Does anyone EDC a megafolder (4.5"+)?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
Knives of that size strike me as unwieldy - I've held a Rajah II (6") and a Talwar XL (5.5") and immediately said "NOPE."

When I say EDC, I don't mean for defensive carry. Does anyone actually use them for day-to-day tasks? As much as I loved the XL Talwar, it was so ridiculously big and had such a long handle that the only advantage I could see was using it as a reach extension, or maybe bush clearing - but I live in a city, so the only variety of "bush clearing" I'm likely to do would be better done with a electric trimmer. Certainly, it would be more difficult to open a box with a 5.5" folder than a 3.5" folder, just because of how much you would have to angle yourself to get the knife to the material... And that would seem to carry on to most varieties of EDC tasks.

But, I'm not everyone! Some guys have huge hands! Some guys carry XL Espadas! I'm open to having my mind changed about megafolders.

...Please change my mind about megafolders. I want to carry a XL Talwar, but I need to somehow trick myself into thinking it's anything near sensible.
 
I sometimes carry my Extrema Ratio Resolza with a 4.65" blade (0.115" thick) weighing just 3.27 ounces. It's a modern version of the old Sardinian shepherd's knife using N690 stainless steel instead of carbon steel, aluminum instead of wood handle and a liner lock instead of non-locking. Very narrow profile and light weight just disappears in your pocket.

I have other folders with blade lengths greater than 4.5" but they're too heavy or wide or thick so they don't get carried.

extrema-ratio-resolza.jpg
 
I sometimes carry a Emerson cqc super 8 with 4.3. It's not quite to your specs. It actually pretty light for its size. It just fun but so is anything over 3.5 imho.
 
When I was first exploring moderns, I tried the SOG Vulcan. Too big for me. Tried the slimmer Spydie Endura (~4" blade), I wasn't comfortable with it in public. My favorite blade length is 3.0-3.5" and I'm okay with 2.5". So, NO.
 
I EDC'd a CS Spartan for about 6 months or so. Nice big folder, I had no problems with it. I trimmed my hedges with it, used it in my local forest and trail maintenance, and for many other EDC tasks.

If folders are your only option I'd say try it out :thumbup: worst case, you sell it and get something you like better.
 
The Military at 4 inches, is the biggest blade I ve edc d. Anything bigger for edc would be unhandy for me.
 
Check out this guy!

"When it's in my pocket I barely notice it..." HA!

[video=youtube;qYQ8S_McTwU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYQ8S_McTwU[/video]
 
Spinny said:
Check out this guy!

"When it's in my pocket I barely notice it..." HA!
Click to expand...

Well, hey, when it's proportionate to your size and you wear huge pants... That guy could be carrying a MP5 under that coat and you'd never notice.

I think I could almost get away with a fixed blade as long as I tuck in my shirt and stand up straight. People would just think I'm in the military:

 
Comeuppance said:
When I say EDC, I don't mean for defensive carry. Does anyone actually use them for day-to-day tasks? As much as I loved the XL Talwar, it was so ridiculously big and had such a long handle that the only advantage I could see was using it as a reach extension, or maybe bush clearing - but I live in a city, so the only variety of "bush clearing" I'm likely to do would be better done with a electric trimmer. Certainly, it would be more difficult to open a box with a 5.5" folder than a 3.5" folder, just because of how much you would have to angle yourself to get the knife to the material...
Click to expand...

If easy box opening is such a concern, why not use an actual box cutter? Personally I've never understood using expensive folding blades under 4", because by then you can almost do all the tasks with far less expensive tools than a folding knife costing hundreds, and the cheaper tool will be thinner-bladed so sharper and better, and do the tasks cleaner, easier and with more safety... Cuts with boxcutters actually tend to be straighter and more "professional" looking... And many box cutters can slide themselves into 2-3" blade lengths, and you can break the blade sections off to keep a perfect, and thus safer, sharpness "in the field"... I think on construction sites all you see is boxcutters...

