There's as many kinds of knives as there is knife knuts, and we all seem to have different tastes. Stockmen, trappers, barlow, peanuts. Different sizes, shapes, weights, and number of blades. Big ones, small ones, fat ones and skinny ones. Just like the ice cream place, there's a flavor for everyone.
But, why do we make our choices? is it something insubstantial like a feeling, or cool logic as to our needs? For myself, it may be a mixture of each. I know my taste has changed as I grew 'older'. From a fairly rugged stockman in my younger day, to a peanut now. But I used to really like beer when young, now it's a smooth sipping whiskey. Taste does indeed change. But I've found that with the new pragmatic attitude of age, bulk sometimes is more objectionable than weight.
This all came about when I weighed some knives. I had picked my number 8 Opinel for day that I knew I was going to be breaking down some boxes, and other cutting. I dropped it in the same side pocket as my peanut is carried in along side of my bandana and Fenix EO1. The Opinel is a light weight knife, much lighter than one would suspect from the size of it. But I found it just slightly annoying after some hours, because of the bulk. I was surprised when I out the Opinel on a weight watchers scale, and found that it was within a small fraction of an ounce of my peanut.
I guess I'm used to the way the 'nut drops down to the very bottom of the pocket, and nestles there out of the way. If I need my 'nut, I know it's all the way down there in the bottom corner. Yet carrying an Opinel number 8 that is mostly stock, it always seemed to be in an awkward spot when I'd reach for my bandana to clean my sunglasses, or the little Fenix to see in the milk crate at the back of the basement shelf I was looking at. Unless I was deliberately reaching for it, it just seemed to be in the way often, or in an uncomfortable position.
Weight or bulk? I've come to the conclusion that for me, bulk is more of a concern than weight, if the weight is about the same. Small stockmen, peanuts, mini copperheads or trappers seem to be able to be carried with a bit more comfort than a bulkier knife of similar weight. Even a nice round ended barlow fits down in a pocket well. Add in other stuff in the pocket, and overall size seems to matter more than the weight. I can only wonder if that's why the Daddy barlow never became as popular as the regular barlow, or the smaller jacks were bigger sellers than the large 4 inch or more jacks.
So, what makes a difference to you, the weight, or the bulk?
Carl.
But, why do we make our choices? is it something insubstantial like a feeling, or cool logic as to our needs? For myself, it may be a mixture of each. I know my taste has changed as I grew 'older'. From a fairly rugged stockman in my younger day, to a peanut now. But I used to really like beer when young, now it's a smooth sipping whiskey. Taste does indeed change. But I've found that with the new pragmatic attitude of age, bulk sometimes is more objectionable than weight.
This all came about when I weighed some knives. I had picked my number 8 Opinel for day that I knew I was going to be breaking down some boxes, and other cutting. I dropped it in the same side pocket as my peanut is carried in along side of my bandana and Fenix EO1. The Opinel is a light weight knife, much lighter than one would suspect from the size of it. But I found it just slightly annoying after some hours, because of the bulk. I was surprised when I out the Opinel on a weight watchers scale, and found that it was within a small fraction of an ounce of my peanut.
I guess I'm used to the way the 'nut drops down to the very bottom of the pocket, and nestles there out of the way. If I need my 'nut, I know it's all the way down there in the bottom corner. Yet carrying an Opinel number 8 that is mostly stock, it always seemed to be in an awkward spot when I'd reach for my bandana to clean my sunglasses, or the little Fenix to see in the milk crate at the back of the basement shelf I was looking at. Unless I was deliberately reaching for it, it just seemed to be in the way often, or in an uncomfortable position.
Weight or bulk? I've come to the conclusion that for me, bulk is more of a concern than weight, if the weight is about the same. Small stockmen, peanuts, mini copperheads or trappers seem to be able to be carried with a bit more comfort than a bulkier knife of similar weight. Even a nice round ended barlow fits down in a pocket well. Add in other stuff in the pocket, and overall size seems to matter more than the weight. I can only wonder if that's why the Daddy barlow never became as popular as the regular barlow, or the smaller jacks were bigger sellers than the large 4 inch or more jacks.
So, what makes a difference to you, the weight, or the bulk?
Carl.
). A bigger knife than a 3.5 inch jackknife finds its way seldom into my pocket. 
. After finding the thin, single spring mini Copperlock, even the medium and full size stockman feels bulky.
