Best size for EDC fixed blade?

I often carry a Fiddleback Forge Production Runt on my work days. I carry it on my hip at about 10:00. It is small but very effective and useful little knife.

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Other times I carry a Production Fiddleback Bushfinger! It honestly is the perfect size for about any task I can think of! I typically carry mine in a Rick Lowe custom sheath.

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I carried a bk14 for 5-6 years horizontal cross draw until I changed jobs. Now I am supposed to keep it under 6 in OAL so I carry a custom from Hard Edge in the same postion.
If I could still carry a bigger knife Id like something more like the 14 but would like a much thinner than stock sheath, maybe a slightly thinner blade and another .5 inches on the handle.
 
I like a 6 inch or so size but occasionally go up to about 7. Specifically, I have a Bark River Essential (a bit over 6 inches) and a Lil' Canadian (7 inches). I carry them in either my front pocket or the side pocket of carpenter jeans. The Lil' Canadian sometimes feels a little long in pocket but I like it for yard work and house fixing work.

BTW I didn't like the Bushcraft sheath that came with the Lil' Canadian and bought a Mini Fox River sheath instead.

Also BTW for size reference for pocket carry, I'm about 6'2" and 260 lbs.
 
In my case, for fixed blade, "EDC" means "urban carry" (I carry larger fixed blades for outdoor/bush use). The largest fixed I carry for EDC is a 4" blade. Beyond that they become cumbersome and too obvious for urban environments.

I carry folders mostly but when I do EDC a fixed blade it is usually one of four out of a collection of many. My favorite one is crazy I know, but...

Tekna Ocean Edge dive knife I've had since the '70's. Probably 420 steel. Mine takes screamin' edges and has never rusted or tarnished a spot! Seki, JA made. 3.5" blade. I leather wrapped the handle some time ago. It's my favorite fixed blade EDC because i like the blade design--part serrated (great serration pattern I might add) stiletto/dagger style. IMO, it's the coolest, most unique knife/sheath combination ever made. The versatility is amazing as the spring-locked sheath design allows it to be carried securely in any manner from boot to belt to necker, horizontal, vertical, upside down, etc., yet quickly drawn. It has always been the primary fixed blade carry package for me in town, on the water, in the water, motorcycling, backpacking, climbing, traveling....anyplace. The whole package is the perfect size. It's been more places with me than any fixed blade I own.

Original DPx HEST fixed blade by Rowen. Appx. 3.5" blade in 1095 with good ol' Rowen heat treat. The best throw-it-in-the-bag-and-go knife I know of. Good Kydex sheath. Tough, do anything knife. Best "knockaround" knife out there, IMO.

Gryphon M-10 which I acquired a year or so ago based on a recommendation I saw here. Great, Terzuola-designed 4" VG-10 drop-point bayonet style blade with perfect balance and feel. An excellent Boltaron sheath with a Tek-Lok for multiple carry positions. Most comfortable belt-carry I've ever had for a 4" blade. Good boot-carry too. Importantly, it has the most comfortable, secure-in-hand handle of any knife I own.

Buck CSAR-T Liason. Appx. 3.25" blade, 400-series steel that takes a great edge (Buck heat treat?). Tanto style blade. Most minimal Kydex sheath I've ever seen; holds the knife securely too. Makes a fantastic stealthy horizontal carry rig with the addition of two zip-ties through the sheath grommets; whole thing's the width of an average belt. Great for traveling seated in a car. Very quick cross-draw access anywhere.

Now that I'm on this I also have to 'honorable mention' my Becker BK-11 san mai. "Becker Necker." Tough and versatile knife for anywhere.
 
As many said, for urban carry I find 4" to be the limit as far as conceilability and comfort carrying.
In the city I like to EDC 2-3.5 in. blades like

CRKT Minimalist (in the neck) great small and unobtrusive blade for food prep, box opening, string cutting etc...

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and KaBar Piggyback, also awesome food prep knife. Both are really easy to sharpen and weigh nothing.

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And, even though they're not the most discreet and comfortable carry, I have a large fixed-blade knife on me for other purposes, mainly the Aqua Salt.

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That beast is a feather, sleek and awesome fixed blade to EDC, carried almost daily since I got it!

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And Mora companion when camping/hiking/backpacking always goes on my belt...

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I think that larger than these, they're hard to carry comfortably or in a way they don't get on the way during daily activities...

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For military and outdoors applications I always find myself using something around 6 inches.

For EDC everywhere and mostly in a city I think something under 4 inches that is thin is best.
 
Well, I'm not a tall guy, so my preference may be different.

I like 2.75" to 3" for blade length, and 6" OAL. This gives me the most options for carry locations, although I usually end up tossing it in a cargo pocket, sheath and all.

Gonna have to do something about that....
 
