Pocket Brick - Friend or foe?

Unless it's truly outrageous, I really don't notice if it's 2 ounces or 5. I know when I started I tended to get knives in the 9 inch overall range, while now I'm content with smaller blades. I don't need a 5 inch blade on a folder, 3-3 and a half is what I prefer. That doesn't mean all larger folders don't have a place in my rotation, though.

I know I absolutely love my ZT 0900. The blade's only 2.75 so it's not some monster knife, but it's most definitely a mini brick. I really don't think I'd like it as much as I do if it wasn't so bulky. I knew it'd be a chubby bastard when I snagged one and I wasn't disappointed. While all that extra weight doesn't mean it's any more sturdy, it sure as hell feels like it. It became my favorite beater because when I'm holding it, I feel like I couldn't hurt it unless I was trying to. While I know my mini Ritter is just as capable, it just doesn't invoke that feeling of invincibility that the 0900 does. In a beater, that's priceless.
 
ScooterG said:
I routinely carry a 6.11 oz knife, a 6.34 oz knife and occasionally aa 9.31 oz knife, all folders. I no longer mind the weight at all. For me it comes down to the space the knife takes up in the pocket. I wear Ariat jeans and they have a separate pocket in the right front pocket for knives (I’m assuming that’s what it’s for...), so the space that larger knives take is minimized due to this.

I remember 5 years ago when I used to carry a Leatherman Skeletool everyday and think that “this is just too damn heavy to carry in my front pocket”. It often went to the back pocket when not sitting often. Funny how we change.
Click to expand...

Which folder is 9.3 oz?

As for me, I like some weight in the pocket so I don't forget the knife is there. The heaviest knife I own (folder-wise) is the PM2 with Copper Scales, it's like ~7 or 8 oz if I recall correctly, it's definitely a brick, I like it but I don't carry it. I'd say 4-5 oz is my sweet spot.
 
RBid said:
I never feel the weight of knives in my pocket at all, including the ludicrous Microtech DOC....
...The difference between a 2oz knife and a 5.57oz knife that lays flat is negligible.
Click to expand...

When you really get into the knife hobby little things like weight , size and action of a blade become quite the big deal.
not everyone is super picky about knives but in here it is something to expect , Welcome to BladeForums , ScooterG ScooterG :D:)
 
I’m gravitating towards knives in the 3.5-4 oz range. That’s heavy enough to feel substantial, but light enough to not feel weighted down.

That said, every now and again a well built heavier knife just feels right. For those days I have a ZT 0801–I’m a huge fan of that knife, 5.9 oz and fits my hand like a glove. Otherwise I stay 5 oz or under.
 
b00n said:
Which folder is 9.3 oz?

As for me, I like some weight in the pocket so I don't forget the knife is there. The heaviest knife I own (folder-wise) is the PM2 with Copper Scales, it's like ~7 or 8 oz if I recall correctly, it's definitely a brick, I like it but I don't carry it. I'd say 4-5 oz is my sweet spot.
Click to expand...
This lil’ guy.
6AD0036E-215B-48E1-BB2A-458D0C4CE378.jpeg
 
Fourfourjr said:
I have to agree with R RBid on weight being negligible on such a relatively small and light object.

I learned about carrying heavy things when I tried to carry a full sized steel framed 1911 on a regular basis. I tried different pants and different holsters and it turned out that the BELT made the real difference.

I eventually settled with Ares gear and Volund Gearworks belts and I can carry knives, firearms,and magazines with little to no bother.
Click to expand...

Indeed. I wear a kydex reinforced belt every day. As you know, the reason those belts and holsters make such a big difference is because they keep the gun so close to the body. Hiking packs? Chest strap to hold it close to the body.

Proper weight distribution is a beautiful thing.
 
unwisefool said:
How a knife fits in my pocket is more important to me.
Click to expand...

Although I do have a general preference for lighter knives, this is more or less where I land as well.

