Small Fixed Blade as an EDC?

L

laredo

Joined
Oct 31, 2000
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Does anyone carry a small (3"-5" blade) fixed blade as an every day carry knife (not hunting or camping)? I do not mean a neck knife or some other concealed knife. I mean in the open, in a sheath, on your belt in plain view. Most agree that a fixed blade is better for utility and quicker to bring into action if a need for self defense arises.

I have checked the knife laws for my state and it seems to be allowed as long as it is not concealed. Have you run into any problems? Any problems going into banks, restaurants or bars? I know you cannot carry it on school grounds but the same is true for folders. I carry a Spyderco Endura everywhere except schools, courthouses and airports. Would there be a big difference with a small fixed blade?
 
I don't leave the house without one.In Florida it's legal so no problem.Never had a word said anywhere except asking to see the knives.All good.All my EDC's run like you said between 3"-5".Dave:)

PS- I also don't attempt courthouses, schools and airports these days.
 
I used to carry a small fixed blade very often, usually at work. It was never a problem.

One time, after work, I went to my bank with my Buck/Strider Solution in a kydex sheath on my belt. It drew a few funny looks, and the security guard asked me to leave it in the car next time. I'd been in there many times before with a smaller fixed blade too, go figure.
 
I carry a 4" or a 4.5" fixed all day every day. left hip, about 9 o'clock to 10.

the only place I don't carry it is the bar. but I don't spend time in gov't places like the court house or town hall.

I'm sure I get odd looks that I don't see, but it's fully visable. haven't had anyone ask me to get rid of it yet.

edit: even the bank and PO have no problems yet. I tuck the neck carry inside, but multi and fixed are wide open.
 
Thanks guys for the input. Your words are encouraging. This may be a reason to buy another knife! I was looking at Bud Nealy's knives and for less money maybe the Cammilus CQB. I carry all my folders but my fixed blades only come out now for hiking and camping.
 
The Falkniven WM-1 is a handy choice. Small, similar in some ways to a Ronin, but cheaper, with neck cord and tek-lock option on the sheath. VG-10. Nice and simple and comfortable. You can even easily static cord this rig into your pocket.
 
Here's a quick and dirty pic of my current EDC.

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It's the first blade I ever forged. It's from 0-1, has a 3 1/2" blade it's 3/16" thick and is of blind tang construction. The handle is Bocote. It's been pretty much an every day carry when I'm off my day job. I'd carry it there too except they're a bunch of liberal knife-a-phobics.:rolleyes:
 

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I carried a Don Cowles agent for a while, but it was just too small for me to use. I switched to an Ed Caffrey EBK, and I love the knife, but I think I could get away with a slightly smaller overall package, so I am currently in the process of finishing about 10 smaller fixed blades and whichever one I like the best will be my new edc.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
I did for one summer, just messing around with a knife and sheath I had made. It had about a 3.5" blade. No one said anything, carried it to the hardware store and a few other places around town. It was carried openly on my belt, just behind my right hip next to my multi tool (shirt tucked in)

I do still carry one in the winter in a tool pocket in the leg of my carhart coveralls. Its not quite EDC since its only when I'm working and planning on being outside alot, but I have carried all over the place that way- restaurants,stores, gas stations, and never had anyone say a word. About an inch of the handle is visible standing up, and a little more sitting down.
 
If you live in a rural community I think it's ok to carry an exposed fixed blade but in a any modern city like New York, Toronto, Chicago , etc. even myself who likes and understands knives would ask...why are you trying to draw attention to yourself?

A smart folder can accomplish all your "city cutting needs".

If you work at the garden center, I can understand a preference for a fixed blade but if you work in an office...your fixed blade is out of place!

With the effort by the anti's trying to ban, guns, knives, hunting, etc. we should be smart about what we reveal.

In business, you will encounter all types of people, some will be anti's but you still want their business.

Cheers,
Collecter
 
one consideration for open carry is that a Buck or hunting/work-style knife like misque's will probably arouse less attention from the public than a "tactical" design, like the CQB or Nealys. Depending on the environment you are carrying in.
 
