Question about folders. Handle:Blade.

I

inncubus

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Feb 13, 2007
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Folding knives with short blades seem to tend to have short handles too; i.e. the handle length seems to be made just long enough to enclose the blade. Is there a particular reason for that? Is there a structural purpose to not having a larger handle?

For general interest's sake really as it seems that sometimes a full sized handle would be of use even with a smaller blade; but I've not seen any like that except where multiple (or fixed) blades are concerned.
I am also considering a modification of the blade length on a folder I own in order to make it a legal EDC (for the UK-i.e. sub 3" blade). Currently the blade is close to 4" and I'm wondering if the modification would cause any inherant problems.
 
CQC14_BT_LG.jpg


Emerson CQC-14 Snubby. 2.7 inch blade....5 inch handle.
 
If you use a belt sander to sand down the length, do all of your sanding on the top of the blade (leave the edge alone). It is best to turn it into a sheepsfoot style point (less grinding), but you can sand the profile back to the handle to make a pointy point. Make sure and dip the knife in coolant often, because it doesn't take long to heat the blade up enough to wreck it.
 
No problem, inncubus! Good luck with your modifications and show us some pictures when you are done!
 
Go to www.eknifeworks.com, then brand name, select Victorinox, then take a look at their Floral Knife. It's a good, simple, inexpensive, utility knife with a sheepsfoot blade that's shorter than its handle. I like this model. You might, too.
 
The only reason I know of for having the blade as long as you can fit in the handle is because people whine if the blade is shorter than the handle. If you don't believe that, drop by the Spyderco subforum and look at any thread on the Paramilitary.

Personally, I like the Para because of the large handle coupled to a shorter, less panic-inducing blade.

Mechanically, there is no reason not to have a short blade on a long handle, other than the extra leverage of a long handle making it easier to overload the blade and break it.
 
If you have the $ then you could go with a STR Ouparator! Here is a pic of one he just completed to my specs!
attachment.php

Handle is like 4in, and minus the choil the blade is like 2.5in. Sweet looker, and STR is fast, and a great guy!
 
I'll second the recommendation of the Spyderco Paramilitary. Good blade coupled with a full size handle.

For UK use, you would have to trim it down a little, because the blade is a little over 3". It is locking, too, so there may be issues with that in the UK.

Of course, you could always look at the Spyderco UKPK. It is made specifically for the UK market. Blade is just under 3", and it is non-locking, but the action is such that it behaves a lot like a locking knife. The handle is not huge, but the way the knife is designed you can choke up on the choil and have a handful with the handle.

G-10 scales, S30V blades, what's not to like? Here are a few pictures of the Para and UKPK:

Para-UKPK001.jpg


Para-UKPK004.jpg
 
Some of the Mcusta line of knives have hand-filling handles and 3" or so blades. Unfortunately for the UK they all seem to have blade locks as well.
Your best bet would seem to buy a slippie with the handle you want and modify the blade to the size/shape you want.
I am no professional in this area but I've done this with several of my knives and with a bit of care and dexterity the results have been excellent. Sanding down the back is the easiest way to go, but re-shaping the edge and a flat or convex grind isn't rocket science. Just take it easy and cool the blade often. Use new sandpaper always, old stuff will heat the blade fast without cutting.
Greg
 
inncubus said:
Folding knives with short blades seem to tend to have short handles too; i.e. the handle length seems to be made just long enough to enclose the blade. Is there a particular reason for that? Is there a structural purpose to not having a larger handle?

For general interest's sake really as it seems that sometimes a full sized handle would be of use even with a smaller blade; but I've not seen any like that except where multiple (or fixed) blades are concerned.
I am also considering a modification of the blade length on a folder I own in order to make it a legal EDC (for the UK-i.e. sub 3" blade). Currently the blade is close to 4" and I'm wondering if the modification would cause any inherant problems.
Click to expand...

Folder handles are usually long enough to enclose the blade so as to make the knife as small as possible when it is folded. There is no structural reason not to have a longer handle.

The only problem I can see with the modification is that you will be grinding a heat treated blade. Not only will that make the grinding more difficult but it runs a risk of detempering the steel because of the heat generated by the grinder. If you can anneal the blade, grind it and then heat treat it again, that would be fine. Otherwise be careful and grind very, very slowly with frequent quenches.

I was under the impression the UK didn't allow locking folders at all. I wasn't aware that there is a blade size ban as well. Good luck.
 
Lots of interesting knives there thanks. I have very little money though(although I am lusting after the Spyderco UK knife, and might get lucky at Xmas). Partly I do just enjoy fiddling around with this sort of tinkering though and I have that particular knife, which needs some work doing on it anyway[polish, new scales, maybe a pocket clip-what I'm planning so far; I was thinking of a wave too, but the blade isn't really a good shape for that.] so I figured that, if it were feasible (which it seems it is-huzzah!), then I may as well make it a 'carry-able' one too.
If it all goes well I might post pics over on the tinkering section(if it doesn't I'll quietly shuffle off and pretend it never happened:D)-I assume that'd be the place to do it.

EdgeOn The actual statement is a folding knife with a blade of under 3" is exempt from the bladed/pointed articles section; there is however now a situation where a locking blade is considered fixed (after a particular case, can't remember the name right now). The size restriction came first though. As far as I am aware that is.

Lavan Yeah, it's getting that way...apparently they're after our kitchen knives too now; presumably 'cos banning things is working so well already:rolleyes:.
 
I'm not sure there would be a huge market for such
knives in the U.S. If handles were larger, I suspect many
people would want two blades, one on each end; one
serrated and the other plain.

I'd love to see someone cut down the blade in a Cold
Steel Voyager, 6-incher. It would remind me of those
Colt Pythons, where people cut the barrels down to
one inch!
 
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