EDC Folder Blade Length: Is 3" good?

Kevin Wilkins

Kevin Wilkins

Joined
Oct 7, 1998
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1,513
I'm revising the design of my Ghost Dog Pup folder. My original design had a blade length of 3.2" and I recall quite a few potential buyers who indicated the knife would be better if the blade length were more than 3" because of legal carry restrictions.

So for the new version I've scaled the blade back to 2.95".

Does a 3" (or a bit less) blade influence your decision to purchase an EDC / Carry folder?

I will still be making the large Ghost Dog but the Pup has always been a favorite EDC.

Thanks for your input!
 
Yes it does. i own a few knives that are bigger than 3" but there's tons of places where it's illegal to carry a blade over 3". a larger blade also tends to scare some people when you pull it out to open a box or slice a tomato or something. 2.5-3" is the perfect EDC length for me.
 
Folding knives with blades around 3" are quite popular for EDC. All legal considerations aside, it's a good balance between size and utility. Not too big, not too small. It's usually enough blade for any task one might need a pocket knife to perform.

I sometimes carry bigger or smaller knives, but folding knives with blades around 3" long are the bread and butter of my urban EDC (my rural/outdoors EDC doesn't fold).

Just take a look around the forums (and the EDC thread!) and you'll see loads of 3" folders, Delicas, Natives, Leeks, Mini-Griptilians, SAKs, several types of slippies, etc. There's a reason why every manufacturer seems to have a few offerings in the 3" blade length range.

Edited to add: I just visited your website, you make some wicked knives, mate! The Leafstorm and Ghost Dog Pup are brilliant. This one is my favourite:
gdp_03.jpg
 
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I do not base a purchase on the blade length, but I do believe I am in the minority.

Unfortunately, blade length drives handle length. This smaller size is usually ok for some, but with bigger hands the smaller handles become harder to use over a longer period of cutting time. Also - I find if the very end of the handle does not cleanly clear the edge of my palm it creates a nasty hot spot.

My sweet spot becomes a 3.5-4" blade which usually means a handle that is a comfortable length.

It is sad that many states / jurisdictions frown upon or consider a blade over 3" illegal.

I agree with the other posts in this thread - if you look at knife manufacturers the 3" blade length seems to be where most of their knives fall.
 
"Does a 3" (or a bit less) blade influence your decision to purchase an EDC / Carry folder?"

Yes it most definitely does. Legal carry is important and where I live 3" is the limit.
 
Franciscomv said:
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gdp_03.jpg
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+1 :thumbup: That's gorgeous. 3" is my personal target blade length for any knife I plan to carry daily. The only exception right now is a Sebenza. If I may, I'd like to suggest a subtle pocket clip, muted color (not shiny) and a pocket depth that leaves less than 3/4" exposed.
 
I find I prefer blades ~3.5" - but am not bound by legal restrictions. I find 4" blades a little to big, and 3" blades a little too small... 3.5" seems to be the sweet spot for me.
 
I have a hard time buying a knife that small for a significant amount of money. I will not personally buy an expensive knife with a blade that is not at least 3.25". Just a mental roadblock I guess.

The legal limit in my state is 4".
 
Kevin Wilkins said:
Does a 3" (or a bit less) blade influence your decision to purchase an EDC / Carry folder?
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Yes. In area where I live, I don't really mind about the knives I carry. But the Netherlands in general is quite knife unfriendly and since I travel a lot through the country, blade length is an issue for my EDC folders.
 
Yes, I care. I am not overly lawabiding, but neither do I care to get tripped up over trivia. I may be willing to carry a large knife and take my chances, but I can see no reason to carry a knife that is just over the legal limit. For EDC, I'll take a knife that is just under over one that is just over every time.
 
Regarding legality, the 3" blades play's a large role in what I would choose, but I also find that it's big enough for EDC even when it's legal to carry a bigger blade. My personal preference for an EDC blade will fall somewhere between 2.75-3.75"
 
Lately I've found a 3" blade to be ideal. I've been carrying my Leek (3" blade) and my SAK (slightly smaller than that...) more and more. So, while I'm not restricted by a blade length limit, I have been finding smaller blades to be a bit more practical and discreet.
 
I buy a lot of knives and because of where I live they must be under 3" in length. So yes it influences every knife I buy, custom or production. Thanks for making a sub 3" blade knife in addition to the Leaf Storm. Where will they be available?
 
Wow those are some fantastic looking knives!! Yes, for me, blade length will sometimes determine whether I will purchase a knife. I work in DC and they can get sometimes picky about things like that.
 
I guess I am in the minority here as well. I prefer a cutting edge of at least 3" which means the blade measurement is more than that. A 3" blade is too small for many ordinary tasks such as slicing up my apple at lunch. 3.5" seems to be the sweet spot for me.
 
Kevin, a 3 inch blade is my personal preference. I would LOVE a 3 inch bladed Ghost Dog Pup!!!
 
I carry 3" blade or under knives predominately. They're large enough to tackle just about any task I'm faced with, and are generally more pocket friendly.

Knives like Spyderco's production version of your Leafstorm, though, feel larger than they are in hand, and carry nice and compact in the pocket. Wouldn't be adverse to seeing more of those :D
 
I tend to prefer a little longer than 3" blade. However, I think many people ask about under 3" blades because of where they live, whether it's a certain city, state, or country.

Your folders look excellent, BTW, but I'm sure you already know that.
 
SteelSnob said:
I buy a lot of knives and because of where I live they must be under 3" in length. So yes it influences every knife I buy, custom or production. Thanks for making a sub 3" blade knife in addition to the Leaf Storm. Where will they be available?
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Thanks (everyone!) the Spyderco Leafstorms are available from any Spyderco dealer right now.

I'm pretty much the only source for my custom folders, my production capacity is taken up now until late in 2010.

It looks like I will make the new Ghost Dog Pup with a 2.95" / 75mm blade.

I have a lot of interest in that model and now at least I have the new drawings about finished... :D If I could just get a computer priter that makes knives!
 
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