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Knife, knife blade shape, knife geometry, view, profile. Combat knives: the best types of blades, sharpening rules Knife blade shapes and their names

The knife, a cutting tool with a short straight blade and handle, has survived all the epochs of the formation of Civilization and still remains an indispensable device, without which in other situations it is “like without hands”. How to choose a knife and what its working properties depend on will be discussed in this article.

The author does not claim to be the ultimate truth and does not set himself the task of telling about all the possible intricacies of the device and methods of using knives. Nevertheless, you will learn from this article about the different shapes and types of knives, their purpose, sharpening products and other important nuances.

Before you start choosing a knife, you should get acquainted with its design features. Let's learn about the main types of blades (blades) of knives.

What are the types of knives, and what each of them is intended for, the video below will tell:

The main types of blades

In the genus of knives there is a special family that has a double-edged blade. These are daggers. Their tip is on the axis of symmetry. In any case, these are weapons and they have no other purpose. There are only five types of other types of blades with one cutting edge.

  1. normal blade- a straight line of the butt from the heel to the tip. It has another definition - "Scandinavian", and knives of this kind are usually called "Finnish". The blades have excellent penetrating abilities, its tip (sting) is thick enough not to break when hitting wood, bone, sheet iron. Some others are considered an example of this product.
  2. drop point- the butt line has a slight decrease, due to which the tip is below the level of the back of the handle, approximately on the axis of the shank. The penetrating ability of this type of blade is even higher, since the point of application of force (the sting) is in line with it. However, the angle of convergence of the tip is less than that of the Finca. Therefore, its strength is less. These include, for example, .
  3. clip point- the decrease in the butt towards the tip begins from half the length or even after its first third. The knife has a shape close to an awl, it has excellent penetrating properties, but the strength of the tip is low compared to a fin (ex., from Kizlyar).
  4. Bowie- almost the same as the clip point, but the tip is slightly upturned. Without losing its penetrating properties, the knife has become more deadly, because with stabbing blows it tends to go up, expanding the wound channel. The upturned point is some obstacle to penetration into objects harder than living flesh (ex.,).
  5. Tanto. The invention of the American company Cold Steel. Its feature is the second straight cutting edge, beveled at an angle of 45 0, because of which the knife looks like a worker - a shoemaker or for cutting linoleum. In terms of penetrating properties, the tanto is significantly inferior to the finca, but the roughness of the point allows the blade to pierce the most stubborn materials. The advantage of the design is that the cutting edges can be sharpened at different angles and get a universal tool. An example of such a knife can be considered,.

We will talk about what types of cutting edges are on knives below.

Geometry of the cutting edge of the knife

Cutting edges and slopes

  • The cutting edge (RK) can begin to rise to the point immediately from the heel of the blade, in which case it looks like an awl and is used mainly for cutting fish and separating fillets.
  • However, the design is more common when the straight line RK begins to rise to the point after the second third of the length. The steeper slope, at about 45°, with a well-defined rounding, makes the knife suitable for skinning. Specialized skinners may have a convex cutting edge, rounded from the heel to the tip almost along the radius.

Descents are a change in the thickness of the blade from the butt to the cutting edge. By and large, there are only two types of them: wedge-shaped and concave.

  • Wedge-shaped can begin from the butt or from the middle of the holome.
  • The latter have a larger convergence angle, so these knives are more convenient for chopping.

Concave slopes make it easier to cut on the first pass, they are convenient for notching. Cutting thick pieces with such knives is not very convenient.

Additional elements of the blade

  • If notches in the form of a saw are made on the blade, then this is a serrator, which can be used to saw or roughly cut dense materials.
  • On clip point blades, there is an additional cutting edge on the butt, then sharpening the knife is called one and a half.
  • The most interesting additional element of the blade is the choil - a hole or recess on the heel of the blade. When using it, the knife can be taken close to the center of gravity and perform delicate work with it.

How to choose a knife according to the characteristics of the handle, we will describe below.

handles

They are made of two dies riveted to the shank or mounted on it. The latter can be collapsible (fasteners on the shank with a nut or wedge) or planted tightly, for which glue or a rivet is used.

  • The main difference between the knife, which is considered a melee weapon, is the stop (guard, bolster) between the handle and the fifth of the blade, which does not allow the hand to move onto the cutting edge during a stabbing blow.
  • The handles are made of wood, birch bark, elastron (rubber plastic), textolite and other materials, including horns or tusks of mammoths, walruses, if these are national knives.

Now let's find out what steel to choose for a knife.

The video below will tell you about the types of locks and openings for folding knives:

Steel

The vast majority of knives are made of stainless steel. The most commonly used are 65X13 and AUS-8.

  • 65X13- a domestic brand used in the manufacture of surgical instruments. The letter "X" denotes the presence of chromium in the alloy. Good cutting properties and ease of manual sharpening are noted. With prolonged use in the field, it may fade (ex. knife, from Kizlyar, from Nozhemir).
  • AUS-8- steel, classified as Japanese, used for the manufacture of samurai swords. It has good corrosion resistance. Tough, thanks to which the cutting edge does not crumble upon impact. High aggressiveness of the cut, sharpening is moderate, but easily corrected with manual abrasive whetstones. Such steel, for example, in knives, from Kizlyar,.

You will learn about the types of knives and the names of popular products in each category below.

Examples of "correct" products

Now that you have a general idea about the design of the knife, you can start choosing it. So, let's talk about the types of knives (folding, cutting, hunting, throwing, combat), and how to choose them correctly.

hunting

There are many opinions on how to choose a good hunting knife. On the hunt, you may need to finish off (pick up) a wounded animal, skin and skin the carcass.

The first thing to remember when hunting is that we are not barbarians and it would be nice to keep up appearances. Therefore, serrated and other elements that can cause additional suffering to the animal are unacceptable on a hunting knife. For the same reason, the length of the blade of a hunting knife cannot be less than 14 cm.

