Do you EDC a Mega Folder?

After doing an article on extra large folders for the Russian knife magazine, Prorez, I decided I quite liked the Cold Steel Large Espada that I tested in the article. I sent the other test knives back to Cold Steel (the Rajah II, Spartan, a 5 inch Voyager, Espada XL--now that is a big folder!), but Cold Steel was contacted, the Large Espada was purchased, and I carry it frequently. It is, pretty much, a constant weekend companion. I should have kept the Rajah II as well, as I miss it. I'll have to order one.

Carrying a five to six inch bladed folder is not difficult if you wear jeans, Dockers, or "tactical" gear, but the size and weight can be a bit much for thin dress pants, if carried in the pocket instead of inside the waistband. When not doing something with my unit on the street, I am in the office in a business suit, so the Large Espada is not worn to work that often. However, due to an upcoming article on large fixed blades for self-defense, I am carrying a Cold Steel San Mai III Laredo Bowie concealed while wearing a suit and carrying law enforcement gear and handgun, so, if there is a will, there is probably a way;).
 
cutter17 said:
The Cuda Maxx's carried real well due to their thiness, and real, real well if you purchased the DR designed foldover clip from Knifekits.com that was made to fit this knife.

The only way I'll carry a mega folder is if it will carry deep. I would never be able to carry the retribution 1 if I had not fitted it with a fold-over clip at the rearmost part of the handle.

As mentioned above by Larry Turko, the key to carrying a mega folder is in the clothing, that is if you do not want anyone to know you are carrying a mega folder, and with loose fitting clothing it is really a cinch to get by without the knife printing. I have carrying my retribution 1 for the past several weeks to work and have yet to have anyone make a comment, or even notice. I wear loose kakhi type pants, shirt, and tie to work. Course if I need a knife to work with, I pull out the medium Case slipjoint that I always carry in my left front pocket.


Guess I just got a thing for them mega's!!:D:thumbup:
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+1 on the Hossom Retribution 1, I have the 2 also but the larger folder fits my hand like a custom. Great knife.
 
Not necessarily mega folders for me, but I prefer folder blades to be around 4 inches and no less than 0.125 inches thick (about 3mm for the rest of the world :p).
 
I have the Retribution I and a X2 Voyager.
The Voyager gets the lions share of pocket time among the two, being as it's the only one with a clip (though my Spyderco's still get the most EDC treatment).
Once the 2010 model comes out things are gonna be different around here.:D
 
I own a half dozen or so Militaries and when I first got one, I thought it was huge. After carrying it for awhile, it became 'normal' in size. Now I EDC a Cold Steel 5" XL Voyager PE Clip point and alternate with a Cold Steel 5" Gunsite. These knives have a slightly thinner handle than a Griptilian and don't weigh as much as a Recon 1 or an AK-47. I clip them to my pocket and easily forget they are there.

A 5" or 6" blade is handy in the kitchen, great for slicing Parisian French bread and due to the blade length, it is easy to keep gunk away from the pivot. After using the good stuff, a 4" blade now seems tiny to me.
 
I EDC a SOG Spec-Elite II. Its a 5 inch folder. It doesn't really ever bother me, although when people ask to see my knife I usually warn them that it's a big knife and to be careful. Gotta love Texas. My only gripe is that the handle is made of some flimsy ass Zytel. I don't understand why SOG would make an obvious mega-folder and then try to dress it up as some 2 inch knife. Its a BIG knife.... so why use materials that contradict its design?!? Go with something a little thicker and stronger. Like G-10. It's frustrating when a knife company is so close to making a perfect knife (IMO) and then they go and screw it up. If I send them an email about it do you think they'll respond? It's worth a shot right?

Anyway, back on topic.
I will add that I also carried the 5in. voyager for about a year and a half. It was and still is a great knife, however the SOG Spec-Elite II is easier to carry due to its narrower blade desgin, which took up less space in my pocket.
I carry a mega-folder and I'm satisfied with it.

Just my .02 Hope this helps....
 
i edc'd a ralph maxx 5.5" stilletto for a yr or 2, also a REKAT sifu for a bit, dont carry either anymore though (still have the maxx) and go with something more in the 4" range now.
 
I find its weight not size that is the deciding factor. For example the CS Black Rhino is big but it ain't heavy due to the use of aluminium for the liners and bolsters.

