Recommendation? EDC Fixed blades: How small is too small?

How small is too small for an edc fixed blade?

  • Less than 3" = not for me!

    Votes: 28 34.1%

  • Less than 2" = shame on you!

    Votes: 16 19.5%

  • Less than 4" = I must have more..."

    Votes: 4 4.9%

  • Who the hell EDC's a fixed blade?

    Votes: 3 3.7%

  • Size doesn't matter... it's how you use it!

    Votes: 31 37.8%
  • Total voters
    82
I agree with Horsewright. For most hunting or animal dressing chores, it does not take a big knife. It takes a SHARP knife. Meat processing is different. Anyone who carries a larger knife does so because they want to carry a larger knife. Self defense issues.... larger knife is more effective. That is not my cup of tea.
 
I think Andy's knives really shine in the smaller niche. I've got a Hiking Buddy that is just a tad bigger than a Runt.

For do-it-all in the woods, I like a larger knife. Be it a Himalayan Imports Kumar Karda (about 4.5" blade) or my old Fiddleback Woodsman (6" blade).

Day to day, the Hiking Buddy is just fine.
 
I work outside a lot, and use a blade a lot.

my smallest edc I like is a BR gunny hunter with a 3 1/2 inch blade, I just returned my buddies A2 gunny after I found a good used 3v gunny here!!!!!!
Depends on what chores are in the rotation, I'll change to a LT wright GNS or Bravo1.

My 3 inch blade Manix2 cuts ham OK and is a good peanut butter spreader!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I join in with all those who stress handle rather than blade. To me, the biggest advantage of carrying a fixed blade for EDC is the vastly more comfortable handle -- not eliminating potential lock failure (?) or carrying a longer or heftier blade. Small thin blades are often what you need for typical EDC tasks.
 
Horsewright said:
Are you talking blade length or overall length? Assuming you are talking blade length, I EDC a blade length of 2". I'm pretty big guy @ 6'4" and have big ole knarly meat hook hands and I'd agree with JJ_Colt45 that handle design can make it or break it in this size. My personal EDC is about 5.25" oal. As a cattle rancher as well as a knife maker I use my knife a lot. I've never found it wanting or wishing I had a bigger blade. I make and sell a lot of sub 3" blade knives with the vast majority under 2 5/8" mark. Very useful for what we do. The wife also carries one the same as mine just a different handle material. Her's is in blue jigged bone and mine is in elk. Horizontal crossdraw is how we carry and is the method of carry preferred by the vast majority of my customers. The wife getting ready to rope at a friend's branding:

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Mine at the same branding:

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This is a Buckaroo my most popular model by sales. It is 6.5" oal and has a 2 5/8" blade. I also make this knife in AEB-L and then its called a Cowboy.

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A Cowboy in elk:

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Couple years ago my son was working on a nearby ranch. They had a first time heifer that weighed 1150 lbs or so... Then they called the butcher to see how he wanted them to bring the heifer in. He wanted her decapitated, the quarters separated, and the back straps pulled. So they did all that with the manager's Buckaroo knife I'd made him. We got a big box of hamburger as it was more than they could all eat, the two of their family's. Some of the best hamburger, bar none I've ever had. Little blades are not found wanting.
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I always enjoy your posts with the gorgeous pics. Those chaps really show the beautiful quality of your "working" leather. I've had one of your cross-draw leather sheaths, with your matching leather belt. Outstanding. I will likely wear that belt every day "forever." Also had one of your earlier fixed blades, with sterling silver bolster.. .great quality.
Here is your handiwork...cross-draw custom sheath and matching leather belt...make to order with a custom SurviveKnife GSO 2.7 (revamped completely by REK).
Belt Rig7.jpg
 
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As others have said , the HANDLE is really the limiting factor for me . The Micarta Street Beat ( the smaller pictured) has ~3 5/8 " handle that 's very comfortable and well designed . Blade is just over 3" cutting edge .
 
Like the other said, the handle is key -- and so is the sheath.
I've only tried to EDC a small number of fixed blades, most inexpensive when I was looking for knives for my daughter and have some moderately expensive ones as well. The A.G.Russell Hunter Scalpel is a fine knife, but the handle is too small for me. The Woodswalker is as small as I want in a handle. The Street Beat mentioned above is very nice and feels good in the hand. The Bradford Guardian 3 makes me smile when I hold it - it feel like an extension of my will.