  • Daggers have the best penetrating properties (eg,), so they are more “humane”. However, skinning and butchering the carcass with them is not very convenient.
  • The handle of the knife must be made of a material with good frictional properties and must be equipped with a guard.

An example of a good hunting knife can be "" Kizlyar. Blade type "Bowie" with a well-defined rounding of the cutting edge has a length of 160 mm. The thickness of the butt is 4.7 mm. The slopes are concave, the handle is made of elastron, mounted, assembly on the thread. The guard is metal, with a well-developed lower ledge.

Having dealt with knives for hunting, we will learn how to choose a product for tourism purposes.

Tourist

This knife has many uses. It should be convenient for them to carry out work on the arrangement of a bivouac in the forest.

  • The first requirement for him is to be strong so that, if necessary, he can play the role of a lever or replace an ax.
  • The length is not too important, but it is better if the blade is at least ten centimeters. Thick butt, wedge-shaped descents, a handle with well-defined finger rests.
  • It is better if the assembly of the handle is non-separable, since a variety of work is necessarily accompanied by vibration, which weakens the threaded fasteners.
  • Solid wood stock handles are the worst choice, as they can fall apart if hit hard or dropped on rocks.
  • It's nice to have a set of additional devices - a serrator, a choil, an additional cutting edge.

A good example of tourist knives are the Burbot (Vityaz), Field Tactician (Master K) and Strix (Kizlyar) models.

  • "" - a clip point blade 125 mm long with an additional RK (one and a half sharpening). The thickness of the butt is 3.8 mm. The handle is elastron, attached, with a percussion spike on the pommel.
  • "Burbot" - a normal blade blade 115 mm long, butt thickness 3.5 mm. The cutting edge with a wide rounding, this knife is convenient to skin. On the butt there is a notch for the stop of the finger, and on the lower edge of the heel there is a deep choil. The handle is elastron, with a shock spike on the pommel.
  • "Field Tactician" - clip point blade 143 mm long. There is an additional RK, a recess-emphasis for a finger on the butt and a choil. The thickness of the butt is 4 mm. Drops are straight. The handle is elastron, mounted, fixed with a hollow rivet. There is a percussion spike on the pommel.

We will tell you below about how and what kind of cutting folding and awkward knives to choose.

Chopping

For the most part, these are household knives that should cut well and keep sharpening, and the ability to do anything else is not necessary for them. In camping equipment, an ax is complemented.

  • The slopes are straight or concave, the sharpening is wedge-shaped.
  • The handle can be made from a solid workpiece and mounted on a shank; it does not require well-defined finger stops.

A good option for a carving knife - the Rybak model - is offered by Kizlyar PP LLC. A wide blade with a concave butt line and a point pulled up, 155 mm long. The thickness of the butt is 2.5 mm, the cutting edge with a well-defined rounding, there is a choil on the lower edge of the heel and a hollow-stop for the toe on the butt. The descents are concave, the handle is made of wooden dies riveted to the handle. There is a percussion protrusion of the shank on the pommel.

When choosing a knife, do not give in to emotions. The elegance of lines, brutality and other "chips" in field conditions do not matter. The knife should be sharp, durable, fit well in the hand and easy to carry.

This video will show you how to choose a knife:

The sword has a fairly simple design: a long blade with a handle, while swords have many forms and uses. The sword is more convenient than the ax, which is one of its predecessors. The sword is adapted for inflicting chopping and stabbing blows, as well as for parrying enemy blows. Longer than a dagger and not easily concealed in clothing, the sword is a noble weapon in many cultures, a status symbol. He had a special significance, being at the same time a work of art, a family jewel, a symbol of war, justice, honor, and of course glory.

The structure of the sword

The sword usually consists of the following elements:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f. Blade (sharpened part of the blade)
g. Point (stabbing part)

There are many options for the shape of the sections of the blade. Usually the shape of the blade depends on the purpose of the weapon, as well as on the desire to combine stiffness and lightness in the blade. The figure shows some double-edged (positions 1, 2) and single-edged (positions 3, 4) variants of blade shapes.

There are three basic forms of sword blades. Each of them has its own advantages:

  • The straight blade (a) is intended primarily for thrusting.
  • The blade, curved back towards the butt (b), inflicts a deep cut wound upon impact.
  • A blade curved forward towards the edge (c) is effective for cutting, especially when it has a wide and heavy top.

It is important to understand that the specialization of the sword in one type of strike did not make other types impossible - a thrust can be delivered with a saber, and a cutting blow with a sword.

When choosing a sword, civilians were guided mainly by fashion trends. The military, on the other hand, tried to find the perfect blade, combining the same efficiency in both chopping and stabbing.

Africa and Middle East

In most of these regions the sword is a very common weapon, but in Africa it is rare and difficult to date. Most of the swords shown here ended up in Western museums and collectors thanks to travelers of the 19th - early 20th centuries.

  1. Double-edged sword, Gabon, West Africa. The thin blade is made of steel, the hilt of the sword is wrapped with brass and copper wire.
  2. Takouba, sword of the Tuareg tribe of the Sahara.
  3. Flissa, sword of the Kabyle tribe, Morocco. Single-edged blade, engraved and inlaid with brass.
  4. Cascara, straight double-edged sword of the Bagirmi people, Sahara. In style, this sword is close to Sudanese swords.
  5. Double-edged sword of the East African Maasai. The rhombic section of the blade, the guard is missing.
  6. Shotel, a double-edged sword with a double curved blade, Ethiopia. The crescent shape of the sword is designed to strike the enemy behind his shield.
  7. A Sudanese sword with a characteristic straight double-edged blade and cross guard.
  8. Arabic sword, 18th century The blade is probably of European origin. The silver hilt of the sword is gilded.
  9. Arabic sword, Longola, Sudan. The double-edged steel blade is decorated with a geometric ornament and the image of a crocodile. The hilt of the sword is made of ebony and ivory.

