Is a folder good for anything?

[meat]

I'm not a knife expert, but I really don't think you need to be to answer your questions.

Think about it, have you ever tried whittling with an 8" butcher knife? Different tasks require different tools, whether it be knives, wrenches, screwdrivers...

 

[EmsRescueGuy]

For Edc folders have it all over fixed blades, no need to worry about what you wear as long as it has pockets or a waist band and i think that covers every garment i can imagine with the exception of formal gowns and togas.

For nudists i recomend fixed blades with neck or shoulder carry(merc Harness).


For outdoors you could debate the merits of both styles. I have found that for most of my outdoor trips, I don't tend to strap a knife to my leg, so my fixed blade is generally attached to my pack (certain exceptions to this rule apply) so having a good folder is a must for times when your pack is not attached to you.

As far as blade lengths go I think the difference in weight between a larger knife and a smaller one may be the deciding factor. A 24 inch blade Kukri may be better Than a Scrapper 6 for building a shelter but i would rather carry the latter on a long hike.

 

[ELBIOS666]

A fixed knife is usually much heavier than a folder of the same blade length, not to mention the weight of the sheath. It also takes up more space, as it can't fold.

 

[allenC]

This is only my personal opinion....

In my eyes, a man (or woman) who is carrying a folder, just looks prepared and rather self sufficient.
But a man (or a woman) with a fixed-blade strapped on their belt looks like a "Rambo" wannabe.

Even when hiking and camping a fixed-blade looks rather silly IMO.
As my father often said...
"You can always spot the inexperienced campers....they usually have the biggest knives".


Allen.

 

[the possum]

Allen, I suppose you'd die of laughter if you saw me tramping through the woods then.

 

[Preacher Man]

Why a folder instead of a fixed blade?
Convenience and local knife laws.

Why a 6" instead of a 8" inch?
Three reasons:
1) Intended use
2) Weight
3) Balance

Why different laws on knife size in different states?
1) Because the people writing and passing knife laws know nothing about knives.
2) Because those same councilmen, senators, or representatives think (most of the time) with votes in mind. This is an issue in which laws are passed based on what the lawmakers think their electorate will agree with, not on what makes sense.

Let me give you an example. I live in Fort Worth, TX. Last Saturday my church was giving turkeys and groceries away to people in need in our community. I was using a Becker Necker to open the boxes the turkeys came in. When I went to a store get some snacks for my volunteers, I forgot to put the Necker away. I'm going around a couple of stores and fast food joints with the Necker around my neck and no one gave me a second look. People saw the knife, mostly with curiosity, but there was nothing wrong with it.

Because many (if not most) people in Texas have this attitude, knife laws in Texas make sense. In most cases, Knife laws (and gun laws) are determined by the attitudes and prejudices of the local citizens and not the other way around.

 

[Thomas Linton]

I'm not a knife expert, but I really don't think you need to be to answer your questions.

Think about it, have you ever tried whittling with an 8" butcher knife? Different tasks require different tools, whether it be knives, wrenches, screwdrivers...

No, but i've carved with a 2" fixed blade which, while longer, is far lighter than any of my folders that fit that nitch.

If we're going to compare apples to apples, we should talk about knives with the same blade, not a typical folder to an 8" butcher knife. In that case and typically, the folder will be significantly heavier than the longer and stronger fixed blade. That extra weight comes from a far studier "sheath" (frame) and something to try to "splint" the "break" (pivot).

Looking around, and very important legalities aside, there are fine fixed-blade pocket knives on the market.

You pays your $$ and you makes your choice. Well, choices.

 

[Preacher Man]

Allen, I'm with Possum on this. Now if we ever camp in the same place I'll be able to recognize you. You'll be the one laughing at me the whole time.

 

[tomaddler]

Well, you may carry folders b/c you don't have enough room for a fixed blades. Of course, I carry tons of huge @$$ blades around b/c my main outfit that I wear makes it easy to conceal an arsenal's worth of weapons

 

[mauiblue]

I rather carry a fixed blade but the sheeples at work and in public may get leary, upset, or scared. If I do carry my fixed blade on my belt (Chris Reeve's Shadow III) my Hawaiian shirt is draped over it. So normally I carry my folders in a belt sheath or clipped in my pocket.

 

[hardheart]

a folder is good for cutting

also about the only thing any knife does better than a good screwdriver

 

[knarfeng]

No offence meant, but I think you ask strange questions.

Why get a folder? see UnixDork and Moonwilson responses.

Another related question I have: Why would someone get a 6" fixed blade as opposed to an 8"?

You get a knife that is sized for the job you intend to perform. A smaller knife is more controllable and is used for finer work.

 

[Nuke_Spook]

I carry a folder or Multi tool all the time. In a work / urban environment I have never seen a time when I would have been better served by a fixed blade. Yes, I carry a ~6-7" fixed blade in the woods, but will still end up using my folder more, partly from habit and partly because you don't need 6" of blade to cut rope. Folders also give the option of more than 1 tool i.e. SAKs which increases versatility. One area I can see needing a fixed blade in an urban environment (other than as a weapon) is while wearing gloves, in cold weather or work gloves, when it is easier to unsheath a blade than open one.