I'm EDCing a Hinderer XM-18 3.5 these days, and it carries a lot better for me than, say, a G10 Manix 2 despite the Manix being slightly lighter. The XM is narrower and hangs better, so it has a smaller "pocket presence"; that makes all the difference.

At under 4 oz. I can pretty much count on a knife being comfortable no matter what I'm wearing. Between 4 and 6 oz. really depends on the knife, and past 6 oz. tends to make a knife jeans-only for me.
 
jill jackson said:
I just weighed a Real Steel Sea Eagle and it weighs
121 grams =
4.268 ounces
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update. The specs I quoted are what I have in my DB, gathered from stats sheet either on dealer site or Real Steel's. They probably weighed knife with sheath and failed to mention that in the specs. I'll update my own DB after I put my own blade on my scale. :)
 
I tend to edc folders under 3oz when not at work. With that said, I’ve been carrying the 5.2oz GB1 all day in a pair of shorts. Like most of my folders, I forget it’s there most of the time.

The use of a pocket clip makes carrying just about any folder a joy for me.
 
miso2 said:
I use my knives only for light cutting tasks, mostly slicing.
So I dislike blades that are too thick or have thick edge.
I probably don't mid the weight, but these knives tend to be bricky.

My light weight slicers.

Slicers.JPG
Click to expand...

I gotta agree. Most tasks don’t require an overbuilt pocket brick. You already posted the Exskelibur 1 framelock and the feist, two of my favourite knives.

I came to the conclusion that my folding pocket knife spends 99% of its life in my pocket. That means “pocket ergonomics” are just as important, if not more, than in hand ergos. If I am going to do some serious hardcore cutting a fixed blade is a better choice anyway imho.

Its true that generally most pocket knives, even the heavy brick ones don’t actually bother me that much. But especially when I sit down in my comfy chair it starts to bother me. My lightweight edc knives seem to have no trouble doing all the jobs I need during the day. Why carry a pocket brick?

The three in my avatar are some of my favourite. There are heavy beastly knives I own that I still love. And btw I don’t consider CRK knives to be particularly overbuilt. The Inkosi and the Zaab are probably the worst offenders in their lineup and even they are pretty slim in pocket.
 
I've never found knife weight to be an issue. A few weeks ago I carried my CS 4-MAX and MT Stitch in the same pocket (right front, which is a dedicated knife pocket for me) for about a week. That's over 16 oz of knife. No issues whatsoever. I do wear jeans every day, which tend to hold the knives close and firmly. If you wear slacks most of the time or don't like pocket clips, I can see how having that kind of weight swinging around would be somewhat uncomfortable, though.
 
I waffle between the two. Sometimes, my copper Ripple or my Achi finds it's way into my pocket. Some days, it's a Batum, or my Mini-CQC-7.

Yes, I like CRKT.

Now, the CQC is light weight, but it's big square handle takes up some pocket space.
 
Anything over 8.1oz. Why 8.1? My Schrade+ LB7 UH comes in at 8.2 and no way does it belong in my pocket. Just keeps banging into things. :mad:
 
User27 said:
When you really get into the knife hobby little things like weight , size and action of a blade become quite the big deal.
Click to expand...

No, not really.

The knife in this thread is a super light 11 ounces, just about. :)

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/screw-yer-warranty.1542631/

I wore it on the treadmill at the gym even.
My back spasms are the limiting factor there, not the negligible weight of even an 11 ounce knife. ;)

The Spyderco Tatanka is about 9 ounces, and I carry it when I feel like it.

14 ounces is a tad much for a folder for me to carry though; 11 ounces is about the limit of what I like to carry.
That leaves me lots of choices of knife to carry though. :thumbsup:
 
I like big, heavy knives...but I also like small, lightweight ones too. My knife selection depends on what I'm wearing, where I'm going, and what I'll be doing. I have an array of different styles, sizes, weights, etc. and my choice is predicated on those factors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top