Sizes...

[huntnfishin]

So I have been carrying a knife for years. Since I was 11. All sorts of knives and sizes. Now I am fifty and for the last ten or so years I have been hovering around 3.5” most of the time. Always a two or three blade knife. Lately I have graduated (at least I think of it that way) to a larger bigger knife - a sowbelly that is a smidge under 4”. Originally I was kinda worried when I bought it it would be too big but that hasn’t been an issue at all. As a matter of fact it has made me look at my 3.5” blades as kinda small.
Anyhow I am ordering a custom in a few days and am going with a Texas jack. I am undecided about going 4” or 4.25” long. Maybe 4.12” and split the difference.
My question is this: What is the largest traditional you carry? Front pocket only. Slip or not? I use a slip with the sowbelly to keep it vertically oriented and find that works great. Am I overzealous thinking of going 4.25”? I thing the Texas jack is slimmer than the sowbelly and think the weight might be better longer making it feel less “dainty” if that makes any sense.
Thanks bladeforums.

 

[Cutfinger]

A texas jack that big, should be no problem. It is slender enough that it should carry well.

A custom 4 1/4" Texas jack, that is an exciting prospect.

I carry a Texas jack type knife that's 4" long, and I reckon I'd like it better if it was 4 1/4"

 

[huntnfishin]

That’s what I was hoping someone would say. I been thinking that it would be fine being slender. Better bigger even.

 

[Bigfattyt]

23's

Two blade grandad barlows.

GEC 46 whalers.
Gec 36 Sunfish

Gec 54 stockman


I like big traditionals.

 

[afishhunter]

Longest pocketknife is a vintage Old Timer 858 3 blade stockman, at 4.625/4 5/8 inch closed, loose in my pocket.
A "5 inch"Buck 110/(and slightly smaller 112)/Old Timer 7OT/6OT, and 5.25~5.5 inch slipjoint folding hunter goes on my belt.

I've also been known to carry a large (4 inch closed) Sunfish/British Rope Knife/Whaler/Emergency Spatula/Pocket Axe/Elephant Toe, or whichever of the 75 or so names it's known as, that you prefer. This would be the tallest knife I've carried loose in my pocket.

My "normal" (for me) pocket carry is a "large" 3 7/8 to 4 5/8 inch closed stockman, and/or a 4.25 inch closed moose.
The smallest I carry is generally a 3 5/16 'scout/Camp/"Demo" knife, or full size canoe. Once in a green or blue with raspberry/AKA: "Hot Pink" polkadot moon (AKA: "Rarely") a 3.25~3.5 inch Barlow finds it's way into my pocket, along with one of the stockman's or moose.
A Barlow is the smallest knife I own ... or want.

Any knife in my pocket is carried loose, I don't have or feel a need to get any pocket slips.
Other than the lockbacks, all but two of my knives (a rarely carried Case tear Drop, and MAM friction folder sheepsfoot is a multi blade.

 

[Railsplitter]

I think that although a drastic change in size might feel awkward at first, you'll get used to it pretty quick. Before you know it, the size you carried previously will be the one that feels awkward.

 

[Jsega51]

I think that although a drastic change in size might feel awkward at first, you'll get used to it pretty quick. Before you know it, the size you carried previously will be the one that feels awkward.

Funny how we trick ourselves lol. I was the same way, started small and now have knives that are 3” closed all the way to 4-5/8”. I still carry a smaller knife here and there but I’ve been sticking to the 4”+ group for a while now.

huntnfishin I wouldn’t worry too much about the TX Jack being over 4”. That frame is slim and when opened the main blade isn’t overly long giving you plenty of handle to hold onto with a blade size thats probably close to that sowbelly.

I don’t use a pocket slip by the way, I just carry my knives and let them lay however they will. My pockets all have the telltale wear marks on the outside lol.

 

[drj211]

Here’s a 3 5/8” Texas Jack that I’ve had for a couple months. I’ve gone the opposite route. I would usually have something at least 3 7/8” with me most of the time, but hobbies/responsibilities have changed, so I’ve gone to the smaller knives and do just fine. Haven’t missed the extra blade length. No slip.

 

[abcdef]

3 5/8 is optimum, but give or take will do. 4.25 would be overzealous for me, but maybe not for you.

 

[guy g]

As far as size goes , you should be fine.. I carry either an EnZo 70 or a Bark River Mini Canadian in my front pocket daily . The EnZo is 6 1/4 long and the Mini C is 6 .
View attachment 1486807 EnZo next to 91mm Compact and RR large stockman at 4 1/4 closed
View attachment 1486808 Mini C next to Buck 301 at 3 3/4 closed.

 

[JohnDF]

I've carried my fair share of Case Large Trappers, so the larger knives aren't an issue.
I also find as I get older I like a larger knife because they are easier to open and less fumbley in use.

 

[Ironbut]

I find that a medium stockman or #77 size Barlow to be about right for me. Bigger or smaller just doesn't feel quite right.

 

[Jsega51]

View attachment 1486801

I like that wharncliffe secondary instead of the usual pen blade. Very nice looking knife

 

[kamagong]

My sweet spot is 3 3/4" closed.

 

[Lansky1]

For me, I'm comfortable carrying a Case muskrat/47 stockman (3-7/8" closed), even with dress pants. The muskrat is actually surprisingly thin, so it doesn't print too much. Never a slip

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

My favorite daily carry is a large stockman pattern. Depending on make/model, that means they fall into the 3.75" - 4.25" ballpark. And most of the time, it'll be in the larger end of that range at 4" or better. Currently, I'm EDC'ing a Case 6375 CV at 4.25" closed length, which I believe is my favorite of all. Others that I periodically put into rotation are a Schrade 8OT (4"), a Buck 301 (4"), and sometimes a Case Sowbelly (3-3/4").

My primary bias runs more toward those knives that fit my hand most ideally with a full, 4-finger grip in use, which lends control and therefore a sense of safety. And in meeting that criteria first, secondarily I consider how much I'm willing to tolerate it's extra length/bulk in my pocket. That's why the '75 Case pattern 'fits' the best, for me.

 

[drj211]

I like that wharncliffe secondary instead of the usual pen blade. Very nice looking knife

Thanks. I do a lot of gardening/pruning and use the wharnie quite a bit. Probably just as much as the clip when I’m in the yard. I like micarta on my heavy use knives.

 

[rishma]

I like smaller knives, sweet spot about 3-3/8”, because I don’t want to notice it in my pocket. While I like to use a larger knife, a 4”+ knife turning sideways in my pocket drives me nuts. Since my knife spends 99% of its time in my pocket and 1% of its time in my hand, I bias towards comfort in the pocket. I also find few uses that a 3-ish inch blade doesn’t handle well.

I don’t use a slip, but I agree it can make larger knives much more comfortable to carry

i look forward to seeing your new knife!

 

[JohnDF]

I used to only carry small knives because of the way they would sit horizontally in the pocket.
Once I learned the "Safety Pin Trick" I was able to carry knives vertically and it opened the door to larger ones.

 

[black mamba]

What I carry depends almost entirely on what I'm wearing, but I often carry traditionals that are 4¼" closed, RFP, usually with no slip. I have a couple pairs of heavy work pants with deep watch pockets, and a large knife kept vertically in a slip is very conveniently carried in that watch pocket. The Case 54 pattern trapper is one of the most popular traditionals of all time, and they usually get carried in a front pocket with no trouble. Only thing I would suggest is to have your secondary blade be a straight-edge, like a sheepfoot or coping, but . . . a lambfoot second blade would be awesome paired with a clip main.