smaller fixed vs folder

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kane22

Joined
Feb 25, 2013
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Say we're talking knives in the 3-3.75 inch blade range. As much as I like the added strength and simplicity of a fixed blade, and I have a few I like. I never seem to like carrying them. I may be strange in that I don't like wearing a belt so that part of it. I've tried vertical, and horizontal carry, and even though the knives are small and light I can't seem to find something that seems comfortable to me. Some would be ok if you're just standing or walking but sitting in a vehicle with a seatbelt on ect it just seems to be in the way. They also seem a little slower to get to if you have a coat on, not that in 99.99 percent of the cases you have to have it in hand right away. I've tried some smaller neck knives too, they're ok but again I'm not crazy about something hanging around my neck.

So for me I keep coming back to a folder clipped to my pocket. I don't notice it there and have it when I need it.
 
I've left fixed blades for outdoor duties, even if i like their simplicity, i just don't carry them in my regular edc.
 
The Izula clipped horizontal on my belt either next to my buckle or in the middle of my back worked great for me. My Bravo Necker II, small inexpensive custom, and Bradford Guardian3 fit nicely in their sheaths in my pocket. The Guardian3 sees most of the pocket time out of my small fixed blades.

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I tried and tried with a fixed blade but for EDC, it's a folder for me.
rolf
 
I love the idea of a unfolding pocket knife, and it makes sense. Fixed blade has no pivot, making it a much more simple and stronger tool, no hidden areas to gather gunk. Just pull out and use, then put back. No unfolding or folding. I've tried it with some small sheath knives, and it was sometimes nice. But, unfortunately we are living in the 21st century, and in most suburban type surroundings, let alone urban, it doesn't go over well with most people. It just comes off as too weird, where a small folder of pocket knife goes unnoticed.

I've used small SAK's and pocket knives in public, and never had a single problem or negative comment. But even a Buck Hartsook and a small scandinavian puuko got comments. Since I'd rather go about my life not being noticed and remembered, I just carry a modest pocket knife, and leave the fixed blades for the woods and canoe trips.
 
I carry a fixed blade exclusively, now. My EDC is a Fallkniven Kolt. I don't wear a belt, either, so I carry the Kolt in the front pocket of jeans, the leg pocket of Carhartt's, or in a chest pocket on a flannel or canvas shirt. Might be a problem in a dress-shirt pocket, though.

I've given up on pocket clips. I've lost at least two decent folders getting in or out of a car, and had dozen's almost fall out from time to time. I don't know if they got snagged on the seat or belt while getting in or out, or simply rode up when I sat down, then popped out when I got out of the vehicle. I just don't trust clips anymore.

With the Kolt, which is pretty narrow, I simply shift the knife to my chest pocket before I get into the car, and back to the pants pocket when I get out. The ritual helps me keep track of the knife without having it strapped to a belt (where it would be inaccessible while in the vehicle). Folders are a bugger to get out of a pocket while wearing a seatbelt, too, so I'd have to re-position them as well. The Kolt sits in a chest pocket much better than a folder. It feels lighter than most of the folders I used to carry, and it is much narrower. It rides like a very large pen. With the knife in the sheath, and lying diagonally in the chest pocket, just the tip sticks out.

I plan on having a neck sheath made for the Kolt, but until then it has worked well as described above. It's the knife that has basically turned me away from folders. Probably not a good fit for everyone, but I love it. The only folder I am currently considering is an Enzo Birk or Borka, but I'll remove the pocket clip when I get either of them. Rather just get a small Puukko and pocket carry in the sheath.
 
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I am not really a fan of fixed blades. Not only because of the limited and uncomfortable carry options but because the sheath and drawing it from it draws too much attention. And in my area you dont want to bring any more attention to your knife than you have to. These days I have really been struggling with the whole "dont announce" your knife rule I have implemented. Once I thought I was respecting the wishes of the sheeple and keeping my blade on the down low. But now I am thinking its that very fact that they arent exposed to those carrying them that makes it such a shock when they do eventually spot it. So now I am starting to adopt a "life as normal" policy. I dont announce nor hide my knife. I use it when I need it yet dont do any dramatic opening techniques. You know those guys who HAVE to flick their wrist and arm a good 12" every time they open their knife like they are he man drawing his sword? Yeah, I dont do that. But I am no longer looking for cover to conceal my knife use. I make sure I am within the limits of the law and let people think what they want.
 
jackknife said:
I love the idea of a unfolding pocket knife, and it makes sense. Fixed blade has no pivot, making it a much more simple and stronger tool, no hidden areas to gather gunk. Just pull out and use, then put back. No unfolding or folding. I've tried it with some small sheath knives, and it was sometimes nice. But, unfortunately we are living in the 21st century, and in most suburban type surroundings, let alone urban, it doesn't go over well with most people. It just comes off as too weird, where a small folder of pocket knife goes unnoticed.

