Thread: Spike point or Square Point, What is the diffrence?

The title speaks for it self.

Can someone explain me what is the difference between the spike point and square point? (With pictures if possible)

Thanks.
Flávio.

I think a spike point has a very sharp corner (to a point) where a square point is slightly rounded at the point

edit: I could be wrong though, I can't find any diagrams mentioning spike point

Hey mate, this might help

there's the diagrams I was looking for
cheers bongo

Very helpful diagram.

The diagram above is very illustrative. Just don't get confused by the "name" and seemingly interchangeable terminology. Spikes are a sub-set of Square point or in other words, A spike point is always a square point but not necessarily the other way around.

Thanks bongo for the helpful diagram.

Thanks all others for answers.

Excellent diagram Bongo. Thanks for posting that.

The advice I received here to start with a round point mid sized razor (5/8 or 6/8) served me very well.
My earlier encounters with Spike and square points where disasters.

A couple of hundred shaves in and someone loans me a 7/8 Square point Hart to try.
And I was converted. It was much easier to manage the Mo with a square point once I had the skill/experience to use it.
Now Square, Spike, Spanish and Barber's Notch are all in my regular rotation, not a singe round point in the "primary drawer".

So this would also be a cautionary tale, as in don't amass a collection of any one thing until you are sure that is what works best for you.
As your skill set grows your preference for size, grind, shape will probably evolve also.
Big part of the fun...

And Bongo's diagram is most helpful BTW...

Smooth shaving...

Spike points will bit you with a very sharp 90º corner that will bite you
Square points usually can be the same to a more rounded corner but generally have a muted corner not sharp but most will still be sharp to the point due to honing etc

this is a spike


this is a square