For sheaths, I like belt carry at 2:00-3:00 depending on where belt loops are on my pants. I prefer leather for the feel, but kydex if I am doing something messy, but it must ride low on the belt. The woodswalker leather sheath fits nicely in a back pocket, but I don't like needing to pull the sheath out to resheath the knife. The guardian kydex rides well, and the guardian leather works great for it and the Street Beat. :)

I wouldn't mind a shorter blade, even as short as 2", if the ergos of the handle were there. I keep Horsewright Horsewright 's knives and thinking I want one. It may be a Christmas present from Santa - matching his and hers blades. :)

Enjoy
 
madcap_magician said:
I find much bigger than this and it's basically a belt knife. Which is fine, but if you want to pocket carry a fixed blade, this is about the max for me.
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I agree anything larger and it's on my belt. The 7" OAL is just small enough that it will still hide away in my pocket and only show a lanyard sticking out.
 
I am edc'ing a crkt hunt n fisch in the furnished horizontal crossdraw sheath. I'm happy with it. Three inch blade just at an eighth inch thick with a 4 inch handle. I wear it on the left side. All my year round clothing is really loose fitting, live in Sonoran desert, and the knife is always hidden but is easily withdrawn. Only reason I might change is if I wanted the same configuration with a slimmer blade. For now I'm good.
 
craytab said:
There are some tasks a larger knife is just much better at, sd aside.

I like to be able to cut a large burrito in half. Much easier with a bigger blade.
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No question about that if you are willing to carry a larger knife in the first place. I'm talking edc here, not out in the woods.
 
I think a roughly 3" blade is the sweet spot for general edc but I frequently carry sub 3" blades and can't complain as long as the handle is comfortable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, I like to carry larger (roughly 4"-6") blades when hunting or exploring in the brush due to a "I'd rather have it and not need it" mentality. It all depends on the task at hand.
 
Deinos said:
Considering picking up a Fiddleback Runt (production) for a pocket fixed EDC, but wondered if I would find it too small at just less than 2"... Current fixed edc's: Bark River Essential, Bradford G3, White River Knucklehead. All 3 just barely under or at 3" usable edges. Probably use my G3 the most with the Knucklehead a close second these days. Don't carry the Essential much anymore (but I think that is more due to thickness than length...).

What's the general consensus on usefulness at that length (especially in a fixed blade)? Smallest folder I carry is a df2 in g10, and I admittedly don't carry it nearly as much as I used to. Also, anyone else carry a Runt and in love with it? Thanks!

Edit: forgot to add a choice for people that don't care about size... :p
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I'll soon have TWO Bastinelli PiKa Picoeur Karambit Fixed Blade Neck Knife, 1 Inch Blade, Bohler N690, Black; and ONE Bastinelli Creations Picoeur Fixed 1.625" Black Cerakote N690CO Blade, Pinky Ring, Kydex Sheath.

I have a number of knives that are right at 3, 4, 5 inches and I prefer the smaller blades most of the time.

What you have to remember is if my fist is headed toward you and it's holding a Bastinelli, if you do not slip both, your best bet is to take the knuckles head on, or you are going to get shredded.
 
Deinos said:
Considering picking up a Fiddleback Runt (production) for a pocket fixed EDC, but wondered if I would find it too small at just less than 2"... Current fixed edc's: Bark River Essential, Bradford G3, White River Knucklehead. All 3 just barely under or at 3" usable edges. Probably use my G3 the most with the Knucklehead a close second these days. Don't carry the Essential much anymore (but I think that is more due to thickness than length...).

What's the general consensus on usefulness at that length (especially in a fixed blade)? Smallest folder I carry is a df2 in g10, and I admittedly don't carry it nearly as much as I used to. Also, anyone else carry a Runt and in love with it? Thanks!

Edit: forgot to add a choice for people that don't care about size... :p
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Depends on the use. For example my Perrin Le Shark is fine for its use as a backup or concealed self defense knife and it is super tiny. Still it is quite good at making xacto knife cuts when you don’t need to be cutting that deep.

But for a little EDC fixed blade that I would use for utility as well an ultra compact like the Brous Silent Soldier is perfect.
 
Thanks Sonnydaze Sonnydaze . Thats a great pic. Sure glad that outfit is working for ya! Thanks for the kind words.
 
Reading this with interest, as I recently picked up a Benchmade Hidden Canyon. So far, I haven't found the sub-3" blade to be an issue, but I've only had it for about a week.
 
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