Blade length: need vs. want

Originally Posted by bluemetalchurch
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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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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I have field dressed deer with a SAK because I forgot another knife. My more recent "usual" was a Camillus Remington Bullet trapper which I used for years. Before that, I used a Scharde 250T (essentially a two blade Buck 110) and that worked just fine. I liked the smaller knife for the dexterity it gave me in tighter places. People talk about the difficulty of cleaning a folding knife after field dressing chores. I don't see a particular problem cleaning a knife and if you miss something inside, you get it the next time you clean it. I might add that I seldom cut food with a folding knife. My SAK is always in my pocket and gets used for cutting most everything except while hunting.

I have always been interested in fixed blades for hunting but found I seldom actually need (need vs want) one in the Eastern woods. That hasn't stopped me. Picked up a Cabelas Buck Alaskan Guide Series 191 in S30V. Wonderful size for hunting as long as you aren't cleaning trees or brush (shooting lanes, ya know). (Steel is good. Of course there is better.) That particular knife was recommended by Jeepster last year and because I really like the Blackjack 125, I thought I'd pick one up. The 191 has about a 4" blade. All you need. Really well done too by Buck. Honestly, these days I take a Dozier custom to the woods. Stilll not a really expensive custom. Such is life, but I wanted to really handle and perhaps use the 191. It's sad that I blow $100 just to handle a knife. No I don't sell them.

The fact is that I like just about any knife that is fairly well made. Neighbor kid proudly showed me his new scout knife the other day. I thought it was a SAK, at first glance; it was a Chinese knife. But I know he was happy and that is what counts. He'll grow up to buy more pricey knives I feel sure.

I seldom see the merits of choosing a knife for self defense purposes unless you know how to use it that way. Most don't. Self defense is where you likely go with the 3.5-4.5" blades in a folding knife. For me, the 2.5-3.5" is the practical sweet spot for EDC. 3-3.25" is my most common blade size.
 
22-rimfire said:
The fact is that I like just about any knife that is fairly well made. Neighbor kid proudly showed me his new scout knife the other day. I thought it was a SAK, at first glance; it was a Chinese knife. But I know he was happy and that is what counts. He'll grow up to buy more pricey knives I feel sure.

I seldom see the merits of choosing a knife for self defense purposes unless you know how to use it that way. Most don't.
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This, times two.

Regarding the original question and repeating things others have said, for me it's about: food prep, wood and hand size.

Food Prep - as others have said, it's easier to reach to the bottom of the peanut butter jar with a longer knife. Most everything in the kitchen is easier with a longer knife. I use my pocket knife for food like all the time. Two days ago, my daughter came back from the bakery where she works with a giant raspberry Bismark for 3 of us to split. The Buck 110 I was carrying was able to reach through it with a minimum of mess.

Wood - I use my knives to cut branches and such all the time. Slicing cuts work best and slicing cuts are better with more blade. Yesterday, clearing 4' (you read that right) of snow off my barn I needed to cut back some branches to reach. Easier with a longer a blade.

Hands - My gloves are all XL. Smaller knives gets lost in my fingers. Bigger knives feel more natural to me.

My most common carry is an Opinel #9. Also often carry a Buck 110, Schrade 51OT, Buck 500 or 112.

Big folders by Pinnah, on Flickr

Sometimes, smaller is better and for those times, I also have a Micra in my off pocket.
 
(I once field-dressed an apple with a Vic Classic: 1.5 inch blade. You can do it but, man, everything's all sticky afterward.)

My usual blade length for a folder is in the 2.5 to 3.5 inch range. For fixed blades, it's 3.5 to 5 inches (although I have a traditional Kabar with the 7 inch blade).

All depends what're planning to use it for.
 
What I'd like to carry:
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what addresses most--nearly all--of my edc needs:
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I usually go with an sng in one pocket, the GEC #25 in another and a SAK fieldmaster and a CS Recon 1 tucked away in my pack... hell, this is bat country!
 
Folders, I like a 3-4 inch blade. Feels good in my hand and does what I need it to (though a box cutter does the job to)
Fixed blades, I prefer 4-4.75inch blades. Gives me the best control and all around utility, since they're for a different setting, the criteria calls for a bigger blade.
 
pinnah said:
This, times two.