Due to legality issues, blade edge cannot surpass 4 inches. So I EDC a DPX Gear HEFT 4 Mil Spec. Chose it over the esee 3 and fallkniven A1 (or F1,i forget which was the smaller of the two) great knife. Prybar is a bit gimmicky, but it's a fantastic blade. Whenbim around my property, I do a lot of field work so I usually carry larger knives, honestly it usually is my Kabar Mark 1. Doesn't get a lot of praise on this forum. But I love it. Its got 1095 crovan, a little over 5 inches. Kraton handles (good for winter) full rat tail tang, partially serrated,clip point eases piercing tasks. I love the thing. I don't mind abusing it at its price point and it hasn't failed on me yet. Rat tail tang holds up.
 
I carry somewhere between 4.25 and 5 inches. It can tackle most of what I throw at it. Sometimes I want to carry a shorter knife because carrying that length sometimes gets in the way but then some random thing will come up where the extra length is needed. I don't normally come across anything where any more than 5 inches would be beneficial. I'm right handed and carry at the 4 o'clock position, standard vertical sheath. If I carried a shorter knife I'd want it a cross draw at about a 45 degree angle. I wouldn't carry shorter than 3.5 inches.

I believe the OP is judging whether there'd be interest in a special run fixed blade knife and if so what design he'd like to go with. His previous runs were folding knives with pro-tech and ZT.

Thomas, I'm glad to see you're considering a fixed blade. Any way you'd let us know of who you're thinking about going with?
 
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This is one of my favorite fixed blades. The blade is just under 4" with oal at 8". A local guy named Doug Bailey made it. I think the ironwood looks great too. My other fixed blades are just too big to edc. IMO

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I have medium-large size hands and seem to find the 2 1/2" - 3 1/2" blade to be the most pratical when it comes to a carry, usage, and being comfortable for myself ( and others :rolleyes: ) That along with Micarta or other "warm" natural handles that give me a four finger purchase is the ideal combo…
For me at least :thumbup: :D
The Bark River Adventurer II is just slightly out of my comfort range for EDC.





 
BK11 in a www.coyleoutdoors.com custom cross draw leather sheath at 11 o'clock is with me every day.

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Also with me Pocket, belt, or crossdraw

Ka Bar Snody Big Boss
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Or
ZT 0121
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I try to keep it under 5 inches for my EDC in the city.
 
These are the closest I have to "EDC" fixed blades, in that I generally carry one of these if I can in any way justify doing so.

The Patriot goes on my belt, the Personal Utility goes in my back pocket. (I occasionally carry one of my (SRKW) Rodent 3s, if I'm willing to pull my main folder out of my front pocket.)
 
Dantone05 said:
The Bark River Adventurer II is just slightly out of my comfort range for EDC.

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Interesting. Last year I carried the original Bark River Adventurer (mostly as a necker) for a couple of months and found it pretty close to perfect. Although I haven't done the same with the up-sized Adventurer II, I can see how it might be just a tad too big.

As a hiker or a woodswalking companion blade, though, I think the Adventurer II might be ideal. :cool:

Tom @ KnivesShipFree
 
I've owned a fixed Kershaw Skyline for a year or so, and I'm surprised they don't get mentioned more, given the popularity of the folding version. I suspect that the leather sheath, while capable enough, didn't appeal to prospective buyers when other knives of the same size typically have kydex sheaths. No lie, that would have been preferable. In fact, the sheath is what prevents the Skyline from being a suitable office EDC for me. For camping and hiking, it works just fine, although then it's up against other small fixed blades that are superior slicers. Still, I like it.
 
Inazone said:
I've owned a fixed Kershaw Skyline for a year or so, and I'm surprised they don't get mentioned more, given the popularity of the folding version. I suspect that the leather sheath, while capable enough, didn't appeal to prospective buyers when other knives of the same size typically have kydex sheaths. No lie, that would have been preferable. In fact, the sheath is what prevents the Skyline from being a suitable office EDC for me. For camping and hiking, it works just fine, although then it's up against other small fixed blades that are superior slicers. Still, I like it.
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Well, the Skyline fixed was a limited run, so that, combined with the fact that the fixed version didn't really give you anything that the folder didn't, probably made most people pass in favor of a more capable fixed blade. (Or, y'know, the more portable folding version.) It didn't have the characteristics that you'd need a full tang for—it wasn't a 1095 flat-ground survival knife, it wasn't a scandi-ground bushcraft knife, it wasn't a svelte necker... it was just a Skyline that you couldn't fold and put in your pocket. Which is great, if that's what floats your boat—I'll never put down someone for liking a knife, for any reason—but I can see the lack of widespread appeal.
 
I carry this one often, a S30V blade by Tim Olt. Blade is 3 1/8, OAL is just over 7 inches. I usually wear it in a pancake sheath, on the strong side.
 
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