Mythbusters: "Man, I sure love the look of that XL Vaquero/Espada/Voyager, but how will it ever fit in my pockets?" + musings on the wave

These last 4 years, in part due to the ordeal I went through in the hospital, I've stopped caring what other people think. I used to be paranoid about obeying the 2.5" blade limit when I had to go into Chicago for example. I just don't give two :poop: :poop: about other people. If they have a problem that I'm using an OTF, that problem is THEIRS, not MINE.

Do I only carry a 10 round mag when I have to go into Chicago? Hell no. Happy with 14 rounds in my P365. Besides, if I have to defend myself, I don't think the fact that I was a few rounds over the limit is going to be that much of a concern.

I do need to get a large folder though. Maybe at the knife show in St. Louis.
I get your perspective and I agree that you don’t need to worry about offending/scaring people.

On the other hand it sounds like you’re also done caring what the LAW thinks, and if that’s the case, all I can say is that again I see where you’re coming from but I hope you’ve really thought through the potential consequences of using an illegal weapon in self-defense.

I’m sure the hospital stay sucked, but I’m equally sure that a prison stay would too.
 
Expounding on K.O.D's comment on being "done". I try to blend ideas together when deciding what to do/carry, including legality, morality, and practicality.

I have no idea if K.O.D's OTF is also SD oriented, but this is very important if you're talking about the pistol, as that is a unitasker. If I am going to carry something that is not legal, why? What am I going to do with that? I'm perfectly aware that I'm never realistically going to get caught with anything in my pockets. I just don't find myself in places and situations where you get frisked. On the other hand, what good is a carry if I can't use it, would be reluctant to use it, or would get me in trouble when I use it? This really matters when it comes to anything meant for SD, such as that 14 round pistol mentioned.

So, on the very rare occasion that I carry an "illegal knife" such as my Microtech UTX-70 (smaller than your slipjoint), why do I do that? To cut things with, purely and 100%. So, it's a rare knife for me to bring out, even rarer for me to be out walking on the street with it, and if I do bring it out and something bad happens, I have something better and legal to defend myself with, and the illegal-by-0.42in OTF will not be what they'll be holding up in court. So, that is an occasion where I would risk it.

Also, I ordered a small, handmade fixed blade knife yesterday, beautiful lil spearpoint, for EDC cutting. My first David Mary knife! It's 3 inches, and technically the law says I can't carry any fixies of "3 inches or greater", so, you know, I'm not gonna let the .1 inch keep me from carrying it. I would assume my 100% legal ringed Matriarch or Yojumbo would receive more heat from an LEO than that beautiful fixed blade knife I just bought.

An old man was charged with murder and poss. of illegal weapon in New York just this week I think, after an irate customer attacked him about some chips. A strong kid vs a 61 year old store owner, and he grabbed a small kitchen/utility knife after being cornered and shoved into the walls by the young guy. It's scary to worry about these kinds of things when you just hope to live in peace.
 
My knives don't jiggle, jiggle, they fold
I hate to see it wiggle, wiggle, for sure
Espada makes me dribble, dribble, you know
Cutting with my Cricket, you really need to see it
It's 4.75 in a compact, no slack
but luckily, the blade swings back
I got a knack to chop-chop in my mind
Buck sheath colored like reedd redd winnneeeeeee

Shoutout Louix Theroux and I deeply apologize to those of you who don't get this reference, it's Louis Theroux's rap, known it for years, it's now making the rounds on popular media, and that "never knife jiggle" comment just put me over the edge...
🤣

Not to derail my own thread, just in case anyone wanna see Louis Theroux lol he starts at 0:56

Dude your knife version is spot on 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I... get this stance, even if to some it sounds extreme, though I wouldn't put it as "I don't care about people", I certainly do. You seem like you've reached a point where you aren't concerned with, for one, the viewpoints of others, which is commendable. I've still got a lot of pesky people-pleasing in me, to the point I carry an extra knife for that reason. But I see the straightforward logic in being a peaceable man, doing peaceable things. Especially if whatever you do takes you into Chiraq, I could never begrudge those choices.

