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Different Styles of Knife Blades

No knife is made the same way. Knives come in thousands of different styles, each with its own purpose. There are specifically made knives for the kitchen, hunting and carving and collecting, among other hobbies. Though most knives can be used for any task, the precise features on each knife make it easier to choose the knife that will work better than another.

Chef's
- Also called the straight back blade, this is the most standard knife in the kitchen. This knife has a straight spine, but has a wide curve on the cutting edge with a pointed tip. It is used for slicing, dicing, mincing and chopping in the kitchen. The average length of this knife is 10 in., with the widest point of the blade starting at 2 in., narrowing to 1/2 in. at the tip.
Bread
- Bread knives are long and thin, with a serrated blade and round tip. Bread is difficult to cut with other knives because of its hard surface and soft inside. Use a bread knife by sawing the bread at a slow pace until the entire piece can be removed. The average length of this style of knife is 10 in., with the entire blade being 1 1/2 in. wide.
Paring
- Paring knives are small, angled knives. Paring knives are used to core, bone or mince small items. Some styles have sharper angles for round fruits and vegetables. Usually 3 to 5 in. in length, these knives are also perfect for chopping herbs.
Carving
- Carving knives have a straight spine with a narrow blade and sharp tip. Most have a small angle on the cutting blade, but some are flat. Like the angle, there are different lengths of carving knives for the various size items being carved. Longer knives -- average length 9 to 10 in. -- are used for large size cuts of meat and fish, whereas shorter knives -- 7 to 8 in. -- are used for carving smaller fillets, fruits and vegetables. Carving knives have a very versatile shape that could essentially be used for any type of kitchen cutting.
Bowie
- Jim Bowie made bowie knives popular in his famous "Sandbar Duel" in 1827. Though the style has changed over the years, it is most commonly shaped with a curve at the end of the spine, leading to a very sharp tip and blade. Styles start at 6 in. but can reach 12 in. This knife is primarily collected, but can also be used as a hunting or camping knife.
Trailing Point
- Often used as a skinning knife, the end of the spine bends upward to a high point and slowly curves down to the knife blade, which becomes flat. The precision of this knife allows for detailed cuts and the lightweight make allow it to be kept close at all times. The average size of this knife is 3 to 8 in.

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