A weighty issue.

Weight does not matter to me - ease of opening and reasonable bulk are my discriminators. Since, I carry my EDCs in pocket sheaths I tend to favor a thinner knife (like a GEC Toothpick - which I can pinch open) for work or a CASE Texas Jack (amber bone) without a pouch for church and such. I carry a GEC ebony Stockman on the weekends ... because it feels like the "right" amount of knife for anything I'm likely to need a knife for on a weekend. I've got plenty of smaller folders, but I find that if all things are equal I'd rather have more knife that less.
 
I don´t care much about weight. If it is a full size trapper or a peanut. I don´t care about the bulk or the weight. I carry whatever I like, depends on the mood. I seldom carry modern folders. The most stuff is not directly on myself, it rests in my Maxpedition Jumbo EDC (wallet, flashlight, LM Wave etc etc). In my jeanspocket is always a traditional knife (or two or three). They just feel right in my pocket.

When at work, I have a lot of things on my belt, so a full size trapper doesn´t matter even.

(Maybe it´s because I´m with my 29 years one of the youngest here. But the relationship between bulk and weight might change when I get older ;) )
 
Weight bothers me alright, but it always has ever since i was small.

Mind you, it depends on clothing etc. If it's winter and you have a top-coat any size/weight knife is more or less OK. Same if you have a small work-pack or bag with you no problem there (just bought another small Finnish army surplus gas-mask bag, light cheap tough and has these useful small flapped pockets inside with stud buttons, it can stow whistle, compass, handcleaner, firesteel, tin with basic meds first aid stuff, couple of knives of decent size, lighter, torch/flashlight, sewing kit, line, battery or two and still have room for a book or two,a full size fixed knife and a snack/drink!) Whereas, I don't care for a weighty knife in my trouser pocket/shorts at all. Another appealing idea about the Puukko is that like the Opinel it is light but very capable and is worn on a practical dangler sheath. You CAN have your cake and eat it with this knife: decent size and not much bulk, this is ergonomics in action.
 
I am almost compulsive about casual carry. I just suff too many in my pockets! I typically carry 5 slipjoints in jeans. Including #73 gec, grandady barrlow, sunfish and #25 gec, and frequently #23. It is way too much, but I like knives! If I am going outdoors, often it is two folders and a fixed blade or two.

If I am carrying a gun, the folder rotation gets reduced a bit if carying reloads etc. I wear a sturdy belt.
 
Carl,
interesting thread, and, as always, interesting (and wide) range of opinions.
As a general rule, I should say that for me bulk is more important than weight...but I rather extend the explanation.
First thing is, I consider my pocket knives to be relatively lightweight for me. A Case SBJ, or a Buck 303, seem lightweight to me, or at least I'm not interested in weight in that range.
Bulk can be a hassle for me sometimes...but again, the knives I carry are relatively short and thin.
If, hypothetically, I had to choose between carrying a bulky knife and a heavy knife, I would probably choose the heavy one and save myself from the bulk.
When in the outdoors, bulk matters less. Weight matters, but 20 grams more or less wonìt change a thing, even though I'm a big fan of lightweight hiking.
The only situation where I take bulk over weight is when I'm at work. Medical scrubs have alot of space, but I don't like carrying any weight. So the answer is...and Opinel #6.
Just my two cents of course.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Lately I've been very weight conscious, trying to pair down my EDC to the bare minimum. I have different key sets (home, car and office) on a carabiner, and remove the office keys if I won't be going to work, and the car keys when I'm not driving. On the carabiner is a little Photon-like flashlight. Then I have my iPhone and headphones, a harmonica, and my Case peanut paired up with a small SAK or Leatherman Micra. If I need/want a bigger blade along, I'll take my Opinel or the Bucklite 422 I got on eBay for $12, but I'll off-set it by leaving the peanut in the drawer. My "wallet" is actually a small leather business-card holder.

-- Mark
 
Carl,

I put even more thought into this issue. You have always been so gracious with your stories of your family. You always get me thinking of mine. I went through an old album that I put together when I was much younger. Just learning to use my own SLR following my grandpa and father down a trail. As you will see, my grandpa is lugging along a very heavy and sturdy tripod with a very heavy Leica on top. Heavy leica binos, leatherman and buck 500 on his belt. He was a man of great influence in my life. He didn't retire until 70 and he cut his own grass with an old push lawn mower until he literally fell over from cancer. So I started cutting it for him ;)

With him as my greatest influence, I never thought twice about carrying a better knife, better camera, better optics etc. Truth is, even the day before he died when I held his hand to tell him what a friend he was and that I would miss him, he still had the strongest grip I have felt. I look at it in the way that it seems people these days are getting soft. If it is a necessity for something to be cut back or lightened, then I understand that. Otherwise, I feel like when I follow in grandpa's footsteps, trudging through the woods with his old tripod and my camera on top, and whatever other heavy gear I choose, well Im just keeping myself fit.

I hope you appreciate a glimpse into my life.

Kevin

Grandpa.jpg
 
Interesting question! For me it depends on how I am dressed. If wearing a suit or business casual, Both are an issue, I want neither bulk nor weight, so would carry something like a Sway Back Jack, or small stockman.In cargo shorts weight seems to be my limiting factor, I can easily carry a larger knife such as a Opinel 8 or 10 and not be bothered by it. Heavy seems to bang into things while moving about. In jeans neither is an issue, and I regularly carry heavy and larger knives in pocket without issue or discomfort.
Another factor is where I plan to be...sometimes smaller is better, it's nice to have the luxury of being able to "dress the occasion" knife wise...
 