You've mentioned anxiety before, right? Yeah, I feel that. Peace of mind can mean a lot. I forgot my knife for the first time the other day, when I was already at my destination. Ooh, I was fuming, on principal. Like how people get when they forget their phone.




That is such a sweet name!! Good luck on the journey, all the well-wishes in the world to you and your family, and hopefully once the tot has some motor skills and your money is up again, you can get an XL just for Hope 😂 Kidding, but seriously, always beautiful to see a burgeoning family! Same goes for you @jux t :)

Noble and needed (I cannot spell nessecary) sacrifice in the knives, good on ya. Everyone should pool together and buy this fella an XL in honor of his new family! 😁 I got 20 on it!
As much as I appreciate it brother, I am good on good quality knives thanks to Retired UPS Driver Retired UPS Driver . I could use diapers though, hahahahaha


I really love this forum. ❤
 
My first David Mary knife! It's 3 inches, and technically the law says I can't carry any fixies of "3 inches or greater"
Congratulations on the David Mary knife! I noticed that you’re in CA so I just wanted to check that you aren’t planning to carry it concealed. (Not legal in CA unless carried in such a way as to not be readily accessible… Zip-tied into the sheath through a lanyard hole, and carried in a backpack for instance).

I’m guessing you plan on open-carry but your county/city has a length limit?
 
Congratulations on the David Mary knife! I noticed that you’re in CA so I just wanted to check that you aren’t planning to carry it concealed. (Not legal in CA unless carried in such a way as to not be readily accessible… Zip-tied into the sheath through a lanyard hole, and carried in a backpack for instance).

I’m guessing you plan on open-carry but your county/city has a length limit?
Thanks man, I am psyched for it! Called the Ultraslim Necker, check it out, look at that color! (just bought yesterday so this is his pic, not mine):
Wanted to try something out from David after long admiration of his knives, and wanted a small, nice, people-friendly fixed-blade, and so I got this to try his stuff out in the meantime as I am planning a very, very cool custom with him.

I am in LA county, and I am consistently befuddled by the fixed blade laws. L.A County does not like open carry of anything "of 3 inches or more" blade length without a reason, but then again I have reasons aplenty. However, being literally right at the limit, and considering the fact I carry things like the Police 4, Yojumbo, Matriarch 2 sometimes, it'll clearly be the most friendly looking one I have, I was like "Eh, this will be okay". It's just a little complicated in CA + LA. I don't know if I'd better carry it open, or inside of my bag. I think lack of immediate accessibility is the issue in LA. Intend to find the definitive answer, but, I'm also aware I am worrying over a tenth of an inch.
 
Last edited:
I hear from folks all the time, they want a Vaquero, or an XL Voyager, or even the XL Espada if you're saucy (if you got another size of Espada, you've failed, I'm sorry). Sometimes they have apprehensions like "Eh, I live in Empire City and spend most of my time in work-boxes, what do I need that for"? or they just don't like the knife, they think it's too mall-ninja, they get the feeling when they look at an XL like the feeling I get when I look at a Medford or Strider "Just.. eh, no.". That's okay. But for those who DO want one but think half the knife will stick out of your pocket - think again.

I have compiled some reasons here why your pants won't be falling down, half a sword won't be sticking out of your pocket, and your movement will not be limited, as well as some video of me attempting to show this. You might want one for a portable kitchen/BBQ knife, mini-machete if you've got vines and shrubs and stuff, emergency use, maybe you can't carry, maybe you have coyotes, maybe you want a backup, maybe you just love it and it makes you happy. I'm referring to all the big CS knives and maybe even other big knives if you're apprehensive, but I am using the Cold Steel Espada XL as my example here because it's the largest of the bunch and if I can make my point with that, then those of you who only want the 5.5in Voyager will be relieved. So: unless you are a woman who is wearing pants made for women, aka, no/nearly no pocket to artificially inflate the purse industry, you won't look like this:

(The thumbnail is not where the video starts, just click play and the first shot is her with the knife in pants. You will NOT look like this.

