Folder Size

4 1/4" is fine for a lockback, even though I have one stockman that's 4 1/4" I really don't want a slippy to be over 4 1/8" for a two blade and 4" for a three blade.
 
I've owned the Rukus, Strider SMF, Benchmade Skirmish and the big Cold Steel Ti Lite. Those were fine at the time, I was after huge folders. Now, a folder with about a 3.5" blade is big enough.

For slippies though, my Case jumbo stockman is pushing it for pocket carry. Even though I plan on getting a GEC trapper and Queen cattle king, they will still be too big to just comfortably toss in a pants pocket.

I don't have any of the tacticool folders above anymore, but plan on getting an Umnumzaan. Maybe a big production model sunfish (from who though). But, for carry, I still think 3" to 3.5" blade is good enough.
 
silenthunterstudios said:
I've owned the Rukus, Strider SMF, Benchmade Skirmish and the big Cold Steel Ti Lite. Those were fine at the time, I was after huge folders. Now, a folder with about a 3.5" blade is big enough.

For slippies though, my Case jumbo stockman is pushing it for pocket carry. Even though I plan on getting a GEC trapper and Queen cattle king, they will still be too big to just comfortably toss in a pants pocket.

I don't have any of the tacticool folders above anymore, but plan on getting an Umnumzaan. Maybe a big production model sunfish (from who though). But, for carry, I still think 3" to 3.5" blade is good enough.
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I wonder if there is really a market for a large, 4 5/8" Sunfish, perhaps in the old Platts swell center pattern with a 1/4" thick blade, 1 1/2" wide and 3 5/16 long? It would have to be a lockback to get that much blade, I never liked that fat pen blade at the small end anyway. Is this one man's dream or does it fit more than that?
 
3-1/2 to 3-3/4 inch does it for me. Occasionally, I'll carry smaller if I'm wearing slacks, but wearly will I carry larger - by then it's too large to fit in my watch pocket and probably too heavy to wear in the front pocket without it banging against my thigh and driving me slowly insane. If I'm carrying a larger size knife, it's either going to be a fixed blade, or one of the very few "tactical" folders that I have, since they have carry systems (sheath or clip) that keep 'em from banging around.
 
A. G. Russell said:
I wonder if there is really a market for a large, 4 5/8" Sunfish, perhaps in the old Platts swell center pattern with a 1/4" thick blade, 1 1/2" wide and 3 5/16 long? It would have to be a lockback to get that much blade, I never liked that fat pen blade at the small end anyway. Is this one man's dream or does it fit more than that?
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That sounds lke a heck of a big knife!

I think alot of people may look at that one, and figure it's a desk top knife.

Looking at your question on size, most people seem to be in the 3 to 3 7/8ths range, with a few exeptions.

I think knives are alot like cars. There's some on one end of the fringe that will buy a Hummer, and on the other end some will buy a Smart Car. But most folks will buy something in the middle. Get too far off the middle and you loose the interest of the regular Joe.
 
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In the last couple of weeks, I've definitely gravitated toward more compact sized, traditional knives. I've always kept the blade length of any knife I've carried under 3.5". For me, the smaller size made it easier to handle and carry.

Now, I've gone even smaller. I'm routinely carrying knives 3" or under, and I find that I can accomplish any task I need with the smaller blade with no loss of performance.
 
jackknife said:
That sounds lke a heck of a big knife!

I think alot of people may look at that one, and figure it's a desk top knife.

Looking at your question on size, most people seem to be in the 3 to 3 7/8ths range, with a few exeptions.

I think knives are alot like cars. There's some on one end of the fringe that will buy a Hummer, and on the other end some will buy a Corvette. But most folks will buy something in the middle. Get too far off the middle and you loose the interest of the regular Joe.
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Jackknife,

Thanks for the input, if I am to remain successful in this industry I MUST avoid trying to compete with all of the other knife companies for the attention of the "regular Joe" I have to pick at the fringes, selling a few hundred of this and of that to those who want something unusual. I cannot make 1,000 of a knife and only sell 400 or even 600, I did that a few times in my early years and survived, I would not survive many mistakes of that kind in today's world. I am still in business, not because over 1,000,000 regular Joes bought one knife or one sharpening stone and left their names to languish in my data files. The people who keep me alive are those that come back over and over year after year. They will only do this for the unusual, no regualr Joes here.
 
