Concerns about BIG folders

A

Alberto Salas

Joined
Jan 30, 2003
Messages
268
Hi guys!

Yesterday, I went to a gun shop and had the chance of handle the SOG Spec-Elite II.
I was shocked!
First, is very rare to see a decent knife here in a costarican shop.
Second, is very rare to see a knife that big!
You can find the specs here:
http://sogknives.com/store/SE18.html#

The Spec-Elite II is a BIG knife, heavy and solid, but smooth and nice to hold.

But....

It really make sense to make a folder this big?
Is a massive blade, maybe can do a nice light chopping, but it has to make a lot of leverage, and only a couple of pins holds it in possition and protects your fingers.

Again, make sense a folder that big? What do you think?

BETO

====================
Sorry for my english :o
 
Nothing wrong with a big pocket knife if you are going to use it. Depends on what you like. I carry a SOG Twitch II (3" blade) these days along with a SAK. Just got a new SAK today in fact. Like those knives for everyday use.
 
I just got a ZT 302 and I love the size. It fits my hand like a dream and is large enough to get most anything I need done. I wear somewhat loose jeans everyday though so it's easier for me to pocket. Here in Alaska it is not uncommon for people to have a deccent size knife on them. Also I have the blade on my SAK multi and a smaller kershaw clipped to my coats inner zipper, so I have smaller blades for smaller jobs.
 
The difference between a 4" and 5" blade is another 1 1/2" in length. At that point it pushes out of my pocket and unclips. I'm about 5'6", so it goes if you have a longer waist it may be no problem.

At $135 MSRP, I don't like littering the landscape with my knives. I just have to accept I can't carry big ones. The Spyderco Military even gave me this problem. But not the SnG, which may be influenced by clip location or stubborn persistence.
 
At some point in time with the pivot designs/materials that are used on today's folders, lateral strength would become a question with longer blades and with blades lengths surpassing that point, I'd be more comfortable just going fixed blade. I don't know at what length that is -- would be an interesting study to do.

Personally, from a hand fit and carry perspective, I don't care for folded lengths of much longer than 4", and don't have much use for folder blade lengths longer than 3.5".
 
Every now and then the subject of mega folders comes up, and I'm always surprised at how many there are at 5" or more, and how many smaller folders are really very bulky, also.

If you set a knife like the Endura as a standard, with a 4" blade and a flat handle, easily carried just about anywhere, and capable of doing almost any folder task, the mega folders don't look as necessary, but they have their place.

I used to take a Vaquero Grande with its 6" blade into the woods to clear weeds and thorns and low-hanging branches from the trail. Shorter blades don't do the job, and a machete would have been overkill, especially in a New York City park.

I have been carrying a Spyderco Military, and the blade is long enough and flat and sharp that I will haul it out to do real work in the kitchen.

Some of them are just for fun. I got a Hossom Retribution and I honestly don't have a place in my rotation for anything that large and robust. But I might someday! :D
 
I like my folders 3 1/2 to 4 " blade length, any longer might as well have a fixed blade any shorter they feel whimpy.
 
Big folders loosley defined as 4" and up have their place . A lot of uniformed types can carry a big folder but not a fixed blade . If you do a lot of sitting , but occaisionaly engage in activity requiring a big knife , a mega folder might be just the ticket . Some prefer them for saftey reasons , in the event of a fall , a folder in a pouch is a lot safer than a fixed blade .

Chris
 
I love big folders. I carry a Spyderco Police almost every day. When out camping they are able to do far more than small folders.
 
Thanks for the answers guys,

Just for the records I find 4" blade a good length, the knife I saw is the one with 5" blade, and after reading your comments, I realise that my big concerns is about the leverage that the blade can put on the lock or the pivot.

Knives like the Vaquero Grande, or even the SOG had to put a lot of pressure on the lock and pivot even in normal use.

Are they secure?
(I hope all that makes sense, my crappy english don't help :thumbdn: )


BETO

====================
Sorry for my english :o
 
Your English is practically perfect. :)

I've used the Vaquero Grande to chop with, for years, and it hasn't loosened up a bit. Remember that a lockback is taking that pressure in direct line with the lock, exactly where it is best able to handle it.

Sometimes the tiny serrations fold over, so I steel them on the back of the blade to restore them.
 
I also like (and own) many big folders. My largest is the Camillus CUDA MAXX 5.5" blade. Even bigger than the one you looked at. They give me the ability to carry a knife that as big as a medium sized fixed blade in a small package. Granted, it's not a safe as a fixed blade but I don't use it like one either. I also have custom leather "friction" sheaths made for my large folders so carrying them comfortably is not a problem.

Regards
 
The CUDA Maxx makes a great food prep knife. If it weren't so large, it wouldn't be as good a slicer for carving roasts or melons or loaves of bread.
 
Alberto Salas said:
Thanks for the answers guys,
Just for the records I find 4" blade a good length, the knife I saw is the one with 5" blade, and after reading your comments, I realise that my big concerns is about the leverage that the blade can put on the lock or the pivot.
Knives like the Vaquero Grande, or even the SOG had to put a lot of pressure on the lock and pivot even in normal use.
Are they secure?
(I hope all that makes sense, my crappy english don't help :thumbdn: )
BETO
Sorry for my english :o
Click to expand...

There was a long thread a month or so ago about how strong certain locks are. The SOG Arc-Lock is one of the strongest in the business and can handle anything you can throw at it. Here is a quote I obtained from SOG about the testing of this lock.

========================================================
Here is the information our Marketing department has provided.

The Arc-Lock is basically a rotating cam that intersects the knife tang. Once engaged, the harder you try to force it closed, the more it wedges. The lock was tested with pressure applied 1/2" from the tip of the spine of the knife and did not fail until 338 pounds of pressure was applied. That equals 1,183 lbs of pressure directly to the lock before it failed.

Regards,
Jose Lopez
Retail Sales & Customer Service
SOG Specialty Knives & Tools
=======================================================

I hope that helps to calm your fears.

Regards
 
tirod3 said:
The difference between a 4" and 5" blade is another 1 1/2" in length. At that point it pushes out of my pocket and unclips. I'm about 5'6", so it goes if you have a longer waist it may be no problem.

At $135 MSRP, I don't like littering the landscape with my knives. I just have to accept I can't carry big ones. The Spyderco Military even gave me this problem. But not the SnG, which may be influenced by clip location or stubborn persistence.
Click to expand...

you must have shallow pockets. I can carry my Cuda Maxx 7.0 in my front pockets without it becoming unclipped. Maybe it depends on the brand of pants, or type of pocket.
 
Thanks for the answers boys,

think I'm gonna try a mega-folder soon :eek:



Esav Benyamin said:
Your English is practically perfect. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Esav!
I can read english very good, but write it is still a very long and painful process for me, and not always I say what I meant :foot:
I'm keeping my signature for a awhile.

BETO

====================
Sorry for my english :o
 
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