ALL of the XLs below the XL Espada, will fit all the way down into the pocket if you wear ANY kind of normal pants. So will the Espada XL, if you don't clip it. If you do clip it, it's like any other pocket knife, some butt is showing. Like, just a little bit more than a Spyderco with clip, if you would walk around with that, or a holster, your Espada will be unnoticed. The shiny, aluminum XL is the exception as the shiny butt of it will glint, and the curve makes it look like ya have a revolver in yer pants. But I doubt this is the one many would choose to walk with. I took this pic of it unclipped in my Carhartts, moved it to the left a little so you could see it because it's totally hidden otherwise. Chaparral for size.


I do not know if this size/pant/pocket size translates, but I'm shorter than you. Unless there are some women on the forum who are 4 foot something, I'm 5 and a few inches. I am shorter and smaller than you. I traditionally, all my life, have worn Levis jeans, not ball-huggers, not pants that look like tights/female pants, but a little tight, like you might see a "rocker" wear. Definitely tighter than what most of you wear. The Espada XL neatly fit in there, contoured itself against my thigh, and allows running, jumping, all of that.

Sweatpants, too. I go out in sweatpants sometimes with it, totally unnoticable, doesn't drag down the pants, it's just fine. Sweatpants are actually probably the best waving material I've come across. Here is me disappearing it into my sweatpants, walking in a circle and sitting down, I don't know well how this illustrates my concept, should have had someone hold the camera while I did some jumping jacks, run, crouch down, sit, stand, do all kinds of regular movements.


Really easy OHO and closing, as shown here, again, trying to move around, but I think someone else should tape me because I don't know what this really shows but the easy draw.

🎶
And there ain't no road just like it
Anywhere I found
Running south on Lake Shore Drive heading into town

Just slippin' on by on LSD, Friday night trouble bound
🎶 (I was on Kingston Trio radio and the record ended and this came on shuffle, never heard it before but I love the sound, like country and folk had a baby with classic rock)

I like large knives, I just do. I've been also sort of brainwashed into being folder-centric, because there's heavy gun laws, heavy fixed blade laws, but no folder laws but auto/bali, but there's something about my XLs that just bring me pleasure, and I'm not the only one. So, I absolutely have full respect for anyone regardless of taste, this is for the people who DO WANT a knife like this. I like big, waved, knives, what can I say?

I hope this has helped some of you understand that these knives are carry-able almost anywhere in almost any pants, and that I would never risk walking around looking like the girl in the YouTube video I linked. Included no pictures of XL Voyager Tanto because that is just invisible in the pocket, you'd just be looking at my pocket. That thing is smaller and lighter than you'd think. Not "whip it out" small, but light/small to carry. Funny enough, I got this Police because I thought it would be a great do-it-all that I can actually use in public, unlike the CS knives.


In closing, if the size is what's holding you back, don't trip on that. It's gonna fit. If you're a woman reading, I am sorry for the fashion industry's denial of your pockets. I know lots of girls that find a men's size that fits 'em and use that instead.
As person a little over 5 ft tall yeah I agree OP, guy's pockets Are nice compared to girl's pockets. I used to EDC a BK17 with a chunky duck tape pouch that I used as a wallet on a separate pocket.The wallet got worn out a long time ago
but here's the knife...
TA7SUtz.jpg



Have you seen the medium espada by the way? I think you've failed to see how cute it Is compared to a real "spada" :p
kmsRWQq.jpg

Especially the one with the black g10 and shiny bolsters.



bTkb520.png

Credits to blackbladesbane (reddit)

The Albion Principe.
Now that's an espada :p
 
U User27 Okay, I will admit, that Medium is pretty cute, and boy, a real Espada indeed! I always admire real swordsmiths!
But wait! Have you seen the "CA Legal" Espada XL?
 
I like big knives. Well, big folders. Right now I have a Cold Steel XL clip point Voyager, an XL tanto Voyager, and a 4-Max Scout. One of these days I'll probably add a Rajah II... (Meanwhile, if the hosting server responds quickly enough, you might see a picture of the small collection of biggish folders below...)

I can see these cool pics in the reply , but otherwise the dread Red X !
 
I'd post some pics , but all mine are just the Red X now . :(

I love big folders and often carry two XL Cold Steel with 5.5" plus blades .

