Optimum blade length - Is bigger better???

S

Squid

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Jun 21, 1999
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I've read many posts about people carrying large fixed blades, ranging anywhere from 8" up to 14" of length. But I've also read posts from people who like to keep their carry blade length between 4" to 6" inches. Most of these people (who prefer smaller blades) tend to have martial arts experience. I'm not sure why...maybe the movements used in various martial arts are predicated on up close and personal combat - grappling, hand-to-hand, etc. Personally for me, I don't have martial arts experience...I'd rather carry a big blade..it has an undeniable intimidation factor, plus it increases the distance between my opponent and myself.

Does anyone have any opinions???
 
Bill Bagwell has an article in the latest Combat Knives where he says that the bowies are effective from 9.5 to 13". He thinks that blades longer than 13" slow down due to excessive inertia. I remember though that James Keating has a custom Hell's Belle with a 16" blade.

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Matt Harildstad
Knifemaker
www.planet.eon.net/~matth
matth@planet.eon.net

 
Only something as large as machete will make up for lack of tactical ability. All things being equal, I prefer a fixed blade between 7" and 10". For folders, I like the size of the A/F Combat folder, about 4.5".

Blade shape and weight is also a factor. I like the Al Mar Warrior and some of the Heavier Bowie designs. Sometimes I do like the feel of a lighter knife, but something about the impact damage factor of a heavy blade appeals to the crocodile in me.
 
I can't see bothering with anything larger than a Civilian for dedicated defensive carry. Guns are for defense. Knives are for utility. If I'm going to jump through the legal and social hurdles of carrying more than 4 or 5 oz. of anything for defense, it had better load .40 S&W.

-Drew
 
Total length affects concealability and cost.

I carry a Greco Persian, total length 8", cost less than $100, in my pocket or waistband.
I may carry my Osborn Fighter, total length 13.5", cost less than a new car, under my overalls.

I carry a Spyderco Native for utility and airlines.
I carry a fighting knife for self defense, and I reserve its use for something more serious than cardboard boxes.
I can see myself choosing to use a knife for self defense in certain circumstances, even though I might have access to handgun.

I believe you should carry the largest knife you can afford and conceal.
If conscience and the law will not let you carry concealed, a new set of criteria comes into play.

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Luke 22:36, John 18:6-11, Freedom

 
If you see any prospect of getting into a knife fight, either A--change your plans and don't go there or B--bring a gun.

From a theoretical point of view a longer knife is better than a shorter knife assuming it is not so heavy it slows you down. I observed this years ago when I was at my fastest and had been spending many hours sparring with dummy knives. I had occasion to demonstrate my skill to a guy with no knife experience. He was holding a sheathed 14"-bladed antique german knife while I had something like a 5" bladed sheathed dagger. I made one of my sure-fire head-feint-and-cut-low moves. He didn't react in any organized way he just stuck out the 14" blade at an inoportune moment. His 9" extra reach would have put around 6" of steel through my over-skilled body if we had really been fighting. Longer really is handy. That's why gentlemen used to carry small swords.
 
Jeff's on to something. Not all of the experienced marial artists I know carry small knives. Most would carry long knives if they could.

Long does not always mean bigger and heavier. Jerry Hossom's Millennium Fighters get rave reviews. To me, they move like a mongoose on methamphetamines, and mine have 11" blades. Our own Don Rearic said this about them:

It has a 10 3/4 inch blade and the whole thing weighs about 14 ounces...when I pulled it out of the box, I handed it to my wife and she said, "This is made out of steel right?" The knife is like handling a large, muscular, venomous snake...it commands respect and it feels alive and like an angry snake...it wants to move, and it is very deceptive in that, you expect a hacking attack because of its' size, but what you end up with is...an extremely large fighter that you can do redondo and florette with, very fast and very
deadly. (I just hope Don doesn't mind me quoting him.)

Jerry's website is at www.hossom.com

I make some recommendations on how to carry long knives on this thread: www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum31/HTML/000067.html

Now, smaller knives have their place too. Here in Texas we can carry knives with blades up to 5.5". So I took a small fighter, and made a horizontal belt sheath for it out of kydex. It works great. I'm going to see if I can get Jerry to make me a small Millennium so I can make a horizontal belt sheath for it too. Oh, yeah!

[This message has been edited by Zog (edited 30 October 1999).]
 
If you are talking about all out bladed combat, something that is really an anachronism, I think bigger is better up to the point where your weapon is so much bigger than your enemies that his quickness and mobility can compensate for your power. I happen to train in a martial art that utilizes an 18 inch weapon, give or take a few inches, and with the right weapon, I feel I have a fair shake against either bigger or smaller weapons. The skill of the fighter makes far more difference than the weapon though. For defense though, the qualification is the biggest that you can and will comfortably carry always. Different social requirements and personal tastes result in people carrying knives of virtually every size.

For daily utility, I like a 3 to 4 inch blade. That is big enough for almost any cutting chore that doesn't include chopping, and is optimum for control.

For general hunting and heavy outdoor utility use, I prefer a five to six inch blade. This gives you a little more edge for really big jobs like quartering elk.

I like knives of all sizes though. A ten inch survival bowie and a four inch hunter make a great back country combo. A strong three inch with a good grip can be inconspicuous, even socially acceptable, and still come in quite handy in extreme circumstances.
 
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