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I am the odd man out on this one. I carry a Case Classic large stockman. I think it is 4 1/2" long closed. My father in law carries one as well. We both work with cows and farm, so I need a knife with the size that I know I can depend on. Same goes for him. I can't do what I have to with a small handle.
 
For me anything between 2 7/8 and 3.5 inches closed is an edc size. 3 3/8 and 3.5 inches being the sweet spot.
 
AG, quite frankly, what I would *love* to see you come out with would be a kickass version of Jess Horn's 3/4 DHL (like the ivory one in this picture: http://www.knifelegends.com/Horn_3-4 DHL 3-4 SHLM.htm ). Having one of these really well done in the 3 3/8" size in micarta (or even better - smooth or jigged deep red bone) scales with nickel silver or steel bolsters would rock.
 
A.G., you've definitely got my interest piqued with that knife, I tend to like the more unusual, vintage looking knives. They do attract attention, but more often than not in a good way. "WHAT is THAT?!" is usually the first thing I hear, followed oftentimes by some great conversation.

Eric
 
A 4 1/4" trapper fits my hand and most of my uses perfectly. I don't have large hands. I also love the big fat wood handles on the larger sodbusters and Opinels.
 
A. G. Russell said:
I wonder if there is really a market for a large, 4 5/8" Sunfish, perhaps in the old Platts swell center pattern with a 1/4" thick blade, 1 1/2" wide and 3 5/16 long? It would have to be a lockback to get that much blade, I never liked that fat pen blade at the small end anyway. Is this one man's dream or does it fit more than that?
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Mr. Russell,

As you may already know. There are only two knife makers who makes the Platts Jumbo Swell center, Tony Bose and another name that escapes me. Tony Bose mentioned once that it was a pretty hard knife to make, so he didn't make many either. However, I would love to see a jumbo swell center with all the bells and whistles. I don't think that knife patter has been produces for at least the last 30 years.

Btw, I think your medium stockmen design was a hit. If it had come in at a lower price point in 1095 and jigged bone, more people would have jumped at it.

God Bless
 
jackknife said:
That sounds lke a heck of a big knife!

I think alot of people may look at that one, and figure it's a desk top knife.

Looking at your question on size, most people seem to be in the 3 to 3 7/8ths range, with a few exeptions.

I think knives are alot like cars. There's some on one end of the fringe that will buy a Hummer, and on the other end some will buy a Smart Car. But most folks will buy something in the middle. Get too far off the middle and you loose the interest of the regular Joe.
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Jackknife,

Here is the knife that A.G is refering to http://www.elephanttoenails.com/. Upper left pic. I would think that the jumbo swell center would like nice in bocote, MOP would be better.

God Bless
 
Using traditional pocketknives I really find the best size is 3" to 3-1/2". Much longer than that and the knife becomes rather bulky and heavy. Much smaller and it sacrifices utility / comfort.

If the knife was exceptionally slender, like a slim single-blade gents' folder, I could comfortably go to 4" or maybe 4-1/2".

When wearing outdoors clothes or utility clothes, which have much roomier pockets than jeans, I could be comfortable with a 4" or larger pocketknife.

I think of a standard (medium) size as measured 3 7/8 to 4 1/4
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In my mind the standard for "medium" sized knives is the Old Timer 34OT, and it measures 3-3/8".

I wonder if there is really a market for a large, 4 5/8" Sunfish...
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The pattern doesn't speak to me, but that's a great size for "lookin' at" knives. To actually use and carry a knife that size, it would have to come with a sheath. I just test-fit a Schrade 51OT (4-3/4") in my jeans pocket, and no way would I carry something that bulky and heavy. :(

Hope this helps.
-Bob
 
A. G. Russell said:
I wonder if there is really a market for a large, 4 5/8" Sunfish, perhaps in the old Platts swell center pattern with a 1/4" thick blade, 1 1/2" wide and 3 5/16 long? It would have to be a lockback to get that much blade, I never liked that fat pen blade at the small end anyway. Is this one man's dream or does it fit more than that?
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I don't think you'd a large market for that one. I'd like to see you offer your version, I was just commenting on how big the sunfish is.
 
I think stockmans are the overall most popular pattern,
but for what it's worth the A.G Russell catalog is one of the best catalogs out there, especially for a knife enthusiast. A little bit of everything. If your looking for people that aren't knife nuts I think they go with a small size, and they don't like paying for them.
 
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