1. The blade: the operative part of the knife - the raison d'etre; the blade is used for cutting, piercing, stabbing, slicing and so on. The blade also includes:

- the point: used for piercing

- the edge: the sharp, cutting side of the blade that goes from point to guard (or heel)

- the spine: the thick section of the blade found opposite the edge on a single-edged knife, or along the middle on a two-edged knife. 

- the tang: the dull edge on the opposite end of the point. 

2. The handle: part of the tool attached to the blade, or surrounding the tang, that allows you to hold, grasp and manipulate it. 

3. The guard: a protective barrier (mainly on fixed blades) found between the blade and handle; useful to protect hands and fingers from external objects the blade is acting on, and also from slipping from the handle onto the blade. 

Plain blade: as the name suggests - the blade is a plain (smooth) edged. Many knives have more than one type of edge along the blade and one of those is usually a plain edged blade because of its versatility. Plain edges are easier to sharpen with a simple whetstone, and have the greater contact area while cutting. Cuts made with a plain blade are smoother, cleaner and more precise than with serrated blades or saws, 

Serrated blade: a serrated edge (AKA dentated, saw-toothed, toothed) usually has curved notches along part or the entirety of the blade - and they cut with a sawing motion instead of a downward force. Serrated blades apply greater pressure along points of contact. Serrates blades also tend to cut faster and stay sharper for longer the plain blades. However they are more difficult to sharpen than plain blades. 

Saw blade: a saw blade or a wood-saw blade is found on many pocket knives and tools. It has sharp, jagged edges that are used to cut wood as the name suggests and find use in bushcraft, camping, carpentry and other outdoor and woodwork activities. 

The pocket knife is a common type of EDC knife. The term 'pocket-knife' is now used interchangeably with Swiss-knife after the famous Swiss Army knives. Pocket-knives often double-up as tools with functions like screw-drivers and can-openers, in addition to the primary blade. 

What can you do with a knife? Open packages :: Slice fruit :: Cut zip-ties :: Sharpen pencils :: Strip wire :: Cut ropes :: Gut fish & cut meat :: Break glass in emergencies :: Open cans :: Tighten screws :: Make belt holes :: Open letters :: Self-defense

How are you going to carry a knife? Back pocket :: Belt loop :: Coat pocket :: Briefcase :: Daypack :: Check-in luggage

A Multi-tool is a utility-belt in a pocket-knife. They have more tools than a pocket-knife and are great for handy-men and tinkerers. General purpose multi-tools have a lot of basic functions built in, but there are specific ones that have fewer but specialized functions depending on the users' occupation or requirement. 

Blades (plain, serrated, saws), scissors, screw-drivers, filers, wire-strippers and pliers are some common tools. 

Without a lockable blade you’re playing with fire, and let’s face it - that’s at least as dangerous and literally playing with fire. Firstly - if you’re in the middle of some serious bushcraft you can’t risk avoidable injuries. Secondly - there’s virtually no tactile difference in using a knife with or without a lockable blade. Finally - there’s very little price difference between the two, and the difference is worth it. 

What type of knives have blades that ‘don’t lock’?

Slip-joint knives: these use the back-bar to hold (not lock) the blade in an open or closed position. Any pressure on the back-bar greater than the tension with which its holding the blade in the open position will snap the blade shut and possibly injure your fingers. 

Friction folders: these are even less secure than slip-joint knives because no part of the knife is even holding the blade in the open position; its just your grip that holds the extended tang within the handle and thereby secures the blade in the open position. These blades will easily swing back and forth. 

What kind of locks are found on folding knives?

Liner & frame locks: liner & frame locks secure the blade in the open position with a tensioned piece of metal that slides into place against the tang. In the case of a liner lock it is a piece of metal within the handle; in the case of frame locks it is part of the frame (handle) itself that moves against the tang to secure it. 

Back locks: a back lock uses a notched design in the spine of the blade to lock once a pivoting rocker arm along the back of the handle. The arm is tensioned across a bar, and needs to be pushed to release the lock to close the blade. 