Near East

  1. Kilich (key), Turkey. The example shown in the figure has a blade of the 15th century, and the hilt of the 18th century. Often, at the top, the kilij blade has an elman - an expanded part with a straight blade.
  2. Scimitar, classical form, Turkey. A sword with a forward-curved, single-edged blade. The bone hilt has a large pommel, there is no guard.
  3. Scimitar with a silver handle. The blade is decorated with corals. Turkey.
  4. Saif, a curved saber with a characteristic pommel. It is found everywhere where the Arabs lived.
  5. Checker, Caucasus. Circassian origin, widely used by Russian cavalry. the blade of this specimen is dated 1819, Persia.
  6. Dagger, Caucasus. The dagger could reach the size of a short sword, one of such specimens is presented here.
  7. Shamshir, a typical form. Persian with a curved blade and a characteristic handle.
  8. Shamshir with a wavy blade, Persia. The steel handle is adorned with gold inlay.
  9. 18. Quadara. Big dagger. The handle is made of horn. The blade is decorated with etching and gold notch.

Indian subcontinent

The region of India and adjacent areas is rich in various types of swords. India produced the best steel blades in the world with luxurious decorations. In some cases, it is difficult to give the correct name to some types of blades, to determine the time and place of their manufacture, so that a thorough study of them is still ahead. The dates indicated refer only to the examples depicted.

  1. Chora (Khyber), a heavy single-edged sword of the Afghan and Pashtun tribes. Afghan-Pakistan border.
  2. . Sword with a curved blade and disc-shaped hilt, India. This copy was found in Northern India, XVII century.
  3. Tulvar (talwar) with a wide blade. Was the executioner's weapon. This copy is of Northern India origin, XVIII-XIX centuries.
  4. Tulwar (talwar). Steel handle in the Punjabi style with a safety shackle. Indore, India. End of the 18th century
  5. , steel handle with gilding in the "Old Indian" style. Double-edged straight blade. Nepal. 18th century
  6. Khanda. The handle is made in the style of "Indian basket" with a process for gripping with both hands. Marathi people. 18th century
  7. Sosun pattah. The handle is made in the style of "Indian basket". Forward-curved single edge reinforced blade. Central India. 18th century
  8. South Indian sword. Steel handle, square wooden pommel. The blade is curved forward. Madras. 16th century
  9. Sword from the temple of the Nayar people. Brass handle, double-edged steel blade. Thanjavur, South India. 18th century
  10. South Indian sword. Steel handle, double-edged wavy blade. Madras. 18th century
  11. . An Indian sword with a gauntlet - a steel guard that protected the hand to the forearm. Decorated with engraving and gilding. Oudh (now Uttar Pradesh). 18th century
  12. Adyar katti of typical shape. A short heavy blade curved forward. The handle is made of silver. Coorg, Southwest India.
  13. Zafar Takeh, India. Attribute of the ruler at audiences. The top of the handle is made in the form of an armrest.
  14. ("stranger"). This name was used by the Indians for European blades with Indian handles. Here is a Maratha sword with a German blade from the 17th century.
  15. Double-edged two-handed sword with hollow iron pommel. Central India. 17th century
  16. Bark. The blade is curved forward, has a single blade with a "pulled" top. Nepal. 18th century
  17. . Long narrow blade. It was widespread in the 19th century. Nepal, circa 1850
  18. Kukri. Iron handle, elegant blade. Nepal, circa 19th century
  19. Kukri. Was in service with the Indian Army in World War II. Manufactured by a contractor in North India. 1943
  20. Ram Dao. Sword used for animal sacrifice in Nepal and northern India.

Far East

  1. Tao. Sword of the Kachin tribe, Assam. The example shown here shows the most common blade shape among many known in the region.
  2. Tao (noklang). Two-handed sword, Khasi people, Assam. The handle of the sword is iron, the finish is made of brass.
  3. Dha. Single-edged sword, Myanmar. The cylindrical hilt of the sword is covered with white metal. Blade inlaid with silver and copper.
  4. Castane. The sword has a carved wooden handle and a protective steel shackle. Decorated with silver and brass inlay. Sri Lanka.
  5. Single-edged Chinese iron sword. The handle is a blade petiole wrapped with a cord.
  6. Talibon. Short sword of Philippine Christians. The hilt of the sword is made of wood and braided with reed.
  7. Barong. Short sword of the Moro people, Philippines.
  8. Mandau (parang ihlang). Sword of the Dayak tribe - bounty hunters, Kalimantan.
  9. Parang Pandit. Sword of the Sea Dayak tribe, Southeast Asia. The sword has a single-edged, forward-curved blade.
  10. Campilan. Single-edged sword of the Moro and Sea Dayak tribes. The handle is made of wood and decorated with carvings.
  11. Klewang. Sword from the island of Sula Vesi, Indonesia. The sword has a single-edged blade. The handle is made of wood and decorated with carvings.

Europe of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages

The history of the European sword is not so much a process of improving the functionality of the blade, but of changing it under the influence of fashion trends. Bronze and iron swords were replaced by steel ones, the design was adapted to new battle theories, but no innovations led to a complete rejection of the old forms.

