afishhunter
Gold Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2014
- Messages
- 13,170
over the last 60~61 years I've come the conclusion that for a folding in the pocket knife, I prefer a full 4 finger grip, and blades that don't look fraile. The smallest I'll carry is a 3.25 to 3.5 inch closed Barlow. I don't like the "medium" 3.625 inch Buck 303/Old Timer 34OT size stockmans. To me, they look and feel .... "flimsy" .... I know they aren't, and there are other knives the same size (such as the canoe, and a loom fixer/half hawk, folding carpet/linoleum/pruning/hawkbill, and 4 blade scout/camp/Demo knife that I do like and carry regularly.
I tried the "medium" stockman, didn't like it. I gave it to a friend who prefers that size stockman. I like the 3 7/8 (3.825) inch and larger.
For carrying loose, in the bottom of my pocket, 4.625 inches closed is the upper limit. Larger than that; my Buck 110/112, (the 112feels"cramped" to me) Old Timer 6OT/7OT and 5.5 inch two blade slipjoint folding hunter's, go on my belt.
As for a non-folding sheath/hunting knife, I've discovered through trial and (many) error(s), for my needs and uses, a relatively thin 3.5 to 5 inch blade works best for me.
I know there are some who can use/need additional blade length. I'm not one of them. They normally don't buy the 3.5 to 5 inch blade knives, leaving one for me. I return the favor, and don't buy the longer blades, (hopefully) leaving one for them.
My "go to" sheath/hunting knives are the Buck 877, Schrade Sharp Finger, Mora Number 1, Western L66, and Cold Steel FINN BEAR.
I don't prep my firewood, or fell trees with my knife. 3.5 to 5 inch is plenty long to gut and peel a critter, or clean the average freshwater fish. (Some catfish may be an exception. However, they are by no means "average". I've yet to catch a freshwater fish I needed more than a 5 inch blade to clean and make fit in my 10 inch cast iron fry pan, or in the freezer.)
I had a Buck 119, and if it be blasphemy to say it, so be it. Loathe me if you "must": "I didn't care for it."
At the very least, the blade felt too big, and ... cumbersome ... I suppose ... when gutting and peeling a critter. Again, I gave it to a (different, and now late) friend, who liked and used the larger blades.
I tried the "medium" stockman, didn't like it. I gave it to a friend who prefers that size stockman. I like the 3 7/8 (3.825) inch and larger.
For carrying loose, in the bottom of my pocket, 4.625 inches closed is the upper limit. Larger than that; my Buck 110/112, (the 112feels"cramped" to me) Old Timer 6OT/7OT and 5.5 inch two blade slipjoint folding hunter's, go on my belt.
As for a non-folding sheath/hunting knife, I've discovered through trial and (many) error(s), for my needs and uses, a relatively thin 3.5 to 5 inch blade works best for me.
I know there are some who can use/need additional blade length. I'm not one of them. They normally don't buy the 3.5 to 5 inch blade knives, leaving one for me. I return the favor, and don't buy the longer blades, (hopefully) leaving one for them.
My "go to" sheath/hunting knives are the Buck 877, Schrade Sharp Finger, Mora Number 1, Western L66, and Cold Steel FINN BEAR.
I don't prep my firewood, or fell trees with my knife. 3.5 to 5 inch is plenty long to gut and peel a critter, or clean the average freshwater fish. (Some catfish may be an exception. However, they are by no means "average". I've yet to catch a freshwater fish I needed more than a 5 inch blade to clean and make fit in my 10 inch cast iron fry pan, or in the freezer.)
I had a Buck 119, and if it be blasphemy to say it, so be it. Loathe me if you "must": "I didn't care for it."
At the very least, the blade felt too big, and ... cumbersome ... I suppose ... when gutting and peeling a critter. Again, I gave it to a (different, and now late) friend, who liked and used the larger blades.