Small folders under 4" made sense when boxcutters weren't really mass-produced, which is why slipjoints could become heirloom items... Nowadays a quality small knife is not a rational everyday item for routine tasks...: At the price you pay, you are not getting anything near the edge durability that makes any sense: That super steel will lose its edge, and the inherent lack of a replaceable edge will make this thing less safe than a boxcutter over even half a day of hard work... Not to mention a small short handle is tiresome over the long haul...

Keep exceptional items for exceptional tasks...

Gaston
 
Gaston444 said:
If easy box opening is such a concern, why not use an actual box cutter? Personally I've never understood using expensive folding blades under 4", because by then you can almost do all the tasks with far less expensive tools than a folding knife costing hundreds, and the cheaper tool will be thinner-bladed so sharper and better, and do the tasks cleaner, easier and with more safety... Cuts with boxcutters actually tend to be straighter and more "professional" looking... And many box cutters can slide themselves into 2-3" blade lengths, and you can break the blade sections off to keep a perfect, and thus safer, sharpness "in the field"... I think on construction sites all you see is boxcutters...

Small folders under 4" made sense when boxcutters weren't really mass-produced, which is why slipjoints could become heirloom items... Nowadays a quality small knife is not a rational everyday item for routine tasks...: At the price you pay, you are not getting anything near the edge durability that makes any sense: That super steel will lose its edge, and the inherent lack of a replaceable edge will make this thing less safe than a boxcutter over even half a day of hard work... Not to mention a small short handle is tiresome over the long haul...

Keep exceptional items for exceptional tasks...

Gaston
Click to expand...

See, the problem is that I realize all these things. You're not doing a very good job of enabling my ridiculous desire to carry a stupidly huge knife.

I guess I should just put a pocket clip on my Eland, or something. It's been sitting in a drawer ever since it almost took my thumb off.
 
I've carried megafolders exclusively for the last 1.5 years. I just don't feel right without at least 5", measured past the handle. I have eliminated all locking folders except these...

Darrel Ralph custom "AA" AXD and a matching set of Cold Steel Rajah 2.

 
I don't, but I have a buddy who EDC's a Cold Steel XL Tanto Voyager (5.5" blade). And he uses it for everything. I think he just likes to freak people out when he says, "Excuse me while I whip this out... THWACK!"
 
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Gaston444 said:
If easy box opening is such a concern, why not use an actual box cutter? Personally I've never understood using expensive folding blades under 4", because by then you can almost do all the tasks with far less expensive tools than a folding knife costing hundreds, and the cheaper tool will be thinner-bladed so sharper and better, and do the tasks cleaner, easier and with more safety... Cuts with boxcutters actually tend to be straighter and more "professional" looking... And many box cutters can slide themselves into 2-3" blade lengths, and you can break the blade sections off to keep a perfect, and thus safer, sharpness "in the field"... I think on construction sites all you see is boxcutters...

Small folders under 4" made sense when boxcutters weren't really mass-produced, which is why slipjoints could become heirloom items... Nowadays a quality small knife is not a rational everyday item for routine tasks...: At the price you pay, you are not getting anything near the edge durability that makes any sense: That super steel will lose its edge, and the inherent lack of a replaceable edge will make this thing less safe than a boxcutter over even half a day of hard work... Not to mention a small short handle is tiresome over the long haul...

Keep exceptional items for exceptional tasks...

Gaston
Click to expand...

Box cutters are used on construction sites because they are cheap and they are defensible from a safety point of view. I use box cutters for boxes or at least when I am cutting more than one, perhaps two.

I fully suspect that my 3" folder can do everything your larger folder can do and it is a lot easier to carry.

You make a lot of assumptions. Supersteel? Most of my work knives are not "super steel". Most expensive folder I own is the ZT 0770CF. That budget is not likely to be increased. Tiresome in the long haul? What's a long haul? Probably the longest I have used a knife working at one time is perhaps an hour usually it's more like 2 minutes max. I use utility knives where I require a very sharp edge working and things that are long in duration like cutting carpet out of a room or an entire house. Too many nails and regular knife gets dull too quickly. Too high a potential to damage a pocket knife, even a SAK. You see, I am the guy who supplies the utility knives to my workers and I refuse to provide a real knife. They can buy that themselves. I also collect those utility knives and put them back in their "place" when the need is finished.

