Most Case XX pocket knives use a handful of blade shapes. The clip is a common everyday blade found on many traditional Case patterns. The spey is the rounded blade on a Trapper. The sheepfoot is the straight-edged blade on a Stockman. The Wharncliffe has a straight cutting edge with a spine that curves down to a fine point. The pen is a short blade for light, careful cuts, and the spear is a symmetrical blade with its point centered. You'll also run into the coping blade on whittlers, the skinner on the Sod Buster Jr, and the long clip and drop point on a few single-blade knives. Knowing the shape tells you what a knife is good for before you ever open it, and it helps you pick between two patterns that look alike when they're closed.
Case blade types at a glance
| Blade shape | What it looks like | What it's good for | Case patterns we stock with it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clip | Back of the blade is cut away near the tip, giving a fine, sharp point | Everyday cutting, opening boxes, detail work, piercing | Trapper, Stockman, Axe Handle, Cheetah Cub, Muskrat, Mini CopperLock, Barlow, Peanut, Folding Hunter |
| Spey | Mostly straight edge with a short, blunt nose where the back angles down to meet it | Long, controlled cuts and skinning, where a rounded nose helps reduce accidental punctures | Trapper, Mini Trapper, Stockman, Sowbelly |
| Sheepfoot | Straight edge with a spine that curves down to meet it | Whittling, carving, cutting against a board, and any cut where you want your fingers on the spine | Medium Stockman, Large Stockman, Sowbelly |
| Wharncliffe | Straight cutting edge with a spine that curves down to a fine point | Precise straight cuts, scoring, trimming, and whittling | Wharncliffe Trappers and Mini Trappers, CopperLock, Seahorse Whittler |
| Pen | Short, narrow blade with a gently curved edge | Light work: opening envelopes, cutting thread, and light detail work | Peanut, Barlow, Canoe, Baby Butterbean, Seahorse Whittler |
| Spear | A roughly symmetrical profile with a centered point | Piercing and general cutting, with a strong point | Canoe, Butterbean, Baby Butterbean |
| Coping | Short blade with a straight, angled end | Scribing lines, getting into tight curves on wood | Seahorse Whittler |
| Skinner | Wide blade with a long, sweeping belly | Skinning, slicing, and general chores | Sod Buster Jr, Folding Hunter (as the second blade) |
| Long clip | Long, narrow clip point | Fine detail work and reaching into tight places | Toothpick |
| Drop point | Spine slopes gently down to a centered point | Hunting, skinning, and everyday carry | Lockback |
Simplified blade profiles; proportions and details vary by Case pattern. Not to scale.
A good place to start: pick the shape you need first, then pick the pattern. For a closer look at how Trappers and Stockmen split up their blades, see our Case XX Trapper vs Stockman guide.
Clip blade
If you only carry one blade shape, it's probably a clip. The top of the blade is cut away near the end, which leaves a fine, sharp point and a long, useful edge. Case describes it as a highly versatile blade, and you can see why: it opens boxes, cuts twine, and handles detail work. The clip is the longest blade on our Stockmen and one of the two main blades on a Trapper. It's also the only blade on single-blade patterns like the Axe Handle and the Cheetah Cub (pattern 611 1/2L). The Muskrat carries two clip blades, one at each end of the frame.
Clip-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 10799 Amber Bone Peach Seed Jig Axe Handle: $89.99. Single clip blade, tang stamp BR61135 SS, 4 inches closed. - Case XX 14026 Cheetah Cub Smooth Natural Bone: $119.99. Locking clip blade with a swing guard, pattern 611 1/2L SS, 3½ inches closed. - Case XX 10798 Muskrat Jigged Amber Bone: $69.99. Two clip blades, peach seed jigged amber bone, 3⅞ inches closed. - Case XX 00133 Amber Bone Mini CopperLock: $69.99. Locking clip blade, pattern 61749L SS, 3⅝ inches closed.
More: Mini CopperLock
Spey blade
The spey has a mostly straight edge and a short, blunt nose where the back angles down to meet it. That's why it's so popular for skinning and long, steady cuts: its rounded nose helps reduce accidental punctures during controlled slicing and skinning. Case notes that farmers and ranchers once relied on it for castrating livestock. Today it rides on the Trapper as the partner to the clip, and on most Stockmen as the third blade.