And , yes... I can and do sometimes carry my huge 7.5" blade XL Espada . I use it for light machete work on my trail cleaning walks . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
It's not that I don't care about the law. I don't plan on causing trouble. Even though I'm only 44, I'm like Danny Glover, I'm "too old for that :poop:." In fact, it's been 16 years since I've had a speeding ticket, which was only my second.

I don't carry a knife for SD. I'm not a tactical operator nor do I operate tactically.

Back to the topic at hand...

I'm not sure I'm ready for a pocket sword just yet. I may have to start with a 4" blade as my entry into the large folder world.
 
It's not that I don't care about the law. I don't plan on causing trouble. Even though I'm only 44, I'm like Danny Glover, I'm "too old for that :poop:." In fact, it's been 16 years since I've had a speeding ticket, which was only my second.

I don't carry a knife for SD. I'm not a tactical operator nor do I operate tactically.

Back to the topic at hand...

I'm not sure I'm ready for a pocket sword just yet. I may have to start with a 4" blade as my entry into the large folder world.
When I was a kid, my Dad’s Spyderco Chinook already looked like a pocket sword. I wonder what five year old DangerZone98 would think of them Cold Steel folding monsters.
 
It's not that I don't care about the law. I don't plan on causing trouble. Even though I'm only 44, I'm like Danny Glover, I'm "too old for that :poop:." In fact, it's been 16 years since I've had a speeding ticket, which was only my second.

I don't carry a knife for SD. I'm not a tactical operator nor do I operate tactically.

Back to the topic at hand...

I'm not sure I'm ready for a pocket sword just yet. I may have to start with a 4" blade as my entry into the large folder world.
That's the sweet spot, my man. Hovering right around 4", that is where my EDCs more often than not land. 5.5" is too much to pull out, though I do admit to harvesting leather strips from a couch that was on the side of the road once, with my XL tanto. Fun business

I highly recommend a good 4" folder, regardless of brand. Ti-Lite, Police 4, Yojumbo... all of those are great knives. But yeah, man, just keep yourself happy!

And I apologize if we were discussing you like you were some kind of trouble-maker, I am sure nobody here thinks that, just wanted to make sure you knew that :) We all have our varying levels of tolerances with laws, and that is a personal thing indeed.
 
When I was a kid, my Dad’s Spyderco Chinook already looked like a pocket sword. I wonder what five year old DangerZone98 would think of them Cold Steel folding monsters.
Man, that's so cool... Inter-generational Spyderco.
I'd post some pics , but all mine are just the Red X now . :(

I love big folders and often carry two XL Cold Steel with 5.5" plus blades .

And , yes... I can and do sometimes carry my huge 7.5" blade XL Espada . I use it for light machete work on my trail cleaning walks . :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
See?! I knew there were folks using this for utility, and it seems a great job!

Now that I'm learning to sharpen well (and got the XL tanto slicing magazines in two, oh boy is that fun!) I am way less hesitant to use my XL's in the kitchen and on the trail. Actually, those are the best places to make use of 'em. Cheers!

Also, does anyone know why the red X? I really think an Imgur upload/link is the best way to get pics on the site.
 
That's the sweet spot, my man. Hovering right around 4", that is where my EDCs more often than not land. 5.5" is too much to pull out, though I do admit to harvesting leather strips from a couch that was on the side of the road once, with my XL tanto. Fun business

I highly recommend a good 4" folder, regardless of brand. Ti-Lite, Police 4, Yojumbo... all of those are great knives. But yeah, man, just keep yourself happy!

And I apologize if we were discussing you like you were some kind of trouble-maker, I am sure nobody here thinks that, just wanted to make sure you knew that :) We all have our varying levels of tolerances with laws, and that is a personal thing indeed.
3.25" is my preferred, but I need at least one large folder! I'm a wannabe troublemaker. Last time I was in a police car was over 20 years ago.
 
All I can think about is - "Why tho?"

Why not just carry a fixed blade that's same lenght as these giants when folded?

Faster deployment, lighter weight and more sturdiness make sense for self defense. And I can't see any other reason why would someone carry something like that.
 
Back
Top