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Blade length.Shrinking with age?

Todd A

Todd A

Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
1,035
Just curious. I do understand many of us carry multiple knives outdoors. But today SWMBO mentioned I should clean out my "junk drawer"....what I call my user knives drawer :).

So to keep domestic peace and tranquility I did what I was told to do.:o

After I removed knives I don't really use, I noticed my largest fixed blade has a 3" blade.:eek:

There was once a time I would never be without a larger knife, 5"-6" in my younger years. But now I noticed that for my needs (Day hikes and an overnighter here and there) a small fixed handles all my cutting needs. (an axe has always been my chopper)

So,has anyone else noticed a trend to "downsize" their "go to" woods-knife?
 
I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up.

:)
 
i don't think my tastes/prferences have changed much.. i have never really been into big knives and rarely carry a knife, that has a blade bigger than 4 in..
 
I always carried BIG blades, always. Then a while back I got a couple of 5-6" blades and got rid of almost all my huge choppers, then I got some more large blades, and ended up sell them off to get a few smaller 3-4" blades... at the moment, I am selling again so that means.... :)

But by and far, I now much prefer a 5-6" blade over anything larger.
 
I usually carry a small pocket knife everywhere (CRKT M16-13LE 3-1/4"). If I go out for an extended time something in the range of 5" + would still be on my side. Currently this spot would be occupied by a Badger Attack. I will be experimenting with the feel of the RatWaki and a Beast from John Gage when they arrive because I like the ability to bushwack through thickets if I want to. And I'll be experimenting with a Kukri of 10"-12" for some of the same reasons but also to see if I can actually replace a hatchet/tomahawk. Beyond that I'm still searching for that all in one does everything superbly edged tool of 2" to 18" blade length and 1oz-32oz weight.:o:D
Good luck right?
 
kgd said:
I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up. Then I went down and then I came back up.

:)
Click to expand...

This should explain my situation quite well, thank you. :thumbup:
 
I've slowly went down for the past 20 years. I used to carry a Randall number 14 as my go-to knife. Then I went down to a 5 inch pukko. Then I went down to a 4 inch sheath knife. I ended up with using whatever my pocket knife of the day was combined with a small hatchet or 12 inch machete. These days I use a sak and 12 inch Ontario or Tramontina as my kayak/camping/hiking outfit. On hikes I carry a folder or two, and a saw, if I don't carry a 12 inch machete. My folders are a Wenger SI or a Victorinox hiker for the woods. A number 8 Opinel may be around in my daypack. They seem to do all that needs to be done in the way of cutting. My regular edc pocket knife these days is a Victorinx bantam or a recruit.
 
other than a machete and a big bowie, all my main users are around the four inch mark, with the largest being 5.5''. My preferance has pretty much stayed consistant for as long as I can remember, I jave just never really cared for most big knives. But, I definatly get what you are saying, generally people start out thinking that the bigger a knife, the more usful it will be. But then, as they gain some expirience, they realize that a small knife is more usful.
 
I'm kinda in the same boat. I've stayed pretty much in the 3-4 inch mark but I'm trending to thinner knives now.
 
Size matters. :eek:

I find I like to use small blades for those tasks that only require a small blade.

I also tend to have a big blade at hand for those tasks that are best handled with some serious steel.

That said, 4” to 5” blades are still my favorite and most used knives.



Some people think I carry too many knives, :rolleyes:

…I think I don’t carry enough. :D




Big Mike

”Scaring the tree huggers.”

Forest & Stream
 
I think as I've become older, my choice of knife has become smaller. However, recently I've ordered a couple in the 5-6" range to fill some perceived "gaps." Nevertheless, it's really the 2-4" knives that get carried and used.
 
I stopped carrying my BK9 in the city < that plus the crazed :eek: look in my eyes freaked people out. :D

aaaaah but seriously, no, i have always had larger blades on the belt and on the pack. Our terrain and dense forest is part of the reason, the other reason is i just like using larger blades.
 
Well, I went from 4" on my first ever fixed up to 6" with the Buck 119, then 7-9" with a Ka-Bar and a W49 Bowie....then I worked my way back down to the 5-6" range with a USAF issue survival knife and the my old SOG bowie. I am happiest with the 5-6.5" range at this point and I think any smaller will be for purely legal reasons more than any changes in my wants.
 
Some chopping contests I have done in the past few years have made me rethink the large heavy fixed blade thing. Oh, I still like them, but for my uses, a golok or machete does as well for a lot less weight and expense. I have come to the opinion that all I really need is a SAK, medium fixed blade, and a machete. I have so many big bowies, khukris and choppers I really don't need. I still prefer my fixed blades over 4", but less than 7".
 
Horn Dog said:
Some chopping contests I have done in the past few years have made me rethink the large heavy fixed blade thing. Oh, I still like them, but for my uses, a golok or machete does as well for a lot less weight and expense. I have come to the opinion that all I really need is a SAK, medium fixed blade, and a machete. I have so many big bowies, khukris and choppers I really don't need. I still prefer my fixed blades over 4", but less than 7".
Click to expand...

:eek::eek::eek::eek: Vic is that you????

:D :D
 
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