Hard use folder tasks??

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Nikkogi

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Jan 19, 2009
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Hey guys, I have a question for you guys. We have all seen the really beefy and heavy duty folders like a Strider etc. What kind of tasks would you use a heavy duty folder for? After all, it's just a folding knife and it's only as strong as the lock... Cutting tape, rope/string, opening boxes/packages, food prep, cutting zip ties, whittling, and similar tasks can all be accomplished by an EDC blade . What kind of tasks would a hard use folder be able to accomplish?

My collection consists of about 100 MTs, 75 or so SAKs, and about 25 single bladed knives both fixed and folding. My knowledge on single bladed knives isn't the best but I know enough lol.

I hope you guys understand what I'm saying!
 
For any decently made folder should be able to do 95% of what a similarly dimensioned fixed blade knife will do ... but for me, I think of fixed blade as having the potential for a beefier, thicker blade and handle. And obviously fixed blades can be a lot larger. If you want to do chopping with the knife, it is hard for me to imagine many folders that could compare to a big 7'' fixed blade with a .2'' thick blade. Also, folders will typically be stainless, whereas fixed blades can be carbon steel, which is better suited for a lot of outdoors tasks, will hold an edge better, etc. Finally, a fixed blade with a full tang is obviously going to be a lot stronger as a tool than a folder with a hinge/joint.
 
The reason why I carry an HD folder is the one that you don’t see coming. It’s called being prepared. Having a knife means you are prepared, and while you can't always tell what you'll end up using your knife for, it's a sure bet you will end up using it for something. It may be something from opening packages up to an emergency situation, and everything in between
 
Hard use folders are for the times that you can't carry a fixed blade for whatever reason that could be.
 
Primarily, prying and stabbing dense material like metal, plastic (opening a can of food for example). How often this needs to be done? Not often at all. How often one needs to do transparent slices of tomatoes? Right tool for the job? Not really, but carrying a can opener, prybar and whatever else is not ideal solution either. In the end, everyone chooses what HE/SHE needs/wants.
 
Ankerson said:
Hard use folders are for the times that you can't carry a fixed blade for whatever reason that could be.
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exactly...i can't walk around with a fixed of any length...so when i have to dig, pry, scrape, poke and abuse on stuff i've got a robust folder to do it with...
 
pilote said:
exactly...i can't walk around with a fixed of any length...so when i have to dig, pry, scrape, poke and abuse on stuff i've got a robust folder to do it with...
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Yeah if I am in a place that I can carry a fixed blade you can bet I will have one of my Busse Battle Mistresses with me. :thumbup:
 
Cutting zipties, the way I had to today was certainly something I wouldn't try with a non hard use folder or fixed blade. Had cables zipped to table legs, needed to cut the ties, wedged blade in between tie and table leg, then rotated the handle until the tie was cut. That definitely would have snapped a thin blade. Also had to jam it between a piece of plastic wire conduit and a plywood base board to insert a zip tie. Worked well for both, and I still can't think of a different/better tool for the jobs given what I had to work with. Wave, my a100, and my tool box which others keep pulling my kleins out of. :(
 
I had to make a lot of kindling with a ZT0500 this last week. I didn't do any batoning but I did push the knife hard and pried a bit. My Vic Solo was definitely not up for that job.
 
stabman said:
By this metric, an Endura is a hard-use folder.
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The saber ground ones are certainly tougher than many give them credit IMO. I beat the snot out of my zdp189 delica, and its still kicking fine in NC with my sister to this day. Not confident in the FFG model now though.:o


:edit: never had issues with the lock, other than gunk getting in it. The pivot however is a bit small when you start smashing it tip down into things.
 
singularity35 said:
The Saber Ground one is actually somewhat of a hard use folder. Maybe just lacks a little in the lock strength department.
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I wouldn't want to baton with one.:D
We really need to start Hard Use knife threads with what TYPE of hard use we're meaning.
It could be:
-Defense/stabbing(sometimes called hard use)
-woods work, including batonning
-cutting lots of abrasive materials (certainly using the knife hard)

OR it could just be some generic term for a knife that tries to fill all niches but doesn't excel at any one task (my SmF seems to fall into that category; does just about any task okay, but doesn't shine at any one given task, other than looking cool and costing alot that is!:p)
 
I use my I use my hard use folders whenever I go on camping/backpacking trips and dont have room/weight for a fixed blade or don't need a fixed blade. It works for all basic camp chores.
 
stabman said:
We really need to start Hard Use knife threads with what TYPE of hard use we're meaning.
It could be:
-Defense/stabbing(sometimes called hard use)
-woods work, including batonning
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Agree to this but some folks are bound to freak if discussing SD use in GKD.

stabman said:
-cutting lots of abrasive materials (certainly using the knife hard)
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This is hard cutting as opposed to hard use were there are hard impacts on the knife.

stabman said:
OR it could just be some generic term for a knife that tries to fill all niches but doesn't excel at any one task (my SmF seems to fall into that category; does just about any task okay, but doesn't shine at any one given task, other than looking cool and costing alot that is!:p)
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Since I carry a hard use folder precisely for a situation that I can't foresee, I'd want it to be able to do a lot of varied tasks, even if not excelling at all of them but reasonably capable in most. What use to me a folder that excels at one task when confronted with a task it is not suited for?

This characteristic should be one of the criteria, let's just call it "versatility". Because if we have an uber strong folder that can't even cut cheese, albeit not smoothly, it would then not be a knife.
 
stabman said:
OR it could just be some generic term for a knife that tries to fill all niches but doesn't excel at any one task (my SmF seems to fall into that category; does just about any task okay, but doesn't shine at any one given task, other than looking cool and costing alot that is!:p)
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Let's say it is "some generic term for a knife that tries to fill all niches but doesn't excel at any one task". On the other hand we will have a knife that excels in one task, but will fail in the other. Which is better?
 
95% of the time, I've got a fixed blade and a full size multitool close at hand. So I don't need a heavy duty folder and tend to choose easier to carry knives with blade geometries that are designed for good cutting performance. Knives like a FFG Delica or a Native 4.

However, there are times when I can only count on what's in my pockets and that means carrying a folder and a SAK at most. In these occasions I turn to heavier, stronger folding knives because there are more chances that I will need my pocket knife to perform multiple different tasks. Something like a ZT 0300.

Sure, no folding knife will ever be as strong as a fixed blade, but sometimes they are the only viable option.
 
singularity35 said:
Since I carry a hard use folder precisely for a situation that I can't foresee, I'd want it to be able to do a lot of varied tasks, even if not excelling at all of them but reasonably capable in most. What use to me a folder that excels at one task when confronted with a task it is not suited for?
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you adapt your tool or use that tool to make another tool for that situation.

sometimes I only carry a slipjoint and it has worked fine for me.
 
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