 

[EDCeeker]

Even when hiking and camping a fixed-blade looks rather silly IMO.
As my father often said...
"You can always spot the inexperienced campers....they usually have the biggest knives".

Personally, I think hiking/camping is the perfect excuse to carry the biggest damn knife you want to .

More seriously: So if a fixed-blade knife in the wilderness is silly, does that mean the folks at Fallkniven, for example (makers of my A1), don't know what they're about when they develop survival knives? If they do, and If you're going to be in the wilderness, why not carry a knife designed for wilderness use?

It's not my intention to challenge you (or your dad). I'm just curious about the thought process. It doesn't make sense to me. By way of comparison: Just around the house, office or whatever, the most I'm likely to have near to hand in the way of a flashlight is a small, inexpensive LED model. But if I know I'm going to be running around in the dark, I'll probably equip myself with something more gutsy.

IOW: Given the opportunity to prepare, I'll try to equip myself with the tool(s) best-suited for the job.

 

[Macchina]

I actually find the proportions of most folders to be more geared toward utility cutting task (the handle is bigger than the blade and more ergonomic) compared to a lot of fixed blades which are designed for skinning game (handle is usually small and blade is longer, reducing control).

 

[allenC]

From the possum:

Allen, I suppose you'd die of laughter if you saw me tramping through the woods then.

From Preacher Man:

Allen, I'm with Possum on this. Now if we ever camp in the same place I'll be able to recognize you. You'll be the one laughing at me the whole time.

No, I would not laugh....my mother taught me better.
But really, what do you guys do with your large fixed-blades while hiking or camping?
Personally, I try to damage as little of the wilderness as possible when I'm out in the woods.
It actually bothers me to see someone carrying a large fixed-blade (or ax, machete, or large saw) on a camping or hiking trip....especially if that person is in their teens or early twenties.
From my experience, sooner or later they will give in to temptation and start hacking on a living tree.

From EDCeeker:

More seriously: So if a fixed-blade knife in the wilderness is silly, does that mean the folks at Fallkniven, for example (makers of my A1), don't know what they're about when they develop survival knives? If they do, and If you're going to be in the wilderness, why not carry a knife designed for wilderness use?

I can't answer your question....but I suspect that Sweden is much different from North Carolina.
Down here, you really don't need a fixed-blade in the woods.
Heck, there is'nt even much real "woods" around here anymore....and what remains is either private property (where cutting without the owners permission is liable to get you shot) or state and federal parks (where cutting is liable to get you a big fine or jail time).

Allen.

 

[EDCeeker]

But really, what do you guys do with your large fixed-blades while hiking or camping?

Whatever needs doin' with a large knife? Dunno--haven't been in the deep woods for years and years and years.

Personally, I try to damage as little of the wilderness as possible when I'm out in the woods.

Me too. My policy: Leave an area as good as, or better than (e.g.: packing-out trash others have left behind) you found it.

It actually bothers me to see someone carrying a large fixed-blade (or ax, machete, or large saw) on a camping or hiking trip....especially if that person is in their teens or early twenties.
From my experience, sooner or later they will give in to temptation and start hacking on a living tree.

No offence intended: But you're kinda soundin' like the kinda person that would ban things just because some people misuse them.

... I suspect that Sweden is much different from North Carolina.

Yes, and the North Woods are probably different from either, and Arizona is probably different still... I guess I'm missing your point.

Down here, you really don't need a fixed-blade in the woods.

In your opinion.

Heck, there is'nt even much real "woods" around here anymore....and what remains is either private property (where cutting without the owners permission is liable to get you shot) or state and federal parks (where cutting is liable to get you a big fine or jail time).

I find that hard to believe. It's been a couple decades since I've been in NC, but, when I was last there, there was lots of undeveloped areas. But even if that's true: NC isn't the whole world. I know there certainly is here in Michigan. There are still areas here, large areas, where if you go out there and get yourself turned around, you best know how to get yourself out, cuz there ain't gonna be so much as a tote road, out-house or power line for miles and miles and miles around.

I would not go out into the real woods around here w/o my knives, probably a sidearm, a compass, whistle, small flashlight, fire-starter and other small, easily-carried survival things.

 

[the possum]

But really, what do you guys do with your large fixed-blades while hiking or camping?

Allen, you've made over 5500 posts in 6 years on a forum dedicated to knives. Sure seems to me like you've already got your mind made up (and firmly so if no one has changed your perspective in that time), and are just looking for an interesting debate. Since I don't feel like bothering with that right now, I'll just say, "Use your imagination."

It actually bothers me to see someone carrying a large fixed-blade (or ax, machete, or large saw) on a camping or hiking trip....especially if that person is in their teens or early twenties.
From my experience, sooner or later they will give in to temptation and start hacking on a living tree.

.....what remains [of the woods here] is either private property (where cutting without the owners permission is liable to get you shot) or state and federal parks (where cutting is liable to get you a big fine or jail time).

Did it ever occur to you that some of us here might actually be private land owners, and can decide for ourselves what we want to do to our own property?

 

[J33psru1e]

.....

 

[hardheart]

don't let the doorknob hit you where the good lord split you