Button locks: button locks use a plunger system that holds the blade in place in an open or closed position. Press the button to release the lock and fold the blade into the closed position. 

These locks work by holding the tang in place and securing it against a mechanically mobile part that it manipulated to close or hold the blade open. There are several other mechanisms by which blades are locked into place, these are just three popular ones.

Knives:  Pen knife, pocket knife, multi-tool, one hand, lockable blade, fixed blade.  

Watches:   Mechanical manual, mechanical automatic, quartz, digital, smartwatch. 

Tools:  General purpose, specialized. 

Pens:  Ball-point, roller-ball, fountain pen, stylus, pencil, mechanical pencil. 

Torches & Flashlights:  Keychain-sized, battery-operated, chargeable, handheld, pen-torch, headlamp.  

Bags:  General, specialized, laptop, gym, rucksacks, carry-ons. 

Notebooks:   Ruled, blank, grid, squared.  

Gadgets & Gear:  Calculators, e-Readers, Specialized Tablets, Purpose-built Watches, Car-gear 

Keychains:  Metal, Leather, Cases, Cards. 

Wallets:  Cash & Card, Card, Digital, RFID. 

Belts & Buckles:  Leather, Fabric.

Pouches & Cases:  Toilet kits, Gear Pouches, Stationery Pouches. 

Considering the timeline in the evolution of knives - a relatively recent (2005) survey by Forbes ranked the knife as the first among 20 of the most important tools of man. For context - the knife ranked over the abacus, the pencil, the compass, the watch, the candle & the telescope among others. 

- The Stone Age & the Bronze Age (2.5 million years ago to 5,000 years ago): the ancestors of modern humans made the first knives from stones which formed the blade, which was then strapped onto a bone or wooden handle. These were temporary tools which were disposed of after a few uses because they couldn’t be sharpened, and susceptible to breaking easily. The Copper Age brought the use of softer metals like copper, tin and bronze which increased durability but weren’t as sharp as stone tools. Sharpening of blades began around the Bronze Age and the utility of knives extended to cooking and carpentry along with hunting.

- The Iron Age (1,300 BCE): Iron completely replaces stone, copper & bronze as the metal of choice for blades. Developments in metallurgy breathes new life into innovations in blade technology and knives remain sharper. Around 500 BCE knives began to be used as cutlery. 

- the Roman era: the first folding knives are developed, these have no locking mechanism. 

- 400 CE to 1066 CE: In Saxon England the knife became a symbol of freedom & sovereignty - indicating that the bearer was a free man, and was worn everywhere. The handle of the knife also began to be decorated. 

- 1900s: the invention of stainless steel reduces the risk of the blade rusting, though this advantage was tempered with a loss of the sharpness in carbon steel knives. High-carbon stainless steel combines the anti-corrosion of stainless steel with the sharpness of carbon-steel. Titanium and ceramic blades are introduced to the market. .

- Today: Knives have several uses - cut, pry, slice, sharpen, survival, combat… but the most application has involved feeding humans - hunting & preparing animal meat for food. Knives were also used on the dinner table but were replaced by forks, but remained present with a dull edge. Today - knives also find wider application in our lifestyle choices - in camping, fishing, bushcraft, DIY activities, collecting, sports, gardening, arts & craft activities and so on. 

The drop point blade is the traditional hunting knife blade. The drop point is one of three popular blade shapes in use today; the others being a clip point and a spear point.

The point of this type is off-centre and lower, closer to the spine, hence the name ‘drop’ point. It also has a convex curve at the back. This is the classic shape of a knife - versatile in most hunting & survival situations and manageable to use with a no-nonsense vintage aesthetic. It is also visually less threatening than a clip point, tanto blade or a spear point. 

A drop-point handles like a clip-point but is stronger and less-suited for piercing (limiting the puncture to a comparatively shallower depth). The belly of a drop point is also less than that on a clip-point, but the overall functionality of a drop point makes for a more practical utility knife.