A question for long time knife buyers.

gentemanndvm said:
for me folders have trended smaller, and fixed blades have trended bigger. eliminating overlap, I guess.....
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Overlap. The farmer I carry daily. The Tikka also on days off. I consider these both large knives. Most here would probably consider them small.

Farmer%2520and%2520Tikka.JPG
 
Thomas Carey said:
For those of you have been into knives for several years. Do you find that you are buying smaller or larger knives than you did say 3 or 4 years ago?
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I don't think the size of the knives I carry has changed much over the last 50 years, especially for traditional designs. Between 3.5" to 4" closed length for traditionals.
One handers tend to be a bit larger than traditionals. Just shy of a 3" blade works for me. I've probably carried one-handers for about 20 years.
 
Smaller knives that are more for casual dress interest me more and more all the time. Five years ago, I would not have normally even considered a standard slip joint knife but the last knife I bought was a SAK and I am looking for another. I do carry a SAK when I travel and that has worked well. Sometimes, people look at you like you're a madman when a tactical blade comes out of your pocket. Does not happen with my SAK or my Leatherman. I can now see a real need for someone to own a simple, sub 3 inch blade.

I have always been a fan of a 3-3.5 inch tactical blades but, lately, I am finding that I carry the tactical knives less and less. It is not really like me to do that.
 
What's changed more than blade size for me is the transition to knives with pocket clips. Cannot remember the last time I carried a knife without a clip.
 
It has to be something really different for me to go under 3" or over 4". I think that I've been in that area, with a few exceptions, since I've been serious about these stabby things!
 
When I first started collecting, years ago, I liked larger knives around 4". Over the years, I've transitioned to smaller knives in both folders and fixed blades. Having a knife that is comfortable in the pocket has become more important to me. Usually, I carry Caly 3, although I always have a Gayle Bradley in my bag. Seriously though, a Dragonfly could handle 99.9 % of my daily cutting task.
 
My tastes have evolved from medium to large to medium and now I'm itching to buy some smaller folders. To each his own.
 
About the same and a tab but bigger, before i generally stood to 3-3.5" knives but now i also will take 4" knives. Under 3" i still approach the knife slowly, but the df2 is the exception that i will buy when i got the money to spare.
 
Size has not changed much. I'm fairly open to different sizes.

Steel, price, lock type, handle material, all that's shifted quite a bit.
 
As someone else mentioned above, I too have been pairing bigger folders with small fixed lately. So recently, it's been a ZT 561 or 801 clipped into a front pocket, with a Boker Fitz, Esee Candiru, or Izula sleeved into a back pocket.

And lately I've had the urge to add a pry tool to the mix also. The Boker Toucan keeps whispering my name. I know there are a ton better pocket pry tools out there, but that Toucan is just so cute looking. I must have it.
 
Hasn't really changed. I started with small to medium pocket friendly EDC sized knives, and thats still what I go for.

However blade length isn't the only factor. I think the Manix II is a big knife because it takes up so much room in the pocket, and really fills the hand. Conversely, the Benchmade 940 has a longer cutting edge but I consider that knife small and sleek. It disappears in the pocket.

If it bangs into my phone while I'm walking around then it's too big.
 
If I see a knife that catches my eye it usually ends up in my possession. I like knives big and small, however my tastes have definitely evolved to more EXPENSIVE and higher quality. So, as far as choosing a new knife to buy my list of requirements generally start with appearance(probably #1 for most people),followed by maker, materials. However all that is subjective because I have to like how it feels in hand and usability. Really the only time size is a factor is when choosing the right one for the job at hand
 
When I was very young I had an attraction to large knives. As I matured and gained more experience I tend to buy knives in the 2" to 3" blade range for folding knives. I buy 2.5" to 3.5 inch fixed blades, and the occasional 4" blade. I do have a 5" bladed knife but I have had it for many, many years. I have one 7" but my father gave it to me and I never use it anymore. I find smaller knives more useful. If I need to chop something I get an axe or machete, depending on the task.

I also do not use pocket clips on these smaller folders, unless the law requires visibility. I like the option clips provide and I like that clips help secure a folder in a pack.
 
My first knives after I got interested in owning more than one or two knives were larger fixed blades (5-9") and discovered that I have little use for anything over about 6" for knife activities. But I still buy a few larger knives if something catches my eye. Just seldom use them. I have settled in the 3-6" range for fixed blades for using.

My folders have stayed in the 2.75"-3.5" blade overall unless there are reasons to choose a smaller one for the day. But I do own larger and smaller ones. The biggest change was my gradual shift to traditional knives over moderns, but I still buy both. I like the larger traditional knives that push the limits of comfortable pocket carry. My regular carry knives are a ZT 0770CF, and a 111mm Vic SAK or a two blade GEC #42.

I have moved to machetes for chopping blades for the most part rather than "large knives". Basically, with these, I have no hesitation to use the heck out of them.
 
Have been collecting for about 10 years and initially bought a few longer knives, but I've always favored shorter blades so I can carry them. Usually with blades no loner than 3.5". For carry while hiking the woods, I like a knife with a blade at least 3" (like my Spyderco Manx 2). For everyday carry, I favor shorter blades, often not locking ones.
 
If I like the design, materials and craftsmanship, I usually don't care to much about size. That being said, depending on what you mean by "size", bulk and weight are more of a factor in a folder for me, not necessarily length as much.
 
I agree with the observation about size being mostly related to folders that are carried in the pocket. In fixed blades, I tend to go really large (machete length) or keep it small to midsized. However, almost all of the routine cutting is done with a SAK or something about the size of a SAK. Basically, it is all you needed. Their limitation is that they dull rather quickly.
 
2.8"-3.5" is the sweet spot! Lately I have been going up in size. This is my 2nd year on blade forum and working up to a Sebbie. I was originally going to go for a small, and am certain I want a large now.
 
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