Are small fixed blade useful ?

[abcdef]

Love the small fixed. The trick is to get one that is not too thick in the handle or blade and a good handle/blade length ratio.

 

[Akcir]

I'll mention another advantage to a small fb.
Since you don't have to pay for a pivot and locking mechanism, you can get a higher end steel and handle material, while saving a few bucks over a comparable folder.

 

[The Zieg]

I've just watched several breakdown and reviews of the Izula, probably one of the best small fixed blade in this category (and one of the most visually appealing) and I still fail to understand their purpose and place on the market, outside of collecting.

Why would you use a knife like that instead of a solid folder or a cheap opinel ? Do they satisfy a particular need I ignore ?

Sure they're useful! A good small sheath knife cuts well, won't break or close unexpectedly (neither will a good folder, either, for that matter, but how much more so the fixed blade), and can pry more reliably than a folder in a pinch.

The biggest draw of a folding pocketknife is versatility of carry: Loose in the pocket, clipped to the pocket, in a belt pouch, in a pocket slip, in a neck pouch, thrown in the satchel or ruck, you name it. For a fixed blade blade knife to have this versatility, the solution is in the sheath. This usually means more than one sheath per knife. Pocket sheath for loose pocket carry, clipped sheath for clipped pocket carry, slip sheath for back pocket carry, tightly molded sheath for upside down neck carry, and so on. Most will come with a belt sheath, so that gives a couple of options right away. The rest will cost you in money or time and materials (if you make your own). But it's worth it.

Here are some of my small sheath knives that I use semi-regularly:

Rehandled Mora 911 9" oal 4" bl
Roselli Vaarinpuukko 7" oal 3" bl
Sewannee Pocket Puukko 5" oal 2" bl
Dawson Mercury 6.5" oal 3" bl
Dawson #34 6.5" oal 3" bl
(For comparison) Victorinox Trekker 8" open 3.5" bl

Zieg

 

[Chapp]

I'll mention another advantage to a small fb.
Since you don't have to pay for a pivot and locking mechanism, you can get a higher end steel and handle material, while saving a few bucks over a comparable folder.

Great argument.

 

[Chapp]

I'll be the first to admit that while I always liked small fixed blades, I hated carrying them. I just don't like anything attached to my belt and couldn't find a convenient way to carry one.
A few years ago I found a leather pocket sheath and now I carry small fixed blades all the time.
An Izula ( with the handle scales) fits perfectly in this one and you don't even know it's in your pocket.
The beauty of this particular sheath is that you can put folders like a Buck 110 in it too.


View attachment 952841

Can I have the reference for this sheath ? It looks perfect.

 

[ponykid]

I'll be the first to admit that while I always liked small fixed blades, I hated carrying them. I just don't like anything attached to my belt and couldn't find a convenient way to carry one.
A few years ago I found a leather pocket sheath and now I carry small fixed blades all the time.
An Izula ( with the handle scales) fits perfectly in this one and you don't even know it's in your pocket.
The beauty of this particular sheath is that you can put folders like a Buck 110 in it too.


View attachment 952841

where do you get a sheath like that ?

 

[JeffreyC]

I ordered mine off of one the biggest online retailers. “ Sharpshooter” is the maker I believe.

 

[Horsewright]

I just finished a batch of 62 knives and am working on finishing the second half of the sheaths today after I feed some heifers at the ranch. Of those 62 knives only 4 have blades over 3 inches. This is kinda a market driven deal. Small fixed blades sell for me. There are a lot of folks that like them and find them very useful. I sell quite a few to guys the day after a "wreck". Universally, they say I couldn't get to my folder in time. A small fixed blade in the ranching world, worn so that a guy can get to it in an emergency is simply a safety device as well as a useful tool. Ropes, cattle and horses and sometimes things can happen fast. We call this: "live action cowboy sh.t!"

I have cut three guys out of wrecks and three horses that were tied up poorly and got into wrecks, in my lifetime.

The wife's knife. Wearing it crossdraw is very popular as ya can get to it with either hand quickly. So popular that for us, this is a right handed sheath.

Mine. We both carry one of my Stainless Gordo models. 5.25" oal. Hers is in turquoise jigged bone and mine is in elk.

Carrying a large fixed blade in a traditional vertical sheath is not only impractical horseback but dangerous.

