Knife preference shifting.

[FortyTwoBlades]

It is great when I see people carrying damascus blades, I think people underestimate them.

Pattern welded steel has been rendered purely cosmetic thanks to modern metallurgy. In fact, it actually is more likely to detract from performance in a modern knife than it is to enhance it.

That doesn't mean that you can't have a very good knife made out of it, but it does mean that there's little to no advantage to it over monosteel other than in the looks department.

And crimsonfalcon--great job on that! It's a beauty! Interesting forefinger guard, too!

 

[BladeChick777]

Mine was actually the opposite.
I used to love fixed blades and only carry fixed blades.
Now I love folders and only carry folders.

I prefer a folder over a fixed blade for many reasons.
It's more convenient, easier to carry, I like the ergos better, the steels, materials, locking mechanisms, and many other things.

A fixed blade just doesn't do it for me.

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Pattern welded steel has been rendered purely cosmetic thanks to modern metallurgy. In fact, it actually is more likely to detract from performance in a modern knife than it is to enhance it.

That doesn't mean that you can't have a very good knife made out of it, but it does mean that there's little to no advantage to it over monosteel other than in the looks department.

And crimsonfalcon--great job on that! It's a beauty! Interesting forefinger guard, too!

But aesthetics is pretty important, in my opinion. And I do think it's a shame to have a lovely knife and not carry and use it. Thanks for the kind words. I think I've come a long way in 9 months from my first file knife

 

[Lycosa]

My folder insanity has halted, for now, with a $30. dollar 3 1/2" blade sodbuster.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

But aesthetics is pretty important, in my opinion. And I do think it's a shame to have a lovely knife and not carry and use it. Thanks for the kind words. I think I've come a long way in 9 months from my first file knife

Aesthetics are important to me too, but in a different way. I prefer "functional beauty" in that the design is just so, resulting in a form that is beautiful because it is no more and no less than what it should be for its intended tasks.

This Maydole hammer (or any Maydole hammer) is a good example of what I mean by "functional beauty."

 

[Mike-The-Knife]

I'm in my 50's now and I've been carrying a knife all my life . Mostly folders as that was what most did . However I have had a couple of knives fail and /or close on my fingers when using them had . For a couple of reasons about 18 months ago I decided to go to a small fixed blade EDC .
These days there are several companies making nice small fixed blades . And after some reading and reviews I bought an ESEE Izula . Lifetime warrantee , 6 1/4" overall length , a solid blade that's about .150" thick . I carried it ever since and really felt better about always having a fixed blade knife on me .
Recently one of my favorite companies "Busse Combat" released a new model called the Magnum Bear Cub . This is a 6 5/8" long knife with a 3" blade , .145" thick full tang construction , paper micarta handles , Kydex sheath and of corse Busse's INFI steel . This is now my EDC and I love it .

Just remember that old saying when the SHTF your survival knife will be the one you have on you at the time . As pricy as Busse knives can be , you'd have to pay 2 or even 3 times what I paid for the Magnum Bear Cub to get a folder that could hold up to what this little fixed blade can . And that's why I always carry a fixed blade knife


...........................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !

 

[hank_rearden]

my interest is slowly shifting from knives (of any kind) to jewelry. [slap the face. SLAP! SLAP!]

 

[Charlie Mike]

You carry a 6" blade as an EDC? Or the OAL is 6". If the blade is 6", does it get in your way? I'd love to see a picture of a typical EDC you wear, if it isn't too much trouble.

Here are my main EDC fixed blades...

These are all approx a footlong overall. They don't get in the way either.

 

[whetrock]

My taste in knives has shifted ( not drastically) towards more simplistic traditional knives. I still enjoy/use a ton of modern folders but have been trying to incorporate more traditional knives into my EDC rotation. Currently I've acquired several opinel folders and have been using them a great deal trying to gauge their usefulness and practicality. So far I've been more than impressed.

 

[SLiuGraphite]

If I'm at work (cooking at Popeyes) I like to carry a fixed blade on my right side belt. Easier to pull out and cut things, easy to put back.
If I'm not working, I usually just have a folder on.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I have a fetish for Spyderco Military and Paramilitary 2 models in super-steels. I love my Spydies.
Sonny

 

[ThirdTooth]

I started out with the really old school, heavy as a brick, wood handles, two handed openning types, then gravitated towards compact functional utility blades, then a brief small fixed blade interest, now larger fondling knives. never had a tactical or mall ninja phase.

oh, also, I am paying a lot more attention to designers these days

 

[timbit]

I'm in my 50's now and I've been carrying a knife all my life . Mostly folders as that was what most did . However I have had a couple of knives fail and /or close on my fingers when using them had . For a couple of reasons about 18 months ago I decided to go to a small fixed blade EDC .
These days there are several companies making nice small fixed blades . And after some reading and reviews I bought an ESEE Izula . Lifetime warrantee , 6 1/4" overall length , a solid blade that's about .150" thick . I carried it ever since and really felt better about always having a fixed blade knife on me .
Recently one of my favorite companies "Busse Combat" released a new model called the Magnum Bear Cub . This is a 6 5/8" long knife with a 3" blade , .145" thick full tang construction , paper micarta handles , Kydex sheath and of corse Busse's INFI steel . This is now my EDC and I love it .

Just remember that old saying when the SHTF your survival knife will be the one you have on you at the time . As pricy as Busse knives can be , you'd have to pay 2 or even 3 times what I paid for the Magnum Bear Cub to get a folder that could hold up to what this little fixed blade can . And that's why I always carry a fixed blade knife


...........................................
HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS !

Nice! I've never owned a busse, but that is a beauty. I agree about the SHTF situation. I think that the chances of me actually being in a situation like that are slim, but it is nice to have a good tool on hand.

Aesthetics are important to me too, but in a different way. I prefer "functional beauty" in that the design is just so, resulting in a form that is beautiful because it is no more and no less than what it should be for its intended tasks.

This Maydole hammer (or any Maydole hammer) is a good example of what I mean by "functional beauty."

View attachment 283476

I am very much a utilitarian. I see beauty in function. I think that if a tool is being used as it is meant to be, and it is designed well...it is beautiful. That is why I love knives!

My taste in knives has shifted ( not drastically) towards more simplistic traditional knives. I still enjoy/use a ton of modern folders but have been trying to incorporate more traditional knives into my EDC rotation. Currently I've acquired several opinel folders and have been using them a great deal trying to gauge their usefulness and practicality. So far I've been more than impressed.

I love opinels. Fantastic value for the price! I think that some of my sharpest knives are the thin opinels with a convex edge.