Spey-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 00783 Pocket Worn Red Bone Trapper: $69.99. Clip + spey, pattern 6254 SS, corn cob jigged old red bone in Case's Pocket Worn® factory finish. - Case XX 57530 Tequila Sunrise Bone Trapper: $69.99. Clip + spey, pattern 6254 SS, Crandall jigged Tequila Sunrise bone. - Case XX 58410 Gray Bone Trapper: $69.99. Clip + spey in carbon steel (CS), pattern 6254 CS. - Case XX 02838 Jigged Navy Blue Bone Mini Trapper: $57.99. Clip + spey, pattern 6207 SS, 3½ inches closed for a more compact carry.
More: Trapper · Mini Trapper
Sheepfoot blade
Picture a blade with a straight edge where the spine curves down to meet it, so the tip is blunt and strong. Case says the shape was first made for trimming sheep's hooves, and it's still a carver's and whittler's favorite because you can rest a finger on the spine and guide the edge. On a Stockman, the sheepfoot sits between the clip and the spey, so one knife covers just about every job. (You'll see it spelled "sheepfoot" and "sheepsfoot." It's the same blade.)
Sheepfoot-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 00042 Jigged Amber Bone Medium Stockman: $69.99. Clip + sheepfoot + spey, pattern 6318 SS, 3⅝ inches closed. - Case XX 51861 Large Stockman Pocket Worn Mediterranean Blue Bone: $79.99. Clip + sheepfoot + spey, pattern 6375 SS, 4¼ inches closed, Pocket Worn® factory handle finish. - Case XX 02795 Sowbelly Stockman Jigged Navy Blue Bone: $74.99. Clip + sheepfoot + spey, pattern TB6339 SS. - Case XX 57532 Tequila Sunrise Bone Crandall Jig Sowbelly: $79.99. Clip, sheepsfoot and spey, 3.88 inches closed.
More: Medium Stockman · Sowbelly
Wharncliffe blade
A Wharncliffe has a straight cutting edge and a spine that curves down to a fine point. You get a strong back and a precise tip, and the whole edge touches the board at once. It's a great pick for whittling, trimming, and clean straight cuts. On our listings, a W in the pattern number marks the Wharncliffe version, for example 6.5254W on a Trapper or 61549WL on a CopperLock.
Wharncliffe-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 11025 Smooth Natural Bone Mini Trapper (Wharncliffe): $62.99. Single Wharncliffe blade, pattern 6107W SS, 3½ inches closed. - Case XX 65329 6.5 Bonestag Trapper with Wharncliffe: $79.99. Clip + Wharncliffe, pattern 6.5254W SS. - Case XX 58424 Pocket Worn Gray Bone CopperLock: $79.99. Locking Wharncliffe in carbon steel, pattern 61549WL CS, Pocket Worn® factory handle finish. - Case XX 65347 6.5 BoneStag Seahorse Whittler: $99.99. Wharncliffe + coping + pen, pattern 6.5355WH SS.
More: Wharncliffe knives · CopperLock
Pen blade
The pen is the short, narrow blade that keeps the big blade sharp for bigger jobs. Case says it was first shaped for cutting and sharpening turkey-quill pens, which is how it got the name. Today it's for light work: opening envelopes, cutting thread, and light detail work. You'll find it as the second blade on compact two-blade jacks like the Peanut and the Barlow, and as the partner blade on the Canoe.
Pen-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 03693 My First Case® Old Red Bone Peach Seed Jig Peanut: $72.99. Clip + pen, pattern 6220 SS, 2⅞ inches closed. - Case XX 06894 Barlow Navy Blue Bone: $69.99. Clip + pen, pattern 62009 1/2 SS, 3⅜ inches closed. - Case XX 58423 Pocket Worn Gray Bone Crandall Jig Barlow: $74.99. Clip + pen in carbon steel, pattern 62009 1/2 CS, Pocket Worn® factory handle finish.
Spear blade
A spear blade has a roughly symmetrical profile with a centered point. Case describes it as a sturdy, piercing blade that farmers favor for tough cuts. On a Canoe or Butterbean it's usually paired with a pen blade, so you get one strong blade and one fine one.
