Fixed Blade size for EDC ??

[PointedlySharp]

I love the reminder of just what can be done with small blades.

A small knife can do (almost) everything a big knife can do. But sometimes it takes longer.

 

[Bob Denman]

3" is just about right.

 

[The Grendels]

I think a lot of it comes down to use, but even more might down to how much you get in and out of vehicles (trucks, forklifts, etc.) during the day. If you're getting in and out of a truck all day and don't feel like being hilted in the ribs or pausing to put your knife on your belt every time, shorter is better.

Scout carrying can really help you take a lot of the rib jabbing out of the equation, but just be sure you're used to the characteristics of your individual knife/sheath before scout carrying unless you want a surprise, Reaching blindly under a heavy winter coat to pull out something like a Boker Pry Pro can be a less than pleasant experience, when you find out the hard way that part of the sheath isn't protecting you at all from the blade. Good knife though.

Depending on what you need it for, a 2-3.5" blade can get a lot or work done. If you're out a long time on foot in the brush or a warehouse, you might not also want something hefty to go with all the other kit you have to haul for the day. Pictured below is the Condor Urban EDC Puukko (3.3" blade).

 

[vjb.knife]

On my last job I was carrying this all the time in the water.



Now I am retired and most times I carry one or the other of these.

 

[scdub]

Just wondering...do you re-do the wrapping every now and then or just let it "soak"?

I re-wrapped it once about 10 years ago, and I’ll probably do it once more when I retire (probably this year ). I do occasionally put a few drops of oil on the handle by squeezing a little dripper tip through the wrap, but I’m sure it’s got a nice patina going under there - especially since I work on the coast…

 

[vinprom]

Lately for me I've been carrying a Mora Classic 1/0 around with me. It's like a 3 inch, narrow blade.
I've carried up to 4" blades, but the letter of the law around here is about 4", so I prefer to generally carry under.

The simplicity and the versatility coming from the blade length and the handle shape make Mora Classic 1/0 hard to beat for an EDC. The blade is thin enough to minimize the scandi grind's limitations for cutting certain media. Anyway, I put a micro bevel, invisible with naked eye of course, because excelling in cutting wood is not the highest priority for this knife of mine,

 

[Daedric Panther]

The only fixed blade I carry on a regular basis is a sharpfinger. Perfect size for a edc fixed blade for my purposes. I tried the smaller skeleton handle “neck knives” but those just aren’t comfortable in use in my opinion. Anything much larger becomes a hassle to carry. Kinda the Goldilocks size for a carry fixed blade. Your mileage might vary.

 

[JParanee]

Being primarily fixed blade fixated my whole life and running the gambit from 9 inch bladed Bowies and down for me I have come to this conclusion

A 3 inch’ish fixed blade my preference is wharnies or Japanese style blades with the advantage to the wharnies

 

[JParanee]

My favorite or just just say the one that lives on my font hip is this Cable Mirabile wharnies inspired by Michael Janich’s designed original ronin that Mike Snody made

It’s the finest utility blade I have ever had. The cable Damascus takes a toothy edge and even doing stupid things in a pinch it does not chip or deform the edge its just a masterful tool that does everything and doubles as a very effective defensive tool if need be

It lends itself to the saber or Filipino grip style



When freshly forged in the makers hand

 

[Chronovore]

A 3 inch’ish fixed blade my preference is wharnies...

I previously listed some production examples for size reference. One of my all-time favorite EDC fixed blades is this little guy from David Mary . (Take the angle into consideration but here it is next to a Spyderco Rock Jumper for reference.) One thing I keep running up against while looking at new production fixed blades is that David and some of the other guys on the exchange here offer amazing customs at extremely competitive prices.

 

[Bob Denman]

Now THAT'S an EDC!

 

[Daedric Panther]

Double post. My bad, WiFi is being weird

 

[AntDog]

 

[Roodogaroo]

Yeah. Nobody is getting arrested, but it’s a dumb law. Knives I carry are usually between three and four inches long. Fifteen years back, I made a point of wearing a fixed blade whenever I went to court to protest this nonsense.

(Edit: I’m an attorney. I was not a defendant bringing knives to court.)

I always found it very un-American to think someone in an office could dictate what length of a blade I could carry. I suppose lots of law could be looked at like that but this one seems very much like my own business.

 

[RokJok]

To fit in with most assessments posted thus far, the David Mary Badger Scout on the bottom in the picture has a 3-3/8" blade tip to scales. The BK15 above it comes in at 5.5" tip to scales.

 

[conan11]

 

[RLB0414]

I live in a Western state, Colorado. You can only carry knives this big for sporting purposes. Dumb law, but 3.5 inch limit is it.

Fixed blade carry in Michigan is no-go unless a hunting season is open. Coyote season open year round. Dumb law but at least qualified with a hunting season.

Being primarily fixed blade fixated my whole life and running the gambit from 9 inch bladed Bowies and down for me I have come to this conclusion

A 3 inch’ish fixed blade my preference is wharnies or Japanese style blades with the advantage to the wharnies

Very nice knives but the ZEV's caught my eye.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I always found it very un-American to think someone in an office could dictate what length of a blade I could carry. I suppose lots of law could be looked at like that but this one seems very much like my own business.

Yeah, and yet walking into the office with a katana would really raise some eyebrows. Compromise is a very American concept.

A private company also has the right to set its own terms about what you can bring on its grounds. I don’t carry a fixed blade into the office because my company has vague weapons rules, which they can enforce. I only bring reasonably sized pocket knives.

 

[Bob Denman]

I always found it very un-American to think someone in an office could dictate what length of a blade I could carry. I suppose lots of law could be looked at like that but this one seems very much like my own business.

Wow...
If you can't read the room: stop wondering why nobody is clapping.
Carrying a knife on a camping trip is much different than carrying one to the office.
"Situational adjustments" make this discussion a "Run what you brung" game, and there is NO wrong answer.
But nobody was discussing laws or policies.

 

[dryflytrout]

3"-3.5" is the best range for me, with 3.25" being close to perfect.