Blade length: need vs. want

bluemetalchurch said:
A small knife serves the purpose it's just not always the most efficient tool
Click to expand...

I see a lot of people opening packages with a car key so I suppose a 2" knife is excessive.


Todd21969 said:
I just have to ask since this has been posted many times by differant posters. What kind of jeans are you guys wearing????
Click to expand...

I wear standard Wranglers. I have no problem carrying a Military, ZT 0561 or Manix 2 XL clipped in my right front pocket along with my cellphone. I don't use the watch pocket for anything.
 
bdmicarta said:
I wear standard Wranglers. I have no problem carrying a Military, ZT 0561 or Manix 2 XL clipped in my right front pocket along with my cellphone. I don't use the watch

Pancake rig I made for one of my 5.5" DDR AXD.



Click to expand...
 
"Need": the case butterbean I carry to work most days or the spyderco ladybug on my keys.
Prefer: right around 3", my favorite mid sized carry is a small sebenza.
Largest I carry/use: Benchmade 940, right around 3.5" and usually carried on weekends



I see anything larger than 3.5" as excessive. However, I don't work in a knife friendly location and live in Texas so I don't ever have to open a knife wearing gloves!
 
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...

levi 559... loose fit boot cut i think
 
Dickies 5 pocket jeans.
 
Good discussion, guys. This just reaffirms for me I guess that one can find great enjoyment from his knife irrespective of blade length. I'm big into the idea that there is a strong emotional/enjoyment factor in our knife hobby that maybe we sometimes don't thoroughly acknowledge. Sometimes we just plain dig Blade X - just because we like it and for no other reason - and then find practical reasons to justify why it is a "good" knife. Its like cars, chicks and everything else in life. You can find lots of good in them if you are looking for it.


Good stuff.
 
link2derek said:
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.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more!

As for my wants, I prefer a 3" blade length.
My needs? I could probably do everything with an 1.5" blade including cutting a sandwich, apple or whatever.

Here is my usual EDC all purpose blade;
A PM2 shortened to 3" for better tip control




And here is what I usually carry in my coin pocket for cleaner jobs and food slicing.



I have yet to find a job that I encounter with any regularity that a 3" blade cannot handle.
 
FDE said:
My needs? I could probably do everything with an 1.5" blade including cutting a sandwich, apple or whatever... I have yet to find a job that I encounter with any regularity that a 3" blade cannot handle.
Click to expand...


I'd prefer added blade length to cut a sandwich quickly and efficiently. Cutting and serving pie or cake- same thing. In those situations bigger makes the task easier, but that's where the balance of carryability comes into play. I'm not carrying around a 10" folder to handle a one off task, but I've found 3.5" to be much more versatile/efficient than 3" when I am in atypical situations.

I do love the carry and low profile of a 3" blade, but I don't lose much pocket real estate going up half an inch so I go for the extra versatility.
 
I never carry anything back pocket--too easy to steal, uncomfortable to sit on. Left front pocket--Galaxy Note 4, insulin pen, Streamlight ProTac 2L, car fob. Right front pocket--knife, glucose meter, needles, wallet, house keys/office keys.

Of my 10 folders, the 0561 is the largest at 3.70" and only sees weekend use. EDC usually around 3" (Brous Bionic, ZT 0770CF, Spyderco Manix 2, TSF Beast). The longer knives get carried on the weekend (0801, 0561, PM2, Gayle Bradley).

I customarily wear Lucky Brand jeans, specifically the 181 and 487. 38x34.
 
My smaller knives see weekend carry. When in jeans Manix 2 or PM2 front right pocket. With a Manbug in the change pocket.

But at work the Military is in my right front pocket.

Just bumming around in sweats or shorts, a Native 5 LW or BM530.
 
Last edited:
Bigger is always better when it comes to blade length... ;):D:thumbup:

16347113216_ec595a20e6_b.jpg
 
You got me thinking about what I have carried over the years, so I had to measure the blades.

Military service:
CRKT M16-02 Tanto, 3 in blade and a CRKT Prowler, 3 1/2 in blade. Although the extra half inch of blade on the Prowler was a plus, the M16 was much better in my pocket. I did find the Tanto blade of the M16 about right most of the time, however there were times that I could see it was lacking. Because of this, I will never buy a tanto blade under 3 inches.

Work:
I work in a medical office, so a normal work day calls for me to wear slacks and a dress shirt. I have tried knives like the Prowler and my Benchmade Griptillian at work but they are just to large. The doctors don't have a problem with what I carry but it is just to much bulk in a pants pocket. It is also not a good idea to pull something like a full size Griptillian out in front of a patient. I have found that my Vic Cadet works okay but is a little small for my taste.
My Kershaw Zing (non assist, US model) works well, as does my SAK Soldier. Both knives sport 3 in blades. I also sometimes carry a Gerber EAB utility knife at work with good results. My personal favorite is the Kershaw but some sort of SAK becomes the winner if I consider possible reactions from patients and public.

Fixed blade:
The largest fixed blade that I would consider is my father's old hunting knife, a Western W36 clip point. With a five and half inch blade, it is a huge blade to carry, much larger than I would be comfortable with. My 4 3/4 in. Benchmade 162 even seems a little big.

Over all:
I find that both my brain and my eyes like the idea of a 3.5 to 4 inch folder for EDC but for me, a 3 inch is just much more practical. I find a 3.5 inch the largest size that I am comfortable with for every day pocket carry. A three inch blade is almost perfect IMHO. I do find it a little short sometimes, so let's make the perfect EDC folder blade 3 1/4 inches. After all, what guy would not like to add one quarter of an inch on to their tool?
 
Cold Steel XL Voyager tanto, Schrade 501, Leatherman Wave, Buck 373 (I think, I'll check later) and a few more sharp things depending on my whims. 5.11 TacLight Pro pants to carry it all.
 
Last edited:
I usually stick around 3.5. My current folder has a 4 inch blade in a handle that's no longer than most 3.5 blades so I'll take it.
 
As I can easily palm a basketball, I have zero interest in tiny knives, especially when couched in terms of "need."

I don't want a knife better suited to a munchkin than to someone with paws like mine.
 
My preference for EDC is an FRN Endura. Just works for me. Very comfortable.

When I use a smaller knife, I've found the G-10 Worker sprint is a very handy little knife.

It's all ergos and comfort.
 
I think anything between 3-5" is perfect for most of what I do. Sometimes a 2.5" blade would be more handy, other times a 5.5" blade is more handy. It just depends, I often carry two knives, a cold steel xl voyager and a kershaw blur. Once I have the funds I'll be adding a spyderco dragonfly to the lineup, which is about 2.5" iirc. Big knives are great for chopping, food prep etc. most of my larger then 6" knives sit in my room and collect dust.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top