Optimal EDC blade length

For urban EDC, I am fine with anything under 4".

I often think we may have paid too much attention on the blade length, but not enough on handle length and shape. After all, it is the handle that we do interact with the knife, and regardless of blade length, it will be less useful if the handle is not comfortable or poor ergo-dynamic.
 
comis said:
For urban EDC, I am fine with anything under 4".

I often think we may have paid too much attention on the blade length, but not enough on handle length and shape. After all, it is the handle that we do interact with the knife, and regardless of blade length, it will be less useful if the handle is not comfortable or poor ergo-dynamic.
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I agree with your premise regarding handle design being important, I'd say even more important than blade length if we're only comparing those 2 things.

The problem here is that we're selecting only a piece or 2 of the whole.

Blade length comes up due to legal issues, most likely. It's a big reason we see a lot of folders in the $50-200 range that are 3.5"ish or shorter. That tends to be the arbitrary length many jurisdictions use.

Balance, blade shape, blade geometry, and blade-handle design also affects the user experience.

You can't change one without affecting the whole. It's also why the idea of "one knife" just doesn't cut it. My woods knives are great.....in the woods. Not so great elsewhere due to size, etc. My urban knives work great at edc, but would be destroyed by woods work. Some work pretty good in both cases, but even those tend to be a compromise in that they aren't really great at anything in particular.
 
Folders I like. 2.5 to 3.25 inch blades, for small fixed blades I like 3 to 3.5 (where I have been enjoying the most lately, collecting anyway), and sheath knife i like a 4 to 5 inch where there is just enough blade for utility but not too big to get in the way, think Mora or small hunting knife size. While I like large fixed blades, I am not planning to baton wood or build a shelter, but I do want to get more use out of my ML Hudson Bay knife this year.
But what has surprised me is how often I am EDCing a small pocket knife with a smaller blade, just so handy for small, actual cutting jobs at home or work, quick an easy. It has been one of two Boker Barlows I got in a box exchange. I also want to work in my Benchmade Proper into rotation, but I hold off since I do not want lose it, need to find a good pocket slip.
 
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For a folding knife, anywhere between about 2.5" and 3.5" depending on where I am and what I'm doing. Bigger than that the handle starts to get a little big, smaller than that you can't get a decent grip. I do find a 3" folding knife with a good grip to be optimal.

If I need bigger or smaller I'm going with a fixed blade or an X-Acto knife.
 
For me its a 3' to sub 3' inch blade in my back pocket and a 3.5-4 in my front pocket.

I notice most of my edc tasks don't really require more than 3 inches of cutting length, but carrying two knives of differing size/shape makes me happy.
 
DangerZone98 said:
Interesting responses from everyone. Usually, my biggest gripe with short bladed folders is the small handle real estate. The smallest knife I can grip fairly comfortably is the Para 3. My Dad’s Native 5, not as much. I dunno, my hands have weird taste.

Unpopular opinion perhaps, but I’d like to see blades in the 3.0” neighborhood that can accomodate a comfortable full grip.
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Biggest issue with that would be the design, it would look weird.
 
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