It depends on what I'm doing on a particular day. For the past few months, I always have a Spyderco Spur one-hander with a modified clip in my right front pocket. The slip-joint knife I carry depends on what I'm doing. During the last couple weeks, we've been winterizing our place, getting the tractor ready, etc. so I've been carrying my GEC #79 - a fairly large knife. When all these preparations are over, I'll most likely go back to carrying my GEC Powderhorn. All I wear anymore are jeans. I've been carrying the #79 in a belt sheath which keeps the knife out of the way. I don't much care to carry anything smaller than 3 1/2" - pattern not that important. Anything smaller isn't very useful on my place.
 
It always depends on what I'm wearing, for work it's gotta be small to fit in my khakis, which is usually light, like a small Case Pen, Stockman, Peanut etc. For after work in jeans it doesn't matter.
I always end up taking too much junk in my pack camping, so when it's hike time I spend a half hour emptying out everything unnecessary from my pack before setting off. I guess I have so much stuff "just in case", large size first aid kit, extra batteries etc. which are always weighty items.
The only thing I don't have in there is my RONCO pocket defibrillator, I make the kids carry that in case their Scoutmaster keels over :D
 
ive never had or held a pocketknife that i thought would be too heavy to lug around all day. ive toted an opinel constantly for a couple months and never really minded the bulk.

you know whats a bulky pain in the behind? a cell phone. at least a pocket knife wont allow someone to call you to say that they arent there yet but theyre on their way and will be there soon. or ask a question they already know the answer to.

lol
 
Weight - doesn't bug me
Bulk - Bothers me, I can't even fathom carrying a four layer SAK in my pocket

For the past month I have been carrying a Schrade USA 8OT Stockman. I love this thing despite it's size (3 7/8ths, same as a 301) and bulk. I can get some serious work done with it if i need to. I am comfortable with it in my house, at work, around town, the woods, out fishing, etc. It can handle everything. I feel more confident with it than the peanut, which is unfortunate because I really love the simple compactness of the peanut as compared to a big ole stockman.

I'm young and therefore not as wise as some of you old codgers. Among my grandfather's possessions were a peanut and 3 1/4" stockman, (once i get a digital camera i'll do a post on them.) Maybe he got it right. I might just have to carry my 34OT instead, or even give the peanut another shot.
 
ditto for me
weight, not such a bother (within reason of course)
bulk...cant stand it

my edc's are slim

case texas jack
buck 301
rough rider barlow
 
richstag said:
Grandpa.jpg
Click to expand...

Great shot Kevin, and one full of fond memories for you, I am sure. Thanks for that glimpse into your family! My grandfather had so much to do with who I am today, so I can fully relate. Just wish I had more pictures documenting our time together and all the things he taught me (he passed when I was 10).
 
I'm only going to mention my EDC traditional-wise in this thread. Yes, for myself, I don't like a bulky pocketknife sitting in my pocket like a lead sinker. But I also don't care for knives that are too small, either. Knives like the peanut, and the Vic Classic, feel too small for me. The peanut in particular I've never felt much of a bonding with. I want a knife at least 3" long closed, but feels substantial enough for me and my expected uses, like a Vic Executive, a medium stockman, canoe, whittler, etc.

Even a medium stockman can feel a bit uncomfortable for me, so if I carry one, it will be in the lower front pocket of my cargo pants.

Jim
 
I'm pretty young, and on long camping trips weight matters alot. But I think bulk matters to me alot more, comfort being the overall issue. So, given a large knife that weighs as much as a knife half it's size, I'll take the half size knife.
 
As a backpacker I prefer the lightest weight knife that feels substantial to complete the tasks I want to do.. But I always have extra knives so this is kind of a mute point.

If it is for bushcraft, weight is a huge factor as a light vitorinox hunter can do everything I need to do and is very light...

Otherwise I have a helle dokka which is my EDC. A bit more bulky, but it has a beautiful handle and is less intimidating to the average punter..

I like stuff that feels good in my hand and sturdy enough for jobs required.

This is hard to quantify as its a feel thing.

Generally bulk will cancel out a purchase before weight does for me..
 
I hope this doesnt sound strange, but I guess carrying a knife has many personal takes on it, during the week - I usually dress fairly tidy - as I work within a Corporate company, but also end up in businesses helping out the trade-and the Traditionals I carry can sometimes look rather bulky in dress pants, weight is not an issue...but if I am wearing a jacket-I always prefer a larger, heavier Folder in my Jacket pocket, as well as a smaller knife in my front r/h pants pocket, the heavier knife in my Jacket just sits well.
 
During the week, as a computer/IT tech, I wear Dockers, and I carry a stubby 3 3/8" Camillus jack (barlow size) most of the time. It's an old one with bone handles. I don't know how much it weighs, but it does not feel heavy, and I like having it along... also a keychain (with the black door unlocker/alarm/trunk popper) with 5 keys in the other pocket, and a cordura sheathed Leatherman on my belt. Sometimes a bit of change, and often times a flash drive, maybe a pen. My keychain probably weighs more than my pocket knife. And the stinking cell phone weighs more than all of the rest put together...
 
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