3" knives - A big man doesn't need a big knife (unless he does...)

M

mudguard

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Aug 2, 2013
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309
Hey everyone,

So I have been floating around Buck's 303's, SAK pioneers, some jack knives, and even a GEC 15.. but I am finding that my sweet spot is around 3". The peanut, mini canoe (or butterbean from case), 108OT, 12OT and many others appear to be in this sub or around 3" category..

Anyone (Besides the cult of the peanut) share this feeling? I am thinking of selling or trading out my larger knives for sub or 3" knives in the next week or so. I would love to hear what you guys think of these little knives and who carries these (or other models) around on a daily basis. Pictures of new, worn and well loved little fellows are very welcomed!


Here is a picture of my peanut (gifted to me by my wife on our first chrismas after the wedding)
peanut2_zpsb337ee9a.jpg
 
I've had to become accustomed to 3" blades, given that's all we in the UK can EDC without good reason :) It's a surprisingly versatile blade length, although I think the majority of my favoured blades come in closer to 2.75". Other than a fixed blade I've had for years all of my whittlers are 3" or below.

Interesting thread jc57, I enjoyed reading that. I find myself in a similar place actually, no longer searching. I've got my perfect knife, and she's irreplaceable - and also 2.75" :D
 
Yes John,

it is quite difficult to stay out of this forum.. i missed you all haha. Mostly what drew me back in was a faulty 303 that I got. Luckly by the use of this forum Buck contact me and replaced it with a hand pricked specimen of a 303. Now that I got another taste it seems to be harder to stay away (once again). I guess that is why forums could be addictive.

jc57 said:
Ok by me for you to carry a small knife. Sounds like you've done the necessary "dialing in" of your preferences to know what you need. If you like the size and have one that was given to you by your wife, I'd carry that one rather than look for more, just from the sentimental value.

This reminds me of this thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1154065-Goodbye-au-revoir-adios!
Click to expand...
 
It takes a bit of willpower to be able to participate in a hobbyist / collecting oriented forum without falling into the buy, Buy, BUY cycle. It has been my struggle as well.

Back to your original topic - I carried a 3 1/8" Case Mini Copperhead for a while, which is a nice little knife. I've got a couple of Peanuts but have never given them a true test run. I may get around to them at some point, but I have too many others in line ahead of them.

I carry a Victorinox Alox Cadet (3.3") as my primary pocket knife. I'll usually carry a second knife just for the heck of it. I tend to prefer something in the 3 1/4" to 3 5/8" range for that spot. This year that's been mainly a Case Small Texas Jack, Buck 303, or Case '18 pattern Medium Stockman.

I think if I hadn't settled on the Vic Cadet, which fills the role of light, slim knife that you can forget you are carrying, that I might be more likely to look at the smaller knives.
 
I can understand the appeal of a small, unobtrusive knife. However, I am a wierdo. I like to be able to feel my knife in my pocket. It's reassuring, letting me know that it is still there and all is well in the world. I carry my 23 trapper every day. Most days I carry a 4" 8OT as a secondary (I'm trying to force myself to like the stockman pattern), though I just got a Camillus Cub Scout knife that I've been carrying instead. It's 3 3/8". I tried a peanut for a while, and I liked it, I just like beefier knives more. I know I'm in the minority here, just thought I'd share the other side of things.
 
Spending quite a bit of time at home, I carry light, small knives just to open mail, cut packages, etc., either a 3" pen knife or a peanut.
Today I have my "sheepnut," a Frost Steel Warrior peanut in bark ram's horn, a wicked sharp little playmate.

sheepnut_zps556b778c.jpg~original
 
If smaller knives fit your needs and uses then that's great. The Peanut, Pemberton, 33 Conductor, etc are awesome and can perform 98% of the kind of tasks a pocket knife would reasonably be called upon for. Most of my pocket knives are 3.5" +/- and I'm never without one of the two Peanuts I have. No matter what I'm carrying as my primary EDC, there's a Peanut in my watch pocket. No exceptions. I use the Peanut for most tasks and it's proven itself over and over again.

These days it's a Stockman and a Peanut that you'll find in my pockets.

9E7B6845-29F3-403A-AEBF-CF74DBC75C2D_zpsxl0icrfx.jpg
 
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The Pemberton is a wonderful little knife, I'll be buying another to use.

Best regards

Robin

 
I love the smaller traditionals. I have several that find their way into my pockets quite regularly.

Here are a few of my favorites.





 
One of these is in my pocket everyday. I also carry something larger, just in case, but the little ones do 99% of my daily knife chores.

Top to bottom; 2 3/4", 2 7/8", 3 1/8".
IMAG0707.jpg
 
I like knives a little larger for edc. Most of the time I'll have a stockman or trapper in the 4" range on me. And I'll have a 12ot in my watch pocket. And when I expect to do some larger outdoor jobs, or food prep, I'll have a 125ot or 25ot in my pocket or in a sheath on my belt. I really enjoy using the Schrade carbon, especially on those larger blades.
 
I like both large and small, as I think both have their respective merits.

This is my carry for today (sorry for the awful picture, replacement phone):

uploadfromtaptalk1409070080262.jpg
 
The smallest traditional that I own is a 3 1/4" Northwoods Mini-Moose (clip/wharncliffe) that stays in my first aid kit.

3 1/2" to 3 3/4" closed seems to be where I settled in.
 
I find that size of pocket knife does all I need in a cutting tool for 99% of what I do. Even when carrying the larger stockman, the most used blade is the 2 inch sheep foot or spey. The longer clip blade is mostly for food use out in the field. The resolza and Zuava are both 2 3/8th blades, and they do fine. Closed length is 3 1/8 for both. But then, I even like the tiny classic at 1 1/2 inch. It opens mail, packages, removed the foil seal on car windshield washer jugs,and cuts twine with the larger knives just fine, and is unnoticeable on a keyring.

I find the dividing line is use on food or wood processing duties while camping. For most food use, I have kitchen knives, and if I'm out in the woods, I have a larger sheath knife on hand. But for modern life in the wilds of suburbia, a 2 to 2 1/2 inch blade is good. Plus the little pocket jewels don't make the security in federal buildings go tilt. Always a good thing.

15045325432_acfc5b25db_c.jpg
 
I actually have found myself going in the opposite direction. I measured my palm at 3.25 inches across at the base of my fingers so i thought that was the ideal size for me. Then I picked up a knife that was 3.5 inches, and I found that the extra .5 inches was only noticeable in positive ways. Then I realized most 4 inch knives still fit in my coin pockets on the diagonal, so now I feel that anything between 3.5-4 inches is best for me.

Knives at 3 inches or less aren't comfortable for me to use.
 
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