Rhinoinhand002.jpg


IMO the CQC-12 'Comrade' is about the ideal folder in terms of size, weight and thickness.
 
The following is just an observation. I have been carrying the O-H Retribution 1 for the past few weeks. Yesterday I got a ZT0200KW to replace t he one I had. Now we all know how beefy a folder the ZT0200 is and that it is a definate heavy duty knife. Of that there is little doubt. But as soon as I took it from the box I thought how tiny this knife looks and how light it feels! The 7.7 ounces is no lightweight, nor the ~4.0" blade small.

The ZT is a great feeling knife and a knife I have been in love with since my first one 2 to 3 years ago. But man how that Retribution 1 has screwed my perspective! Any others ever experienced this?
 
Yup... I'd rather carry my Retribution1 any day over the ZT, providing the Retribution is waved, Emerson black G10 scales, and L/R tip up. My wife has the Retribution2 and she says its perfect. Both are currently with RW getting the same handle/clip mods.
 
also, depending on the knife, some large folders (to me large is over 4.5") carry very well and are no more hassle to edc than a smaller one in the 3.5" range, the ralph maxx/cammilus cuda maxx is certainly one of them, its lite and thin and carries very well for a 5.5" blade, the sifu wasnt bad either but the rolling lock wasnt imho reliable enough for any serious use, some folders which are thicker and heavier like the strider AR and GB dont carry very well in the pocket even though the blade is much shorter than the maxx, they are more at home in a belt sheath vs a pocket imho, anyway point being a lot of the larger folders carry very well considering how long the blade is,
 
I want them to make a cheap zytel version of the extra large Espada. I'd get one out of pure craziness.
 
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I have EDC'd a five inch voyager, a six inch voyager, a BM Rukus, and am currently carrying a BM onslaught. I know the last two are not 5+, but much larger that the 2.5 to 3 incher that most people I know carry on a regular basis. I normally don't buy a folder with less than a 4 inch blade.
 
My limit for a folder is 3.5 inch. I feel like it is much better to have a 4in+ Fixed blade than any large folder.
PS fixed blades are legal to carry where i live
 
i have carried a 5" Voyager for years, IWB. I used to carry 3 or 'em, but came to my senses and added a fixed blade. I also used to EDC an X-2. Very easy to carry, could easily carry 'em all at once. I like the mega folders, but decided to go back to a straight knife as my primary, as its both quicker and stronger. Still EDC that voyager as well.
 
baksilum said:
I EDC a SOG Spec-Elite II. Its a 5 inch folder. It doesn't really ever bother me, although when people ask to see my knife I usually warn them that it's a big knife and to be careful. Gotta love Texas. My only gripe is that the handle is made of some flimsy ass Zytel. I don't understand why SOG would make an obvious mega-folder and then try to dress it up as some 2 inch knife. Its a BIG knife.... so why use materials that contradict its design?!? Go with something a little thicker and stronger. Like G-10. It's frustrating when a knife company is so close to making a perfect knife (IMO) and then they go and screw it up. If I send them an email about it do you think they'll respond? It's worth a shot right?

Anyway, back on topic.
I will add that I also carried the 5in. voyager for about a year and a half. It was and still is a great knife, however the SOG Spec-Elite II is easier to carry due to its narrower blade desgin, which took up less space in my pocket.
I carry a mega-folder and I'm satisfied with it.

Just my .02 Hope this helps....
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I love the blade shape on the Elite. I wish it had thicker steel liners to make it a bit more rigid.
 
Joshua J. said:
I have the Retribution I and a X2 Voyager.
The Voyager gets the lions share of pocket time among the two, being as it's the only one with a clip (though my Spyderco's still get the most EDC treatment).
Once the 2010 model comes out things are gonna be different around here.:D
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Oh man, I so cannot wait for the 2010 Cold Steel Voyagers!
I have the 2010 Recon 1 in my pocket right now to kind of tide me over. Great feel, good blade shape, and tough as nails. But I can't help but think that the Voyager is going to be even better in every regard.

Carried a 5" clip point Voyager for a while, and I still reaaaallly love that blade. Ergonomics, size, weight, fit and finish are totally on point. But like I say, the new 2010 5-1/2" Voyagers are really going to step things up a notch. Definitely gonna save my pennies for one of those bad boys.
 
Sure.
I carried both Lone Wolf T3 and Anso Mofo and still have (and ocassionally carry) my Camillus Cuda Maxx.
 
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