Small knife guys, please help me understand...

[Maximumbob54]

Years ago now I tried carrying the small keychain SAK and just couldn't get used to the tiny thin blade. Did it cut? Of course, but when it went dull it was a little booger to get back sharp. I upped to one of the 84mm models and never looked back. So much more functional (for me) and the taller blades were much easier to sharpen.

Fast forward to today, I recently tried to force myself to carry a medium stockman only to find that I faced very close to the same problem again. Skinny short little blades make it harder to slice or cut in general and trying to gut those stubby short little blades nice and sharp was a chore. Bump up to a Case 47 and suddenly the blades had some height and length again making my life easier.

But I also know plenty of people that have the small SAK and the various two and three blade model slip joint knives and make do with them just fine. What is my mental block? I know we aren't all the same, but what am I missing here?

 

[Railsplitter]

You aren’t missing anything. You simply prefer larger blades.

 

[SharpBits]

Small knives fall into the category of "something is better than nothing" and are mostly novelty for me.

 

[edgelion]

It's an option. I use the scissors more than anything.

 

[Dagoth_Blur]

Well you know what they say....Small knife, big.....amount of confidence in using said little blade to accomplish the necessary tasks.

Cadet Sak gang stand up.

 

[oldmanwilly]

Small knives are great for disappearing in the pocket and serving as a backup to a larger knife clipped to a pocket or strapped to a belt. I've got lots of them because they're handy in a pinch and can serve as a sacrificial lamb in the event a non-knife person asks to borrow something sharp. I tend toward larger knives, but I've been carrying my Spyderco Dragonfly around recently and am really enjoying it.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Well you know what they say....Small knife, big.....amount of confidence in using said little blade to accomplish the necessary tasks.

Cadet Sak gang stand up.

If by Cadet you mean the 84mm then I'm in and have been since the 80's.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Small knives are great for disappearing in the pocket and serving as a backup to a larger knife clipped to a pocket or strapped to a belt. I've got lots of them because they're handy in a pinch and can serve as a sacrificial lamb in the event a non-knife person asks to borrow something sharp. I tend toward larger knives, but I've been carrying my Spyderco Dragonfly around recently and am really enjoying it.

Maybe I should have said tiny knives. The Dragonfly is small but I mean the tiny thin blades like on the Vic Classic's itty bitty blade. It's been a long time now but I remember struggling to get the Classic's blade to hold in the Lansky and I had no hope with my weak free hand skills.

 

[ShaiHulud]

Years ago now I tried carrying the small keychain SAK and just couldn't get used to the tiny thin blade. Did it cut? Of course, but when it went dull it was a little booger to get back sharp. I upped to one of the 84mm models and never looked back. So much more functional (for me) and the taller blades were much easier to sharpen.

Fast forward to today, I recently tried to force myself to carry a medium stockman only to find that I faced very close to the same problem again. Skinny short little blades make it harder to slice or cut in general and trying to gut those stubby short little blades nice and sharp was a chore. Bump up to a Case 47 and suddenly the blades had some height and length again making my life easier.

But I also know plenty of people that have the small SAK and the various two and three blade model slip joint knives and make do with them just fine. What is my mental block? I know we aren't all the same, but what am I missing here?

Maybe Try an opinel #6. Smallest with the virobloc locking ring. Thin blades, cuts like a raging bobcat, sharpens easier than a swiss army knife
The classic sd is for the small cutting chores you might find yourself needing to do

 

[edgelion]

I think I've only ever sharpened my keychain Classics with like a diamond or ceramic rod. They're already so thin, I dont need them to be exceptionally sharp.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I don’t need very much blade for my day-to-day. On the other hand I have an Opinel 13 at home that I’ve never used because it’s so massive that it’s inconvenient. Short blades are easier to control and take up hardly any pocket real estate.

To each their own.

