max length of blade before it looks idiotic

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mainecoon

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May 16, 2017
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What is the maximum blade length of a knife an average (read: non-military, non-badass) person can carry before it becomes obvious that the guy is trying to compensate for his lack of badassery with a huge knife? Obviously if you're clearing brush, carrying a machete is no big deal. But if you're hiking a well traveled route, such as the Appalachian Trail, with no threatening large animals, I say 6-7" blade length is about the max. Any opinions?
 
I'm going for a hike, in that direction.

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mainecoon said:
What is the maximum blade length of a knife an average (read: non-military, non-badass) person can carry before it becomes obvious that the guy is trying to compensate for his lack of badassery with a huge knife? Obviously if you're clearing brush, carrying a machete is no big deal. But if you're hiking a well traveled route, such as the Appalachian Trail, with no threatening large animals, I say 6-7" blade length is about the max. Any opinions?
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How do you know what may threaten you anywhere? Black bears have attacked people and mt. lions aren't unknown in the east. Some dogs will attack people. Some people will attack other people. Geographical location is hardly an assurance of safety.
 
As long as you're not walking around with a sword or some flea market special fantasy knife, then only an idiot would look at you funny.
 
You have to base your judgment on the totality of the person's idiotic-looking-ness, and your own proclivity for judging other people on what they choose to carry with them. There is no specific blade length which defines idiocy.
 
Here a hunter watched as two out of place men walked by. Later he found the two had just buried their latest murder victim !!
Black bears are rarely a problem unless they've been fed by stupid snowflakes !
Packs can be very dangerous like feral dogs, coyotes , wolves.
People high on drugs/booze etc.
 
I think it depends more on the person looking than the person carrying the knife. This last weekend I was with a guy that I haven't really hung out with since high school (20 years ago). He commented on the fact that I was carrying a knife and tried to joke about how unnecessary it was. It was a fixed blade with a 2.5" blade. I'm guessing he'd think your 6-7" knife was a sword. A couple years back I was at a Boy Scout camp and a leader from another unit pulled out a 5-6" fixed blade to give a demonstration on some cutting task or another and he was pulled aside by the camp staff for carrying weapons that threatened the safety of the boys at the camp.

Personally, I don't like carrying anything over 4". I don't often have a need for anything that long, and even my 4" knives got sold or traded off because they didn't see much use. Even when we were camping I'd end up taking something smaller. Others here regularly carry knives that have 6-7" blades like what you were talking about.

I'm not too concerned with what other people think. Carry what works for you. If you're proficient in making feather sticks with a samurai sword and that's what you prefer, then carry it and ignore the stares. If you do better with a Case Peanut carry that instead. HYOH (Hike Your Own Hike)
 
shqxk said:
Carrying a larger than 7" blade won't make you looks idiotic... starting a thread like this does.
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I disagree. It shows that the OP is taking an interest in carrying knives but doesn't want to be a pariah. That doesn't make them an idiot. Not asking the question and not being secure in their decision would be idiotic. Attempting to mock somebody because they're not as experienced as you is another great way to look idiotic.
 
Why do you assume that people carrying large knives have a need to compensate for anything? Reminds me of a thing that poor people say when they see someone drving a nice car just so they can compensate for their own lack of income and gives them a reason (that they made up in their mind) to look down upon wealthier people. Don't be that guy...

If you're just a regular hiker, 4" blade is probably all you need and anything longer is just unnecessary weight. But I often carry very large knives just for the fun of testing them, comparing to one another or simply because I like them... I mostly carry them covered in my bag though until I'm ready to chop stuff.
 
Honestly all joking aside it very much depends on what environment you are in and who you are around.

For example at my school at first I would only bring very small knives and rarely use them where anyone could see to avoid causing a heart palpitation in my schoolmates. As they got used to me I could slowly bring bigger and bigger knives to the classroom without fear and use them more.

So you should get a feel for what people around you will tolerate. Different people and places will have different size limits where they start to get uncomfortable.
 
Cory Hess said:
I disagree. It shows that the OP is taking an interest in carrying knives but doesn't want to be a pariah. That doesn't make them an idiot. Not asking the question and not being secure in their decision would be idiotic. Attempting to mock somebody because they're not as experienced as you is another great way to look idiotic.
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When someone tries to call out other idiots, gets called out himself.

Blade length has nothing to do with idiotic, carrying an excessive large knife won't turn anyone into an idiot as far as it still under the law.
 
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