Blade length: need vs. want

powernoodle

powernoodle

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Jul 21, 2004
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RevDevil said:
I personally like 4 inch blades, the 3 just doesn't really do much for me in terms of what my needs are.
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In an active thread in the Spyderco forum on the Sage series, Mr. Devil noted his preference for 4" blades. Which got me thinking. Though I think its fun to carry a blade larger than 3", I can't remember the last time I have "needed" one. In fact, I get by just fine with a 2" blade. My daily knife requirements are limited to package opening, string cutting, opening clamshells and the like, and a small blade will handle that not only just fine but really easier than a larger, less nimble blade.

So I'm just curious about what blade length you guys "need" regularly, versus the blade length you just want or like to carry. There are lots of big blades being carried by you guys, but I think its mostly for fun. Just wondering what you guys think about what your actually knife needs are, versus your wants. I'm totally cool with a 2" blade, but sometimes bigger is funner. Full size scales give you more real estate for the hand, no doubt.

If you "need" a 4" or 5" blade, what are you doing with it? Job site? Defensive carry? Could you make it through the day with a 2" blade?

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Spyderco Cat: this 2.4" blade is all I need.
 
On folders, I prefer something between 2.5 and 3.5" blade length. On fixed blades.... well, I love the big blades and seldom use them. But I still buy them, just because. My favorite fixed blade size ranges between 4 and 6 inches. The Blackjack 125 at 5" is one of my favorites as is the Dozier Pro Guides knife at 5".

I just picked up a CRKT Razel Folder and it has a pretty big blade for a folder to me. It is to be a work knife for scraping where I need a sharp edge for that purpose. But it still cuts too. It is in my "work bag" as we speak waiting for a suitable task.
 
I want to carry a Spyderco Military every day. I own a Paramilitary 2 and I love it. I carry a Delica 4 most often.
I struggle w/ want vs. need - I think many of us here do. Haha.
FWIW, I lost a bunch of weight a few years back, and I tend to wear more form-fitting clothes (IE, shit that fits) these days, so the PM2 is just too clunky sometimes while the Delica remains invisible in the pocket. My $.02.
 
I've been thinking about that also, because I love the big blades but was never very comfortable using them. I found out (me, proud !) that the factor(s) to consider was the width of my hand and consequently the length of the handle. Consequently, considering the ratio handle to blade was interesting, too. Sum up : if my hand needs a 4" handle to be comfortable, I can handle efficiently blades from 3" to 5". The 1 / 1 ratio would be a kind of sweet spot. However, design of handle (of course) and blade make this sweet spot vary a lot. I'm staying strictly in knife territory, not considering chopping, hacking, etc. Surprisingly (to me, stupid), I found smaller knives (like puukkos) to be extremely efficient.
 
My favorite edc is a spyderco military. You're right though I really don't need more than a 2 inch blade. It's all about the handle for me, and the military can't be beat in my experience.

An alox pioneer or a Vic classic handles the smaller stuff or socially sensitive cutting.


 
Yup, a little slip joint would suit me just fine these days, but I don't want one. Haha.
 
I make no bones about the want vs need thing when it comes to fixed blades. I could live the rest of my life just fine with must my 111mm SAK (which is about 4.25" closed). My favorite other slip joints run about 4-4.25" closed which corresponds to about a 3" blade length. The GEC #42, Northwoods Madison, and Queen/S&M large gunstock tend to be where my money goes and for using.

The Spyderco Native is a great size to me with its blade being just a tad over 3" as is the ZT 0770CF at 3.25". Yeah, I have settled into a comfortable size range that I prefer and I guess I "need". By the same token, the Cold Steel Tuff Lite is an extremely useful knife (sub 3") and fits my hand like a glove.
 
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I generally need nothing more than a Dragonfly or Case Peanut. I generally want at least a 3" or 3.5" handy as well. Four inch folders--no matter how much I like them--are just too much knife for my regular daily activities.
 
I personally like around a 3.5" blade in a folder and a 4" in a fixed blade.

Smaller blades are ok in utility knives. I rarely leave the house without a Victorinox of some sort and use it for most ordinary cutting tasks.

Guess I like the secure feeling of having a little bit larger blade on me just in case.
 
There are right tools for the right jobs. Use the appropriate tool for your needs and all will be good. I mostly carry a 3" friction folder, but I used to carry a Military.
They both work. If I was opening bags of concrete daily, I'd carry my ZT200. If I'm heading down to the river with buddies, I bring a SAK with a bottle opener.
See what I'm saying? There is no one perfect knife, that's why we all have some many.
 
The answer depends heavily on scope of application... Are you asking about on-the-job requirements? Daily food prep needs? Simple EDC preferences?

Honestly, in most people's day-to-day living even a simple "slippie" can be adequate.

My Huntsman works just fine for *my* day-to-day needs except for food preparation where longer blades are needed.

The lines begin to blur when we integrate work/job site considerations (where we usually have dedicated tools for each specific task) and/or food preparation.

It is more efficient to have a tool that is useful for multiple tasks and maybe that's where things like longer blade length can be exploited, but the application/context really dictates that.
 
4" is my favorite but if I like the knife I do not care. But I would not go under 2" and over 5" on folders.
 
This is my "office"...

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I wear work gloves year round so a larger knife works for me. For both the blade length and handle size. So 3.5"-4" blade, if I could legally carry larger I would.

Most of the time I carry a Military, smallest I will carry at work is my PM2.

If I am not at work it depends on my mood. I have a Native 5 in my pocket right now. It's a snow day for me today.
 
I find handle length dictates what size blade I generally carry. I prefer a full 4 finger grip, but still want a knife that conceals easily. I regularly carry a Dragonfly, but find a Delica 4 not much bigger in the pocket. So for me the blade length comes down to what blade length can be designed around a 4" handle length, which will put it in the less than 3" size.
 
I prefer not to go under 4" but anything over 6" is too much for my pocket.

You can't reach the bottom of the peanut butter jar with a Delica.

My DDR 5.5" AXD is the perfect size.

 
At work I often cut rope, and the bigger stuff like 3/4" synthetic rigging lines we use is much easier to cut with a larger blade. Even smaller diameter stuff like 5/16" amsteel I'd rather have a larger blade.
 
3.5 inches is about the ideal length for me... It gives enough length for a good long slice (webbing etc) without being too long. The 3 inch CF/ZDP caly 3 gets high marks for being such a great overall package.

That said... The one constant is the SAK classic with it's itty bitty blade that lives on my key ring.
 
4" is my limit. Though I have thought about getting a CS Espada XL for cleaning my fingernails. Currently, my largest (operational) folder is a ZT0561.

I work in an office, and anything over 3" is overkill. Carrying a 4" blade at my work is like a framing carpenter carrying Mjolnir.
 
I find that I like nothing less than 3.5" for a folder. Could I get by with a 2" blade? Yes, for most tasks. One task that comes up where I really do need a longer blade like the Military or 810 is cutting food items like sandwiches, burritos, or wraps. It helps my little one eat these thing better when they are cut in half. I could probably do it with a 2" folder but it would be a mess.
 
craytab said:
I find that I like nothing less than 3.5" for a folder. Could I get by with a 2" blade? Yes, for most tasks. One task that comes up where I really do need a longer blade like the Military or 810 is cutting food items like sandwiches, burritos, or wraps. It helps my little one eat these thing better when they are cut in half. I could probably do it with a 2" folder but it would be a mess.
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Bastard. Now I'm hungry.
 
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