Are thick knives really practical?

[MEJ]

What do you guys need thicker knives? Thick knives like the BK2 and the Esee 5 dont seem all that practical IMO
An axe and smaller knife seems a lot more useful.

 

[t1mpani]

What do you need an axe and a smaller knife for when there are thick knives? For that matter, why jack around with an axe at all when there are perfectly good chainsaws?

For a "one-off" piece of gear, thick knives have some appeal. Whole lot lighter to tote around than an axe, and when sharpened correctly, can do anything you really need to do with a knife, though not with as much precision as a small knife or speed of an axe. Much like a Swiss Army Knife can never match a real screwdriver and a large saw---the difference is I'll have the SAK with me.

Basically, it comes down to preference. I've said it before (many times) and I'll say it again, knives are more than just tools to most of us here; many like to deny it and will vehemently claim that knives are nothing but tools to them, but I really doubt they'd ever put up hundreds of posts on CrescentWrenchForums even if it existed.

You know a passion of mine? Liston knives. How practical are they, given that I'm unlikely to find myself in the Civil War performing amputations on wounded soldiers? Well, not very. Tell me that means I can't have/like them for that reason, however, and I'll have my trained squirrel beat you up.

 

[Yo Mama]

Depends, the axe is pretty heavy, so if weight is an issue I'm going with the thick knife.

If I can take the weight I'm going with the axe any day.

 

[randomlooker]

If you want to use a knife instead of an axe to split wood, they're useful. But for 99.99% of things, I think a thinner blade is better for a knife when it comes to slicing through stuff. Thin means it cuts better. Just look at SAKs and classic slip joints for how to do it right.

 

[leafstorm]

Not for what I use a knife for. When camping, gimme a thin blade and a hatchet anyday. I also like those extruded aluminum hack saws that fold up. All three and you'll have a roaring fire

I guess I can kinda understand the sharpened pry bar school of thought, if your a fire fighter or LEO or <insert bad@ss career>.

For me, I just like a comfortable handle and a blade that cuts nice.

 

[MEJ]

Looks like im getting an axe then... haha

 

[ArfinGreebly]

I've tried to make heavy & thick knives work as general purpose camping & outdoor knives.

Basically, at least in my hands, its an exercise in application fail.

I have found a couple of very light hatchets that I will prefer for "choppy" work.

For actually slicey and carvey and cutty work, I'm going with something in the four-five inch range, and as thin a blade as is practical. I guess you can't really characterize a Mora knife as "thin" but, properly ground, a knife of that kind -- especially the newer Mora 2000 or a Buck 105 -- or a Spyderco Endura, or an EKA Swede 92 -- will really perform well for your basic cutting tasks.

For those "thick blade" applications, I prefer something like a Trail Blazer hatchet (made in Canada).

The short, 8-inch, version (13.6 oz):

Or the larger, 13-inch, version (17.3 oz):

Rides light on the belt or on the pack, handles the choppy stuff, leaves your knife for . . . knifey things.

 

[getridone]

..., but I really doubt they'd ever put up hundreds of posts on CrescentWrenchForums even if it existed.

I'm on CrescentWrenchForums all the time bro. I've been known to play with my adjustable spanners for hours and hours and even show some off to my buds. They are really impressed with some of my really big ones.

 

[not2sharp]

What do you guys need thicker knives? Thick knives like the BK2 and the Esee 5 dont seem all that practical IMO
An axe and smaller knife seems a lot more useful.

