vary and may include what is normally referred to as a “gut hook”.

4.) A stockman's knife is a very versatile folding knife with three different blades. These are a clip blade, a spey blade and a normal blade. It is one of the more popular types of folding knives.

5.) A scalpel is a medical knife commonly used to perform surgery. It is perhaps one of the sharpest types of knives that are available. These are found in some of the more advanced first aid and trauma kits.

6.) A boning or fillet knife is used for deboning meat, poultry, and fish.



7.) A utility knife is normally used in carpentry or construction work for cutting sheetrock and shingles. They generally include a compartment for carrying spare blades.

8.) Bowie knifes are also a specialty type of fixed blade knife that can serve in a number of capacities. It is normally 6 inches or more in length with a inch and a half to two inch wide flat blade.



9.) Multi-tool knives may contain several blades, as well as additional other tools such as wire cutters or pliers. Examples of multi-tools include Leatherman, SOG, Gerber, Wenger and Victorinox (The "Swiss Army knife").

10.) An electrician's knife is a specially insulated knife designed to decrease the chance of electrical shock when performing electrical repairs.

 

11.) A Kukri is a Nepalese fighting and utility knife that has a deep forward curve.

12.) A machete is a long wide blade that is normally used to chop through dense undergrowth or brush. This knife is a great deal larger than most knives. It depends more on its weight than a razor sharp edge for its main cutting force.

13.) A survival knife is one which usually has a hollow handle filled with equipment. The best types of hollow-handled knives are those in which both blade and handle are cut from a single piece of steel. The end usually has an O-ring seal on the pommel cap to keep water out of the handle.

14.) There are also a large number of special purpose type knife blades that include military style knives or bayonets. There also certain special types of knives that are not made of metal. They can be made of different types of materials including plastic, wood or ceramic material. Most of these knives are very fragile and their main purpose is to avoid easy detection.

Making sure you have the right type of knife for the job will make it easier and safer for you to achieve the desired results. You could slice a loaf bread with a machete but the cutting board will probably suffer some damage as well as the bread!

Keep your blades sharp and your knife will serve you well!

Got blade?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker