Small Fixed Blades

[RatDrall]

Is there anything that a small, thin bladed fixed blade knife can do, that you couldn't do with a good folding knife?

I used to wear an ESEE-3, Izula, and others but realized that I never did anything with them that I couldn't do with a Spyderco Delica or Endura, which weighs less and took up less space.

I'm to the point where I don't see a need for a fixed blade that isn't thick and long enough to split wood with, like my 4.25" Bravo 1 which takes up little room on my belt or in my 'pack. I say "splitting wood" because fire prep' is really the only camp chore that I can't do with a folder.

Am I off on my logic?

 

[sodak]

Nope. While I like small fb's, there is nothing that my SAK can't do as well or better than a Mora.

 

[Over Kill]

I have broken a folder trying to pry with it before. I have yet to snap solid fixed blade.

 

[soapboxpreacher]

I am a fan of a mora...have a 2000 and a 2010. They have a unique profile and are razor sharp! Almost took off a finger once while sharpening! Food prep is better with my mora then my Para2 or any other fixed. It also fillets better. Grip is more comfortable and it can cut cordage and other things similar better. Now they are thin and limited to that because of it. Fixed are obviously bigger (longer) so I dont use them much other than hiking or camping. I keep a mora in my family camping kitchen kit. It is great for food prep as I have said...but I still prefer a folder for the pocket ability and concealed...as well as readily accessible. As for a fixed I one with a thicker blade...the combo covers everything...where as the Mora cant replace a thicker stronger blade in the field....cant baton, or wood process without running into the risk of breakage. I use my folder more than my fixed! I think the term EDC for fixed is pretty moot. Fixed are good for heavier, wood, bigger roles...much of which I dont do often! Your thinking is like mine.

 

[TheGame]

Depends on what you are doing. If you are using a knife as just a knife, for cutting, then I doubt it. If you are using it for other tasks, such as fire prep, or light prying of wood (such as fatwood stumps) then yes. I often use my smaller fixed blades to baton small wood into kindling, and to lightly pry on wood.

 

[Dirtknap]

To my thinking, you are not off at all. For my activities, a fixed/folder combo is becoming more prevalent. I don't like to carry a fixie while backpacking as it can conflict with my hipbelt, so carry a decent locking folder in my front pocket - usually a Vantage or a Phat Bob, for food prep and light cutting tasks and leave the packed fixie for the more demanding tasks. The one-handed nature of these reduces the belt need even further, and if there is trouble with the folder, then I still have the redundancy. In winter, the pack gets a wetterlings to extend the combo capabilities even further in the spectrum of hard tasks. Light, capable, and risk-mitigating redundancy.

 

[kreole]

Like TheGame said, it depends what you're doing. I could but wouldn't want to field dress anything with a folder just because a fixed blade is much more trivial to clean afterwards. If you're just whittling away wood or whatever, cleaning is less of a concern (except something like sap on the blade, but that's independent of type of knife).

 

[Saymon]

It's a good thought. You may need to use one more rustic but there has come to use other tools.

 

[gadgetgeek]

since I'm restricted to two handed slipjoints for folders, my izula has totally filled the niche my griptillian used to fill. I also found that in cold weather, folders just didn't work for me, as they were either buried too deep, or not useable with mitts. While the izula is not perfect, (maybe it is, I have ideas I'd like to try)
suffice to say, I don't have much of a choice, and I'm glad I've got a small fixed blade to cover all of those small knife tasks that a mid-range folder would otherwise be great for.

 

[Dan57]

Nothing wrong with thinking the way you do, it's just a matter of personal preference. I like the simplicity of a fixed blade. I also think a full-handled (i.e:not skeletonized) fixed blade is more comfortable, in general, then a folder. And with a properly designed sheath, fixed blades can be carried in more ways, and deployed faster, than a folder.
So, basically, I like small fixed blades because of simplicity, comfort, and versatility of carry. But unless you're pushing a knife to its absolute limit, the strength difference won't be noticeable.

 

[JB in SC]

I like a small fixed blade. I don't see the advantage of a folder for woods walking. If I think I may need something for heavier tasks, I carry a GB mini.

 

[fmajor007]

I have broken a folder trying to pry with it before. I have yet to snap solid fixed blade.

