Anyone else's knives getting smaller?

Status
Not open for further replies.
clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
6,901
I've noticed a trend in my collection/using of blades: they are getting smaller. Thinner and shorter than they once were. And I'm not talking about shrinkage because its getting cold :D

Its hit me that the more bush skills I'm learning the smaller the equipment I need. I've seen the days of junglas' and bk9s and kukris fade into distant memory, followed by my 6-8" inch woods knives. Now I find myself out and about bushcrafting with an esee 3, or a kfu edc, or a Vic farmer. I just don't feel like there is really any need to chop or baton much anymore, unless I need to build a shelter but that can easily be down with deadfall and a little ingenuity. Its saving my back on hikes (used to take something along the lines of a bk9 bk2 sak and a saw and yes on the same trip) and its putting more miles under my feet. Now I'm not interested at all in ultralight hiking or anything like that and I certainly still think chopping is a fun stress reliever and batoning is great to show off to your buddies that don't know what knives can do, but when I'm by myself or with the wife or a good friend I'm finding I don't need those big blades and I'm getting along just fine. Hell even better than when I was a novice fumbling around with large steel. Anyone else feel the downsizing?
 
I find that happening with my folders. I used to think I had to carry something with a 3.5"+ blade for EDC. Now I stick with around 3" blades. I just find that the knives are lighter and more comfortable to carry. But I still love my Spyderco Militaries nonetheless! :D
 
A three or four inch blade will do all the cutting you need to do in the bush. However, at least in northern zones, a chopping tool (preferably, an ax) is a good idea.
 
I go both ways on this. As a general rule, a small blade with do 99% of my EDC tasks. And its lighter, takes up less pocket real estate and doesn't scare people like a big blade.

Other times I still still get a hankerin' for a big folder. I don't really need it, but I just dig it.

I've found the same shrinkage thing going on with concealed carry weapons generally. When a guy first gets his concealed carry license, maybe he packs a 1911 or Glock 35 in a belt holster, because its fun. If he's still carrying 15 years later, often he's reduced things down to a small revolver or 9mm in his pocket. Size and weight constraints enter into the equation as time goes on. Same thing with blades, I think.
 
clich said:
I've noticed a trend in my collection/using of blades: they are getting smaller. Thinner and shorter than they once were. And I'm not talking about shrinkage because its getting cold :D

... Anyone else feel the downsizing?
Click to expand...

Six years ago I didn't go anywhere without a large Spyderco on my person. Today I don't even own one. And my EDC is a Case peanut, with maybe a Victorinox Rambler or Leatherman Micra on my keychain.
 
Oh yeah, my S90V Para 2 is getting to the point of retirement. ;)
 
Yep. I still like to have a saw with me on hikes just in case but my choppers are regulated to car camping. Right now I'm trying to arrange my cutting tools to a pruning saw, small fixed blade to split sawn logs for fire prep, and then a food knife which is either an Izula 2 or Spyderco Military. Down the road I may combine the two knife categories and just carry one knife for both on long hikes but it is nice to have a backup. The more I get out and do the less I see that it's necessary to chop things. Or cut things for that matter. When I first started getting into knives and survival it seemed everyone was saying you needed a huge knife or hatchet but the more I go out and the more I talk to those that do, the more I come to the thinking that big choppers are internet fantasy. I think a lot of people love and buy big choppers and THEN justify the need for them. I think if most people got real with themselves they would ditch the weight pretty quick. Unless of course they just wanna go out and chop for fun. :D
 
Yes and no. I've never carried a big chopper in the woods, and you can't get too much smaller than a SAK or paring knife sized knife.

As for EDC, yes. I used to own a painting business and generally used 3-3.5" folders. Now I carry about a 2" neck knife and it does what I need every day easily.
 
powernoodle said:
Size and weight constraints enter into the equation as time goes on. Same thing with blades, I think.
Click to expand...

I've experienced the same thing. Humping through the bush with a Becker Brute and full canteen of water was enough to give my jogging pants plumbers crack. I like both smaller and larger blades, and likely always will. I just tend to carry them in different ways now. I have lived in the FAR north and will never, ever, waltz around with just a three inch knife, for many reasons. I feel comfortable with a stout neck knife and 7-9 inch F.B. attached to a medium back pack. I'm sure that we all have our own personal experiences\reasons for how\what we carry and that's fine. I respect different opinions and often learn from others. But I will never jump on a band wagon that goes against common sense precautions for a particular region that I've experienced.
 
For the most part I would prefer a small blade,, like an F1 or ESEE-3.. but there's something to be said for a 9" blade when a bear or mountain lion decides to see how you taste. Not that it gives you that much of a chance.. but certainly more than a 3" blade. Being in the North I'd generally take a small blade and a wetterlings hatchet with me.
 
I don't have large folders. I handled a few and 4'' or so, but they took up so much space for me. I've stuck around a 3'' blade, but have one or two 3.5''. But, I always like to have a smaller knife in my pocket also, like a SAK or traditional.
 
clich said:
Anyone else feel the downsizing?
Click to expand...

That's what she said.

4614585718_31313e1dd6.jpg
 
I used to keep a bk9 lashed to my pack since I hated how it rode on my belt and it got left behind until the pack idea came about. That being said it came with but still didn't see much use other than some fun trail clearing. Now I'm not putting down the large chopper fixed by any means, they are great and it amazes me how designers and engineers came up with such a large, powerful tool that can feel so light and quick. I merely saying that my trips, which are day trips with the occasional overnight dont require such a large blade. Now if you got lions and shyte running around well then that's a whole different story :D. But for just basic bush work I haven't taken a chopper type out (other than to review) in a while.
 
I agree. I have found myself carrying a 3"=4.25" knife for a fixed blade. It may be my ESEE-3 or 4, Fiddleback Bushfinger or my Busse CABS. I love my new CABS with bushcraft handle. NAyway, if I need to but up some wood I will break it against another tree or my knee if I do not want to hike with a heavy chopper or axe.
Most;y though I have really slimmed back on my EDC folders. I use to carry a large Sebenza a lot and still do occasionally but really appreciate my small Sebenzas. The small will do anything I need it for.
 
upnorth said:
But I will never jump on a band wagon that goes against common sense precautions for a particular region that I've experienced.
Click to expand...
Very true. If you live in an area where having a chopper is almost a necessity then you should take whatever it is you need. I would never tell someone to not carry a chopper but I'm getting to the point where I wouldn't recomend them to anyone.
 
I mostly car (jeep) camp right now, so the weight isn't an issue for me if I take lots of toys.

I don't use choppers for chopping all that often. However, I did find that my BK9 chops better than my hatchet, so if I did need to take something like that, I would bring the 9 instead because it does more things better than my hatchet.

I'm really excited for the Becker Tweeners to come out. I think that will be my belt knife, and the 9 will stay in the jeep with the folding saw.

Good topic though.
 
Yeah, I've gone from carrying a 6" blade to 5" blade to now about 4" folder and fixed blades while hunting deer and hogs. The big knives help with skinning, but in the field, the 4" Fallkniven F2 with it's narrow, stiff and super sharp blade makes field dressing a snap. The big knives stay in the jeep, but are always close by (RAT-7 plus other 5" fixed blades).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top