Also a useful tool for making a bull calf, a steer calf. Remember that steak ya had last night? Yeah we did that.

From fancy (7" oal):

To not so much (5.25" oal):

To just plain working tool (6 1/8" oal):

Sure I make big knives too:

But I sell a 100 small ones to every big one, at least. I know I've got mine on. Whether cowboyin' or working in the shop:

 

[Chapp]

The material on the handle is phenomenal (stag I guess ?), do you work it yourself ? By far the best looking material for knife handle imo.

 

[ShannonSteelLabs]

I gotta start carrying my personal knife! I'm getting jealous!
3 inch blade
Full convex Zwear

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks C Chapp . Its elk. Yeah I trade with local cowboys for elk sheds and then process it myself from there. From this:

To this:

To some finished ones, a small batch:

One of my favorite handle materials. These three were prizes for a ranch roping competition last year.

 

[jmh33]

WOW Dave!!! That's all I can muster with the droll rolling down onto the key board!!!! John

 

[RBid]

As passionate enthusiasts, we’re very good at splitting hairs and playing up small to moderate differences. We tend to make things very complicated, and occasionally dramatic.

Keeping things simple:

1. Are small fixed blades useful? If you need to cut things, yes.

2. Are small fixed blades more useful than folders? In specific applications, sure. In most applications, they’re neither more, nor less useful than a folder.

3. Is a folder more useful than a small fixed blade? Only if small fixed blade carry is prohibited or inconvenient. Otherwise, of course not.

For the majority of knife people, our days wouldn’t change in any way that matters whether we carried an Izula 2 or a Delica. We often carry what we do because we like it. I use my knives a lot, and benefit from carrying one, but I don’t need the knife I use to be a ZT 0609. I could get away with an Izula 2 in a pocket sheath. Similarly, I realized a few years ago that there’s nothing I do that makes a folder a disadvantage.

In closing:

Knives are useful.

Knives are cool.

Of the knives that meet your specific needs, carry what you love.

 

[Chapp]

Thanks C Chapp . Its elk. Yeah I trade with local cowboys for elk sheds and then process it myself from there. From this:

I'm completely admirative ! How do they go from brown to that premium whitish color ?

 

[22-rimfire]

Keeping things simple:

1. Are small fixed blades useful? If you need to cut things, yes.

2. Are small fixed blades more useful than folders? In specific applications, sure. In most applications, they’re neither more, nor less useful than a folder.

3. Is a folder more useful than a small fixed blade? Only if small fixed blade carry is prohibited or inconvenient. Otherwise, of course not.

For the majority of knife people, our days wouldn’t change in any way that matters whether we carried an Izula 2 or a Delica. We often carry what we do because we like it. I use my knives a lot, and benefit from carrying one, but I don’t need the knife I use to be a ZT 0609. I could get away with an Izula 2 in a pocket sheath. Similarly, I realized a few years ago that there’s nothing I do that makes a folder a disadvantage.

That has been my experience overall. I used to carry traditional slip joints as my hunting knife for all sizes of game. Never had a problem or felt inconvenienced with just a folder. There is very little I cut that I would only use a fixed blade. It is mostly personal preference, the kind of life you lead, and the kind of cutting you mostly do. So, this thread is not going to change what I normally do regardless of whether a small fixed blade is stronger and so forth.

 

[Bugdoc]

Dave Horsewright glad you made it over. I've got you on the bucket list Really great work.

 

[Horsewright]

Thanks John jmh33 Thanks for the kind words.

C Chapp that's from working, shaping, sanding and polishing the handle. The tough part is leaving the dark brown!

Thanks Bugdoc . Kinda excited about this batch. Never had this many In Stock ones to put on the website before.

 

[Deinos]

Yes... yes they are...

 

[JPD1998]

Can I have the reference for this sheath ? It looks perfect.

If you search "Sharpshooter Glacier Bay Knife Sheath" , you'll find it.
and it's ridiculously inexpensive considering the quality of it.

 

[fq55]

I am a big proponent of smaller fixed blade. Their handles can provide better or more versatile grips than folder.

A higher quality smaller FB will generally be less expensive than a high quality smaller folder.

Also, legally a FB will be more accepted to carry than a flickable folder. Example would be NY where a concealed FB is more accepted than a folder.