How much smaller?

For comfort and anonymity, I usually only carry small folders. Don't carry at work, maybe a small SAK in the city. At home, I usually have a small fixed blade, PSK size, in my pocket. Large folders are usually only carried when I am hiking, fishing, camping (in areas where an everyday carry size fixed blade is looked down upon), or testing one out at home. I usually carry my SAK, or Camillus demo, in addition to a smaller, sub 3", tacticool. With these, my pitiful excuse for a money clip that is mostly empty, a couple coins, and my keys, this doesn't really weigh me down. Lately, unless I am going for a hike on a mostly suburban trail etc, I don't carry my small tacticool, instead favoring my SAK for all of my chores.

However, the blue huntsman I am carrying these days is just the right size for unobtrusive carry. With a small lanyard, it is easily accessible in my front pocket. It has one tool I don't need, a saw, but I don't really want to go larger, or smaller. I have carried the Buck stockman and cadet, really liked both, but the stockman was a hair too big, and the Cadet wasn't enough for me. Same for the OP's Schrade 34OT and 8OT. One was a hair too big, the other not enough.

I rely on the SAK and small tacticool for utility work only, don't expect to live through Armageddon with either. I think my expectations are unfounded, and should be better thought out, but I like what I like, and will have to live with that for awhile. 3.5" for tacticools is a good balance right now for me, maybe something in between the 301/8OT and 303/34OT size would be best for me.

BTW, large knives like Striders SMF, Spydercos Military, Benchmades 710 etc, are uncomfortable for me to carry. I am 6'3", 350 lbs, and when I would be carrying the above models, I usually have cargo pants/shorts on. Still, I cannot carry the above. They are cumbersome IMHO. I carry them either in my daily pack, or in a coat pocket. Otherwise, they stay home.
 
I guess with me...it's always been what you are used too.I've carried a knife since I was 5....large barlow at first.Now it's usually a trapper.Tried small,just couldn't get used to it!
Jim
 
Ok, so as we go on with this discussion I have narrowed it down to two knives that are a good compromise for me as far as size AND comfort. The Wenger SI and my Case medium Stockman. Both allow a good grip for tough cutting jobs, while laying flat enough for MOST articles of clothing. However, as I said before, the Wenger's blade sometimes feels like over kill. Just a tad bigger then I'm used to (although the more I carry it, the more I get used to it). The Stockman is the epitome of traditional knives for me. It is a piece of Americana, and a very hard worker. However, when I have it I miss the tools the SI has. However, I can usually work around it. The awl on the SI gets replaced by the tip of the Turkish clip blade. The can opener is replaced by the Sheepsfoot. Bottle opener? I can open a bottle with the spey blade if I had to, or the clip. What I miss are the screwdrivers. However, since I usually have my multitool, those are also taken care of. I came to this conclusion today when I carried the Vic Cadet to work and needed it to cut some really heavy work, and while it did the trick, it was kind've awkward holding the thin knife while doing so. I guess that's what we all need to do, find a compromise. We can carry our Peanuts, our large trappers, or anything in between, but we should all have that middle of the road EDC we can turn to when we need it.
 
Weight doesn't matter to me really, an ounce or two difference is not noticed on my knife, I think mainly since I've always carried a large trapper or moose. Could have to do with carrying a fixed blade for years that was heaver yet than my folders... But I too carry a full size steel gun most days, and am hardly liable to notice a few ounces difference.

I am at a crossroads on size... a SAK classic is too small for carry, but it is the most used cutter here at home. I have a 3" canoe that is fine, wnough edge and handle. I have a peanut on the way(thanks to this forum!), its in between the two, I'm going to see how short is too short.

I just thought, in a way I prefer heavier, the weight of a trapper I can feel and know its there, but the small canoe is so light in pants pocket, I thought I had lost it, so it gets put in a shirt pocket where i can feel its weight... So far me too light is worse than heavy.


G.
 
My grandfather always carried a knife. Most of his knives were about 3" long. But he had a folding trench knife that he carried to Church about once a year to bug grandma. He'd pull it out and clean his nails with it, too. Grinning the whole time.

My dad pretty much carries a full-size stockman, and he goes through them. He's carried smaller ones, especially little 3" lockbacks. Frequently, he carries more than 2 at a time.

I have a lot of different sizes of knives, and try to tailor which I carry to activity and mode of dress. I really like the slimline trapper. It is big enough for just about any pocketknife job, but slim and light enough for light trouser pockets, or even a shirt pocket. The peanut is good, too, for low-profile trimming strings, opening packages, or cutting up steaks and short ribs at a restaurant when they brought out a dull serrated steak knife for me to use.
 
I've tried small. I can't make anything under a classic Barlow at 3 3/8" work for me, and even then it has to be a beefy example.

My normal carry knife is either a 3.5" trapper from Great Eastern, a 4 1/4" Case CV stockman or a 4 1/4" Remington cigar moose. They fit and work well.
 
I picked up an Ulster 81Y and at 2 3/4 its pretty stout for a small folder. With its serpentine shape it sits in the pocket well.
 
My Case Orange G-10 Copperlock @ 4" is fine with me but the new K.R. Johnson Sodbuster @ 3-3/4" and considerably thicker is getting worked into the line-up and it still fits the bill. The mini-Copperlock is definitely too small even in good looking 6.5 Stag, it just gets lost in my paw...I mean hand.
 
Blues said:
I have a Queen Utility (single blade slimline trapper) in D2 in my pocket at the moment which was a gift from a close buddy on the forum. Though it's a 4" knife, it weighs in at a mere 1.75 oz with a vorpal edge as put on by Tom Krein before it was sent to me.

Pretty hard to beat for a knife you'd hardly know was in your pocket. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

You are totally right here:thumbup:The Queen Utility or CASE Slimline Trapper are excellent pocket friends,light,slim but with a very useful long blade for food prep especially. The CSB Queen I have now has to share with a new purchase, a CASE Bermuda Green Slimline trapper, what a colour in Pocket Worn:D
 
I find a medium stockman ideal for edc and for most tasks..That being said My preference is for a full size stockman as I like a more robust feeling in my hand. and a small sheepsfoot or spey blade is all that is needed for most tasks and doesn't raise much of an eyebrow in sheepleville.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top