Fixed? Folder? Both? I did a 180

GhostAlpha0

GhostAlpha0

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I've recently done a 180 on my position with respect to fixed blade knives. Up until two months ago I had maybe about 3 fixed blade knives come and go in my collection (but none stuck around) and maybe 100 or so folders come and go in that same time. I guess I felt like I had no use for a fixed blade or that they weren't as easy to carry. I decided to get a couple fixed blade knives for camping and similar activities when I'm in the mountains and now all of a sudden it's like I've started from square one collecting again. I now have more fixed blades than folders (I've shrunk my folder collection down to 13). I find myself carrying both a folder and a fixed blade pretty regularly.

What do your collections look like -- folder vs fixed? I would have assumed that most are folder heavy but now since I've completely gone the other way (13 vs 22) I started to think again.
 
My collection is fixed blade heavy. Buck, Schrade USA, Western, Imperial, Colonial, Ka-Bar, custom file knives I've made in the past and various survival knives make up the bulk of my collection. I've only recently started working on folders. I'm working on building a collection of Barlows to pass down to grandsons. I have one Imperial peanut in MOP, along with a few modern flippers I've picked up for abuse.

Fixed blades by 5:1 ratio...
 
Yeah, more fixed than modern folders... but I have lots of slip joints.
 
I usually carry both a folder and a fixed in the woods. If I am really doing anything, I will always grab a fixed blade. I love folders and lock, etc., but I look at them more as gadgets, almost toys, and fixed blade are tools. I have a hard time trusting folders.
 
I used to only carry folders. I have so many necessary things to carry around every day in my pockets, it was a relief to free up the space and the weight of a folder. A small neck knife in a slim kydex sheath is something I often forget I am even carrying. No one notices it under my shirt either. I would no longer consider buying custom folders anymore. And the cost difference between a custom folder and a custom fixed blade is astronomical.
 
I have more folders than fixed cause I like to collect folders, but the fixed blades are more for usage than for a collection so I don't need many of them. I have 2 fairbairn sykes daggers, and OKC Mark 3 Mod 0 and a KA-BAR 1213 for my fixed blades. I need to get a survival knife though like the Tops Silent Hero or a Becker BK9
 
I too have recently picked up the urge for fixed blades. Long time owner of an ESEE 4/6 for hiking and camping.

Recent owner of fixed blades for EDC.

White River Backpacker

CRKT Hunt'n Fisch (received today)

And a Bradford Guardian 3 en route.


Whole new world to complement my folders!



Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
I have multiple folders but only 3 fixed(ESEE 3,SG JACKAL AND JACKAL PUP) and I usually carry the jackal pup as a compliment blade to whatever folder I am carrying which lately has been either a protech tr5 or guardian tactical helix nano.
 
Interesting, it seems like I'm just late to seeing this side of the knife world.

I have few TOPS (Fieldcraft, Brakimo) and a few ESEE (4/5/6) knives for camping and outdoors. I also have a Hinderer Fieldtac and I just ordered an LT Wright that I'm excited about. I prefer to carry these in a dangler/low carry style sheath when I'm outdoors.

I love to carry a fixed blade neck knife! It's so convenient and easy to carry I can't believe I never realized this. I have a Hinderer Flashpoint, CRK Professional Soldier, and an Izula that I've been playing with.

I EDC the ESEE3 (sometimes the ESEE4) as well as a Hinderer FXM I just got on my belt when I can. These I like to carry high on my belt with a tek lok.

I have a good range across all of these so I'll likely identify which ones I really like the best and reduce it down to my favorites. It has also gotten me into learning some leather working skills to make my own sheaths, which is also a lot of fun.
 
I have about half a dozen folders and about nigh two dozen fixed.

Frankly speaking, I only use about a couple of the fixed, a mora HD companion, bk9, 1211 etc.. and only on trips out into the bush. The rest are eye candy. I'll be brutally honest and upfront, half my fixed blades are made in China and are probably utterly pointless apart from being wallhangers.

The folders are a different question. They get carried and used much more. At least the "friendly" looking ones. Like my SAK... yes... for years.... EDC. I only started messing with other folders 6 months ago, tbbh. Before, I was happy with just my SAK, until I went looking at the latest SAK's on a whim and noticed all the other nice neat folders! My current EDC favourite is a pink RAT. It rides with my SAK, because I don't like using my RAT to open bottles and tins, but OTOH, I don't like cutting things with my SAK, the blade's too piddly.
 
I only own, use and carry fixed blade knives. I conceal and open carry my knives depending on my knife and where I am going.

Buck (Made in Idaho.) is my number 1 brand.

Ka-Bar (Made in New York.) is my number 2 brand.

I own more Buck knives than any other brand. I own 3 Ka-Bar knives.

I used to own and use a few folding and pocket knives but I stopped that when my hand arthritis got worse.

There are a few other quality fixed blade knives in a few other brands for use around the house and woods/wilderness but I mainly use the BUCK brand and Ka-Bar brands.

My husband carries and uses a folding/pocket knife on a daily basis. He has carried a knife on him since he was a kid in the 50's. He uses a fixed blade knife when he hunts and for the woods/wilderness.

Cate
 
I only have about five or six fixed blades but, there really is only one that I ever consider to carry. A Benchmade 162. I would like more but can't really justify them.

No real clue on the total of folders I own. 35-50 is my guess but that might be a little high.
 
I've got slightly more folders but consider myself more of a fixed blade person.
 
I haven't done a 180, but I have decided to offload many folders this year to focus on fixed blades and scout pattern folders since I already own several of both. It was a New Year resolution, and I'm well on my way. Having fun doing it too.
 
I've always had an affinity for fixed blades.
I went through a period during which I accumulated folders; but it didn't change my preference. The most significant change in my habits is that have been buying smaller fixed blades...blades in the 3-4 inch range are not only much more useful in my daily life, they have the added benefit of being legal for me to carry.
 
I started with fixed blades which made up 80% of my collection years ago, before BF.

DSC08133_zpsyjtcnhjm.jpg


Since I joined I've gotten 5-6 folders for every fixed blade I acquired, now I am at 80% folders (around 40) and 20% fixed blades, about 1 of them, most of the bigger ones were sold/gifted/traded as nowadays I barely chop, cut and hack at wood or trees,

20170312_150344_zpsxkdraeep.jpg
 
My collection is probably in the neighborhood of 60% fixed blades, even though I carry and use folders far, far more on a daily basis. I guess I just get more excited about fixed blades.

As a kid growing up in a rural area, everyone had a pocket knife, usually a stockman pattern, that got used for whatever came up on a daily basis. Not much different from a crescent wrench, honestly. The fixed blades came out when you were going camping, hunting or some other fun outdoor activity. When I see a nice fixed blade, I think about fresh venison chislic cooked over a camp fire. When I see a nice folder, I think about scraping off water pump gaskets. Strange how your perception can affect your collection.
 
If not including multi tools in the folder genre, I'm about even. I prefer a fixed blade, but for legal reasons I usually can't carry a fixed blade in my area.
 
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