Our ever shrinking hobby?

not2sharp

not2sharp

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Knife collecting continues to grow. More and more people are drawn to internet sites like Bladeforums or follow broadcast shows like Forged in Fire, or any number of other survival shows. Yet, the hobby is shriking - our knives are arguably getting smaller. Most of our members tend to favor folders and with the advent of low impact hiking and light weight backpacking those large wood processing tools are falling out of favor. Hatchets, axes, bill hooks, machetes and large knives of all sorts are becoming increasing rare afield. We are no longer clearing trails, building shelters, or even feeding modest camp fires. It is getting to the point that carrying anything like that within a state or national park might get you called out as a terrorist.

What have you experienced in your neck of the woods?

N2s
 
not2sharp said:
Knife collecting continues to grow. More and more people are drawn to internet sites like Bladeforums or follow broadcast shows like Forged in Fire, or any number of other survival shows. Yet, the hobby is shriking - our knives are arguably getting smaller. Most of our members tend to favor folders and with the advent of low impact hiking and light weight backpacking those large wood processing tools are falling out of favor. Hatchets, axes, bill hooks, machetes and large knives of all sorts are becoming increasing rare afield. We are no longer clearing trails, building shelters, or even feeding modest camp fires. It is getting to the point that carrying anything like that within a state or national park might get you called out as a terrorist.

What have you experienced in your neck of the woods?

N2s
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Knives getting smaller is merely an illusion. We're all actually getting much larger.
 
I think it depends on where you live.
What is perfectly acceptable in the mountains of Trinity County (California) is very different than what City people carry (if they carry anything).

I carry all sorts, and both of my trucks have dedicated tools including axes, machetes, hatchets, hammers...
 
Most of my knives are fixed blades, almost all of those fixed blades are 4.25 inches or less in blade length and even those don't get carried nearly as much as my sebenza or benchmade immunity. Truth is, 90% of what I do with a knife can be done just as well or easier with a small blade than a large one, and unless I'm genuinely out in the sticks somewhere I have yet to find myself in a situation where I'm out and about and absolutely needed a fixed blade over the folder in my pocket. Add this on top of legality and concerns of public (or an officers) perception and I find very few real reasons to carry a fixed blade outside of my military duties or if I'm on some sort of camping trip.
 
I don't know, part of me thinks it's cyclic. Even say 1920's-1970's, it was hard to find big knives being produced in any number by major factories. You had machetes, war surplus (and a couple of patterns that were cleaned up government patterns for commercial sale), and maybe a few "Original Bowies", etc.... Anything else was usually custom. Then you had the action film boom, and more actual Wars, and bigger knives were back in favor. Also most of the outdoor authors were on a small knife kick back then too. I remember some talking axes for long trips, and a tiny bit more offering the "camp knife" thought. But lots were on the heavy folder / small/medium knife bandwagon.

Also the way camping is done seems to have changed in a lot of places. I'm seeing a lot of day hikes and weekend trips, nothing long from most younger people.
 
tantox said:
I must have missed that memo. Just received a CRK Pacific today to go along with the Zaan. ;)
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I enjoy knives of all sizes and shapes. But, it is getting harder to find a place or reason to carry a large knife. Tent poles and walking sticks are now made of carbon fiber and camp fires are a no-no in most places. I just returned from the Smokey’s and the only visible tool I saw out there was a sea of cell phones.

N2s
 
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Admittedly, times are definitely changing.

I'm old enough to remember things like how to start a fire when camping/backpacking; but young enough that "leave no trace" was ingrained at a pretty early stage for me while in the boy scouts. I'm also old enough to hang out and hunt/fish/camp with some older folks that all worked in and/or have degrees in forestry.

Doing outdoorsy things with them is a real treat as I get to feel like a real woodsman again for the most part.

Aw shucks, this campsite is perfect except that 2 inch sapling growing right in the middle of camp. - Cut it down.

Oh crickey, we're running out of firewood - That dead standing tree over there isn't going to burn itself!

It's pretty refreshing to see the difference in attitude from foresters to ultra-light, leave no trace, through hikers. I would never suggest that everyone who goes to the woods should chop down whatever they want and all make browse beds, but every once in a while it's nice to remember what being out in the woods used to be like.
 
I agree about liking and wanting more thin blades, but size is what you Want....there is always going to be a need for big blades.

Here is a prototype I'm working on.
13" Chopper blade. Feels Very balanced.
I've got more in the works, Bigger than this.






 
Knives in my collection are slowly but steadily growing in size. Many places around the world don't enjoy the same freedoms in terms of what knives they can carry, but the fact we see more and more people with those interests merely means more people are interested in quality tools. A lot more manufacturers are supplying to that market than ever, and even if you're not restricted you might still want to carry a smaller blade on certain occasions.
 
not2sharp said:
Knife collecting continues to grow. More and more people are drawn to internet sites like Bladeforums or follow broadcast shows like Forged in Fire, or any number of other survival shows. Yet, the hobby is shriking - our knives are arguably getting smaller. Most of our members tend to favor folders and with the advent of low impact hiking and light weight backpacking those large wood processing tools are falling out of favor. Hatchets, axes, bill hooks, machetes and large knives of all sorts are becoming increasing rare afield. We are no longer clearing trails, building shelters, or even feeding modest camp fires. It is getting to the point that carrying anything like that within a state or national park might get you called out as a terrorist.

What have you experienced in your neck of the woods?

N2s
Click to expand...
I bought that 5 pack of south american made machetes and gave 4 of them to friends every time one of them lamented not having a machete. They were all happy to get them. I have some big knives. I think that big knives arent for everyone and that is fine.
 
People carry all sorts of stuff in the MT backcountry, including Glacier NP. Some folks go light, some are (literally) loaded for bear.
I’ve done it both ways. It all depends on how ambitious I’m feeling on a given trip.

I don’t own a big chopper though. Silky, hatchet, & folder usually covers all the bases for me, but even that will plus up or down depending on what I’m trying to accomplish (& the mileage/elevation it entails).
 
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