Help with folder sizes

Usually carry a 3-1/2" in watch pocket, a 3-3/4 to 4" in main pocket, and a 4-5" tactical clipped into left breast pocket if wearing a shirt with a flap on the pocket. If only one, and this is my favorite, a 3-3/4 to 4 incher. Thanks.
 
I prefer 3 3/4" with no more than 2 blades, if over 4" I like single blades as they are lighter in the pocket and easier to carry. Handles on knives less than 3 1/2" seem too small for me, and I dont have big hands.
 
For me, my favorite EDCs right now are a Lone Wold Diablo (3.3 in. blade, 7.6 in. overall) and a Kershaw Needs Word (3 in / 7 1/8). They seem to be a good size in my hand, and are both considerably bulkier than most of the other folders I have.
 
A. G. Russell said:
I love designing and making folders that are 4 1/4" closed to 5 1/2" or even longer. Goldie insists that the market wants knives that are 3 1/4 to 3 5/8 closed.

Help me out and tell me what sizes you really like.

Big, 4 1/4 up?

Med 3 5/8" to 4"?

Smaller 22 3/4" to 3 1/2?

Pen knives, smaller yet?

thanks for your help
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.
Listen to your wife!!
She is always right!!!
LOL

What size is 3 1/4 to 3 5/8?

Medium:
Case meduim stockman @ 3 5/8"
S&M stockman @ 3 1/2"
Queen dogleg @ 3 1/2"
Queen Canoe @ 3 5/8"
3 3/4 a slim single bladed half moon trapper is still medium

None of these are small, but...
All of these are easy for an urban office pocket!

Large:
S&M Swell Center @ 3 7/8"
Stockman @ 4"
Double bladed Trapper @ 3 3/4"
Cotton Sampler @ 4 1/4"

These are literally handfuls, and you cannot sit a desk with one of these in your pocket

Small:
I just got your 3" titanium in VG10 in a pouch.
Excellent!!!
It is small and you really do not feel it in your pocket.
Will go on a key ring.
Definitely a knife for a non-knife person
 
I'll have to go with Goldie on this one -- 3 1/4" to 3 5/8" pocketknives are what I actually carry and use and buy these days. I only carry true pocketknives - only in my front pockets - never clips, absolutely never in a belt sheath, and never in my back pocket). For a slim light knife I'll go up to 3 3/4" -- though even then the crosswise "stick in the picket" thing begins to be felt a bit. I don't carry any longer knives than that, even if they're slim and light - just too much crosswise "stick in the picket" and my capacity for ignoring aggravation is far less these days than it once was. Smaller than 3 1/4" quickly becomes a problem also -- too small and it gets "lost" amongst all the other stuff that's inevitably in my pocket. While I could carry smaller ones in my watchpocket, I'm always concerned about them slipping out and getting lost. Also, a 3" two spring knife (jack or pen) is really my minimum easily usable size knife (the Buck 709 Yearling was a favorite of mine way back, even with the steel only being so-so) -- smaller than this, or even a slim 3" single spring knife (jack or pen), and my hands quickly start to cramp in use.
 
I have 3 rules for an EDC. Affordable, I may need to replace it at any time. Fast, if I need it for SD. Utility to do all the ordinary knife jobs when not busy thwarting attackers.

I have 3 copies of the CRKT M16-13Z and have about 80$ in all 3. The blade length is 3 5/8 inches. It's a combo blade, spear point, FAST little clicker without any assists that could get it called a switchblade, even by someone stretching the point. It's not very hard steel, but plenty tough and takes a razor edge easily.

Don't buy a knife to suit me. Buy a knife to suit YOU. Just think it through carefully before you start, and consider the job it has, and the rules where you carry it. And how many of 'em you'll buy. If it's not smart enough to buy 2, don't buy the first one.
 
3" or less or 4-1/8" or more...

The stuff like 3.5" or 3.75" just feel wrong in hand... 4-7/8" is OK, but I can still tell its short in hand... 2 finger grips on 2.5" to 3" is fine, but any bigger and it better be at least 4-1/8" to feel right.

This answer slightly diverts from what you asked, but its the way i think of it; Going up from 4.5" it depends a lot on the pattern itself, and how fat the handle is, or how wide edge to spine in the handle... for instance, I have 4.5" GEC single blade trapper that is too thin, but a fine length. Or a 5" Queen toothpick that is too thin and narrow for much use... Full bodied 5.25" or 5.5" hunters are great. So yeah, the bigger stuff is great, but it better be proportionate.

G.
 
I carry the 3 1/4" (slacks) to 4" (jeans). My normal carry is usually something 3 5/8". I really like a two blade combination with a single spring. Some days, a peanut in the watch pocket fits the bill.
 
For slip joints the maximum is 3 3/4". I prefer 3 1/4" to 3 1/2".
 
A. G. Russell said:
I love designing and making folders that are 4 1/4" closed to 5 1/2" or even longer. Goldie insists that the market wants knives that are 3 1/4 to 3 5/8 closed.
Click to expand...
From a standpoint of pure preference, I really like the larger slippies. Large Trappers, Stockmen, even Hunters. There is just something about big slippies that appeals to me, plus they fit my hand the best. If I'm looking for something for my collection, I'll normally go for the bigger folders.

Now, from a practical point of view these larger folders are a bit problematic. IMO they are really too large for comfortable pocket carry. I've got belt sheaths that I uses to carry them when I'm in the outdoors or at home, but I'm not always comfortable carrying that way in public in an urban setting (and a belt sheath is right out at the office).

For casual, around town EDC I do find myself gravitating more to somewhat the smaller knives in the 3.5 inch range (The Case Swayback Jack is probably my current favorite in this catagory). Large enough to be useful, but small enough to ride in my pocket without a lot of discomfort or a large bulge.

The really small ones (peanut sized) are a nice way to have something along when dressed up. Plus its not hard to find a dressy looking knife in this size (mother of pearl or semi-precious stone scales) that does not cost a fortune, but its not my first choice for acutal use.

Now, I have multiple examples of each size catagory, but the largest percentage of my slippie collection falls into the "large" catagory, even though the "small" examples get more pocket time.

Well, that's my 2¢ :D
 
If I'm buying I want my knives between 2 7/8" and 3 1/4" closed with somewhere around 3" to 3 1/8" being considered ideal. When I'm selling 'em I want them to be 3 1/2" closed:D

I had an old collector tell me once, "everybody likes little knives and wants little knives, they just don't want to pay for them". I think this was an accurate observation.
 
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Heavy said:
Hi AG,

I like a 3 inch blade, no longer. It's the legal limit in many places.
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This is how I think. 2.5-3" blade. I won't buy anything that's longer, unless it's a fixed blade. Overall length should be less than 4 1/4. For example, on a Congress, I get 2.5" blades, but overall is 4".
 
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