Preferences: Autos, folders or fixed blades?

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
4,453
I haven't been collecting blades for long. Just a couple of years.
My current preference leans towards folders. Partly because they are easier to maintain and also the ease of storage.

I also collect fixed blades but not in such a large number.

Some people I know only collect big blades. Others still, collect only fixed blades. I suppose generally collectors go for a combination of folders and fixed blades.

I know of one hunter who prefers fixed blades because he says they are less apt to fail him, compared with a folder.

What's your preference, and has your choice of knives change over the years?
 
Folders are the best as long as ya get agood one. I like fixed but it doesn't seem practical in chicagoland. I think autos are cool but I've heard the action get slower over time and I guess I don't like that. coupled with the fact that they're illegal for me, I just steer clear of autos.
 
For flat out working, nothing beats a fixed blade.

For ease of carry for that "might need it might not" piece, nothing beats a folder.

For sheer enjoyment of playing with, nothing beats a balisong.

For getting me busted and thrown in the slammer in this wonderfully understanding state, nothing beats an auto.

I prefer different stuff at different times, my friend; but i prefer them all.
 
I recently switched to a facination with Autos. But Folders are my all reliable EDC's. Not to much call for fixed baldes with me now adays. Except for display or hunting, I never mess with them
 
90% of my collection are folders. That may change over time but for now I'm enjoying all aspects of my lockblades.
 
Before I knew anything, I usually had a Buck, Schrade, or ??? Lockback only in my left front pocket.

When I got interested, I bought several cheap China folders off Ebay ('cause I STILL didn't know ANYTHING!)

Two of those China crap were clones of stuff I ended up getting (CRKT M16-03Z for example).

I recently acquired a few fixed blades from my Dad. One is an 'Ontario' Kitchen knife with a sort of bowie blade and wood handle. This knife really speaks to me and has captured my attention!

That said, I can't easily carry anything fixed except maybe in the truck. Autos ain't legal around here (our DA has said if he finds a Cop carrying one he will prosicute!) so one Cheap one is on my desk as a letter opener (awful fun to play with!).

So I have settled on 2 1/2" to 4 1/2" locking folders as the stuff I buy and carry. A couple favorites are Kershaw Vapor and Vapor II, CRKT M16, and Benchmade 350.

Left pocket carry is Shrade 897UH, to be replaced by SAK (either saphire blue Tinker or Red Super Tinker - scissors would be so cool!).

So put me down for folders!
 
Velitrius said it all, but I've got time on my hands, so... I started out (maybe a year ago) with BIG production folders, because I knew those were legal to carry. Then, as I became a daily carrier, I moved toward smaller, higher quality folders. Once I figured out that fixed blades were legal in my state (as long as they're not concealed), I concentrated on those and just recently started carrying a small fixed blade on a daily basis (in addition to my EDC folder).

For me, nothing beats the elegance and sheer visual appeal of a well-made (small) fixed blade. But, as much as I enjoy using and carrying fixed blades, I have to admit that good quality folders are all I really need, unless I'm in the great outdoors. Folders are more convenient, usually less expensive for the stuff I buy, don't need a sheath, etc, etc. I think I will eventually find the perfect small fixed blade, and carry that from time to time, but I'm sure I'll always carry a folder.

Autos have never had any interest for me, and I've never even held one. However, I'm going to my first knife shows in September here in CA and plan to try a few. ;)

miguel
 
Fixed blades have a great purpose but are not great for EDC, folders are all around good, and who needs a auto when you can carry a good Benchmade or William Henery that will open up just as fast or faster and have no legal hassles wih them. Auto's are ok for collecting and showing but just no advantage to them. So since I tend to collect knives that I will carry, I would have to say folders are the way to go.
 
The advantages of fixed blades are obvious: increased strength and no chance at all of accidental closing. That said, I much prefer folders. I love all folders, slipjoints, liner locks, lockbacks, axis locks, etc. I cannot get enough of folders.
 
Frame lock folders. Fixed blades are tricky in my home State, so I go with the best available.
 
folders are quite nice.
Don't have to bother with a sheath.

Fixed neck knives are great too.
 
In terms of collecting I am more fascinate by fixed blades. Regarding EDC I prefer folders, because of the "without attracting attention"-aspect. Unfortunately I haven't found the "perfect for me"-folder till now and so the number/proportion of fixed blades and folders in my collection is 16 to 16.
 
