Help me understanding

awestib

awestib

Joined
Dec 29, 2008
Messages
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I need some help understanding a knife issue and this is for pure understanding. I don't want you to get me wrong here, I am not in any way criticizing etc.

I am a fixed blade guy although I have always worn an EDC folding knife. I have posted quite a few knives for sale, I think all fixed blades. From my perspective, a fixed blade makes more sense, even if it is a "3 Finger Joe", you pay for the blade, not the locking mechanism etc. There is way less risk of failing in any regard etc.

Anyway, I see threads posting amazing fixed blade knives for amazing prices, often without any interest but yet, I see folders for 1500$ gone in hours. I don"t even understand why a knife maker is interested in making a folder. I wonder why the ABS Mastersmith test knives don't include folders - hmmm?

If you guys can enlighten me here that would be appreciated and maybe the next time when one of my beautiful knives that I offer for sale don't sell (for a very reasonable price), I will understand?!

Thanks!
 
Lots of people can't carry a fixed blade, they can carry a folder. Folders are also more inconspicuous-even if you CAN legally carry a fixed blade, you can't just casually have it clipped to your pocket, so it's more likely to draw attention-something a lot of people don't want to do.
 
Humans are very tactile. We derive great pleasure from "playing" with something. I can sit and mindlessly flip a knife open for hours. I like to put my thumb in a Spydie hole and snap it open. I like to feel the "thawack" of a Benchmade Barrage opening. There is a variety of locking mechanisms. We must explore each one and master it's nuances. Each have their strengths. There are flippers. Spring assisted. Spring assisted flippers.

How do you play with a fixed blade?

Fixed blades are boring. They don't "do" anything. They just sit there.
 
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I guess both legality and 'play' factor and effectiveness.

Legality: some areas ban EDC'ing fixed blade

Play factor: the tactile feedback of a good folder (the friction or lack of it, tension from locking mechanism, the 'silky' or 'velvety' feeling of the whole experience). The satisfaction of a well oiled mechanism at work ended with solid lock engagement. This, more than anything I think makes people wanting no bladeplay, and solid lockup.
IMO, folder can be 'enjoyed' on it's own. Fixed blade needs an object to be cut with to be really enjoyed.

Effectiveness:
Having 6" in the pocket but only 2.5" blade is not as efficient as having 4" in the pocket with 3" blade available for use.
 
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Along the lines of playing with... I feel a strong compulsion to take my knife apart, pretty much the day I get it, to see how it works (if it's a new design to me) and to see how well it's designed.

A fixed blade is just too simple for my money. I want a degree of complexity that a folder typically provides.
 
Strigamort said:
Along the lines of playing with... I feel a strong compulsion to take my knife apart, pretty much the day I get it, to see how it works (if it's a new design to me) and to see how well it's designed.

A fixed blade is just too simple for my money. I want a degree of complexity that a folder typically provides.
Click to expand...

Lol, obviously we all have different levels of fun...I like flicking folders open and such, but I have absolutely NO desire to take my knives apart and if I do have to, I'm gonna be pissed, not excited.
 
Strigamort said:
Along the lines of playing with... I feel a strong compulsion to take my knife apart, pretty much the day I get it, to see how it works (if it's a new design to me) and to see how well it's designed.

A fixed blade is just too simple for my money. I want a degree of complexity that a folder typically provides.
Click to expand...

I was very interested to see how Benchmade made a flipper with an axis lock work with the 300sn. Pretty ingenious if you ask me.
 
The folder is so convenient. Just clip it to, or drop it in, a pocket and go.
 
Fixed blades often require belts, I wear suspenders, pocket knife goes right in the pocket. No worries about it riding funny or catching on stuff.
 
As others have said, states like mine (Michigan) do not allow someone to carry a fixed blade and folding knives also take up less space in the pocket without requiring a sheath. I'd love to be able to carry a neck knife as a backup, but that isn't in the cards for now.
 
Skimo said:
Fixed blades often require belts, I wear suspenders, pocket knife goes right in the pocket. No worries about it riding funny or catching on stuff.
Click to expand...

You must be one of the few left with suspenders:) But 'tis true. One must have a belt, and less of a 'ahem' mid-section to comfortably carry a fixed blade without it poking out to far to the side, which is just bring more attention to my 'mid section'. I like carrying a fixed blade most of the time, but if it ain't comfy, it stays home most the time. Folders rarely have a comfort issue.
 
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