Anybody prefer single-bladed folders to multi-bladed folders?

Which traditional pocket knife do you prefer?

  • I prefer single-bladed pocket knives to multi-bladed pocket knives.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I prefer multi-bladed pocket knives to single-bladed pocket knives.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • I have no preference one way or the other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
  • Poll closed .
Pictures, people! Pictures!

All I can say is that I am SO glad to have found the non-traditional Leatherman Micra. Otherwise, I would still be carrying a BSA knife, or worse, an SAK for the scissors. I really want those tools at hand but I find multi bladed knives to be clunky in my hand.

With the Micra in my LFP, I am free to select a single bladed knife without compromise. Usually this.

edc-pair by Pinnah, on Flickr

Or one of these.

Opinel 8 Drop-point & Buck 112 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Or this.

Buck 500 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Or, if the mood or need calls for it. One of these.

Buck 110 and Opinel #10 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
Wow, single blade knife lovers are increasing the lead! Honestly, I am shocked! It's good to know I am in a lot of good company.
 
on_the_edge said:
Wow, single blade knife lovers are increasing the lead! Honestly, I am shocked! It's good to know I am in a lot of good company.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm just as surprised as you! I prefer a multi-blade, and have carried a stockman of some flavour as long as I can remember, but I'm a redneck and don't know any better. I do have some serious appreciation for my Opinels, though.

If there was ever a single-blade knife that stood a chance of taking my pocket, a #8 in carbon would do it.




(edit to add, I was born and raised in Los Alamos, NM, although I now reside in Ky)
 
I didn't vote as that was hard. When went in the traditional world one yr ago I always carried a jack/Barlow ,thinking about the 2nd blade is useful and there could be tons of "detail work " awaits. But I seldom used the 2nd at that time. One day I suddenly dig my bullnose so much at which was after 5 months after the purchase of it. And I carry it everyday. Recently I start missing those small 2nd pen or copper blades now. :yawn:
 
I like both and generally I carry both. A single blade heavier folder in my right or back right pocket and a smaller multi-blade in my left front. I use the multi-blade alot more often and use the different blades on them for different things or just because that is the blade I decide to open that time for no reason at all. For heavier work and most food chores I reach for the single blade. If I had to pick one configuration to carry it would be the multi just for the fact of having more than one blade meaning at least one should still be good and sharp. I also just enjoy the different configurations of the multi-bladed knives, I guess from a gadget standpoint as well as the different blades for different functions aspect.

Jon
 
Up until several years ago, I was a single blade man. My tastes and needs have changed though and now I vary what I carry. I have no preference anymore.

Paul
 
I've made it no secret that I prefer multi-blade knives, since it gives me the option of having at least one straight and one curved blade. However, since I carry Cybertool 29 in my other pocket, which has 2 curved blades, I've taken to often carrying a single blade sheepsfoot or wharncliffe (GEC Hayn Helper or the stag CV wharncliffe trapper I won in Chief's giveaway).

That said, single blade slipjoints have been growing on me, even curved blade ones. I love my GEC Bull Nose (I just sold my orange Red Neck, but I've got one in NifeBrite in the mail), and I've been enjoying my CV slimline trapper. And every time someone posts a picture of a single blade GEC #48 or #15 Boy's Knife, Canal Street Half Moon, or Tribal Spear, I can't help but yearn for one.
 
SubSpace said:
I voted multi-blade, but my true preference is two blades, one spring.

I know single blades are very traditional, but to me, one great advantage a traditional can have over a modern folder is the multiple blades. Two blades on one spring gives me the best of both worlds. White Owls, Conductors, Halfwhitts, Half Congress, pens, etc...
Click to expand...

Quoted for the single spring reference.

I've been carrying my #57 halfwhitt and Sodbuster Jr in a rotation for a little while. I think the single spring is an important distinction.

The Sodbuster is a more practical, heavier use knife, but the halfwhitt is more versatile AND it's much smaller in (my) pocket. Honesty, I confuse the 2 bladed knife for my bic lighter all the time. ;)
 
Multi blades are one of the main reasons for going traditional. They still fit in the pocket better than a tactical, & look better.
I like the thicker grip of a multi, I am sick of the thin, slab-like feel of modern knives. Some of these knives won't "disappear" in the pocket, but neither are they irritating.
 