Originally posted by Velitrius
For sheer enjoyment of playing with, nothing beats a balisong.
Click to expand...

I could not agree with you more! :D

The only fixed blade knives I own are kitchen knives, including a fairly large and intimidating 12" blade chef's knife. Other than those, I collect folders with a particular interest in balisongs. I like playing with my knives, and for me, autos and fixed blades just aren't as interesting. Balisongs on the other hand... ;)
 
At 12:27 its fixed blades, 20 minutes ago it was custom folders, 10 minutes from now...who knows?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
 
Basically I like almost anything that's sharp, but I can't afford to own all of them. There's a few ugly knives out there, IMO, but I love most everything from a SAK classic on up.

My current fave is a Benchmade 941 Limited edition (red scales/ BC1 clip point blade, #123 of 500). It seems I've accidentally ordered 2 more 941s, one more LE (107 of 500) to live in the safe and a Black with a satin finish blade regular production model. Oops! I actually didn't mean to end up with three of them but got a little carried away. After buying the first LE in a retail store, I liked it so much, I started surfing the net for a plain production model so that the LE could retire to the safe after only a week of carry. Somehow I ended up with another LE on the way as well. Ooops again! One of them is probably going to have to go as I can't justify (or rationalize) a reason to have three of the same model.

I expect them to start showing up here one tomorrow and one the next day. It's a damn good thing that on the business trip I just returned from (30 mins ago) I was able to make it to a Saks 5th Off at an outlet mall and score the wife a Kate Spade purse at 40% off! She was asleep when I got home (it's a bitch getting home from work at 12:30 after 15 hours) so I stuck it in the safe. So when i get home tomorrow after work and she asks about the package(s) that have arrived, I can say, "Hey Honey, I got you a surprise!" She's been dying for one of these so It'll be a great diversion. It also happens that one of these purses at 40% off STILL costs more than either of the knives I bought (but not both).It was scary! There were purses that cost more than a Mayo TNT or a DDR AFTER the 40% discount!

Regarding automatics, I really want a nice one, like a Valloton conversion AlMar SERE but am afraid of the legal consequences. It's not a local issue as it turns out. There's a great article in the September issue of Blade magazine that addresses the FEDERAL anti auto knife law. $2000.00 fine or five years in jail for posession, manufacture ot transport within the continental US! Yikes! But it appears that the law is ripe for overturing and it seems that it's enforcement is quite arbitrary. It seems that the Justice department even reported that there was no legitimate need for the law as written when it was first presented to congress.

I think I'm going to join AKTI after reading that article and seeing the current anti-knife climate. Perhaps I'm even more sensitive as I just returned from a 3 day business trip from LA to Phoenix and the airports were screwed up going both ways. Flight cancellations, delays, you name it, and me with no pocketknife!

Thank god I had a copy of Blade (the Magazine, not my Malamute puppy) with me. Wish I'd had Tactical Knives (magazine of course)! If I can't have a knife on an airplane at least I can read about them! Some people did look at me a little funny though.

jmx
 
Folders, when well made, are great little machines. That is gadget factor enough for me, so I am not really intersested in autos.

Fixed blades are great, but I have little use for them, except in the kitchen.
 
I love fixed-blade knives. They have a ruggedness that cannot be matched by anything with moving parts (folder, auto, bali) and can differ more in configuration than folders of any type. My graduation present form high school was a Randall 14, and I can't describe the pride I feel in it's craftsmanship, utility and design.

I also can't carry it without drawing way too much attention.

It is fortunate that I am a shooter and a military man, as many in my circle of peers and professionals respect, understand and enjoy knives. Unfortunately, everyone else is watching, too, and it takes only one of those Sheeple to ruin my day with a phone call to someone who will give me Undesirable Personal Attention.

This brings me to folders, which, through both practical constraints and "gizmo factor" are the kind of knife I purchase more often than not and use at least ten times as often as a fixed blade.

The fact that I can actually use them more often, and can carry them nearly anywhere without drawing undue attention to myself makes folders number one in my book. I appreciate teh fact taht folder design is much more limited than that of fixed blade knives, and I am intrigued by the race to offer the ultimate in lock strength and action smoothness, blade utility and grip configuration. My kudos go especially to Spyderco, whom I feel is the most innovative of the affordable knife-makers out there.

I'll continue to purchase and use fixed blades and have developed a desire not only for many more Randalls, but for a couple Hossom fighters as well. As far as daily users (and commom purchases) go, folders trule the roost.
 
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