Pocket knife weight (and size)

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At what weight does a pocket knife become a belt knife?

For me, 3 ounces starts to be noticeable and uncomfortable. I like the knife in the front pockets. You can probably carry more weight in the back pockets, but it gets in the way of sitting.
 
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I also carry my knife in the front pocket.
For me, it's not just a matter of weight, it's more a combination of weight and bulk.
If the knife exceeds one or the other, I just don't carry it (I carry a knife on my belt only in the outdoors when I'm carrying a fixed blade).
So far, bulk won over weight. I mean, every time I decided not to carry a knife, it was for its bulk. I never carried a knife which was not bulky (for my standards) but weighed too much so that I left it home. Since I tend to carry small knives (no more than 3,5" closed), I never really reached the "critical" weight.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Thank you, Fausto. Since you mentioned length, I agree with you. 3.5 inches is about the limit for me, too.
 
I assume it also depends on what you are wearing.
Formal wear, for instance, narrows the range of what I find comfortable, while jeans or cargo pants allow me to carry bigger knives.
I never carried a knife in my back pocket (I find it incredibly uncomfy) but others do, and thus are able to carry a bigger knife.
As for belt sheaths, I never tried them nor thought about them. :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
About 3 inches and 3 onces is reaching my limit in front pocket carry. I always carry right front pocket, and could never got used to a back pocket carry. I don't like either weight or bulk in a pocket knife, I carry so much other stuff that a small knife is nice. There's a Bison aluminum capsule with some arthritis meds, Fenix EO1 flashlight, Bic lighter, tobacco pouch, pipe tamper/tool, mini bottle of hand sanitizer, golf pencil with rubber band on it, 2 bandana's, wallet, plastic doggie bags, keyring, so my pockets are close to capacity most of the time. I like stuff as compact as I can get it and still function at designed task. Small knives are in the category. I guess that's why I like peanut size knives.

Peanuts, pocket hunters, mini trappers, Eisenhower's, 58mm sak's, all good. Much bigger and I have to start thinking hard if I really need it. I live in jeans except for dress up occasions like weddings and funerals once or twice a year, so this stuff carries well. Dress pants I have to streamline and go light. Although I've been getting more into mil spec cargo pants this past two years, and I fond the an object can be bulky but light and still carry well. Like a number 8 Opinel can drop into the leg pocket of fatigue pants and go un noticed because of the light weight. And the button closed pockets don't dump stuff while sitting.

Carl.
 
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It really does depend on bulk for me, too. I generally won't purchase a knife over 3.5 inches, and I don't like anything more than 2.5 ounces. A 3 inch knife under 2 ounces is just about perfect for me.

(measured in closed length)
 
For me, if it's much thicker, heavier, or bigger than a mini trapper, it either goes to my back right pocket or on the belt.
 
It depends really. I don't really like bulk, which is why I'm having trouble warming up to a new Northfield knife I just got in. But in regards to weight, it really depends on what I'm wearing for the day. If I'm in my work clothes (i.e., suits and slacks) I carry a lighter knife than when I'm wearing jeans.

- Christian
 
I tend to draw the line at about 4" closed length, although I have a thin single blade that looks like it will carry in the pocket. Still fussing with it. We'll see.

edited to add: I always wear 5-pocket pants. Either Jeans or work pants.
 
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Honestly.. it really depends on the pants. If i'm wearing jeans, anything bigger than a small two-spring knife is too big. If i'm wearing cargo pants then I don't even mind a buck 110 in my pocket, although i wouldn't carry one like that.

When it comes right down to it, the thing that bugs me is bulk, not weight. I like slim knives. I don't want it to look like i have a tumor on my leg when i carry my knife.
 
Ehh, I'm not picky. I've got a Buck 110 in my back pocket right now. Doesn't get in my way, and I don't notice it until I reach for it. Maybe my butt's just used to it... :o
 
The size gets me more than weight. If I have looser pants like cargos, up to almost 4'' is okay. But for jeans, something around 3.5'' is better.

Gives me a reason to rotate.
 
On the top end, I can carry my large, locking Victorinox Adventurer ...

SAK-1.jpg


... in pocket when I'm wearing jeans. But my preferred max size is just over 3.5 inches. And 9.9 days out of 10, I'll have a Case peanut in my pocket and a Victorinox Rambler on my keys.

Years back, I would carry a Buck 110 or Schrade LB7 in my back pocket. But these days, in pocket or on a belt sheath, that's just too much knife for me. In fact, I'm about to mail the LB7 to my nephew since he just made Eagle Scout.

-- Mark
 
I don't worry much about weight. i don't carry my big stockmans anymore as I got tired of them getting crosswise in my jeans and feeling like I had a piece of rebar in my pocket. I also got tired of the two white wear holes I got in front of jeans from the knife bolsters.

In the pocket, I carry a 3 3/8" Barlow, one of my medium stockman knives, a peanut, a tiny Dan Burke half whittler, a butterbean or even a 3 5/8" canoe.

Strangely, the canoe melts into the pocket and I don't notice it at all. I guess it's the very rounded bolsters and the slim profile from one shared backspring.

If I need bigger work knives than that, I clip one to my pocket.

Robert
 
I guess it all depends on how much weight you are used to carrying in your pants.
 
For me, it all depends on what pants im wearing and the size of the knife. I usually carry 3.5" folders and id say my maximum weight would be 6 ounces. Weight doesnt bother me as much as an overly thick, blocky knife does. If im wearing sweats though, I usually carry a lighter knife or clip my knife IWB.
 
Here's a weird satement on size vs weight;

Put a number 7 Opinel alongside a Case Peanut. Then weigh the. They both are 2 onces, yet one dwarfs the other.

Carl.
 
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