3'" or 3.5"

ChristoDart

ChristoDart

Joined
Jun 29, 2011
Messages
750
Hey all! I've decided it's time to get a new knife to keep in my flight suit and am going with an XM. I can't decide on the 3" or 3.5" and have only held both once at Blade a 2 years ago. I can't recall which size I liked better. If anyone could post in hand pics of the two I would much appreciate it. Any suggestions, pros/cons? Thank you in advance!
 
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A couple of quick (and crappy) pics of a 3" & 3.5".

I carry a 3.5" in my flight suit every day with no issues.
 
Awesome! Thank you. I always want to go larger when it comes to blades but like the idea of something compact. The 3.5 doesn't look too much larger. Does it add almost 1 inch for the entire length of the knife when opened?
 
The 3.5" is quite a bit bigger than the 3". I'm one of those people who don't like large folders and usually favor the more "compact" knives and I found the 3" to be too small for me. The 3.5" is the perfect size IMO.
 
Hold them both and realize the 3.5 is perfect size for this type of knife. If you can only get one get the 3.5....to me it makes more sense to have an overbuilt 3.5 then an overbuilt small 3 inch blade. The 3 inch is more of an edc (if you need a blade...you got one and plenty of pocket space), the 3.5 is more of an knife you bring knowing you are going to probably need to use a knife that day. I always carry the 3.5 spearpoint (cool factor and I just feel comfortable with it beside me ;)). I only go the the 3" xm at work as a machinist simply because the 3.5 is to bulky against the leg when leaning in and out of a machine all day and literally leaves a bruise on my thigh.

3.5 and 3"



3" compare to other popular smaller knives



 
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The 3.5" is a perfect fit in the thigh knife pocket on the flightsuit. Get the 3.5
 
If you carry the XM-24 for a week, the XM-18 3.5 will seem small to you. :) I've had all 3 sizes and it really just depends on the size of your hand and your preference. There is quite a bit of difference between the 3", 3.5" and the XM-24 4". You wouldn't think half an inch would make a huge difference, but it does.
 
Many of us apply the Goldilocks Principle and refer to the 3.5" as this one being "just right" :)
 
I have small hands (I wear a size small in all gloves) and find the 3.5 to be fairly large. It feels great in the hand once it's open, but I would be able to open the 3 inch version much smoother. If you have average (or large) hands, I think the 3.5 inch would be just fine - it's far from huge.
 
Thank all of you for the informative responses! 3.5 it is. Now just need to decide on the scale color....
 
^ and a blade style! Spanto? Slicer? Wharnie? Or one of the awesome custom grinds? Decisions decisions. :)
 
Haha I've already fallen deep in the Busse sickness. And I know this ones not gonna be any less destructive on my wallet. I'm thinking spanto with the grey scales and order some of the blue ti spacers. And I know ill end up with a 3 eventually. And probably another set of scales.
 
ChristoDart said:
Haha I've already fallen deep in the Busse sickness. And I know this ones not gonna be any less destructive on my wallet. I'm thinking spanto with the grey scales and order some of the blue ti spacers. And I know ill end up with a 3 eventually. And probably another set of scales.
Click to expand...

Why no orange? Don't you have a SOS FBM?
 
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