  1. Short sword. Central Europe, Early Bronze Age. The blade and hilt of the sword are connected by riveting.
  2. Curved single-edged short sword, Sweden. 1600-1350 BC. The sword is made from a single piece of bronze.
  3. Bronze sword of Homeric times, Greece. OK. 1300 BC This copy was found in Mycenae.
  4. Long solid bronze sword, one of the Baltic islands. 1200-1000 BC.
  5. Late Bronze Age sword, Central Europe. 850-650 AD BC.
  6. Iron sword, Hallstatt culture, Austria. 650-500 AD BC. The hilt of the sword is made of ivory and amber.
  7. - the iron sword of the Greek hoplites (heavily armed infantry). Greece. Approximately VI century. BC.
  8. Falcata - an iron single-edged sword, Spain, around the 5th-6th centuries. BC. This type of sword was also used in classical Greece.
  9. Iron blade of the sword, La Tène culture. Around the 6th century BC. This copy was found in Switzerland.
  10. An iron sword. Aquileia, Italy. The hilt of the sword is made of bronze. Around the 3rd century BC.
  11. Gallic iron sword. Department of Aube, France. Anthropomorphic bronze handle. Around the 2nd century BC.
  12. Iron sword, Cumbria, England. The handle of the sword is made of bronze and decorated with enamel. Around the 1st century
  13. Gladius. Iron Roman short sword. Beginning of the 1st century
  14. Late Roman gladius. Pompeii. The edges of the blade are parallel, the tip is shortened. End of the 1st century

Europe of the Middle Ages

Throughout the early Middle Ages, the sword was a very valuable weapon, especially in Northern Europe. Many Scandinavian swords have richly decorated hilts, and X-ray examination of them has revealed a very high quality of their blades. However, the late medieval sword, despite its significant status as a knightly weapon, often has the usual cruciform shape and a simple iron blade; only the pommel of the sword gave the masters some room for imagination.

Early medieval swords were forged with wide blades designed for slashing. From the 13th century began to spread narrow blades, designed for stabbing. It is assumed that this trend was caused by the increased use of armor, which was easier to pierce with a piercing blow at the joints.

To improve the balance of the sword, a heavy pommel was attached to the end of the hilt, as a counterweight to the blade. Tops had a variety of forms, the most common of them:

  1. mushroom
  2. In the shape of a teapot
  3. American walnut
  4. discoid
  5. in the form of a wheel
  6. triangular
  7. Fishtail
  8. pear-shaped

Viking sword (right), 10th century. The handle is wrapped in silver foil with an embossed "wicker" ornament, which is tinted with copper and niello. The double-edged steel blade is wide and shallow. This sword was found in one of the Swedish lakes. Currently stored in the State Historical Museum in Stockholm.

Middle Ages

I bring to your attention a selection of 19 best tactical knives with a fixed blade for self-defense from Tim MacWelch.

1.

SOG knives are known for their high quality. This medium-sized tactical knife features a cryogenically hardened AUS-8 steel blade. The blade has a black titanium nitride coating. Anatomical handle molded from fiberglass reinforced nylon. The notched handle ensures a firm grip even with wet hands. The knife is very light - 153 g. The total length of the knife is 24.1 cm, the length of the blade is 12.3 cm.

This charismatic knife, designed by Michael Martinez, weighs an impressive 238 g. The tanto blade is 12.6 cm long and is made of stainless steel 1.4116 with a titanium nitride coating. A semi-serrator with teeth at a 60 degree inclination is very useful. Of particular interest is the molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon handle with a triangular texture that provides a phenomenally firm grip in wet hands. At the end of the handle there is a protrusion that can be used as a lever. The knife has excellent penetrating power. The sheath is made of high strength nylon and is compatible with MOLLE systems.

Karambit style knife Ranger Kerambit EOD from Ontario Knife Company has a sharp blade 8.9 cm long (with a total knife length of 19.1 cm) and 6.6 mm thick made of 5160 steel with a black powder coating. The green micarta grips provide a good grip. And of course, the knife has a finger ring characteristic of karambit at the end of the handle. The knife comes with a Kydex sheath.

For lovers of big knives Ontario Knife Company developed a series of knives for the American Rangers. The knife is something like a pocket machete. The 16.5 cm blade is made of 5160 steel with a powder coating. The handles are made of micarta. The MOLLE compatible sheath is made of nylon and kydex. Knife weight - 510 g

Buck Knives developed a magnificent tactical knife. This 218-gram knife is designed for hard work and has a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. The tanto-style blade is 12.7 cm long and is made of 420HC steel. The handle is made from molded nylon. The nylon sheath is MOLLE compatible.

6. TOPS/Buck CSAR-T

A joint project Buck and TOPS Knives- tactical knife CSAR-T was developed as a tool for search and rescue teams. The blade is a modified version of the tanto. Blade material - stainless steel 420HC. The blade length is 11.4 cm. The handle is made of G10 with a Rocky Mountain Tread pattern. The handle has a hex wrench and a flathead screwdriver. The blade has a non-reflective Zirblast coating. The weight of the knife is 397 g. The sheath is made of high-strength nylon and is MOLLE compatible.

7. Browning Black Label Backlash

Knife Browning Black Label Backlash has a dagger-type blade with double-sided sharpening. It is a perfectly symmetrical and balanced knife with incredible penetrating power. The blade material is 440 steel. The handle is made of black G10. The sheath is made of molded polymer material and equipped with a belt clip.

Knife series Taylor Brands from Schrade offers tactical knives with uncompromising quality and attractive prices. The blade is made of high carbon 8Cr13 stainless steel. The grips are made of G10 with original texture. The total length of the knife is 20 cm, the length of the blade is 8.6 cm. Weight is 159 g.

This ultra-thin dagger-type knife is ideal for wearing in a boot. The knife belongs to the series Hostage Rescue Team. The 10.4cm blade is made from 7Cr17 high carbon stainless steel. The total length is 21.6 cm. The handle is made of ABS plastic. Slim sheath supports attachment to a belt.

The knife has a tanto blade with one-sided sharpening and a partial sereytor. Blade length - 8.6 cm, material - stainless steel 420HC with black coating. The handle is molded with TacHide material, typical of Gerber knives, for a firm grip in wet hands. The total length of the knife is 19 cm, weight is 93 g.

