max length of blade before it looks idiotic

I would think it would have to depend on who you are. Errol Flynn could obviously pull off a far longer blade than most.

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Yea I don't think the OP called anyone out. Sounds like a genuine question he was asking. He was just asking if anyone thought there was a length where a person would start took look ridiculous. That said, i dont think there is a particular length alone that would be ridiculous. Though there would be some cases where I might think inappropriate. And some other cases where the type of knife combined with the person carrying it look particularly dumb. One instance i could think of was at the mall where I saw an otherwise harmless guy carrying two fixed blades on his belt, one on each side. What i found funny was that they weren't parallel to his leg but had the handles angled away from him so that they were in a "v" from his body on both sides. And i mean in such a way so that he could draw to kill or something. I couldnt identify the blades and they did not look particularly impressive in any way. I thought he looked like a complete tool
 
GentlemenBlades said:
3" - 3.5" is my preferred. I honestly don't need anything bigger.
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Same here. I live and work in an urban environment so I don't concern myself with thoughts of having to process logs or breakdown saplings etc. Also, legality of carry notwithstanding, where I live, it would be hard for me to justify carrying a fixed blade or any knife with a blade over ~4" to a) society in general b) law enforcement officers. For these two reasons, I carry folders (also for a shorter OAL and easier concealment from nervous nellies) between 3"-4" and so far, with day to day use, I've been getting along just fine. Like others have mentioned previously, to me, circumstances (the person doing said carrying and the environment) dictate appropriate blade length and said "idiotic-ness" rather than the blade length itself.
 
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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Sure
 
Chariotz4 said:
Same here. I live and work in an urban environment so I don't concern myself with thoughts of having to process logs or breakdown saplings etc. Also, legality of carry notwithstanding, where I live, it would be hard for me to justify carrying a fixed blade or any knife with a blade over ~4" to a) society in general b) law enforcement officers. For these two reasons, I carry folders (also for a shorter OAL and easier concealment from nervous nellies) between 3"-4" and so far, with day to day use, I've been getting along just fine. Like others have mentioned previously, to me, circumstances (the person doing said carrying and the environment) dictate appropriate blade length and said "idiotic-ness" rather than the blade length itself.
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I carry a fixed blade in my pocket. I break folders. Lol. 7in overall for the whole knife. It's honestly not to bad.
 
Dfunk1210 said:
Yea I don't think the OP called anyone out. Sounds like a genuine question he was asking. He was just asking if anyone thought there was a length where a person would start took look ridiculous. That said, i dont think there is a particular length alone that would be ridiculous. Though there would be some cases where I might think inappropriate. And some other cases where the type of knife combined with the person carrying it look particularly dumb. One instance i could think of was at the mall where I saw an otherwise harmless guy carrying two fixed blades on his belt, one on each side. What i found funny was that they weren't parallel to his leg but had the handles angled away from him so that they were in a "v" from his body on both sides. And i mean in such a way so that he could draw to kill or something. I couldnt identify the blades and they did not look particularly impressive in any way. I thought he looked like a complete tool
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:) Yeah ! But I'll bet you didn't tell HIM that . It was probably just "Charlie Mike". ;)
 
GentlemenBlades said:
I carry a fixed blade in my pocket. I break folders. Lol. 7in overall for the whole knife. It's honestly not to bad.
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I'd never knock someone for carrying a fixed blade and I completely understand the sturdiness that a fixed blade provides a user with compared to folding knives. For my usage though, I'd never be in need of a blade so durable and capable of hard use that I'd need a fixed blade. Also, if I'm being completely honest, part of the appeal of folding knives to me is their mechanical nature (which is much the same reason that I have in a interest in firearms), and obviously with a fixed blade, you lose that. And while I may be able to integrate a short fixed blade into my edc rotation if I really wanted to, the pockets on the pants I tend to wear aren't enormous; my 5" phone and the 0452CF that I recently purchased (5.2" closed) are about the max size length-wise that my pants can handle, so a 7" OAL fixed blade doesn't appeal to me in that regard, and I also would never wear a fixed blade openly simply due to me not living in the most knife friendly area. And again, being more susceptible to attracting unwanted attention from the fine men and women in blue.

Again though, I don't have anything against fixed blades; they just don't appeal to me as much personally or make as much sense to me from a user standpoint as folders do. But hey, if you're the kind of guy who carries fixed blades (of any size, but especially large blades), all the more power to ya! More importantly, I'd probably think of you as more of a badass than an idiot...
 
Charlie Mike said:
Because I've trained for 10+ years in reverse grip edge out work. I currently train in Pekiti Tersia Kali.

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Actually I thought it might be that! In fact, not being a knife fighter myself, the only place I've ever seen that reverse grip, edge out carry is in those Phillipino fighting styles.

GentlemenBlades said:
When you're sitting on a motorcycle it's a tad easier to downward draw.
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Interesting.
 
Its also a matter of legality. No blade length laws (outside of autos/balis) per state law here. Fixed blades cannot be concealed. Because I always wear a jacket or cut that falls a few inches below my belt line, the knife will always be visible.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Its also a matter of legality. No blade length laws (outside of autos/balis) per state law here. Fixed blades cannot be concealed. Because I always wear a jacket or cut that falls a few inches below my belt line, the knife will always be visible.
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Ah, interesting.
 
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