Regarding the original question and repeating things others have said, for me it's about: food prep, wood and hand size.

Food Prep - as others have said, it's easier to reach to the bottom of the peanut butter jar with a longer knife. Most everything in the kitchen is easier with a longer knife. I use my pocket knife for food like all the time. Two days ago, my daughter came back from the bakery where she works with a giant raspberry Bismark for 3 of us to split. The Buck 110 I was carrying was able to reach through it with a minimum of mess.

*snip*
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Agreed, you need some long knives in the kitchen. The kitchen is where I do most of my cutting anyway but somehow the EDC blades get all the glory.

The humble butter knife never gets much praise either but they see a lot of use digging in jars and what have you. I have even been known to take one on the trail from time to time. :eek:
 
My XL-XXL mitts determine the size of my blade. I find most knives under 3.25" of blade general have too little handle for me to comfortably hang onto with all my sausage fingers. Realistically I could accomplish my daily knife tasks with nothing more than the little SAK my brother brought back for me when he travelled Europe. But miss out on carrying my Grayman Satu!? No way!
 
I like around 2.5" to 3" blade for a folder.
For a fixed blade 3.75" to 4.25".
These are for general all purpose applications. I'll take a bigger blade for a special purpose camp/chopper knife.

I really don't like disproportionately small handles. Generally I'll take an inch more length in handle compared to blade length.
 
Personally I try to go as close to 4" without going over because the law in CT says I can't carry 4+. While most tasks could certainly be done with a smaller blade there are some that only a bigger blade will do well. If I could I'd carry 4.5 to 5 inch folders regularly. In addition to being able to do more I also have big old wide hands. So a knife with more handle is more comfortable to me. Most knives handles are preportionate to blade length. Some knives are just not comfy in their smaller sizes. Like for example the xm18. The little one doesn't jive with my hand. The pocket clip isn't where it should be. The bigger xm24 fits like a glove. Secondary to utility and comfort of larger designs I also like a larger blade because in the event I have to use it in a defensive role it'll be that much more effective. You get more reach, more penetration, and a larger cutting edge. All plusses in a defensive blade
 
3 -3.5 is my ideal range. big enough to do all the work I need and not so large as to irritate my leg if in my pocket of hang/bang against times if in a belt pouch.. I have larger blades, both slippies and non-tradtional, but fine I like that blade length in both styles. Of course my VIC Tinker (nearly as old as I) is always in my pocket. I trade around from my knife box as to what else to carry day to day. Working the yard I sometime carry a 4 incher for pruning brushes, etc.
But my usually knives are in the 3-3.5 range. To each his/her own preference based on needs and likes.
Rich
 
I like big knives, whether folder or fixed. Why ? probably because of my personal experiences. A large knife can limb a sapling quickly, hack through the spider web encrusted face slapping , leg tripping brush. And I feel safer with a larger blade, particularly in more remote locations. I have had a pack of coyotes come up a hill very closely in a pitch black night after calling them, and more than once I have had dogs being extremely aggressive with me, once I had three coming in and out and once, snapping and snarling, just out of town. Although the reality is that I would likely have a walking stick. But then walking sticks don't work well on a back up fero rod. But that's just me, and I'm no Mors Kochansky that could build a cabin with a SAK. And maybe I just get off on big blades, who knows. At the same time it is more than apparent to me that blades in the 4 inch and less category are far more practical and utilitarian to me. An ESEE Izula 2 can likely cover most all of my cutting needs in or out of town. But after you have tried to cut up vegetables etc with a small bladed knife, you see the restrictions. The food can actually bump the grip/handle, lifting it up, and reduce cutting efficiency....... The true all round utilitarian size for me is actually around 4 inches. This is probably why my regripped ESEE 4 is a favourite. But the big brush whackers are more fun.
 
I like fixed blade knives. I only own, use and carry fixed blade knives now too.

I like two blade lengths in fixed blade knives especially since I no longer carry a handgun. I still carry and shoot a few rifles though.

I like fixed blade knives in a larger blade for the woods/wilderness.

I am used to carrying the Buck #119 Special more often and it does not bother me at all with the blade length or with the entire weight and size of the knife. I barely notice any KNIFE weight since I was used to carrying a handgun. No one gets their panties in a knot around here with that blade length IN or out of town either.