This beautiful knife Puma has an unusual sharpening and is perfect for both camp work and self-defense. The blade is made of German 440A steel with a hardness of 55-57 Rockwell units. Blade length - 7.9 cm, total length - 18.8 cm, weight - 145 g. The handle has lining made of pakka wood. The sheath is made of nylon.

Knife Boker Plus Mosier- a very attractive mixture of traditional design with modern trends in knife making. Designed by knifemaker David Mosier. The Warncliff blade is made from Sandvik 12C27 wear-resistant steel. Blade length - 8.2 cm, total length - 18.4 cm, weight - 156 g. The handle has overlays of beautiful two-tone micarta. The geometry of the blade provides a high penetrating power.

The knife was designed by John Benner, founder and owner of the Tactical Defense Institute. The knife has excellent ergonomics. The kukri-style blade and the original shape of the handle provide the ability to deliver powerful chopping blows. The 5.8 cm blade is made of AUS 8A steel with a hardness of 57-59 HRC and has a black powder coating. The handle is made from Zytel.

The knife looks very serious and is made from serious design materials by knifemaker Allen Elishewitz. The blade has a semi-serrated main blade and a full sereytor on the back of the blade. The knife can also be used as a saw, since its dimensions allow it. This knife combines strength and power that can be used both in field work and in knife combat. The 15cm blade is made from 1085C high carbon tool steel and has a black epoxy finish. The handle is made of thermoplastic rubber. The scabbard is made of black ballistic nylon.

Knives Heckler & Koch from Benchmade are one of the most indestructible knives on the market, model Conspiracy not an exception. Tanto blade made of stainless steel 9CR13 with a hardness of 58-60 HRC. Blade length - 12.2 cm. Knife sharpening is semi-serrated. The handle is made from a deeply textured G10 for a secure grip. Weight - 318 g.

The ultra-light and ultra-thin knife is designed to be worn around the neck. The full-length blade of this skeletal knife is made of AUS-8 steel with a hardness of 58-60 HRC. The blade shape is a modified Warncliff. The handle has 7 holes that lighten the weight of the knife and allow you to braid with paracord. The scabbard is made of kydex. Blade length - 8.3 cm, total length - 18.7 cm, weight - 65 g.

Classic Bowie blade and high quality materials make the knife Spyderco street bowie An excellent choice for self defense. The development was carried out by Fred Perrin, a French commando self-defense instructor. The 12.8 cm blade is made of VG-10 steel with a black ceramic coating. The molded nylon handle is reinforced with fiberglass and features Kraton inserts. The sheath is made of molded polymer and equipped with a G-Clip mount that provides a variety of fixation options. The knife is very light - only 108 g.

Smaller and lighter version of the knife street bowie, Spyderco Street Beat is also a development from Fred Pirrin. The blade material is the same VG-10 steel, but simply polished, uncoated. The length of the blade is 8.9 cm. The handles are made of micarta. Plastic sheath with G-Clip mount.

A futuristic curved blade combat knife with a sereytor on the back is a great choice for self-defense. The blade material is H-1 steel, which combines hardness and impact resistance similar to samurai swords. Blade length - 14.4 cm, total length - 27 cm, weight - 232 g. The knife is excellent for chopping, the sereytor allows you to use the knife as a saw and perform cutting strokes. The scabbard is made of black ballistic nylon.

Knife- the most ancient of man-made human tools, which played the most important role in the formation of man as a species. He went through a long history, during which he changed only aesthetically - many craftsmen made and make blades of amazing beauty ... well, he became sharper than the stone and metal tools of primitive people.

It is not surprising that various kinds of blades remain companions of many real and fictional heroes, whose "exploits" we learn from books, movies and other media sources. Italian multimedia designer Federico Mauro created several graphic series showing household items of cult characters (here, for example:,), including all kinds of knives and blades of many famous media heroes:


01. Ghostface (Ghostface) - the character of the film series "Scream"


02. Chevalier Charles-Henri Sanson de Lonval (Charles-Henri Sanson) - hereditary executioner from the Sanson dynasty


03. Frank Dodd - deputy sheriff of Castle Rock, character in Stephen King's book "The Dead Zone" and the film of the same name


04. Eastern Promises - a feature film directed by David Cronenberg


05. Sweeney Todd is a character in a series of short stories, musicals and films.


06. Joker (Joker) - a character in comics and films about Batman.


07. John "Ace" Merrill (Ace Merrill) - the character of several works of Stephen King ("Stay with me", "Necessary things" and others)


08. Secret agent MacGyver (MacGyver) - the main character of the American television series of the same name


09. Riddick (Riddick) - the character of a series of feature and animated films


10. Jack Burton (Jack Burton) - the character of the movie "Big Trouble in Little China"


11. Knight Slasher's knife - the character of the movie "Cobra" (Cobra)


12. Jason Voorhees - character from the Friday the 13th film series


13. Bilbo Baggins - a character in a series of works by J. R. R. Tolkien


14. Beatrix Kiddo (Beatrix Kiddo) - a character from the series of films "Kill Bill"


15. Goemon Ishikawa XIII is a character from the Lupin III manga comic series


16. The sword of the characters from the Star Wars film series (Star Wars)


17. The weapon of the main character of the film "Ultraviolet" (Ultraviolet)


18. Weapons of the characters from the Machete movie series


19. Computer game and movie "Prince of Persia" (Prince of Persia)


20. Computer game and TV series "Game of Thrones" (Game of Thrones)


21. Uruk-hai (Uruk-Hai) - a character in the series of novels and films "Lord of the Rings"


22. He-Man (He Man) - the main character of several animated series and the feature film "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe"


23. "The Legend of Zelda" - a video game series and an animated series


24. Excalibur - the legendary sword of King Arthur


25. "300 Spartans" (300) - a feature film based on the comic book of the same name


26. D "Artagnan - a character in the cycle of works by Alexandre Dumas


27. "Highlander" (Highlander) - a cycle of feature films


28. Zorro (Zorro) - the character of a series of comics, cartoons and feature films


29. "War of the Gods: Immortals" (Immortals) - a feature film based on ancient Greek myths


