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

Are we talking about 3" blades or knives? there seems to be some confusion around... :rolleyes:
If (as I assume) we're talking about 3" knives (closed length, as usual for slipjoints) then I'm not really a fan of them. Not because of the blade length actually, but more due to the grip on a small handle. A 3,5" frame offer enough grip to be comfortable (my hands are not too big). I carry a SBJ, and have carried a peanut for quite a while, but nowadays I got back to the 3,5" range.
Anyway, if 3" knives work for you, you are certainly not alone here ;)

Fausto
:cool:
 
uploadfromtaptalk1409093560423.jpg

Alox Cadet in the work knapsack and RR Mini Barlow lock back 2 7/8" for me!

I have loved but not kept several larger knives. Most recently the Spyderco Endura and Domino. If I lived in a place where I felt comfortable whipping out a Domino it would be a near perfect one knife EDC for me.

But I don't and my Alox and RR handle the work week's duties which is usually nothing sadly lol with aplomb.

Then on the weekends I revert to a stouter 3" blade or at most a single blade trapper that is slightly bigger. Pretty much takes care of all your regular pocket knife needs like cutting a sandwich or some pickles without getting the little peanut knee deep in things. It could do it of course but it would be up to its neck in mustard and mayo!
 
I carried a Case mini trapper for years. I rarely had a need it couldn't handle. I am now carrying a larger, one hand opening knife most of the time, but I still tote the case or a Victorinox Tinker every once in while.
 
Gary I love that OTHA swayback. I'm a fan of the 3"or smaller knives. All of the these Dunlap Gents are 3". He is a builder willing to work that small.

dunlapgroup1.jpg
 
chuko said:
Gary I love that OTHA swayback. I'm a fan of the 3"or smaller knives. All of the these Dunlap Gents are 3". He is a builder willing to work that small.

dunlapgroup1.jpg
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I could look at that picture all day long, Charles. What a beautiful group of knives.
 
For me, I've settled into my pocket knives that I favor to be around the 3 1/2" closed area. A bit smaller or bigger is ok, but up around 4" closed, it's just too big in my pocket. If I feel the need for one that size, I'll go with the addition of a pocket clipped knife. Which I seem to do many times anyway. I kinda like the pairing of a traditional with a modern.
 
quattromori said:
Are we talking about 3" blades or knives? there seems to be some confusion around... :rolleyes:
If (as I assume) we're talking about 3" knives (closed length, as usual for slipjoints)
Click to expand...

Well, every day's a school day. I was unaware length generally referred to with a closed blade regarding slipjoints :)

Peregrin said:
I could look at that picture all day long, Charles. What a beautiful group of knives.
Click to expand...

Ditto. The second maker I've come across today, new to me, whose work has instantly caught my eye. A darn fine line-up indeed.
 
Daniel J said:
Well, every day's a school day. I was unaware length generally referred to with a closed blade regarding slipjoints :)
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Usually, when you read the length of a traditional/slipjoint, you're reading the closed length of the knife (while for modern folders you usually refer to the blade length), and it does make some difference indeed. As for 3", for example, a 3" traditional (meaning 3" closed) is quite a small knife, while a slipjoint with a 3" blade is quite hand filling.
You know, us traditionalists......we have our ways, and you are welcome to make them your own as well :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
 
HA, very true reg. modern vs traditional measurements! I like 3.5-3.75 closed traditionals. I just got my first modern style frame lock in many years with a 3.75 blade and the difference is drastic! (this was not a surprise, I understood the difference...but after only using traditionals for so long it's still startling to hold such a big knife).

For me a 3.5" closed traditional is big enough for all my needs, it's big enough to slice up an apple with ease and that is probably a big as I would need.
 
black mamba said:
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
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Jeff, please tell me about that knife. I was at Frost Cutlery recently and walked right past the Steel Warrior stuff because I didn't think it was worth looking at.

Is it decent?
 
With my RA, 84mm SAKs (3.3 inch) are about as small as I can comfortably go but 3.5 to 4.25 is perfect.
 
quattromori said:
Are we talking about 3" blades or knives? there seems to be some confusion around... :rolleyes:
If (as I assume) we're talking about 3" knives (closed length, as usual for slipjoints) then I'm not really a fan of them. Not because of the blade length actually, but more due to the grip on a small handle. A 3,5" frame offer enough grip to be comfortable (my hands are not too big). I carry a SBJ, and have carried a peanut for quite a while, but nowadays I got back to the 3,5" range.
Anyway, if 3" knives work for you, you are certainly not alone here ;)

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...

I've been trying to learn to whittle, and find that I do best with a shorter blade but a "reasonable-sized" handle. So I'm developing an affinity for knives about 3.5 to 3.75 inches closed with 2 or more blades, including a shorter secondary blade.

-GT
 
Hey, my first double post! How does that happen?
 
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3" knives..

quattromori said:
Usually, when you read the length of a traditional/slipjoint, you're reading the closed length of the knife (while for modern folders you usually refer to the blade length), and it does make some difference indeed. As for 3", for example, a 3" traditional (meaning 3" closed) is quite a small knife, while a slipjoint with a 3" blade is quite hand filling.
You know, us traditionalists......we have our ways, and you are welcome to make them your own as well :rolleyes:

Fausto
:cool:
Click to expand...
 
Another interesting knife that doesn't seem to get a lot of discussion, but is in the general Peanut size range, is the Case Pocket Hunter. Unfortunately I don't have any side-by-side comparison pics, but I have a couple of them.

These are 2 3/4" closed.

Two bladed version:


Single bladed version:
 
Alox Pioneer is my favourite "small" knife, allthough in my opinion it is not that small. I would say that Pioneer is a perfect pocket knife size for me.

Still I like the full size Case Trapper and my Laquoile more. Go figure. :confused:
 
I apologize for the misunderstanding but I hope more talk is done about sub 3" pocket knives (closed length). Has anyone had any experience with the CASE SMALL STOCKMAN?
 
mudguard said:
Has anyone had any experience with the CASE SMALL STOCKMAN?
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I had a Case small stockman for a while, but ended up sending it out in a GAW (to Mike Berkovitch, I think) because something about it didn't seem quite right. For me, the Schrade 108OT (my only experience is with the USA ones) is basically the same knife, but in a much friendlier package. Maybe the Case was too boxy. I felt like the Schrade or peanut or Buck 309 did everything the small stockman did, but better.

But this is definitely in the "eye of the beholder" territory. If you can feel one in person, I think you'll know right away if it is a go or no-go.
 
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