Blade length: need vs. want

When I lived in the country and worked mowing lawns and doing other odd jobs, it was definitely better having a larger blade. I live in the city now and a larger blade really isn't that necessary. I often end up using my SOG Key Knife. If not that, my Stockman will usually do the job. I still carry larger knives though, just because they are move comfortable and I am used to using them. I've been carrying an old Delica a lot lately I got from another member here, but my 'go to' knife is still my Kershaw Storm II I've had for about 8 years now.
 
K.O.D. said:
Bastard. Now I'm hungry.
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Just a little food for thought...

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Charlie Mike said:
You can't reach the bottom of the peanut butter jar with a Delica.
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That's true. But why would I? I have lived 52 years and have never used my EDC knife in the kitchen or at a restaurant. We have a drawer full of kitchen knives at the Powernoodle Compound, and strangely enough, the restaurants I eat at provide utensils. There is the "what if" factor, though, like "what if I have to cut a watermelon in half when I am not at home" or "what if I have to field dress a mastodon", but those things never actually reach fruition.

As for you, CM, your personal style is so tied to big, sick, expensive custom blades that it would be a sad day if you ever carried anything smaller. :thumbup:
 
I carried a Techno exclusively for just over two years and cut everything I needed to cut with it without any issues. That included 5" fire hose at work, scoring sheetrock and cutting steering cable for kayak repairs.

Yeah, it could cut sandwiches too, but that would be too messy;)
 
If you're doing very specific tasks repeatedly, a smaller blade could be better, but not necessarily. If I am going to be cutting a lot of paper and cardboard, I'll use a 2'' wharncliffe so that sharpening is easier and fatigue during use is minimized.

Longer blades are better for all around use. They allow your fingers to be further away from the material that you are cutting. They come with a longer handle that improves comfort, stability and safety. They are better and faster at impromptu food prep (of course in a kitchen setting you would use knives specialized for whatever task you're doing). I find that they are easier to use when in a hurry, and are better slicers in general.
 
powernoodle said:
"what if I have to cut a watermelon in half when I am not at home" or "what if I have to field dress a mastodon"
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That's what your "Fresno Felon" CS Spartan is for :D
 
For 99.9% of what I need cut, 2 to 2 1/2 inches will do, plus in makes for a smaller package in the pocket.

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I've gotten by all day with just the blade on these when I'm 'downtown."
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Good point about longer blades being better slicers. More edge means fewer draws. Larger scales (up to a point) mean more room for a full grip.

I'm not advocating that smaller knives are "better" per se, but rather than we can largely get by just fine with small blades. But I ordered a 4.6" Spyderco K2 this weekend, so there is always room in the Powernoodle Rotation for the heavy honeys.
 
I prefer longer blades. The smallest I carry to my office is a Para2, the biggest is a Military. I also carry a ZT 0561 and Manix 2 XL.

I can do some of my tasks with a 2" blade, but you cannot cut through a apple with a 2" blade, sometimes the Para2 is too small. I also found one day when I was testing a small fixed blade by cutting up boxes that it was hard for me to keep the short blade from coming out of the box partway through the cut.

Besides length of blade vs. what I am cutting, the handle on a smaller knife is too small for me to get a good grip on it. Even a Delica is too small for me to hold onto if I am doing hard cutting.
 
My preferred folders are 3.5-4.0 inches. Although I readily admit that a 2.0-3.0
would be fine for about anything I'd do with it.
For fixed blades my preference is 4.0-5.0 inches mainly because of the weight and
the fact that anything larger could potentially pose problems in my suburban environment. The result is that most of my fixed blades which are 6-7 inches have become collection pieces. I do use a 9" for chopping in my yard but that's about it for actually using a large knife.
 
Having carried traditional slip joints for most of my life(I'm only 28) anything OVER 3" feels a bit silly to me. The largest folder I have, as far as blade length goes anyway, is either my Skyline or an Opinel #8. A good majority of the time however, it's something like a Kershaw OD-2 or a Dragonfly. They work just fine for my needs. Plus, I've always felt like tasks that require a 4-5" blade or more actually required a fixed blade. I carry a gun for defense. To each their own though. Charlie Mike's got some awesome pocket machetes.
 
I like CRK Sebbies and Zaans and presently carry a Southard AVO, so along with PM2's, I guess I like a 3.3-3.6" blade for my EDC. I did carry a Caly 3 for office-duty for several yrs and it did fine, but was a bit short on the rare occasion.
I am tremendously fond of the Sage series of folders...Sage 2 and Sage 3 CF, and have had many/sold many, but have never carried one. I love to hold them and admire them, but then I sell them again. Don't know why not...it's one of those things.
I don't like a 4" blade like the BM 710 as the blade-length seems too long for me to control my cuts. I have owned 710's and have a liking for one in M390, but will never jump.
 
Growing up my old man always carried a medium sized knife with him (usually a Case or a Old Timer) before I was around and he trapped and hunted a lot more he carred a trapper. His medium size knives handled 95% of what he needed a pocket knife to do. My uncle always carried a Case Trapper. It did not carry as well as my dad's medium sized knives but it did everything they did plus some.

So in my mind you can carry a knife that carries better but may be slightly limited by its size or you can carry a knife that doesn't carry as well but will do whatever you need it to. Or you can carry both! :)

None of these are right or wrong; it's just a personal preference. I have always preferred a larger knife but I don't like a ton of bulk either.
 
I've been itching to take my Condor El Salvador machete (18") to the next watermelon slicing party at my house. Should be fun. :D
 
Handle length dictates my answer, as well. I don't generally have particular needs. Most of my use is cardboard and plastic cutting. On rare (and occasionally unpredictable) days, I have marathons of shipper breakdowns. When that happens, I really appreciate a comfortable handle. Since I can't always predict when my work will spike, I make a habit of carrying a folder that I can get a full, four finger grip on. If I know in advance that I'm looking at a lot of cutting, I pocket my ZT 0550. That handle is very comfortable over extensive use.

Because of the above, I tend to wind up with 3"-3.5" blades.
 
Pocket machetes...

 
I have medium large hands. I prefer knives with handles that fit in my hand comfortably. So I like blades approximately 4". Maximum would be how deep my pockets can go. Minimum would be 3.5".

I carry a knife primarily for instances when I come across a steak that needs slicing.
 
As has been said, my choice of pocket knife has more to do with what I find comfortable in hand than length of blade. Is the 4" blade on my ZT0200 more than I need most of the time - absolutely...but I find it so comfortable, I've carried it for about 2 years.
For fixed blades, 3.5-4" is sort of a sweet spot, IMO. Big enough to do just about every routine task, small enough to be convenient. About the smallest fixed blades I've found comfortable are my Dozier Personal and Swamp Rat Rodent 3...and it's only very recently that I've considered them comfortable enough to carry/use. I've also become somewhat enamored of the LT Wright Patriot. The overall size of these three make them easily concealable, or less obtrusive when carried openly...either way, fewer freaked out looks and less unwanted attention. I still prefer the slightly larger knives; but I feel less awkward with (these particular) smaller ones than I used to.
 
Everyday except while in camp EDC Cold Steel Voyager Tanto XL cause I wanna...Only gets used for shock and awe...And along for the needs CRKT Minimalist Bowie
 
For a fixed blade, 6" minimum...

 
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