I've used small SAK's and pocket knives in public, and never had a single problem or negative comment. But even a Buck Hartsook and a small scandinavian puuko got comments. Since I'd rather go about my life not being noticed and remembered, I just carry a modest pocket knife, and leave the fixed blades for the woods and canoe trips.
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I really don't give a flying fish fart what other people "think" :D. As long as I like it, and it's legal, I'm going to carry and use it. God forbid the sheeple see the Glock I EDC everyday (legally of course).

Plus, the folders I normally carry bring way more attention than my little fixed blades ;) But again, I don't give a crap!

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PURPLEDC said:
I am not really a fan of fixed blades. Not only because of the limited and uncomfortable carry options but because the sheath and drawing it from it draws too much attention. And in my area you dont want to bring any more attention to your knife than you have to. These days I have really been struggling with the whole "dont announce" your knife rule I have implemented. Once I thought I was respecting the wishes of the sheeple and keeping my blade on the down low. But now I am thinking its that very fact that they arent exposed to those carrying them that makes it such a shock when they do eventually spot it. So now I am starting to adopt a "life as normal" policy. I dont announce nor hide my knife. I use it when I need it yet dont do any dramatic opening techniques. You know those guys who HAVE to flick their wrist and arm a good 12" every time they open their knife like they are he man drawing his sword? Yeah, I dont do that. But I am no longer looking for cover to conceal my knife use. I make sure I am within the limits of the law and let people think what they want.
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PURPLEDC:

I agree with your current stance on knife use. If the knife is legal, and you aren't dramatic or flagrantly exhibitionist in using the knife it shouldn't be anyone else's business. I usually work from home, now, but when I am in an office I simply use my knife when I need to without making a show of it, but also without trying to hide it. A few people made comments initially, but I'm not a mall ninja the Kolt knife I carry is not intimidating. In my experience, repeated exposure to a knife being used as a tool rather than a weapon quickly eliminates most protests. The same people that did make comments at first, became the ones that will ask to borrow a knife when they need to open a box or cut a sandwich. Repetitive exposure to healthy knife use is one of the best ways to dispel myths and prejudices.

By the way, the Kolt fixed blade I carry is very quiet and easy to remove it from it's sheath. No "snick" of a lock deploying, just quietly push the sheath off the blade with your thumb. It's more discrete than any of my folders. Plus, it's size and proportions are not unlike a letter opener or butter knife. It actually draws fewer glances than my folders did.
 
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I'm in the same camp as craytab. I carry both now.Most often, a Bradford G3 and a smaller Emerson like an Endeavor... sometimes rotated with a Para 2. I rarely have an exposed waist, so the G3 horizontal carry in leather is great for just about any position and it stays out of sight. I'll sometimes carry an Essential in a pocket sheath, but mostly the G3. All I usually pay attention to is the legality of what I carry. If I paid much attention to what people might think or what they "want" to see or hear, I'd have to give up preachin', carryin' most of my knives and my Glock, and probably have to give up my dogs (Doberman & GSD mix).

I'm polite and helpful in public... I look and dress pretty "normal" according to accepted society norms for an old guy... I just don't attract much attention. So what I carry and use in public doesn't cause much of a problem. I like the FB for its ease of use. I have problems with finer motor skills and tactile sensations in my hands now, so rotating a folder open & closed one-handed is sometimes a bit of a problem. The FB solves that.
 
dalefuller said:
I'm in the same camp as craytab. I carry both now.Most often, a Bradford G3 and a smaller Emerson like an Endeavor... sometimes rotated with a Para 2. I rarely have an exposed waist, so the G3 horizontal carry in leather is great for just about any position and it stays out of sight. I'll sometimes carry an Essential in a pocket sheath, but mostly the G3. All I usually pay attention to is the legality of what I carry. If I paid much attention to what people might think or what they "want" to see or hear, I'd have to give up preachin', carryin' most of my knives and my Glock, and probably have to give up my dogs (Doberman & GSD mix).