30. Jack Sparrow is the protagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean feature film series.


31. Blade (Blade) - the main character of the film and comic book series of the same name


32. William Wallace - the legendary Scottish knight and military leader, the protagonist of the feature film "Braveheart"


33. Final Fantasy VII - computer game


34. Conan (Conan) - the main character of a series of comics and feature films of the same name


35. Jack Torrance is the protagonist of Stephen King's novel The Shining and films of the same name.


36. Blood Red (Profondo Rosso) - a feature film directed by Dario Argento


37. "Old Boy" (Old Boy) - a feature film directed by Park Chang-wook, the second part of the "trilogy of revenge"


38. Captain Hook (Hook) - the character of the book "Peter Pan", as well as a series of feature and animated films


39. "Children of the Corn" - a story by Stephen King, which became the basis for a series of feature films


40. The Grim Reaper


41. "V for Vendetta" (V for Vendetta) - a feature film based on the comic book of the same name


42. "Elektra" (Elektra) - a feature film based on the comic book of the same name


43. "The Expendables" - a series of feature films


44. "Crocodile" Dundee (Crocodile Dundee) - the protagonist of a series of feature films of the same name


45. Norman Bates (Norman Bates) - the character of the thriller Alfred Hitchcock "Psycho" and its sequels


46. ​​Gordon Ramsay - British chef, known as the first Scot to be awarded three Michelin stars; culinary TV show host


47. Michael Myers (Michael Myers) - the character of the series of feature films "Halloween"


48. "Predator" (Predator) - a series of feature films


49. John Rambo (John Rambo) - the character of a series of feature films of the same name


50. Gustavo "Gus" Fring (Gus Fring) - the character of the television series Breaking Bad (Breaking Bad)

We rarely think about the things that we hold in our hands every day: a toothbrush, a comb, a knife - we are used to them and do not pay attention. But if you look into the past of the objects around us, you can make a lot of amazing discoveries. Some of the objects accompany man throughout his history, and yet the most ancient of our man-made satellites is the KNIFE.

It was the knife that became the first tool used by man. And today it does not matter whether it was a shell with a sharp edge or a broken piece of stone - a BLADE appeared. This happened before the advent of fire and the domestication of the dog, before man spoke and drew the first drawing with charcoal. The making of the knife marked the beginning of the first tools. Since that time it KNIFE - the main human tool and helper.

It is amazing, but, having finally taken shape in the Stone Age, the knife has not undergone fundamental changes since then. A point, a blade, a handle... And no matter how eras and technologies, materials and tastes change, the basis remains the same. Having appeared so long ago, the knife is not going to retire. There is no other such multifunctional tool in our everyday life: to cut food and expose a wire, sharpen a pencil, cut a flower ... up to the protection of life. And all this we are talking about an elementary knife, and not about a universal mechanical workshop like a Swiss officer's folding set!

Today, the polished steel of a blade fascinates us as much as it did at the dawn of civilization, and the functional possession of it can turn into a passion for gathering. Love for melee weapons is inexplicable, but far from bloodlust or viciousness. Rather, it is a tribute to history, a worship of what faithfully served a person from the moment he realized himself as a Human. This desire should have been imprinted in the genes, and it was imprinted.

We live in a country with a long and tragic history. The fact of its existence is that for almost three generations the state fought against the right of its citizens to own weapons. The very idea of ​​owning cold steel or firearms was introduced into the minds of our compatriots as incompatible with the image of a law-abiding citizen. The desire to express artistic inclinations in the refined lines of a steel blade could lead to barbed wire, where a completely different aesthetics dominated.

As a result, the strong traditions of weapons business in Russia were almost lost. Now the situation is being restored, but, in addition to manufacturing traditions, there must also be traditions of consumption and taste, which are impossible without knowledge. In order to replenish this cultural baggage a little, this article was written.

When forming the publication, difficulties arose not so much in the selection as in the exclusion of material. The world of knives is immense, and it is impossible to describe everything, because where descriptions begin, the problem of systematization and classification arises, and where the question of classification arises, a new problem immediately arises: after all, a rational principle must be put at the basis of any system. On the other hand, the variety of types of knives is incalculable. An attempt to squeeze them into some kind of, always artificially erected, boundaries cannot but give rise to errors.

Sometimes such “violence” serves certain purposes, for example, the purposes of a criminological examination to determine whether a given knife belongs to a cold weapon in accordance with the Criminal Code. But when such a classification begins to be applied everywhere, it loses its meaning, and does not become universal.

Nevertheless, it is in criminological expertise that the origins of the most common classification attempts are found. The established approach consists in highlighting sections with approximately the following content:

— national knives and daggers;
- combat knives and daggers (often this group also includes bayonets, as well as specialized throwing knives);
- Hunter knives;
- survival knives
- folding knives;
- utility knives (culinary, garden, highly specialized).

In fact, such sorting is convenient for a forensic edged weapons expert or a specialist store manager, but it is not a classification in the strictly scientific sense of the word. Moreover, it will not clarify anything for a person who wants to pick up a universal blade or knife for some specific purpose.

So how are knife blades divided?
First of all, along the side profile of the blade.
Secondly, according to the shape of the cross section of the blade.

After reading this material, you can easily determine the type of blade of any knife, as well as find out which type is more suitable for what purposes. let's consider main types of blade side profile:

finca- this type of blade has a straight butt and is able to pierce with a point.

Clip-point or Bowie Named after Texas national hero James Bowie. It was developed in the 19th century for combat knives and has a beveled butt in the form of a duck nose, but it can also be straight. As a rule, there is also a sharpening on the butt. A blade of this shape is equally good for cutting and for pricking, due to the location of the tip on the axis of application of force upon impact.

