Longer handle shorter blade concept

[STR]

Yet another fine example of the longer handle shorter blade concept in folding knives here in the way of a custom. This one by Gene Baskett shown here. Obviously this is another 'city knife' for legal carry in areas where anything with a longer blade would be a crime. Its here for a new pocket clip.

This one looked so familar when I got it out that I did a comparison shot with my own Baskett folder of the same model. Note the handle on the shorter blade model is actually a little bigger than my own both in length and width.

More and more we see examples of this concept in folders. Some capture it quite well like the CQC14 I was posting earlier and the Para Military and I like to include my Ouparator model also. I feel this need is often times going to come up more and more in the future also. For guys with bigger hands that don't need or want all that blade length its always been great but these days its more out of necessity for law abiding tax paying citizens to carry a good knife where they live without fear of becoming a criminal.

What other knives qualify do you think?
STR

 

[biogon]

STR,

Great topic.

I live in a 3.0" state and travel and work to a 3.0" state and a 2.5" city.

I have moderate to small hands, but I hate the feel of a tiny handle commensurate with most 3.0" bladed knives.

It really is hard to figure out how to pack a "splinter picking" tip with a tall, wide-chord blade for slicing.

The Spyderco Dodo was where I learned of in this category.

If it didn't have one of those incredibly hard to sharpen on a benchstone double recurves, I'd have carried one.

-j

 

[STR]

Spyderco Dodos touch up fairly easily on the Sharpmaker but I agree they are a bit more challenging when it comes time for a reprofile and new bevel of the cutting edge.

I have a serrated and plain in that one also.

STR

 

[STR]

Friz this is some shots before and after for you. I moved it more centered with the pivot to get it a bit further from the meat of your hand and also shortened it some as requested. Its pretty much invisible in the hand compared to the original clip since it does not stick up as much and is further back by a small amount.

I think the bead blast looks fine personally. Mine is only slightly lighter than Gene's but typically that tends to darken up some with time too so eventually it will look even more blended. Your call on whether you still want the clip sent to Gene to blast it in his cabinet.

STR

 

[bell]

Amen. The Dodo would seem to be the epitome of this concept. Totally ergonomic and an inspired design by Erik Glesser, this is one of the ultimate small blade big handle folders to date.

 

[SakuTheGreat]

I dont think the dodo really counts because it doesn't have a big handle. The CQC-14 seems to be best example of this idea for a production knife.

 

[FRIZ]

The clip looks good to me, STR. Thank you for all the improvements. Please send the puppy home.

Concerning the Dodo, I would like to add the following: I have 12 Dodos (used to have 13, but one moved to Oklahoma last year as a Christmas/Hanukah present), so I am definitely a Dodo fanatic. I consider the Dodo the best Spyderco ever. My hands are big and I have chubby fingers. The Dodo’s handle fits like custom made for me. In my book, the Dodo was the first production knife to be able to accommodate big hands with a serious sub 2.5 inch blade. And I look forward to the day we will be able to convince Sal to do a sprint-run…

I had the Dodo in mind when I had the privilege to inspire Ernest Emerson to design the CQC-14. As a thank you for the inspiration, Ernie presented me with the CQC-14 prototype in Las Vegas during the 2006 Shot Show.

So obviously I had the CQC-14 in mind when I commissioned Gene Baskett to build this knife for me. And STR created the perfect clip for this gorgeous puppy.

Due to the Draconian knife laws in some parts of the country, I am convinced that knives with big handles and short blades have a bright future.

Thanks.
Regards,
FRIZ

 

[biogon]

WOAH

You are THAT Fritz?

The '14 is a super super piece. Love it.

Have 2.

Thanks for your good work!

-j

 

[STR]

My hands are big also and I think the Dodo has a big handle but especially when you compare it to the blade length. Its that ratio of the handle vs the blade length that makes the knife fit this category really. If you look at the CQC14 and the knife by Gene Baskett here as well as the Para Military and Dodo you can see that characteristic in all of them.

The Dodo actually makes better use of the length of both its handle and the blade length due to the fine ergos incorporated into the design of both making what is there actually work bigger than it is in both cases. Everything about that little folder is just superbly inspired from the lock it uses to the blade shape, and the handle shape as well as the fine way it was ahead of its time when it was available. I think that is part of why it didn't sell that well. It was in the wrong time. Perhaps when knives that fit that category are more in demand Spyderco will have good reason to bring it back and maybe then it will do a lot better.

Personally I think it should have been offered in a more conventional straight edge Wharncliffe or modified wharny blade shape just due to the reasons already brought up. Many Dodo owners have trouble sharpening them and that played against them. It isn't so bad to run the sharpmaker on these but when it comes time to redo the bevel that was when folks were like, "how the heck do I do this?"

The Dodo is one of my favorite Spydercos of all time. I have a fully serrated one and the one given to me by my friend Friz in a plain edge last Christmas.

STR