I'm polite and helpful in public... I look and dress pretty "normal" according to accepted society norms for an old guy... I just don't attract much attention. So what I carry and use in public doesn't cause much of a problem. I like the FB for its ease of use. I have problems with finer motor skills and tactile sensations in my hands now, so rotating a folder open & closed one-handed is sometimes a bit of a problem. The FB solves that.
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These are keys for carrying and using in public. Same with what Prupledc said. Don't whip you knife out and act aggressive or crazy with it. Just act like a normal human using a tool to accomplish a task. Be polite and helpful to others (you should do this even if you don't carry a knife).

Here in PA, our knife laws are so vague that any knife can be illegal depending on what you are doing and what you are doing with your knife. If you are walking around being a butt head to people or breaking some other law, guess what, that DragonFly in your pocket just became an illegal knife. But if you are me, and you are acting as any good human should, you can walk around with anything you want knife wise (no daggers or autos) and can very easily get a license to carry a fire arm.
 
a neck sheath is not out of the question on a blade that size depending on the handle.

I used to daily carry a fixed blade with a 3.6 inch edge. It was comfortable, and I could get it out about 20 times faster from the seated position (especially in my car). It was on the heavy side, but not totally impractical.

I thought having something around my neck would be a bad thing (especially a blade) but you never know til you try. I already had the knife, and the sheath was made from Kydex for relatively little...definately a low enough price that if I did not like it, I would not have been upset;)
 
I carry both folders and fixed. I love them both the same. i got into fixed first, neckers too...then found out DPx also made a folder. And that switched me. Lately I've purchased more folders than fixed.

Camping/bush I always have a fixed and a folder. Sometimes I urban EDC a fixed blade.

I have three fixed blades I carry most; about to have four if I pull the trigger on that damn Bradley that stalks me relentlessly. I prefer to carry them in winter when I can at least cover them with a jacket but I carry them some in summer too. All are in the 3.5 to 4" range. I carry mostly vertical belt but I like horizontal carry too, particularly with my Buck CSAR Liason---add two zip-ties and it's the slickest small horizontal carry package there is. Good little knife too.
 
Do you like to deep-carry folders with clips? Neck knives like the Izula can often be found with "beltclips" that you can just clip to your pocket with the rest of the sheath on the inside... The handle stays sticking up though so that's why I asked if you liked deep-carry more. I've found this to be one of the more all-around modest and accessible ways to carry a fixedblade, but I really prefer horizontally clipped to my belt via a TekLok right below my belly. Just works for me I guess.

But I like to carry a slipjoint too when I don't think taking out a fixed blade would be appropriate.
 
I can't stand stuff on my belt. Can't stand pocket clips either. For me, it's strictly pocket carry, even in the woods. Fixed blades get carried in my pack till needed. When needed, I use a clip on sheath or clip on dangler. I handle my multi-tools the same way. Pack carried till needed then clipped on the belt when needed.

I find stuff on my belt just impeeds my movement too much.
 
I just have not found a fixed that I like for daily carry. I do have a Mora in my bag I carry to work.
 
Most folks don't have as much choice as they'd like because of their state and local knife laws.

I'm fortunate to live in a state with extremely liberal knife laws, so I EDC a fixed blade every day; I carry a folder too for those instances when pulling out a larger fixed blade really isn't appropriate.
 
I usually carry the Böker Beauty as my fixed in the office. The funny thing is the Beauty is only used fur cutting fruits, and a small Vic is used for cable cutting.
 
Both! I EDC two of each.

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The ZT0121 I carry crossdraw at the 11 o'clock position. The 0562 is in the right front pocket, 0801 is left front pocket. The BK 11 floats around depending on pants I'm wearing. I will suggest a leather pocket sheath if you want to carry a small fixed blade. The one I have comes from a maker here on the forum

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Dexwithers is his name here on the forum. He runs http://www.coyleoutdoors.com/ and is a paid BF dealer. With the sheath he included a key to remove the straps for when you want to pocket carry. :thumbup:
 
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