Tanto- the shape of the blade was born in the fascinating world of Japanese edged weapons, according to some sources, and according to others, it appeared recently in an American knife manufacturing company. A blade of this form has an extreme stability of the point due to the fact that the massiveness of the blade is preserved up to the very point. Most often used for combat knives, but sometimes comes across on other types. You can argue for a very long time about the convenience of this blade shape for various cuts.

Scramasax- most often, professional knives and folding multifunctional knives have this blade shape. Due to this shape of the blade, the knife becomes safer in terms of piercing and allows for a precise, controlled cut.

Spear point- most often this form of the blade can be found on ancient daggers, and today on combat knives. This shape of the blade is very well suited for thrusting. Usually it has a double-sided sharpening, which on combat tactical knives allows you to carry out a large number of movements without turning your hand and without rotating the handle (for example, in the dark you don’t have to think about which side the blade is on).

trailing point- usually found on national knives. A blade of this shape is best suited for cutting non-hard materials.

drop-point- a blade of this shape has a lower butt line and is equally good for both cutting and stabbing. Usually the butt without sharpening. It was created as a tool, not a weapon, and is more often used for hunting knives, which are excellent helpers in the field.

In addition to the fact that all short bladed weapons are divided into two large groups - KNIVES and DAGGERS - the longitudinal pattern of the blades appears in the following varieties:
- straight;
- curved up;
- curved down;
- with several bends, up to wavy.

Both knives and daggers can have any of these shapes, but, unfortunately, not everyone clearly understands the difference between them. And it is very simple: no other differences play a role, except for one:

The dagger is always double-edged, that is, both the upper and lower sides of the blade are sharpened.

On the contrary, the knife is always sharpened only on one side, in extreme cases, it can have sharpening of the front upper third of the blade, thereby acquiring some of the properties of a dagger.

And whatever form the blade has, its classification as a knife or dagger is determined only by the agreed principle.

But, along with "unambiguous" items, there is a category of products that is, as it were, outside such a bipolar classification - this blades with the so-called one and a half sharpening. From the tip to about the middle of their blade is purely dagger, and then the sharpening of the upper edge turns into the usual back (butt) of the knife, smooth or with a fashionable notch, up to sawtooth teeth.

This is a versatile, very practical type of blade that combines the advantages of both families, but traditionally such specimens are still referred to as knives. As you remember, the "pedigree" sign of the famous Bowie knife is precisely the sharpening of the front upper (concave) third of the blade, which made it possible to cut in reverse in battle.

Straight Blades are the easiest to manufacture and the most versatile in operation. The tradition of using straight blades is international, but in the countries of the Afro-Asian region there is a clear tendency to curve, bent up or down weapons, while Europe has always loved straight knives and daggers. A straight weapon is most suitable for stabbing, and even chain mail was pierced with a thin and strong blade.

The Asian tradition gravitates towards everything intricate, ingenious, and the strength of this passion leaves its mark on the weapon business. Blades curved up, it is good to cut and stab with an upward movement, and bent down - chop with a broach and pierce down. These forms are illustrated by the Moroccan dagger, the Arab knife and the Nepalese kukri.

Putting both principles together straight and curved up), we get a convenient thing that works equally easily in various modes. Such knives and daggers with a double deflection, which have become very popular these days, look defiantly exotic.

Recently, a similar style has begun to spread among combat knives, including those suitable for survival in difficult conditions. The concave middle part of the blade is well suited for cutting thin elastic branches and reeds, and the end, heavy, acts like an axe. An agricultural sickle works on a similar principle, collecting flexible ears into a bundle. True, sometimes it is absolutely incomprehensible what the developers were guided by, giving their offspring a completely inexplicable form. For example, here combat knife of the Chilean special forces:

It is difficult to suspect the inventors and users of this strange product of incompetence, but what else, besides cutting branches and cutting necks and limbs (you should forget about injections), can be done with it - a mystery.

And finally, we cannot pass by the notorious Malayan kris, since they traditionally have a very rare shape - wavy or, as it is also called, "flaming". Of course, such a refinement is of little use as a universal tool. It is either a combat or ceremonial weapon.

Kris blades were made of layered, plywood-like, welded Damascus, but they did not possess any special qualities inherent in classic damask steel, apart from intoxicating beauty. Separate layers sometimes consisted of porous iron, so that, being impregnated, according to local custom, with a strong poison, such a blade remained deadly for its entire long life. As for external forms, it is difficult to call them otherwise than infernal.

On this, the review of the longitudinal forms of the blades can be considered exhausted, since any fantasy will definitely fall into one or another group.

As for various types of cross-section of the blade, here the picture is somewhat different - there are much more of them than three or five, and they by no means fit into logical sections. Nevertheless, we will try to somehow classify these wilds, based on some fundamental geometric characteristics.

Perhaps we should start with the undeniable assertion that every cutting or piercing tool is a wedge and only a wedge. The physical essence of the process of separation of one object by another is to reduce the area of ​​​​contact, because in this case, in accordance with the laws of nature, the pressure force increases in inverse proportion to this area itself. The sharper your knife is sharpened, the more pressure its cutting edge exerts and, therefore, the easier and cleaner it pushes the object that comes across.

Mentioned above obsidian stone knives have an edge of atomic, that is, the minimum possible thickness. Therefore, a light touch is enough to apply a cut. The same thing happens during the notorious experiments with damask steel and a silk scarf, since real damask steel has a phenomenal ability to accept sharpening.

The cross section of the blade of most daggers differs in only one thing: symmetry(occasionally there are daggers with a "shift" of form).

In the light of the above, knives are no different from daggers. Here are some of the most characteristic and popular types of knife cross-sections, unchanged for centuries, because there is nothing new to come up with. As you can see, these are all variations of an ordinary wedge. We can make its side surfaces concave, convex, cut through them with any number of fullers of the most diverse shapes and widths, change the angle of sharpening - but the essence remains the same.

