How great a slicer does YOUR regular EDC need to be ?

Guess I'm trying to figure this one out seeking the single do-it-all folder for EDC - I'm a camper trying to learn bushcrafting skills. So far it seems (and as many have mentioned in other threads) a longer blade can handle smaller tasks better than vice versa, and it seems to be a similar thing between thicker vs thinner blade stock too. Thinner does make things a little easier, but it's not like it's overly hard to use thicker. Most noticeable to me are cutting apples - thick just splits them, but otherwise, it seems to slice tomatoes and peel pears just fine.

Insipid Moniker said:
... My Adamas (now gone) and SR1 are fun, ...
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Curious what you didn't like about the Adamas? I have the SR1 and was considering trying the Adamas too.
 
reppans said:
Guess I'm trying to figure this one out seeking the single do-it-all folder for EDC - I'm a camper trying to learn bushcrafting skills. So far it seems (and as many have mentioned in other threads) a longer blade can handle smaller tasks better than vice versa, and it seems to be a similar thing between thicker vs thinner blade stock too. Thinner does make things a little easier, but it's not like it's overly hard to use thicker. Most noticeable to me are cutting apples - thick just splits them, but otherwise, it seems to slice tomatoes and peel pears just fine.



Curious what you didn't like about the Adamas? I have the SR1 and was considering trying the Adamas too.
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Pretty much what we're talking about in this thread, it just didn't cut well enough for my tastes. Beast of a knife, but the geometry just isn't very good.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Pretty much what we're talking about in this thread, it just didn't cut well enough for my tastes. Beast of a knife, but the geometry just isn't very good.
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Interesting.... looks, at least to my inexperienced eyes, like the same-ish saber(?) grind as the SR1? What's holding me back is the thickness and deeper pocket clip - they won't work as well with my carry style.
 
My EDC shall be able to do basic food prep, to cut through paper and cardboard and rope/plastic straps/paracord.

My large sebenza and my small insingo make this very good and carry well in the pocket

For some more specific uses and environnements I have other knives but I won’t qualify them as EDC has I am not carrying them every day
 
Critical for me. If it can't slide through an apple I'm not interested. Anywhere in between a SAK Pioneer for at the thickest end and Opinel at the thinnest for a slicing benchmark which will still be plenty strong enough for EDC tasks.
 
Try your delicate slicers on those tough/hard plastic straps that hold toy pieces in the factory boxes, you'll understand why thin and slicing is not always the best choice. Even for food prep, a stout knife can excel sometimes, like dealing with squash, for which slicing does not always get the work done (i.e., chopping is needed)
 
sharp_edge said:
Try your delicate slicers on those tough/hard plastic straps that hold toy pieces in the factory boxes, you'll understand why thin and slicing is not always the best choice. Even for food prep, a stout knife can excel sometimes, like dealing with squash, for which slicing does not always get the work done (i.e., chopping is needed)
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This is why a stout Chef's knife and a slim parer make up the cook's basic tool set.
 
sharp_edge said:
Try your delicate slicers on those tough/hard plastic straps that hold toy pieces in the factory boxes, you'll understand why thin and slicing is not always the best choice.
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Yup. No problem at all. Seriously. I'm confused why anyone would assume a regular sized SAK for example would have trouble with those.

This might be an interesting video to watch, I measured my Opinel at 0.007" behind the edge. That is very very thin. Weirdly it doesn't implode when building a shelter and cutting wood.

 
I preffer my blades on the slicy side, so full flat ground an thin blades are preferred. I do have some blades that do not fall into that category though... and I enjoy them anyways.
 
I like my heavy duty, overbuilt Hinderers & ZTs, but find that good slicers fit my everyday knife needs a little better.
 
Pomsbz said:
Yup. No problem at all. Seriously. I'm confused why anyone would assume a regular sized SAK for example would have trouble with those.

This might be an interesting video to watch, I measured my Opinel at 0.007" behind the edge. That is very very thin. Weirdly it doesn't implode when building a shelter and cutting wood.

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Pomsbz, That was a very, very well done video. Well articulated, offered valuable information, the “shaving sharp” piece was perfect, and the shelter segment provides great context. Beautifully done.
 
It seems people are confusing "sharp" and "slicey." Choppers need to be sharp too.

Slice vs chop is about geometry, not sharpness.

That said, for EDC I prefer a slicer. Thin, typically full flat....think SAK/Opinel. Slicing is what the vast majority of my EDC tasks entail.
 
reppans said:
Guess I'm trying to figure this one out seeking the single do-it-all folder for EDC - I'm a camper trying to learn bushcrafting skills. So far it seems (and as many have mentioned in other threads) a longer blade can handle smaller tasks better than vice versa, and it seems to be a similar thing between thicker vs thinner blade stock too. Thinner does make things a little easier, but it's not like it's overly hard to use thicker. Most noticeable to me are cutting apples - thick just splits them, but otherwise, it seems to slice tomatoes and peel pears just fine.
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IMO, one needs to sort out the relative importance of:
- cleaning game (which favors clip points and hollow grinds)
- food prep (which favors full flat grind and lots of belly for spreading stuff)
- making shavings and other wood working (which favors a thicker convex edge to throw curls and resist rolling)
- cutting cordage (which favors serrations or course blade steels)

Other things to consider are the speed of clean up, size of the handle for power grips, the ability to choke up and use different grips, and of course, durability.

IME, no folder is going to be as good as a fixed blade for bush crafting type skills, particularly when you add batoning wood.

For woods/camping/bushcraft type stuff, I prefer a 4"-5" fixed blade with a fairly thin convexed saber grind.

For EDC, I prefer a 3"-3.5" folder. I strongly prefer thinner blades and will generally scrub my hollow ground knives flatter for better slicing with food and cardboard. I don't expect really great wood shaving from a folder compared to a more convexed fixed blade.

EDITED TO ADD: The Opinel #9 Inox is my preferred backpacking knife and one of my most commonly carried EDC knives. It's the closest I've found of marrying bushcraft and EDC goals.
 
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RBid said:
Pomsbz, That was a very, very well done video. Well articulated, offered valuable information, the “shaving sharp” piece was perfect, and the shelter segment provides great context. Beautifully done.
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It's not me, I wish I had that guys knowledge, humour and strength! I was mentioning my own Opinel in reference to his video.
 
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I don’t prep food or slice up cardboard with my knife.
I do cut a lot of hose, rubber mats, teflon, wire, etc. and I like substantial blade with a full flat grind. I do not like to carry a knife that is bulky in the pocket.
Spyderco K2 checks all of my boxes.
 
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