My thoughts on pocketknife vs folder

[Hickory n steel]

The way I see it all pocketknives are folders, but not all folders are pocketknives.
And all pocketknives are traditional, but not all traditional folders are pocketknives.

For me if it's a clipless studless folder with a closed length of 4" or less it's a pocketknife ( a pocketknife should be small and easy to just drop loose Into a pocket ) , and anything bigger is simply a folding knife weather traditional or modern.

So what type and size of folder do you consider a pocketknife ?

 

[RedLynx]

The way I see it all pocketknives are folders, but not all folders are pocketknives.
And all pocketknives are traditional, but not all traditional folders are pocketknives.

For me if it's a clipless studless folder with a closed length of 4" or less it's a pocketknife ( a pocketknife should be small and easy to just drop loose Into a pocket ) , and anything bigger is simply a folding knife weather traditional or modern.

So what type and size of folder do you consider a pocketknife ?

I like to think of pretty much any folding knife I will use (not obscenely huge XL versions of knives certainly) as pocket knives, but I get you. One of my first purchases as a teen was a Gator II, because it was inexpensive and fit my hands well and I liked the look. My father was a bit flabbergasted as I was only carrying it in pocket at the time--it comes with a belt pouch but I was not using it--and did not consider it a pocket knife despite its ability to fold. Given the relative width and thickness of that knife, these days, I would agree, yet I would consider a larger ZT knife to be a pocket knife.

I guess I haven't really thought about it much or settled. My two-blade Case with 4" blades will always be a "pocket knife" to me despite its size, simply because to me, "Case" = "pocket knife" for all of their folding products.

 

[kniferbro]

A pocket knife is any folding knife that goes into my pocket.

 

[killgar]

An interesting philosophical question.

Is a knife a "pocket knife" by design, or by action of it's owner? Is the term "pocket knife" to be applied literally or figuratively?

If a person carries a Cold Steel Spartan in their pocket, does that, by action of it's owner, make it a "pocket knife"?

And if a small folder has no clip, but comes with a belt sheath, is it a "pocket knife" or a "sheath knife"?

Also, many people carry fixed-blades in their pockets using pocket-sheaths.

I'd say the definition of "pocket knife" is very subjective.

Personally, when I think "pocket knife", I think of a folding knife small enough to be completely concealed within the front pocket of a mans pants. That's my very subjective definition. But then again, a Buck 110 could easily be concealed in a pocket, but I would not consider it to be a "pocket knife" due to it's weight (unless it were customized or modified to make it significantly lighter). And I used to carry a fixed-blade in a pocket sheath out in public. Still do every day at home.

It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma .

 

[Hickory n steel]

I forgot all about fixed blades.
I don't consider fixed blades to be pocketknives, because it wasn't until folding knives came along that people would keep a knife In their pocket.
I also think that it's the knife and not the sheath it may or not have that makes it a pocketknife or not.

 

[THEJimmyN]

I used to carry pretty big "pocket"knives. Didn't understand the difference before, thought any folder could be a pocket knife. Overtime, I realize how cumbersome and unenjoyable they were to carry with my jeans or shorts. Ideal size for me would be like 3 inches of blade with a thinish profile. I'm a medium sized guy, 5'10 at 185 lbs, so that's probably why I don't need anything larger.

Still have larger folders, but they usually go in my backpack, car, around the house, etc. Rarely in my pockets now.

 

[Dean51]

Growing up pocket knives were traditional patterns, that's all there was. Usually 3 1/4 to 4 inches. That's what I consider the original pocket knife.
There are some modern knives I consider pocket knives like the Fallkniven PC. A modern traditional of sorts, carries well in a pocket.
I had never heard of a slip joint until reading this forum.

Once you add deployment systems studs, flippers, assisting springs, etcetera the knife becomes something else.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

The way I see it all pocketknives are folders, but not all folders are pocketknives.
And all pocketknives are traditional, but not all traditional folders are pocketknives.

Seriously though, if they don't fit in my pocket, or not made to fit in my pocket... they're not pocket knives.
Cold Steel XL knives come to mind.

They're still pocketknives, but huge.

 

[singularity35]

Seriously?

pock·et·knife
ˈpäkətˌnīf/Submit
nounNORTH AMERICAN
noun: pocket-knife
a knife with a folding blade or blades, suitable for carrying in a pocket.

 

[bt93]

I'll occasionally carry a Buck 110 in my pocket. A bit precarious but works. Any knife you can carry in your pocket is a pocket knife. There are even little fixed blades that are pocketable. My normal carry is a Vic Explorer Plus. A lot of people prefer to carry that model in a belt pouch. It's perfect in my pocket though.

 

[mtangent]

I forgot all about fixed blades.
I don't consider fixed blades to be pocketknives, because it wasn't until folding knives came along that people would keep a knife In their pocket.
I also think that it's the knife and not the sheath it may or not have that makes it a pocketknife or not.