Blades with convex edges are noticeably stronger, but also heavier. Concave forms are light and elegant, but they lack solidity and reliability. The presence of fullers allows you to find compromise solutions, lightening the thick blade and giving it additional rigidity. The most common type of back is straight, flat, but occasionally there are knives with a rounded back, and the Japanese prefer to decorate it with a “house”. The strange fashion of throwing a decorative saw through the butt increases the likelihood of injury without adding anything to convenience.

stilettos, intended for inflicting deadly injections (once directly through the armor or tiny gaps in their joints), most often take the form of awls, narrow, thin and predatory. Requirements for maximum axial rigidity gradually pushed flat blades in favor of square and triangular ones. In addition to stilettos, classic piercing rapiers had such a section.

Strictly speaking, the type of section affects only the strength and mass of the blade (and, of course, beauty), without interfering at all with the actual cutting and piercing processes, since only the cutting edge and the tip are responsible for the latter. Whatever thicknesses of metal hang from above, they inevitably converge to a ghostly thin line of the blade.

The angle of convergence of the faces is always sharp, and the sharper the better, but up to certain limits. A kind of "razor" sharpening, so named after the cross-sectional shape of straight razor blades, is incomparable in sharpness, but any other objects, except for hair and skin, will immediately destroy the delicate edge.

Reverse case - legendary Japanese swords (and all their other melee weapons) had a convex section. This allowed the brave samurai to cut dashingly at their pleasure, and the inhuman patience of the polishers provided the notorious sharpness that makes the classic blade a truly scythe of death.

Here it is necessary to stop and consider in detail the process of separating an obstacle with blades of various shapes. The concave section of the razor easily penetrates into the thickness, but it is not destined to completely divide it, because as it deepens, more and more new areas of the blade come into contact with the material, which seems to “suck in” the knife, squeezing it in a suffocating embrace. The further the blade plunges, the more rapidly the resistance force grows, and the dependence here is by no means linear, but almost geometric.

Surely many of you have experienced similar sensations when you tried to cut a slice of cheese or a piece of frozen meat with such a knife. Difficulties arise even during the extraction of the blade back - as if something is holding it. Therefore, this form finds application almost exclusively among the now rare straight razors.

The most common wedge with flat edges. From the standpoint of the foregoing, it has average characteristics. Although the resistance of the object increases as such a knife deepens, the relationship here is linear. Steel pushes the unyielding thickness to the right and left not so intensively, and the main losses are due to friction.

But the most remarkable is the third type of shape - slightly convex. Entering an obstacle, such a blade touches the walls of the cut with only a small section of the side faces directly adjacent to the edge. The rest is already moving in the void, and there can be no talk of any friction. An elementary experience will clearly demonstrate what has been said - try to split a block of wood (preferably raw) with an ordinary ax, and then with a cleaver. The first will certainly get stuck in the middle of the path, and the second will fly through, and even with a margin of speed.

In the same way, a good katana flies through a thick (in the hand) pole, leaving behind an oblique polished cut. This is not even negotiable - if you need to not only cut the surface, but break the object in half, you need to get

a piece of iron with a convex section. By the way, this is exactly the shape of the classic blades of the legendary Persian sabers - without any dol, "eyeliners" and other excesses.

Wanting to deal with the problem of reducing weight and maintaining rigidity, edged weapon manufacturers have long found a compromise solution in which the razor concavity is combined with the flat or convex wedge-shaped shape of the blade itself. Although the blade is not so strong in this case, it is light, but it cuts well, since the obstacle separates a small section of the edge in the form of an ordinary wedge, then the steel recedes from the walls of the cut, without interfering with going deeper.

A thin rib at a break in the shape slides over the incision with minimal resistance, as if “splitting” it. Even a convex section is recommended to be completed by sharpening with the formation of such a rib - then your dagger or sword will acquire absolutely fabulous agility in work. Blades of almost all checkers, both Don and Caucasian, have a similar (with various variations) pattern.

The weapon tradition of India and adjacent regions is very interesting in this sense. There, as a rule, the main thickness of the blade is chosen to a fair depth, following a concave shape, but this is not a smooth surface, but an extremely developed relief in the form of ornaments, an ingenious system of valleys, or entire genre scenes from life, hunting, war, etc.

In fact, only a narrow strip of the cutting edge is left for work, and all other space is given to the artist. Sometimes even the blade itself is decorated with a gold notch, and it is not entirely clear how to hone it in this case? It is probably unnecessary to repeat that once such products were made from real Indian damask steel with all the inherent set of extraordinary qualities.

In addition, we never meet blades in the West (with the exception of broadswords) with a protruding longitudinal stiffener on both sides. Frankly, I have little idea how it is possible to practically make something like this - perhaps by cutting off extra layers of precious metal from a thick workpiece? We see similar daggers today on the stalls of merchants and in the belts of the swarthy local population.

Of course, the rigidity of the ribbed blade is maximum, significantly surpassing all other designs in this sense, but such a weapon is simply not able to plunge deeper into the body than to the middle. Accordingly, you will not be able to cut sausages or cut off the enemy’s hand, at least qualitatively.

In modern armies, the problem of strength is solved simply - by increasing the thickness. To prevent the weapon from becoming abnormally heavy, such blades always have deep, milled or stamped valleys of very large dimensions. I have had occasion to hold in my hands similar products with a strip thickness at the handle up to 8 mm. These are not quite knives, but universal tools for rough power work.

For example, they can be used as a wedge, lever, hammer. Being driven into a crevice of a rock or into a tree, they will serve as an absolutely reliable step or crossbar, on which you can safely lean with all your weight without the risk of breaking. A good illustration will be two samples - a US naval aviation knife and a Canadian-style army knife (USSR).

US Naval Aviation Knife (top) and Canadian-style Army Knife (USSR).

/Alex Varlamic

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