Folders?

[ZombaiO]

I like to carry both fixed blade and folder.
But if it's just one knife - the fixed wins.I just like to have a big,solid piece of zone tempered carbon steel

 

[Big Mike]

I have a couple of Liner Locks that I really trust (read “lock-up like bank vaults”), in fact the one of them even has a clever device that locks the liner lock in place making it very secure.

But the bottom line is that even the best pivot system will never be as strong as a solid hunk of heat treated steel.

When it come to hard use tasks a fixed blade is what I reach for.





"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[Carolina River Rat]

I'd prefer to have a fixed blade with me, but I could probably make do with just my SAK. My usual woods combo is my HI R-10 and my Vic Super Tinker.

 

[Hawkings]

Folders are great when you don't have the option of a fixed blade (like where I work, you can carry any size knife, so long as it folds. A fixed blade crosses the line into "weapon" according to the rules. . .), or carry it a lot and use it a little.

The only folder I carry in the woods is a SAK, and I carry it for everything but the blade.
But I also carry fixed blades. But there's a few reasons fixed blades are superior:

1.) Yes, for knives with the same dimensions, the fixed blade will be stronger than the folder.
2.) Aesthetics: There's more you can do on a fixed blade to make it "look nice" than a folder, since you don't have to worry about accommodating the blade in the grip.
3.) Ergonomics. For the same reasons as above, you have much more lattitude to shape the grips and blade of a fixed blade. For prolonged use, this is the big reason a fixed blade is superior to a folder.

Oh, and just because it's a fixed blade, doesn't mean it has to be a chopper, nor does it being a Busse mean it has to be huge!

Indeed a good point, that I don't think any one will argue against.

But a lot of the time when arguing fixed vs. folder, I think people get hung up on which is the strongest, instead of looking at how much strength is needed.

When you have decided how much strength is enough, you might gain other desirable attributes if you trade the strength NOT needed for other things.

This could also be used to decide between fixed vs fixed.

An example of what I mean:

Fallkniven F1 VS. Mora 510. 2 knives that has roughly the same length.

If you decide both knives are strong enough to handle all you will need it to do. And you decide NOT to go for unnecessary strength alone.

You can now trade the unused strength of the F1 for the lighter to carry and superior woodcutting ability of the 510 mora.

I think a good folder can handle pretty much all most people here need it to do physically. And most of the time when people choose a fixed blade instead, it is for the peace of mind the added strength gives. And this is as good a reason as any. (Assuming that you have another chopping tool of cause)

It's clear as day that busse is a small one, any one can see it has a cutting length of just under 2½ dog nose .

 

[baldtaco-II]

"But a lot of the time when arguing fixed vs. folder, I think people get hung up on which is the strongest, instead of looking at how much strength is needed."

Sometimes this appears to be the case to me too. I can think of other reasons but that is the one that I see many others holding up most often.

 

[Getahl]

I don't camp as much as I used to, but every time I go hiking, I carry mainly folders, with a fairly light, three-inch fixed blade in case I might need it. My main outdoor tools consists of a Vic OHT that's constantly in my pack, and whatever folder I feel like carrying that day, which is usually just used to slice up food (haven't really needed to use them in an emergency type situation yet, fortunately).

 

[tknife]

BigMike, who makes that bottom knife? That looks like a serious beast of a folder!

 

[jds1]

I really like the variety of fixed blades available, in my own collection as well, but a folder is the only type of knife that I actually have with me ALL the time. None of my knives see any regular hard use... that's what hatchets and axes are for.

Jeff

 

[Pete1977]

I just can't get my head around folders, if they break you are left with an unusable knife.I'd take a small fixed over a folder anyday of the week !

I respectably disagree. If they break you either have a short blade on a handle and a flake knife (think flint, obsidian...), or a broken handle and a larger flake knife- just like when a FB breaks! Not optimal but they will still cut.

The more you know the less you have to carry. I have been in the bush with just a folder plenty of times. Personally, I don't rely on a knife to survive. My resolve and mind must be the sharpest tools that I carry. I have never had a quality folder break when used properly.
Battoning has never served a purpose for me in the bush. It's easy enough to find any size stick or log by looking on the ground. A trapper or stockman, hell even a barlow has handled all my needs on three and five day hikes.
When I take my fixed blades out. They hardly get used.

Adapt and overcome :thumbup:

 

[Hassilov]

With, all the good folders, that we have now. I sometimes, wonder, how much, we really, need, fix, blades in the woods? Don't get me wrong, I like my Kepharts, but the BM520, has been doing alot, in the woods lately. Any opions? Almost forgot about the SAK Farmer to!

I have enough to worry about already and don't get hung up on folder v. fixed. A folder serves my needs and always has. I'm not going to die out there just because I didn't have a fixed blade with me.

 

[Big Mike]

BigMike, who makes that bottom knife? That looks like a serious beast of a folder!

It is a beast on a folder, and has that locking system I mentioned.

Just to give you a sense of its size, the blade is just under 4” long an is 1-3/8“ from edge to spine, length overall is 8-5/8”.