We don't really know everything that happened in the past. Knives have been around a lot longer than pockets, AFAIK.
The FB has only ever been a pocket carry.
Some folders are better designed for pockets than others. Rounded ends, correct size, good blade retention all help. It is all subjective opinion, everybody will be different.

 

[Sonnydaze]

I tend to think of pocketknives as the "traditionals" such as Barlows that have been around forever. These are very common today also, and they are carried in the pocket, loose or in a "case" and have no clip. They are commonly found with multiple blades although not necessarily.
A "folder" is what I call knives, nearly always a single blade, which are usually found with a clip...such that they are NOT carried loosely in a pocket.

 

[Comeuppance]

A "folder" is a folding knife.
A "pocket knife" is any knife that is being carried in a pocket.

These things can be overthought, apparently? Once you start using phrases like "what this word means to me" and you're referring to a term that has a definite and obvious implied meaning that refers to a single characteristic, what you need is a new term. That's why we have terms like "modern", "traditional", "slip joint", "locking" - et cetera.

"Traditional" is where things REALLY get fuzzy and could really use some sub-categories. I was sent huffy PMs about posting my Spyderco Roadie because it's "too modern", but then you have people making brand new never-before-seen patterns* in materials like Carbon Fiber and powder metallurgy steels and that's somehow "traditional". I was given the guideline "if you can picture your grandfather or a farmer carrying it" - but then you have things like this:

And that's totally cool because reasons.

 

[stabman]

If it fits in my pocket, it's a pocketknife.
Simple as that.

 

[Hickory n steel]

We don't really know everything that happened in the past. Knives have been around a lot longer than pockets, AFAIK.
The FB has only ever been a pocket carry.
Some folders are better designed for pockets than others. Rounded ends, correct size, good blade retention all help. It is all subjective opinion, everybody will be different.

Fair enough. I just wouldn't say pocket Knife I would say pocket fixed blade to be more specific , and because I think there's a difference.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

A "folder" is a folding knife.
A "pocket knife" is any knife that is being carried in a pocket.

These things can be overthought, apparently? Once you start using phrases like "what this word means to me" and you're referring to a term that has a definite and obvious implied meaning that refers to a single characteristic, what you need is a new term. That's why we have terms like "modern", "traditional", "slip joint", "locking" - et cetera.

"Traditional" is where things REALLY get fuzzy and could really use some sub-categories. I was sent huffy PMs about posting my Spyderco Roadie because it's "too modern", but then you have people making brand new never-before-seen patterns* in materials like Carbon Fiber and powder metallurgy steels and that's somehow "traditional". I was given the guideline "if you can picture your grandfather or a farmer carrying it" - but then you have things like this:

And that's totally cool because reasons.

I see more and more tacti-traditional knives lately. Admittedly, I own some "traditional" folders with modern materials like carbon fiber, but I don't consider them "true" traditional knives. I'd be embarrassed to post them in the traditional subforum

It has never become a grey area until recently...

 

[mtangent]

Fair enough. I just wouldn't say pocket Knife I would say pocket fixed blade to be more specific , and because I think there's a difference.

It's all good. This is a topic where everyone will have areas of agreement & disagreement. In the case of your statement above, I would not create an extra term; no need for pocket folder or pocket Fb, they are just pocket knives. The less names to remember the better.

You feel the need to differentiate, I don't. No doubt we were different shirts, too.

 

[Hickory n steel]

It's all good. This is a topic where everyone will have areas of agreement & disagreement. In the case of your statement above, I would not create an extra term; no need for pocket folder or pocket Fb, they are just pocket knives. The less names to remember the better.

You feel the need to differentiate, I don't. No doubt we were different shirts, too.

It makes sense not creating a new term, but I always think folder traditional type folder when I think pocket knife and while I may not want to create a new category I will call a fixed blade a fixed blade when I see one.
But I'm not gonna start a thread for pocket fixed blades or anything if you get what I mean.

 

[wensynch]

^ That's one sweet Roadie. Is that a Roadie? Is that custom or a sprint run or something? Where did you get such a fine specimen?


We are moving from the heavy use/mil spec, fck yeah, age to the age of the kitchen warrior/operator, where folding paring knives are the knives to buy. Folding paring knife with titanium/cf handles and VG-10 steel..

Or maybe people are coming to realize that the folder built like a tank really just may be a bit much for the ordinary stuffs that ordinary people partake in these days.

Thin knives are back like regular jeans are back. I think.

 

[Hickory n steel]

^ That's one sweet Roadie. Is that a Roadie? Is that custom or a sprint run or something? Where did you get such a fine specimen?


We are moving from the heavy use/mil spec, fck yeah, age to the age of the kitchen warrior/operator, where folding paring knives are the knives to buy. Folding paring knife with titanium/cf handles and VG-10 steel..

Or maybe people are coming to realize that the folder built like a tank really just may be a bit much for the ordinary stuffs that ordinary people partake in these days.

Thin knives are back like regular jeans are back. I think.

I'm.sure there are still people who carry a pocket brick in their skinny jeans, even though won't come out of your pocket. FYI here's my paring knife