I like another blade length for EDC in a fanny pack if I am not wearing a belt.

The two BLADE lengths vary for me.

Buck Ranger Skinner #113 = 3 1/8 inches long.

Buck #119 Special = 6 inches long.

I have some other blade lengths in BUCK knives but those are my top two favorites for now. I only own a few knives on purpose and I am not a collector. (Profile.)

I keep a Ka-Bar # 1211 by my bed too. Straight edge and it's blade is 7 inches long. I plan on taking this #1211 and my two BUCK knives above camping. I camp and hike in grizzly bear country. I sleep in a simple, new van with a mattress in the back and not in a tent. I have plenty of room in this new 'work van' since it only has two bucket seats up front. It is a work van but we do not use it for work. We use it for my style of camping in bear country and for travel. My husband uses his pick up truck for everything else.

I like larger blades on knives for the woods/wilderness even though I ALWAYS pack a rifle on me. I usually never use a rifle sling but I have TAUGHT myself to use one IN the woods/wilderness when I hike with him. (I used to always just carry my rifle.) The sling/slings work well on his Marlin 336C in a 30-30 that I use in the boonies. I have two leather rifle slings but I prefer the simple military style one more than the prettier one.

I have seen and own some beautiful, quality made knives with larger blades. I like larger blades for the woods/wilderness and, yes, you could say that I NEED them not just want them for self defense if need be. Only fixed blade knives for me too.

Cate
 
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upnorth said:
I like big knives, whether folder or fixed. Why ? probably because of my personal experiences. A large knife can limb a sapling quickly, hack through the spider web encrusted face slapping , leg tripping brush. And I feel safer with a larger blade, particularly in more remote locations. I have had a pack of coyotes come up a hill very closely in a pitch black night after calling them, and more than once I have had dogs being extremely aggressive with me, once I had three coming in and out and once, snapping and snarling, just out of town. Although the reality is that I would likely have a walking stick. But then walking sticks don't work well on a back up fero rod. But that's just me, and I'm no Mors Kochansky that could build a cabin with a SAK. And maybe I just get off on big blades, who knows. At the same time it is more than apparent to me that blades in the 4 inch and less category are far more practical and utilitarian to me. An ESEE Izula 2 can likely cover most all of my cutting needs in or out of town. But after you have tried to cut up vegetables etc with a small bladed knife, you see the restrictions. The food can actually bump the grip/handle, lifting it up, and reduce cutting efficiency....... The true all round utilitarian size for me is actually around 4 inches. This is probably why my regripped ESEE 4 is a favourite. But the big brush whackers are more fun.
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I can relate to your safety concerns in the woods and wilderness.

Thank you.

Cate
 
Many years ago my Spyderco Endura wave with a 3.81" blade passed the St. Louis Arch checkpoint- the fail limit was >4". Today I'd probably be up against the wall with an MP5 stuck in my ear.

I believe that more than a few states define a pocket knife as having a blade LESS than (insert their number here). Recall the Feds signage at the Arch said 4" limit and yes they did measure it,

Best.
 
I want to carry a large 4 inch or larger but my EDC is somewhere between 2.5 and 3.0 inches. Realistically the 2.5 blade works better for me than the 3.0 inch blade in an office environment like the one I work in.
 
I went for many years with a Victorinox Spartan as my only EDC knife, and never encountered any cutting I couldn't handle with it. I still EDC SAKs.

I own a couple Spydie Militaries and a PM2, but almost never carry them. I have carried and extensively used Delicas, Enduras, Pac Salt, Tasman Salt. I never found the Dragonfly to be comfortable in my hand.

I've been EDCing my large CRK Insingo. I also have a small, but I carry the large more because it feels better in my hand when opening, using and closing. I could get by fine with the smaller sized knife's <3" blade, but it doesn't feel as comfortable to operate. It has nothing at all to do with not knowing how to get the most out of a small blade. It's the individual knife itself. If it's more comfortable and natural, it's going to get carried and subsequently used more.

Jim
 
5cm - 7cm is my floor and ceiling for blade length, with 6.4 - 7cm being my personal sweet spot. And quite frankly, I have never needed anything more than 6.5 or 6.6cm. Even as an active conscript, i have yet to experience any situation that would require a knife larger than my Sanrenmus or Enlans with their <7cm blades.
 
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