Blade length: need vs. want

This is to follow up my previous post. I totally could have a crazy way of thinking... Here is another example of "why do I need so much knife..?"
I own both and love both but in the morning I always grab the sebenza. Why would I carry all that for the same amount of cutting area?
Plus how do you wear skinny jeans and carry such a large knife..? Kidding!! Kinda..😉😂

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Besides cutting rope, which isnt exactly an everyday thing, ive never needed more than my little Case. But that Rajah II has been carried and used alot in the woods, making kindling and roasting sticks.
 
bluemetalchurch said:
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
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I was hunting with a friend one time. He had a traditional fixed blade knife in his pack along with lots of other stuff since he was a good boy scout. I was carrying only a small slipjoint. We tried processing a deer with his fixed blade but it was butter-knife dull so we did the whole job of dressing the deer and packing it in a small ice chest using my small slipjoint. So in that instance a small slipjoint did what we needed to do, but it was far from optimum. People that carry small knives can make do with them, but they might be better served with a larger knife.
 
For my every day use 3" bladed Native5 is sufficient, except, when I need to cut an apple. I can cut an apple with Native, but it is just easier with 3.5" blades like caly3.5 or Persian. So I carry two knives: "clean" 3.5" bladed knife and Native5 for any utility use. Works fine for me.
 
I always carry a Ckrt m16 tanto at 3.75 if I have another knife on me I am carrying more than One but that one is my favorite of all for folders my other for more industrial uses is a kabar full size fighter.
 
bdmicarta said:
I was hunting with a friend one time. He had a traditional fixed blade knife in his pack along with lots of other stuff since he was a good boy scout. I was carrying only a small slipjoint. We tried processing a deer with his fixed blade but it was butter-knife dull so we did the whole job of dressing the deer and packing it in a small ice chest using my small slipjoint. So in that instance a small slipjoint did what we needed to do, but it was far from optimum. People that carry small knives can make do with them, but they might be better served with a larger knife.
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A small knife serves the purpose it's just not always the most efficient tool. :)
 
For me it's a little like this;

A 4 inch knife is to a 2.5 inch knife as a 2.5 inch knife is to a pair of scissors. :D

I can get by with all three, they just become more useful. At the moment I'm gravitating toward Delica/SAK during the week at the job and a Military on the weekend. Strange but most of my bigger duty work is on the weekend.
 
for folders, 3.5" is my sweet spot... small enough to fit in the change pocket in jeans and still large enough to cover most of my daily cutting needs including food related. My folders range from 3.25" to 3.9".

for fixed blades, I have no size preference whatsoever since the sheath isn't bound to pocket size- and I'll choose whatever size I need for a task at hand. I have a little izula, a giant NMFBM, and a few in between.
 
drrickso said:
for folders, 3.5" is my sweet spot... small enough to fit in the change pocket in jeans
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Ok I just have to ask since this has been posted many times by differant posters.

What kind of jeans are you guys wearing????

I am lucky to stuff a Spyderco ManBug in the change pocket of my Wranglers.!!!!!!
 
jracingbean said:
I've thought about this topic often, and you're right, I really don't need anything more than a 3in. blade. I was reminded of this fact recently when we took a family vacation to FL a month or so ago, so I packed my Lanny's Clip slip joint in my luggage to use for the duration. You know what? It did everything I needed, cutting fruit for my kids, fishing line when I was bass fishing, opening a few boxes, etc. Using and carrying it made me think how "over-knifed" I usually am, and how silly it is to spend so much time looking at other knives and debating what's what. I have big hands, and this is enough for me:

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I may want something larger, but I don't need it. Sobering, but true.
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Not to mention that's a sweet @## Lanny's clip you got right there!
 
I could get by with a blade in the range of dragonfly-delica size for pretty much all my cutting needs. However, i still prefer a 4 inch blade. No real reason why, i just like that size. 3.75-4 is about "full size" so I prefer a normal/full size knife if possible. Then with any knife of any size you always have the last ditch SD capability, bigger may be more of a scare tactic bonus to some but, i don't count these factors. I live in the bay area, and i havent ran into any gasping for air sheeple.
 
powernoodle said:
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.
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I mostly use mine at work doing shipping type tasks, but my folding knife seconds as a last resort defensive tool. That being said, my needs are different than just utility needs.

If its a karambit, 2" of blade is plenty. if its a straight blade. 3.5" to 4".
 
You can do a lot with a small blade... if you have a big enough handle:



Conversely, a big blade with a too-small handle is almost worthless.
 
Todd21969 said:
Ok I just have to ask since this has been posted many times by differant posters.

What kind of jeans are you guys wearing????

I am lucky to stuff a Spyderco ManBug in the change pocket of my Wranglers.!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Dickies slacks.

Everyday.

Pockets are perfect size for a .38 snub :p
 
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