I snapped a little piece off the edge near the tip of my medium-sized, 1/4" fixed blade field knife while prying a wood staple outta some pine last weekend - SOOOO sad. It was my error, but if i'd been using my SAK Huntsman i wouldn't have thought twice about using the little screw-driver to do the job....and with no danger of chipping/snapping anything... Nothing is unbreakable in the hands of an idiot!

 

[wildmike]

I carry my Swamprat Rodent Solution in a pocket sheath in a leg pocket, or in one of the pockets on my RIBZ....no hipbelt problems.

 

[pitdog]

As others have mentioned if you have a small fixed blade with a real hand-filling handle, it will be far more comfortable for prolonged use than a folder. I've also yet to find a folder that cuts as well as my little ML knife pictured- I always feel the need to add that it was myself that made the handle, I'd hate for people to think " Good god, I thought Matt did nice looking work !"

By pitdog2010 at 2010-10-28

 

[Mack]

I'm testing this little Ryan Weeks "Sharpfinger" right now. I can't imagine too many survival jobs that I couldn't handle with it. No, it's no chopper but I think I could survive for quite a while with it on my hip.

 

[sutured]

I think realistically a good folder will do anything a similar sized FB will do. The real question is which one do you want to use?

As others have said, a fixed blade with a good handle is generally more comfortable to use...something of real value if you have to (or just choose to) take on a large carving project...say making a new handle for your ax or tomahawk.

I recently carried these two knives (and an ax) for two weeks, and while I was making feather sticks twice a day and making pot holders every evening, I don't think I used the folder three times.

The little puukko was just the right tool for me, and while I could have used the folder to do anything I did with the puukko, it would have really taken a lot of the enjoyment out of my daily cutting chores to do so.

Of course if your fixed blade isn't something you love, there's probably no point in carrying it verses your folder.

 

[Hesparus]

For light-duty knives, I do see a few advantages of a FB over a folder. First is deployment. There are lots of one-hand opening knives that are easy to use (such as the ones I EDC in town), but none of them are as easy to deploy as a fixed blade (like the one I neck-carry in the woods).
Second is maintenance. There's no moving parts on a fixed blade that you need to oil or clean.
Third is strength. For light use, this isn't a huge issue, but it is still an issue. I've had locks (on crappy knives, admittedly) fail under fairly light use. The fact is that folders have parts that can fail, even if it's unlikely (although I've heard lots of stories about pocket lint and such fowling locks and joints). A fixed blade can break, obviously, but so can a folder. The fixed blade has no parts that can fail.
I realize that the original question was about actual utility, but these issues are also important. That said, a lot of this boils down to personal choice and, while my choice is a small fixed blade, I would never fault someone for choosing a folder instead.

- Chris

ETA: I also don't feel quite right about using the spine of a folder to strike a ferro rod.

 

[schmittie]

I think I am kind of a neat freak when it comes to cleaning my gear. When I say "cleaning" that is meant as germ and bacteria. My knives get plenty of use, fire prep, batoning (within reason), field dressing, butchering, filleting, and general bushcrafting. I do not own any fixed blade knives with a blade over 4" because I find I don't use them, other than a machete or two. My distaste for folders revolves around the fact that there are too many nooks and crannys that I feel I can't clean blood and guts out of in a folding knife. I also don't like moving parts and maintenance on folding knives. I feel much more comfortable with a small fixed blade that I can wash up and know its good.

For me, personally, I think it comes down to more of a mental thing than anything.

But that's just me and a little bit of OCD....

 

[LMT66]

As others have mentioned if you have a small fixed blade with a real hand-filling handle, it will be far more comfortable for prolonged use than a folder. I've also yet to find a folder that cuts as well as my little ML knife pictured- I always feel the need to add that it was myself that made the handle, I'd hate for people to think " Good god, I thought Matt did nice looking work !"

By pitdog2010 at 2010-10-28

I drool over this picture every time you post it!

When I'm out in the woods, I use my small fixed blade more than any other blades I have. Neck knives are so handy for quick tasks.

 

[neeman]

Is there anything that a small, thin bladed fixed blade knife can do, that you couldn't do with a good folding knife?

You cannot fold fixed blades

That is a safety issue that is of vital importnce when you are in the woods
A folding blade has mechanical part that can fail, the concequences are dramatic.
And Murphys Law say they will fail at the worst possible time

I carry a slipjoint and and use it knowing it is not a fixed blade