The Difference between a Dagger & Knife

Do you know the difference between a stiletto dagger and a knife? Many people presume that a dagger is a combat tool; whereas a knife serves as a tool of utility. Despite that both, the stiletto dagger and the knife, seemingly belong to the same family; yet, they are many factors that maintain a clear difference between both blade types. With regard to their functionality, both the blades are different as well.

Before we plunge into the explanation, I want to tell the reason to why people assume the dagger and the knife to be the one and the same thing. Since both share the common features of having a blade, handle, and a sheath, people think that they hail from the same family. The truth is that the intentions behind creating the first dagger were to pierce some vital organ and kill. On the other hand, a knife was created with the intentions of serving multiple purposes besides killing and stabbing.

Now, if we closely inspect a dagger, we can see that its blade is double-edged, which means that it can inflict maximum damage by short, jabbing thrusts. Usually, the hilt of the dagger is crafted in a way that prevents the user from inflicting accidental injuries to oneself. It is the distinctive shape of the stiletto dagger that makes it a classy and brutal weapon with the two cutting edges, central spine, and the ultra sharp point. Typically, a dagger requires a sheath for the perfect and safe storage.

The difference with knives is that these are mainly task-oriented; people use them for different purposes, such as hunting, hiking, camping, fishing etc. It is typical for the military to use a knife only as a last resort. Knives also make the perfect EDC and survival tools. You can opt for knives with a fixed blade or, knives with folding or spring assisted opening blades.

Referring to the structure of both blades; the dagger is much stronger than a knife. Also, with regard to the blade structure, a dagger is double-edged which makes it a perfect stabbing weapon. The sturdy blade of the dagger makes it a perfect combat weapon which can actually endure the stress of close combat fights.

As compared to EDC knives, a knife dagger is heavier which makes it a perfectly smooth weapon for thrusting and stabbing. The additional weight of a typical dagger supports the structure and durability of the thrusting blade.