The only people I see with "big" folders are kids. I chuckle to myself. Different strokes for different folks. I WILL not use a knife that will cause a problem with a client's sensitivities. Period.
 
Gaston444 said:
If easy box opening is such a concern, why not use an actual box cutter? Personally I've never understood using expensive folding blades under 4", because by then you can almost do all the tasks with far less expensive tools than a folding knife costing hundreds, and the cheaper tool will be thinner-bladed so sharper and better, and do the tasks cleaner, easier and with more safety... Cuts with boxcutters actually tend to be straighter and more "professional" looking... And many box cutters can slide themselves into 2-3" blade lengths, and you can break the blade sections off to keep a perfect, and thus safer, sharpness "in the field"... I think on construction sites all you see is boxcutters...

Small folders under 4" made sense when boxcutters weren't really mass-produced, which is why slipjoints could become heirloom items... Nowadays a quality small knife is not a rational everyday item for routine tasks...: At the price you pay, you are not getting anything near the edge durability that makes any sense: That super steel will lose its edge, and the inherent lack of a replaceable edge will make this thing less safe than a boxcutter over even half a day of hard work... Not to mention a small short handle is tiresome over the long haul...

Keep exceptional items for exceptional tasks...

Gaston
Click to expand...

Personally, I see it the other way. I see no reason for folders over ~3.5in for what I do (which admittedly is not cutting lots of boxes). For things that I want/need that much blade length, I also tend to want a fixed blade. I tend to carry 2.5 ~ 3in folders with pretty pedestrian steels (fanciest I've got is 440c, and my priciest one is ~$50). They all open packages, cut my apples, trim thread, etc just fine for me. Anyway, I realize not everyone has the same uses, just found it interesting that our viewpoints were so different.

Oh, and no, I do not carry megafolders. I guess I could see if you wanted one and were trained for SD, or where for some reason a fixed blade isn't legal to carry, but personally that's the only reason I see for one that large.

Good luck deciding OP :D.
 
ocnLogan said:
Oh, and no, I do not carry megafolders. I guess I could see if you wanted one and were trained for SD, or where for some reason a fixed blade isn't legal to carry, but personally that's the only reason I see for one that large.
Click to expand...

You just described my situation.
 
Guess I m in the middle. I don't like to carry knives over 3.5", and see no need for larger. On the flip side, I have tried carrying just my folder box cutter. The box cutter is good for boxes and even strapping and such. However there are many jobs that a short thin blade just doesn't work well. Opening envelopes if one task I need a normal knife for. Also when making deeper and longer cuts a box cutter turns to run out of edge and slip out of the cut.

On the stand point of a large folder for self defense. I'd prefer to carry a cane or even retractable baton for SD. Self defense weapons so give you as much reach as possible to keep an attacker away. A knife, can work in train hands but even then is not ideal regardless of size.
 
I bought an xl recon and ever since I've only been interested in similar giant folders. I've already amassed a collection of 3-4'' knives.

When it's fairly lightweight it might be an ideal carry. I love the 3'' fixed blade shown below but I noticed that it carries incredibly similar to the recon, virtually the same amount of pocket space. And of course when opened, the xl folder offers that extra cutting edge. Kind of a ''why not?" mentality for me when deciding which to carry.

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An Emerson super cqc 8, Microtech halo 5 & makora II are about as close as I get.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I've carried megafolders exclusively for the last 1.5 years. I just don't feel right without at least 5", measured past the handle. I have eliminated all locking folders except these...

Darrel Ralph custom "AA" AXD and a matching set of Cold Steel Rajah 2.

Click to expand...
How well does the big blade work for simple EDC stuff, like cutting tape or something quick, zip ties etc.?
 
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