Knife Terms Glossary: 50 Essential Knife Terms Explained

Every hobby has its own vocabulary, and knives have more than most. Whether you are shopping for your first EDC folder or trying to follow along with a collector's conversation, these 50 essential knife terms will get you up to speed — covering blade anatomy, blade shapes, steel, locks, handle materials and action.

Blade Anatomy

• Blade: the cutting part of the knife, from the tip to the tang.
• Edge: the sharpened cutting surface of the blade.
• Spine: the unsharpened back of the blade, opposite the edge.
• Tip: the point of the blade where the edge and spine meet.
• Belly: the curved, forward section of the cutting edge.
• Choil: the unsharpened notch or gap at the base of the edge, often used as a finger rest.
• Tang: the part of the blade that extends into the handle and carries the pivot and lock.
• Ricasso: the flat, unsharpened area of the blade just ahead of the handle.
• Jimping: the small grooves cut into the spine or handle for extra grip.
• Fuller: a groove cut along the blade to reduce weight (often mislabeled a blood groove).
• Swedge: a bevel ground into the spine near the tip to lighten the blade or create a false edge.
• Bevel: the ground, angled surface that leads to the cutting edge.

Blade Shapes

• Drop point: a curved spine that lowers toward the tip for controlled cutting — the classic all-around EDC profile.
• Clip point: a concave section near the tip on the spine side, giving a thinner, more precise point.
• Tanto: a blade with a flat edge and an angular, chisel-like tip designed for piercing.
• Wharncliffe: a straight edge that curves only at the tip, excellent for precise slicing work.
• Sheepsfoot: a straight edge with a blunt, rounded spine tip — a favorite among safety-conscious carriers.
• Spear point: a symmetrical point centered on the blade, often used on double-edge designs.

Steel and Performance

• HRC: Rockwell Hardness scale — the standard measure of steel hardness; most knife blades fall in the 58–62 range.
• Heat treatment: the heating and cooling process that sets a blade's hardness and toughness.
• Edge retention: how long an edge stays sharp under normal use.
• Toughness: a steel's resistance to chipping and breaking under impact.
• Corrosion resistance: a steel's ability to resist rust and staining.
• Stainless steel: steel alloyed with chromium (usually 13% or more) for corrosion resistance.
• Carbon steel: steel with little or no chromium — it takes a keen edge but rusts easily.
• Powder metallurgy: a manufacturing process that produces a fine, uniform steel structure for high-performance alloys.
• D2: a high-carbon, high-chromium tool steel known for strong edge retention and modest corrosion resistance.
• M390: a premium powder stainless steel prized for its balance of edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance.
• S35VN: a popular premium stainless steel known for toughness and easy sharpening.
• AR-RPM9: a budget powder steel that punches above its price for edge retention and toughness.

Locks and Mechanism

• Liner lock: a lock where a springy metal liner snaps behind the blade tang when opened.
• Frame lock: like a liner lock, but a cut-out section of the handle itself does the locking.
• Button lock: a push-button release commonly found on automatic and button-lock folders.
• Crossbar lock: a spring-loaded bar that slides between the blade and handle to lock the knife.
• Back lock: a lock with a notched blade tang and a spring bar along the spine, released by pressing a tab.
• Slip joint: a non-locking design where spring tension holds the blade open.
• Detent: the spring tension that holds the blade closed before the lock engages.

Handle and Materials

• Scales: the handle panels attached to the liners or frame.
• Liners: the metal plates inside the handle that support the scales and house the lock.
• Pivot: the screw or pin that the blade rotates around.
• Bearings: small balls that carry the blade's rotation for ultra-smooth action.
• Washers: flat discs (brass, bronze or plastic) that support the blade at the pivot.
• G10: a tough glass-fiber laminate used for lightweight, textured handle scales.
• Micarta: a linen or canvas composite handle material that gains character as it ages.
• Titanium: a light, strong metal used for premium frames and scales, often anodized.
• Carbon fiber: a light, stiff composite material with a distinctive woven look.

Action

• Flipper: a tab on the blade tang that flicks the blade open with a push.
• Thumb stud: a small post on the blade that opens the knife with a thumb push.
• Thumb hole: a round opening in the blade that serves the same purpose as a stud.
• Drop shut: action where the blade falls closed under its own weight once the lock is released.

Putting It Together

Now you can read a spec sheet the way a collector does: blade shape for cutting style, steel for performance, lock for security, and handle material for feel and weight. The next time you compare two knives, run through these terms — you will know exactly what you are looking at, and exactly what you are paying for.

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Put the vocabulary to work: explore the Artisan Cutlery catalog and pick a premium EDC knife built for reliable everyday carry.