Optimal Folder Blade Length for you?

when I first started into knives my first 3 good knives were 3", 3" and 3.2", I have since sold all three and 95% of my folders are 3.6-4" blades the smallest I carry often is the PM2 (3.4") and the largest are 4" (Several knives from Spyderco, BM and ZT). Although recently I got a 3" again, but mostly just because it was S110V and the forum knife, and I don't carry nearly as often as the others. so my optimal blade length is about 3.75-4".
 
3" +/- 0.25". I carry some outside that range, but 3" seems to be the sweet spot.
 
I've started to prefer 8.5-9.5 OAL folders. I don't want to have to check my pockets to make sure I haven't lost anything.
 
I like around 3". I don't really go by blade length though, I usually go by overall length and usually I don't go about 7.5" the only exception is the PM2 I got about 2 weeks ago. Even that seems pretty big to me. I find I really don't have any cutting tasks that need a big blade/knife.
 
i carry 3.3-4 inch. for work and when im off its a 4 inch. when im out to dinner etc traveling with family or gatherings i carry lighter
 
Since I've been carrying an OLFA I get to choose the blade length every time.

Usually it's around 1.5", and then for some materials it goes to 3". Note that the handle on that knife is large, having a 1" wharncliffe blade on a 5" handle gives better control than I've seen on any other knife.

I also love using the Cold Steel Hold Out 1, which can still do almost everything the OLFA does, just with a little more care and attention.
I do much prefer the Hold Out for food applications though.
 
If i am in the city mostly i carry under 3inches,greek knife laws says not even a slipjoint!!On the mountain where i usally live anything big is optimal(i have a ski resort hotel and before winter only four people live here) so my shotgun too when i go in to the woods.legaly you can't carry almost nothing to zero in Grece!!
 
3.5 is the sweet spot but most of mine are in the 3.25-3.75 range.

The largest is my BM 51 which is 4.25 but it's pretty slim.
 
I carry all sizes, but 4 inch is the biggest I have carried as of the moment (Microtech Socom Elite). But I have carried and used as small as 1 in. Ideal size I have not narrowed down as I can use almost any and each blade is unique.
 
At home/out and about 3.5-4". At work, I usually carry either my Izula (2.22" I think) or my BM530 which is like 3.25ish. When I go into Chicago, I carry either the Izula or SOG Flash I as 2.5" is the max you can carry.
 
I comfortable with a 4' blade +/- 1/2". A lot depends on handle length, as well as with or without a lanyard.
 
I generally don't carry based on blade length but rather on that "it just feels good" thing. Having said that, I used to carry knives in the 3 1/2" to 4" and up range. These days I find that I prefer blades 3 1/2 or less, down to 2 1/2 if the handle is long enough. Stuff like the Persistence or Cryo. I don't think I carry anything larger than my RAT right now, and I find that to be a pretty large knife overall for it's 3 1/2 inch blade length ;)

Oh, new member here. Howdy, BF!
 
sinnyc said:
I generally don't carry based on blade length but rather on that "it just feels good" thing. Having said that, I used to carry knives in the 3 1/2" to 4" and up range. These days I find that I prefer blades 3 1/2 or less, down to 2 1/2 if the handle is long enough. Stuff like the Persistence or Cryo. I don't think I carry anything larger than my RAT right now, and I find that to be a pretty large knife overall for it's 3 1/2 inch blade length ;)

Oh, new member here. Howdy, BF!
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Yeah handle length is a big factor for me as well.

I have large hands and I have a minimum handle length of right around 4.5...anything smaller and I can't get a full four finger grip.
 
I like to stay over 3" but I make a few exceptions. The perfect length for me is probably 3.5-3.75" but I like to stay in 3-4"
 
Depends, I usually carry something in the 3.5" range, but when I'm doing yard work or I'm out on an adventure (:p) I usually bump it up to 4". In other words a ZT 0200. :D
 
I generally carry a CRK Zaan, and its 3.675" blade-length is fine. The large Sebenza is very close to the same length blade (3.625"), but seems to be too long for my general needs. I guess it's a difference of grip design. The small Sebenza is less than 3" and I could get by with it for the most part, but the handle is too short for my hand-size.
So, the Zaan, a PM2(3.3"), a Grayman Dua (3.15") are all fine. I once carried a Caly 3 for several yrs and it worked too.
One knife that I have NOT owned is a BenchMade 710. The blade/grip ratio is excellent, but I just don't need (or want) a 3.90" blade, even though this model comes with a variety of nice blade-steels.
Sonnydaze
 
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