Spear-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 11023 Smooth Natural Bone Canoe: $72.99. Spear + pen, pattern 62131 SS. - Case XX 00263 Amber Bone Peach Seed Jig Canoe: $81.99. Spear + pen in carbon steel, pattern 62131 CS. - Case XX 05537 Genuine Deer Stag Baby Butterbean: $89.99. Spear + pen, pattern 52132 SS, 2¾ inches closed. - Case XX 11228 Butterbean Patriotic Kirinite: $69.99. Spear + pen, pattern 102132 SS.
More: Canoe
Coping blade
The coping blade is short, with a straight, angled end where a curved tip would be. Case notes it's a carpenter's blade, used for scribing lines in wood and other materials. It's also handy for getting into curves when you whittle. On Case's Seahorse Whittler, it rides alongside a pen blade and a bigger master blade.
Coping-blade knife in stock: - Case XX 65347 6.5 BoneStag Seahorse Whittler: $99.99. Wharncliffe + coping + pen, pattern 6.5355WH SS, 4 inches closed.
More: Seahorse Whittler
Skinner blade
A skinner is wide, with a long, sweeping belly that slices well, and Case pitches it at hunters and outdoorsmen. It's the single blade on the Sod Buster Jr, which gives that pattern one strong, simple blade for everyday chores. The Folding Hunter pairs a skinner with a clip.
Skinner-blade knives in stock: - Case XX 18229 Rough Black Sod Buster Jr: $36.99. Skinner, pattern 6137 SS, 3⅝ inches closed. - Case XX 00245 Amber Bone Peach Seed Jig Sod Buster JR: $54.99. Skinner, pattern 6137 SS. - Case XX 58412 Gray Bone Sod Buster Jr: $64.99. Skinner in carbon steel (CS), pattern 6137 CS. - Case XX 65030 Jigged Buffalo Horn Collectible Pocket Knife: $159.99. Folding Hunter, clip + skinner, pattern BH265 SS, 5¼ inches closed.
More: Folding Hunter
Long clip and drop point
Two more shapes turn up on a few single-blade Case knives. A long clip stretches the clip shape out into a long, narrow blade with a needle-fine point for detail work. Case uses it on its Toothpick patterns. A drop point has a spine that slopes gently down to a point near the center line, giving a strong tip and a good belly. Case recommends it for hunters, and it's just as good for everyday carry.
Long clip and drop point knives in stock: - Case XX 14024 Toothpick Smooth Natural Bone: $57.99. Long clip, pattern 610096 SS, 3 inches closed. - Case XX 12002 Genuine Abalone Tiny Toothpick: $129.99. Long clip, pattern 810096 SS. - Case XX 11026 Lockback Smooth Natural Bone: $69.99. Locking drop point, pattern 61225L SS, 3 inches closed.
Unless the listing says otherwise, knives ship new in the box.
Questions about Case blade types
What blade types do Case knives have? The shapes you'll see most often are the clip, spey, sheepfoot, Wharncliffe, pen and spear. The coping, skinner, long clip and drop point show up on certain patterns. Case also makes specialty blades like the hawkbill, gut hook and saw, but you won't often find those on an everyday pocket knife. Our in-stock knives use the ten shapes in the table above.
What's the difference between a clip blade and a spey blade? A clip has a sharp, fine point, made for piercing and detail work. A spey has a rounded nose with no real point, so it's the safer choice for long cuts and skinning, where a point could nick what you're cutting. A Case Trapper gives you one of each.
Which Case knife has a sheepfoot blade? The Stockman. Our Medium Stockmen (such as pattern 6318), Large Stockmen (6375) and Sowbellies (TB6339 and its handle variants) carry a clip, a sheepfoot and a spey on most of the knives we stock. A few Stockmen, like the 00079, swap the spey for a pen, so check the Blades line on each listing. See the Stockman collection.
How can I tell if a Case knife has a Wharncliffe blade? Look at the pattern number. On the Wharncliffe knives we carry, the number includes a W, like 6107W, 6.5254W or 61549WL. Our guide to reading Case XX pattern numbers and tang stamps explains the rest of the number.
What is a pen blade used for? Light-duty jobs: opening envelopes, cutting thread, and light detail work. It saves your main blade's edge for the heavier work. You'll find it on Peanuts, Barlows, Canoes and Butterbeans.
What's the best Case blade shape for everyday carry? For most folks, a clip. It covers the widest range of chores. If you want two blades, a clip + spey Trapper or a clip + pen Peanut is hard to beat. If you'd rather have one sturdy blade, look at the skinner on a Sod Buster Jr.