 

[DavidABQ]

Everyone I think has a sweet spot on knife size. Mine is right at a 2.750” blade. It just works for me. My two favorite EDC knives are a Chris Reeve Mnandi and a Buck stealth run Larrin 501. Both have 2.750” blades and simply disappear into my pocket.
Some people find that to be too small and the prefer a larger knife. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Try an opinel #6

I have one in their carbon steel! It's not bad at all. I think the only reason I don't use it much is only because I'm so spoiled for choice these days.

I think I've only ever sharpened my keychain Classics with like a diamond or ceramic rod. They're already so thin, I dont need them to be exceptionally sharp.

I may have to try that option. Maybe one of the tools that has a skinny ceramic rod would make it easier.

Short blades are easier to control and take up hardly any pocket real estate.

And that is why I'm still trying to find a way to change my mind.

Mine is right at a 2.750” blade

I would say mine is 3' +/- a quarter of an inch just to stay out of trouble at work. And any knife I can carry at work is more likely to get carried on a regular.

 

[Danke42]

Small knives are great for disappearing in the pocket and serving as a backup to a larger knife clipped to a pocket or strapped to a belt. I've got lots of them because they're handy in a pinch and can serve as a sacrificial lamb in the event a non-knife person asks to borrow something sharp. I tend toward larger knives, but I've been carrying my Spyderco Dragonfly around recently and am really enjoying it.

I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

 

[knarfeng]

Well you know what they say....Small knife, big.....amount of confidence in using said little blade to accomplish the necessary tasks.

Cadet Sak gang stand up.

Small Tinker count? My favorite.

I carry a larger modern knife along with it because I can, rather than because I need to.

As a young man I carried a Buck 303 (3 1/4" closed length stockman with 440A blade steel) every day for well more than a decade. In those years I worked as a factory worker, truck driver, paint store worker, construction worker, lab chemist, lab engineer, and never felt I was under knifed.

It ain't the size, it's knowing how to use it.

 

[oldmanwilly]

I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Great! Just go to my blog and subscribe: www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts

Maybe I should have said tiny knives. The Dragonfly is small but I mean the tiny thin blades like on the Vic Classic's itty bitty blade. It's been a long time now but I remember struggling to get the Classic's blade to hold in the Lansky and I had no hope with my weak free hand skills.

Ah, now I get it. Nope, I definitely could not comfortably rely on something so small as my daily driver. I've got a GEC #05 on my keychain but it rarely sees any use. Many folks here take pride in getting by with little more than a Case Peanut or similar:

J

Thread 'Cult of the peanut , members'

Mar 2, 2012

Last night it hit me. I've been changing my edc knife for the past months, choosing only from my traditional knives, but still resorting to some fixed blade or larger folder when i went in the woods. That's where the peanut is not enough, at least for me. But concerning the rest, the peanut does all i need, and does it well.
As Carl said, "it don't have to be big, just sharp", and the peanut excels at this. It ain't big, and the very slightly hollow flat grind makes it very sharp, and not just for fun paper cuts. And it's a pleasure to handle such a beautiful knife.
So, i was constantly...

• jacktrades_nbk
• Replies: 5,434
• Forum: Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades

• 

In one of his books, Ed Fowler once wrote about a time when he challenged himself to handle all ranch/farm work with the smallest stockman he could find. It seemed to work fine until he had to unexpectedly skin out a bear and quickly realized that he was in way too deep. To his credit, I recall that he got the job done.

 

[Dagoth_Blur]

If by Cadet you mean the 84mm then I'm in and have been since the 80's.

Yes sir! The 84mm alox cadet is so useful yet you honestly forget it's on you.

 

[DallasSTB]

95% of my knives are >3.25", but...dress pants.

 

[SharpBits]

I guess we are not all using the same meaning for the words tiny, small, medium, and large.

 

[ferider]

But I also know plenty of people that have the small SAK and the various two and three blade model slip joint knives and make do with them just fine. What is my mental block? I know we aren't all the same, but what am I missing here?

You are just doing stuff with your knives that they don't. Or that they use other knives for without telling you; or that somebody else does for them.

Not exactly Cadet territory: