Knowledge CenterKnife Terminology & Glossary
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Knife Terminology & Glossary
Understanding knife terminology helps you make informed purchasing decisions and communicate effectively about your tools. This glossary covers the essential terms every knife owner — and collector — should know.
Common Knife Parts Explained
- •Blade: the cutting portion of the knife, including the edge, spine, and tip.
- •Handle: the gripping portion, made from bone, bonestag, synthetic, Micarta, G-10, DymaLux, or other materials.
- •Pivot: the hinge point where the blade rotates in a folding knife.
- •Bolster: the metal band at the junction of blade and handle that adds strength and balance.
- •Liner: the inner metal plate that provides structural support in folding knives.
- •Lock: the mechanism that keeps the blade open during use — lockback, liner lock, or slip joint.
- •Shield: the decorative inlay on the handle, often featuring the Case logo or a custom emblem.
- •Nail nick: the small notch in the blade used to open the knife with your fingernail.
Blade Handle Pivot Bolster Liner Lock Clip Tang Spine Edge Shield Nail nick
#knife_parts#knife_terminology#pocket_knife_anatomy
Blade Shapes and Their Uses
- •Skinner: curved edge designed for skinning and field dressing — the blade style of the Sod Buster Jr.
- •Drop point: versatile all-purpose blade shape with a strong, controllable tip — the most popular choice.
- •Clip point: features a concave curve toward the tip for improved piercing and detail work.
- •Sheepsfoot: flat cutting edge with a rounded tip for safe slicing and push cuts.
- •Tanto: angular tip design inspired by Japanese swords, optimized for piercing strength.
- •Spear point: symmetrical blade with the tip centered for balanced piercing and slicing.
- •Wharncliffe: straight edge with a gradual spine curve to the tip for precise cutting control.
Skinner Clip point Drop point Sheepsfoot Tanto Spear point Wharncliffe
#blade_shapes#knife_blade_types#skinner_blade
Locking Mechanisms and Knife Patterns
- •Slip joint: non-locking mechanism that uses spring tension to hold the blade open — the traditional pocket knife style used by Case.
- •Lockback: a spine-level lock bar that engages the blade tang for secure lockup — traditional and reliable.
- •Liner lock: a spring-loaded liner that moves behind the blade to lock it open — common in modern folders.
- •Frame lock: similar to liner lock but uses the frame itself as the locking mechanism for added strength.
- •Button lock: a push-button release mechanism for quick one-handed closing.
- •AXIS lock: a spring-loaded bar that locks the blade in both open and closed positions for ambidextrous use.
Slip joint Lockback Liner lock Frame lock Button lock AXIS lock
#knife_locking_mechanisms#slip_joint_knife#Case_knife_lock
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