Is there any use for a 7" inch blade?

I'm not sure that maybe it's the 9" or so blade knife that isn't really needed. I got rid of my BK9 & am perfectly happy with my custom RD6 & Breeden Peacemaker (Along with a RAT3 for a "personal FB). If I need to chop, I have a couple machete's that work just fine for that (An Ontario & a Tramontina).

As far as tactical needs, if needed, I do think 5"+ is good.
 
I'm on board with it hitting in the middle of usefulness. But, where I am it is indeed useful. I see pics here of guys that need to cut down 6" trees with their sheath knives, chop down heavy brush, and baton large logs.

That size blade will do great here as we have no need for the above mentioned activities. We have too many seasons of drought, and too few trees. We have damn few "trash trees" to practice chopping down to see if the blades will cut well. And since it is mostly hot and dry down here, dry stuff to burn negates needing to baton unless it is for size. In fact, in all of our parks "open fires" in non designated areas are illegal since the battle cry here is "we don't want to end up like California!". (No offense to the west coast, but you guys always seem to be on fire the last few years....)

You can burn what you find, bring your fuel in and start your fire any way you want, as long as you don't tear up the landscape and burn in the firepits. If you have a hiking stove, a camp stove (Coleman type), or even a barbecue pit, you can use those anywhere. A 7" is good for light chopping, so for medium fires with without much batoning it is a great size.

My 7" actually does light chopping quite well, is good for a mulitude of camp chores, and is great for butchering. A skinner skins better, and my cleaver is better for bone breaking and cutting, but overall the 7" is just fine for an all around tool. I can't break a bone or chop through a joint with a big bellied skinner nor can I easily do butchering. But with the 7", it can do all of those things, just not as well as a purpose built knife.

I feel silly using it in the kitchen, but since I cook a lot, one day I just had to try it. I had a huge rack of spares to go on the pit (this hog must have been on the loose for a couple years longer than his buddies) and I was having trouble separating the cartilage an bones so I could fit them on the smoker.

I was really surprised at how well that knife slipped through hard cartilage and joints, even when nicking a bone here and there.

It's obviously a useful size for me. :thumbup:

Robert
 
The answer depends a lot on your environment and the specific 7" blade, thick or thin, narrow or broad.

I have a 7" leuku that's great for cutting up watermelon. :)
 
I think a 7" blade with a choil is the best of both worlds. You can choke up on the blade for finer work and you can chop reasonably well gripping the handle closer to the pommel. A 7" blade has a little more length for batoning than shorter blades and a 7" blade is a little lighter than a 9-10" blade. If I was planning on carrying a 9-10" blade, I would also probably bring a small blade with me whereas if I was planning on carrying a 7" blade I could probably get by with it alone.
 
When I was in the USMC I found the 6-8" range to be ideal for utility, ease of carry etc. At that length they usually aren't too heavy to carry all day and really aren't too long to get in the way. That length will do fine for anything I found to use a knife for.
 
7", yep has it's place around the camp site for sure. BUT back in the mid 80's I was doing some work back up on the Yukon River here in Alaska and I was speaking with and old Athabascan Indian man one day. I will never forget what he said. He said boy," the further you get away from people the bigger the knife you need". If around town and my house I'll have my Slip Joint. If I leave for overnight, I don't go anywhere without at least 3-knives on my person or attached to my gear. Slip joint or Lock-blade for GP close up work. 4.5"-6.5" medium chore/lite camp, and 8.5"-17" heavy chore/chopping. Snow machine, 4-wheeling, river rafting, fly-in fishing etc. Lets face it S#!+ happens!!! Spent to many years in the service not to see and know that and that's not to even say my civilian adventures.
This is just my .02.
 
I had a USMC Kabar that I took with me on every bank fishing trip. I always had to cut rod holders and often hack limbs out of the way. It excelled at this.
 
I recall reading that for a fighting knife, a 7" blade was the optimal length for reaching vital organs while stabbing. :eek:

Good to know in case you have to go ninja on someone. :cool:
 
I like 7" knives quite a bit. I find that's the largest knife I can carry comfortably on my belt all day without it being a hassle. Specifically, I like the Bark River Bravo-2. It can do everything. It can be used to fell 6" trees quite easily- with a baton. It can also be used to split firewood, make kindling, clean game etc. etc. With a Sig .45 on one hip and a Bravo-2 on the other, a gentleman in the outdoors is prepared for any eventuality. The only time I feel I NEED a bigger knife is when clearing brush or hacking out trails. Then a 10" chopper or machete is called for. This is in Appalachia, where the wood is generally soft. I spent some time up in Maine this summer, and I had no idea what I was doing. I swear the woods are made of iron up there. Different locales dictate different tools for getting around.
 
Moon, your on the money Brother!!! Nothing can be said more true than what you said, "Different locales dictate different tools for getting around". Common sense and proper preparation, for there is NO set of circumstances the same.

Trust me I like my 7" blades ALOT, great all around users. I have a Scrap Yard Guard that is tough as nails and take a serious BEATING(fun to) that I would use anywhere any time, but it sure is a pain to try to cut out and shave up ice blocks for making a wind break on open ground when the wind chill is -20+. Again, where am I going, how long, what will I be doing, what COULD I encounter. Just common sense and planning... I always still think of the old Cub/Boy/Explorer Scout Mottos "BE PREPARED". Life is to precious to have to say, boy if I had just done that or brought that with me-------.
 
RussMo said:
Moon, your on the money Brother!!! Nothing can be said more true than what you said, "Different locales dictate different tools for getting around". Common sense and proper preparation, for there is NO set of circumstances the same.

Trust me I like my 7" blades ALOT, great all around users. I have a Scrap Yard Guard that is tough as nails and take a serious BEATING(fun to) that I would use anywhere any time, but it sure is a pain to try to cut out and shave up ice blocks for making a wind break on open ground when the wind chill is -20+. Again, where am I going, how long, what will I be doing, what COULD I encounter. Just common sense and planning... I always still think of the old Cub/Boy/Explorer Scout Mottos "BE PREPARED". Life is to precious to have to say, boy if I had just done that or brought that with me-------.
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Yeah that is true, The smaller knives are fine for most stuff, but when I really have some heavy chopping, clearing etc to do I break out my Busse CGFBM. :D
 
GregY said:
Look up "Camp Tramp". I don't see any lack of popularity or utility.
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That's my grail knife. I feel it can do it all and it is a much better to hike with than my battle rat! I like the work it can do better than a 4-5" blade.
 
I bought this 7 incher yesterday at an estate sale for a dime. I have as much fun buying a knife like this as I do dropping big bucks on a spendy folder. Looks to me like a kitchen/butcher knife.

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A lot depends on the individual knife. My favorite fixed blades tend to have blade of 3-4 inches. However, of all the fixed blades I own, I tend to carry my 6.5 inch Randall #3 the most. I just love that knife and the extra blade is no problem.
 
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