I have a hard time deciding the answer to that question. I really like single blade slip joint knives, but like 2 bladed knives, too. I guess it depends on the particular pattern and execution whether I like the single blade version better. For example Charlows where the single blade version gets the thumbs up over the two blade for me. If I had been fortunate enough to pick up one of the 2 blades with the pen on the pile side, the answer might be different.

So, I guess I'll have to stick with a fifty-fifty cop out type of answer on this one. I do not usually feel handicapped if I am carrying a one-bladed knife, but I like the concept and reassurance that a two bladed one gives.

Ed J
 
Multi blade for me---I very seldom carry (if ever) a single blade. I like single blade but I always have that (just in case) voice in the back of my head so the Multi blade wins out everytime.

Paul
 
Aesthetically I prefer multi-bladed folders, and I also like the added thickness and versatility that comes with them. Still, I end up carrying single blades quite often because they are so much more comfortable in hand.
 
Not that long ago, I had no multi-bladed Traditionals. Nowadays, Jacks are the Kings of my watch pocket, usually carried in tandem with a single-bladed knife of some kind.
 
I had to vote no pref. as I like them all me.

Mind you, I lean toward single-blade as more comfortable in the hand, but who doesn't enjoy the genius&skill of multiple blades?!

Christian, those pix from the steamboat always thrill me! The mud obviously preserved them astonishingly well, there are some wonderful patterns there to mull over. Another pic that sends me over the edge is one Smiling-Knife showed of a Stag Warehouse in Sheffield back in the Golden Era, what material! Material for very satisfying reveries/daydreams.

Regards, Will
 
I prefer 2-blade jacks, trappers and 3-blade stockmans, but I almost always carry a single blade as well. It's not unusual for me to carry a fixed blade, a jack or stockman and a single blade traditional/folder. Life on the farm... not much different from what I carried in the Army.

I'll be using one of them shortly to get after some of these:

ribs005_zps83bf3839.jpg


ribs007_zps712b4a6e.jpg


Happy 4th of July!
 
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There certainly is no wrong answer, but I am surprised that with 176 votes tallied the single blade camp outnumbers both the multi-blade, and neutral camps combined.

Manufacturers might want to take note. If I counted correctly, so far this year GEC has released 4 more multi-blade models than single blade models, 12 vs 9 (Some counted once for each).
 
single blade. like my work buddy said 'if theres something one blade wont do i cant see how more will help me'
 
I am at this moment of my knife life finding myself ordering single bladed Traditionals, Charlies Barlows for instance, but I usually carry two knives anyway, and I am guessing that through time my preferences may change ( as they do ).
 
This question took me quite some time to get clear in my mind. For most of my life, my choice of pocket knives has been the multiblade jack. I li ved with a boy scout knife, SAK's, two blade barlows, and other jacks. For 30 some years the humble Opinel has come and went, always lurking in the sock drawer, sneaking into the pocket now and then to stow away for a day. Slowly my resolve has been compromised.

The late in life growing facination with friction folders has led me to the single blade knife. First, the Opinel, then Fausto's little pattese that felt soooooo good in hand. Then Dan, (Silenthunterstudios) corrupted me further with the GEC number 15. Now I feel that I am dangerously close to becoming a single blade fan. The slightly slimmer profile that carries easy, hardly noticed if at all. But still capable of doing the job. Like one other forumite has stated so well, I am coming to belive if one blade doesn't do it, then having another on hand won't help. PLus, since I always carry multible knives, like my clasic always on my keys, I have a knife for the 'dirty work".

Of recent times in the past few months, the only multi blade knife I have carried has been the SAK that I now am using here in Oregon on vacation. It's done a good job of opening beers, slicing limes, but any single blade knife could have done what I have needed. I don't need a dedicated bottle opener as long as I have a BIC lighter, house key, P-38 or Sear's 4-way screw driver on me. So that leaves my Pattese or number 15 for a cutting tool. More than enough for what I need. Actually, rafting on Wednesday, the jet boat up Hellgate canyon today, and some forth of july celebration yesterday, I haven't needed much knife on vacation. Tomorrow we go to the redwoods and some hiking, so things may change.

I guess I am being pulled into the single blade camp.

Carl.
 
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