All tools are useful. The greater the available variety the more that you can accomplish efficently. What doesn't work is the mindset that you should, or would want to, get along with only one tool. A lance, xacto or scapel can best address some problems, but they are worthless as machetes, neither will do what a large camp knife does, and that would still be way short of what an axe will do. All of which would do nothing for you unless you have it when you need it, which is what a SAK is for, although a multi-tool will likely due more of it at the cost of a few more onces. Which leave out most of the folders, which can be large or small, tactical or otherwise, and represent a more "civilized" (city-dweller portable) version of all the knives previously discussed. Each tool provides a specific leverage or advantage. Use them as you choose to, but remember to strive to use the right tool for the job.

n2s

 

[AfghanWarrior]

I like the BK2, RD7, RD9, etc (1/4" thick knives). My Kukri is 3/8" thick. Axes do not carry well (on my person or gear) like knives do. I like Batoning Wood with large knives better than swinging an axe. I think knives are way more practical and usefull on more overall tasks. I would rather also have a RD9 (9" blade) against an enemy than an axe.

 

[TriviaMonster]

I think it all comes down to what kind of techniques you have for completing camp chores. When I go on my 5-7 backpacking trips I generally go ultra-light style. That for me means generally 25-30lbs. total pack weight including food(not all, I often fish and trap occasionally). I often carry a thick 5-6" blade and a smaller knife like a Mora.

However, I can just as easily camp taking an axe and my Leatherman Skeletool CX. I have several ways to complete just about every task. But, I do actually prefer a sharpened pry bar and a smaller, thinner knife as my chosen combo. And honestly, I prefer a nice, sharp folding saw over an axe or hatchet almost always.

 

[JayGoliath]

I like my khukuri at 3/8"- part axe part knife.

 

[kurodrago]

What do you guys need thicker knives? Thick knives like the BK2 and the Esee 5 dont seem all that practical IMO
An axe and smaller knife seems a lot more useful.

Both knives are too short and too fat to be practical by all means. You want at least 7 inches 1/4 or 8 inches 1/4 and a good cutting geometry as well with it.
But it's funny to see how WEB personality describe both knives Great Chopper.....Unbelievable

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I generally prefer my knives SUPER thin compared to the industry standard. However, thick knives DO have some uses. They're just comparatively very specific in the sort of situations they're most appropriate for. For instance, when space is a huge requirement and a heavy-use tool is required.

 

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

It all depends on what you got to do, how you are dressed, how you are moving from point A to point B, it can be a pain in the butt to carry a little tomahawk let alone an axe. I don't know if 1/4" thick is really ever necessary though unless it's a very long blade. 3/16" of an inch thick 7" long blade is hard enough to bend.

 

[Fat Goat Forge]

I generally prefer my knives SUPER thin compared to the industry standard. However, thick knives DO have some uses. They're just comparatively very specific in the sort of situations they're most appropriate for. For instance, when space is a huge requirement and a heavy-use tool is required.

Do you consider the condor rodan thick? I know you like that one. I feel the rodan falls into the thick catagory and despite its thickness I enjoy it. So far its the only thick knife I like. I have a Bark River EDC Essential that I might end up selling as its a bit thick for me for a small everyday blade.

 

[A.L.]

I'd rather have wide and thin knife, but that's just my opinion. I can see why someone can need thick knives, but to me it's very margin job kind of thing. Each for her own though!

 

[TEFL0N_D0N_81]

What do you guys need thicker knives? Thick knives like the BK2 and the Esee 5 dont seem all that practical IMO
An axe and smaller knife seems a lot more useful.

Agreed. An axe and smaller knife is a better system than the big thick knife.

That being said, beefy knives are just cool to have.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Do you consider the condor rodan thick? I know you like that one. I feel the rodan falls into the thick catagory and despite its thickness I enjoy it. So far its the only thick knife I like. I have a Bark River EDC Essential that I might end up selling as its a bit thick for me for a small everyday blade.

I don't consider the Rodan a thick knife because of its full flat grind and broad blade, which makes the effective thickness not so great. If you cut it in half down the centerline and only had the half that still had the edge (discarding the half with the spine) the resultant knife would actually be pretty thin at the spine. Remember that full flat grinds of true taper are going to have increasingly narrow primary bevel angles as the blade width increases.

 

[JES600]

That being said, beefy knives are just cool to have.

This.