I have a rotating selection of fixed blades that I carry in a slightly canted horizontal sheath, either Bob Dozier's fine sheaths or a couple of Kenny Rowe leather sheaths. I usually do this in the cooler months though, usually have a vest covering most of the visible stuff... don't want to alarm the sheeple too much.
My fixed blades are: Dozier straight personal, Dozier Arkansas toothpick (on occasion only), Dozier slim outdoorsman in Kenny Rowe, Terry Primos Platypus in Kenny Rowe, and a Craig Camerer "crowfoot" type wharnie blade. Others that see occasional carry in a Kenny Rowe boot-clip sheath are a Camerer EDC and rarely a Lamey urban bowie. These two ride usually in my right front pocket or in the tool pocket of shorts. Usually I'm puttering in the yard with these though.
 
Spyderco Moran drop point. Tek lock fastening system gives many choices. Mine's just aft of right front pocket with the handle foreward & horizontal, for instant reverse grip. Makes slices fast & conceals knife easily in the hand right from the draw,if needed. Very light,very sharp, VG-10.
 
I carry a Don Cowles fixed blade as my edc. The blade is about the same size (2.25 in) as any folder I would carry (Kiwi or Cricket) and the pocket sheath makes Don's knife much more convienient. With a damascus blade and beautiful black lip mother of pearl, its more pocket jewlery than tactical. Fortunately, it cuts just fine. If you carry a small folder or want a small fixed blade, you ought to give one of Don's knives a try.
 
I often carry an ANSO Hybrid. When worn in the small horizontal kydex sheath, the Hybrid is hardly discernable as a knife to the average person. It just looks like something with a beautiful wooden handle, riding on my black belt. Looks and style can go a long way toward making the unaccepted acceptable, although I doubt many people even understand that it's a knife on my belt. I have not gotten as much as a single dirty look in the year I've been carrying it, while in or out of its sheath. I 100% recommend this knife for anybody looking to carry a fixed blade, who is worried about drawing unwanted attention. The knife is very comfortable for its small size, wickedly efficient in design, and drop-dead gorgeous. I have many small fixed blades, and this is one of only two I carry in public. The other is a Blackjack small carried in a Blackjack back-pocket sheath.

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my 2 carry choices on left hip are the spyderco fb03 lum tanto or fb05 temp. either one can be used in public and not get any nasty remarks.

right side is adding a couple choices, like a 4" skinner I have in the car.

I work in a tarp factory, heat welding crew, so I'm usually wandering around the city later in work clothes... dust, marks(chalk line, white paintmarker, black jiffy) and all.

shirt tucked in, only thing not visable by looking at me is the neck carry thats inside 1/2 the time, and the card in my wallet.

Live right in Saskatoon, in the richer area(it filled in over the last 14yrs to become the rich area). no one cares what you look like in my area.
 
I've been carrying around an Al Mar SERE Operator (the S30V new model) on my belt open for two weeks now. Before that, a SOG Seal Pup...And every so often, my Becker BK7.

Of course, I dress well, and behave properly...and no, I don't need to wear my badge or police shirt just to get people to ignore the knives...I just don't really make a big deal out of it. Now I have used my fixed blades to cut my steaks :) :D
 
I've carried my Dozier K-4 on my right side almost every day for 6 months. I have carried it in my local courthouse with the law looking on and never a word. The only place I have not carried it is in church. I have also carried my BK-7 without any problems. I carried a fixed blade through my college years as well. I feel a fixed blade draws less attention than modern black tacticals at times.



Dean
 
I have taken to carrying small fixed blades most of the time. I like them in horizontal cross-draw sheaths just to the weak side of my belt buckle.

Most of them are really small knives like the Spyderco SPOT or Microtech Medallion. However, I sometimes carry my Bob Dozier Texas Six with a 5-1/2" blade.

I am waiting for a new custom that will probably take over that position nearly all of the time. It's a finger-hole knife with a 3-1/2" blade.

I don't think I've gotten a single comment on my belt knives.

--Bob Q
 
I carry a folder and a fixed blade. The fixed blade is a beauty from Barry Jones.
 

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