The sheepsfoot blade: a point-less knife with many uses

The sheepsfoot blade’s lack of a sharp point reduces the risk of accidental punctures.

When your knifing tasks do not involve poking, piercing or stabbing, consider the sheepsfoot blade.

The end of the knife is a roundish or squarish blunt tip without any usable point worth discussing. The cutting edge is usually straight or with only a very slight curve.

How this centuries-old blade shape got its name is still being debated.

Some assert that its name came about because the shape resembles a sheep’s hoof.

Others are firm in their belief that the name got coined because it really was a blade for trimming the hooves of sheep and even horses; herdsmen and shepherds did not want a point in their knives to avoid accidentally stabbing their animals while trimming their hooves.

Sharp, little stones can get stuck in horse hooves, and horsemen of old wanted a blade with a blunt, stout end to safely pry the stones out.

A fine assortment of sheepsfoot blades

Another gang contends that sheepsfoot blades were born in the seven seas; ship captains supposedly had the tips of their sailors’ knives broken off to limit their use as weapons if they fought and to reduce the risk of accidents when sailors go about their tasks in stormy conditions.

While they debate, the world of outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers, even firemen, rescuers and chefs – knowingly or unknowingly – love knives with a sheepsfoot blade.

One of the key advantages of the sheepsfoot blade is safety.

The lack of a sharp point reduces the risk of accidental punctures, and if you use an inflatable boat, kayak or paddleboard, you definitely do not want accidents like that.

Firemen and other rescue professionals prefer it even more because in the adrenaline-charged urgency to cut away clothing, seatbelts and whatnot during rescues, the lack of pointy tips in their cutting tools greatly reduces the risk of accidentally injuring already-in-trouble people.

The straight edges of sheepsfoot blades are excellent for cutting, slicing and chopping. That edge increases surface contact with the material, providing enhanced stability and accuracy.

The venerable Japanese kitchen knife shape called “santoku”, is a sheepsfoot blade too, and that Japanese name means “Three Virtues Knife” – perfect for cutting, slicing and chopping food.

For campers, the straight edge is particularly convenient for field sharpening.

With hardly any belly or curve along the cutting edge, a few nonchalant runs along the edge with any field sharpener will bring the blade back to the intense sharpness needed for filleting fish or feathering sticks, making it easy to keep the blade sharp enough to get the job done in the field.