Question regarding blade length

What blade length

  • 4"

  • 4 1/2"

  • 5"

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Uncle Timbo

Uncle Timbo

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Nov 23, 2005
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If you were to buy a general, all around use knife, what length would you choose. The thickness would be 1/8"
 
4 - 4.5 in fixed, the longer the length the less thick 1/8 seems. I think 5 is too unwieldy, unless the stock is thinner
for folding knife, none of the choices allowed, im happy at 3 - 3.5
 
I have a 6" blade in 3.5mm (between 1/8" and 3/16", ~0.15") thick AEB-L. It works fine as an all around. My most used is the Jaakari Puuko 140 (140mm = 5.5"), which is thicker and more suitable as a beater. It is my personal taste, my general purpose might not be my general purpose.

Anywhere between 4 and 5 seems to be able to do most of the things you need from a utility knife.

More cutting and chopping small branches, get longer.
More weight savings and cutting focus, get shorter.

You can start with something like a Mora Companion to test out. A cheap and reliable 4" blade. I split tinders with it and mine is not even the heavy duty version. It was my general purpose for a while.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
  • 4"
  • 4 1/2"
  • 5"
If you were to buy a general, all around use knife, what length would you choose. The thickness would be 1/8"
Click to expand...

Uncle Timbo said:
Fixed and may I add you don't plan on batoning unless it's a dire emergency.
Click to expand...

~4 Truth be told, my camp knife is going to spend most of the day on my belt, not in my hand. 4" is easier to tote around without getting in the way; and it will do pretty much all of what I want a fixed blade to do around camp. I don't baton wood. Where I camp, if fire is allowed, then you are likely going to bring your own wood. If burning local wood is allowed, any wood that you find is going to be dry.
 
Well, my wife is kidnapping me camping in 2 weeks, all I have are folding knives under 4", ill be okay--- plus I live in California, and all park land is protected down to the last attached branch, so no surviving allowed
 
I prefer small fixed blades, so I like a smaller blade, but I voted for 4 inches since it is big enough to do any kind of task and still be useful in the kitchen. I don’t see a need for batoning with how we camp…or glamping…..so cutting things open or breaking down boxes for trash or cutting up small stickers for s’mores, etc and some kitchen work is all I need to do. That being said, what is more important is the size of the handle, I like a four finger grip so it is best if 3.75 to 4 for a handle length. Still…I like a 5 to 6inch blade for a general camp knife, but most is done with the smaller blade, or even a Swiss Army knife.

For folders I like a blade of 2.75 to 3.5.
 
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Re blade length: I am assuming that we are talking about a fixed blade knife.

I have had a 5.5 inch folder (Camillus "Cuda Maxx") and that was impractical as a pocket folder. I am thinking that a four inch folder would be just about the upper limit of practical comfort and utility.

Returning to blade length of a fixed blade knife: My preference for 4" blade is predicated on the knife being a utility belt knife. If the anticipated jobs are better served buy a longer blade (or shorter) then that is what I would look for. Back in the early days of the Global War on Terror, a standard for the Marines seemed to be 7" min or larger. At that time they went to a 9" bayonet.

But for me, if it is just camping, I am comfortable wearing a 4" fixed blade.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
If you were to buy a general, all around use knife, what length would you choose. The thickness would be 1/8"
Click to expand...
I voted four inches, but it really depends on the other characteristics of the knife. An inch isn't going to make or break my choice if I like the rest of what's going on with it.

For instance I've been using the Peltonen M95 around the farm lately and its blade is ~6" but I'm just as satisfied with a 3.5" Mora Robust Pro or Malanika puukko most of the time. What matters most is how the whole thing handles. I've had to knock down stands of mullein in my pasture and if the Skrama 240 didn't have such a good grip, I don’t think the 9.5" blade length would do me much good. Blade geometry matters just as much, too. The thinner BK-15 is outstanding at its length. The monstrously thick BK-2 just doesn't work for me.

Horses for courses, right?
 
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