I got my D2 version through the generosity of my friends on the Italian knife forum, it was designed by one of their members, and the first run of these was made for their forum.

It is made be Lionsteel, and I believe it will be marketed under the Fox name here in the US.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[baldtaco-II]

For the sake of balance I will say that ultimately I prefer fixed blades because:

They tend to be stronger – Note tend not are. Horn Dog has already given an amusing example. Although I would say the ones I pick are.

Often more convenient as it is already open.

I pick fixed blades that are easier to maintain in grubby conditions. There aren't moving parts or hidey holes for crap to get in. Even against my chuck it in a bucket folders the fixed blade is still way ahead here.

Comfort and power. I think it is hard enough to design fixed blades with a good grip for applying power whilst retaining a high degree of nimbleness. By power I'm thinking about applying force into a cut not hitting it against something. I like something you can really hang on to. Kinda; if you stuck the blade in a vice and tried to rotate the handle it feels like you'd snap your wrist before you let go. To a lesser extent, how much force could you push or pull on the handle with. Not like these are useful features in their own right but examples used to magnify and thereby disclose. The reason being that when you scale back down to realms of normal usage handles that excel at these things are going to require less effort to use. Less force is required to stop a blade rotating in your hand rather than rotating into a cut .etc. I like rubber handles in shapes like Brian Goode has on his Companions and Sidekicks for these reasons. I'm not saying that folders with these attributes don't exist, but as yet I've not come across folders that are anywhere near my commonly used fixed blade in this respect.

EDIT:

To add an example of a mundane task – I find a good comfortable handle that doesn't squirm invaluable when the twigs start getting to this sort of size. I want to transmit as much of my available power into that cut as possible. I don't want it leaking out trying to hold on to the knife. When cutting an arc it's even more pronounced. I find a lot of handles get old real quick doing this sort of stuff, especially on folders.

 

[tknife]

Mike that thing is awesome. I will be watching for the Fox version for sure :thumbup: I really like that broad blade and the handle looks nice and beefy.

 

[Steven Andrews]

I often just take a folder camping (usually a Benchmade Axis Lock) and it will accomplish all my cutting chores with ease.
Sometimes I take a fixed blade - because I like them!

 

[CSG]

Other than trying it out once or twice, I've never had a need to baton wood. While I carry either a Fallkniven F1 or Mora in my kit bags, I always have something like a Mini-Grip, Farmer, or OH Trekker in my pocket. I carry the fixed blade knife for peace of mind and as a backup to my folder.

I have little need for using a knife at all during my hikes but, like most of the rest of what I carry, are there "just in case". A few weeks ago I was very pleased to have some first aid supplies when I started feeling a hot, squishy spot on my foot during a longer than anticipated hike. Didn't need a knife, I needed some moleskin.

I am 58 and have been doing outdoors activities for most of my whole life. I can count on one hand the times when a good folder wouldn't do. However, I always carry a fixed blade knife in my pack. Just in case.

 

[dipbait]

I carry a folder 100% of the time. I carry a fixed blade only when in the outdoors .There are six fixed blades in the truck right now.

 

[udtjim]

For many years I carried a Buck 110 for everything. Hunting, fishing , camping, hiking and work. I never missed having a fixed blade and never needed one. The only other knife I used at all back then was a Buck folding Fillet knife. For just camping, I would prefer a good folder and one of my excellent folding saws or my JK hatchet. I could do well with my Kershaw Blackout and Laplander saw.

 

[jackknife]

In his book "Press ON." General Chuck Yeager lists the gear he carried on his many two to three week backpacking/fishing trips in the Sierra Nevada mountians that he and his buddy would take. He mentions a fishing knife, then says he likes to save weight by leaving it home and just using his pocket knife. His pocket knife of choice is a Victorinox executive.

General Yeager was a fanatical fan of the California Golden Trout, and his backpacking/fishing trips were bordering on survival expeditions. While they took some food, the bulk of what they were planning on eating was the fish they caught. Apparently they survived and ate well. Being retired from the Air force, and no longer a young man, Yeager liked to travel light as possable in the high mountains. His book should be recomended reading for those on a forum like this. His list of gear is not large, and large cutlery is very lacking.

 

[Grateful]

Growing up in the Ozarks of southwest Missouri I spent alot of time along the river and back in the hills hunting , fishing and just bumming around. I never had a fixed blade.
I had a Buck 110 , a Case stockman and a Estwing hatchet. I always felt well equipped and got along fine. These days I still use folders 99% of the time and am very comfortable doing so. To each their own.
Jim

 

[CaptInsano]

Last trip I carried two folders and two fixed blades.

Vic Soldier
Kershaw Blur
CS Bushman
Ranger RD9

I only used 2 of them and I didn't actually need to use a single one. I couldn't have been happier. I think there is a big difference between what I could make do with and what I carry because I like having it. I wouldn't be caught out in the woods without a folder because I wouldn't be caught just about anywhere without a folder.