The Advantages/Disadvantages of LARGE Folders

imho it depends on which large folder ya are talking about, for instance while a cammilus cuda maxx/darrel ralph maxx 5.5" folder carries as well as most 3.5" or 4" folders something like a strider AR or GB doesnt carry as well due to being so much thicker, to me the thickness and weight seem to matter more than the length, so being thin and lite the maxx carries well and i edc'd one for several yrs.

that said nowadays the 2 knives i edc the most, a spyderco Ti ATR and a emerson custom CQC13 are ~ 3.5" and 4" respectively, and will imho do anything i need to do with 'em, i dont ever go below 3.5" though,

another good edc folder is the pat crawford perfiogo with a 4.5" blade, its also thin, lite & carries very well for its size.

if i was carrying a knife mostly for the purpose of SD i would probably go with as long as possible, but if that meant being over 4.5" or 5" i would probably just go with a fixed blade, or possibly go back to one of my maxx's.

the maxx, like i said before, really carries well for being a 5.5" blade, only con is cammilus versions are darned near as expensive as the ralph customs nowadays, but if ya want a long bladed folder i dont think ya can do any better than the maxx, i still have a cuda maxx stilletto and a ralph stilletto and also a 4" mini maxx spearpoint w/a talonite blade, the cuda maxx was only $150 or so IIRC when i got it i wish i woulda bought 4 or 5 of the things.
 
I think 4 inches is the optimal blade length for a folder.

But it really depends on the materials used. I have had folders (usually customs) that were just too big and heavy to carry. Only one remains, for sentimental and egotistical reasons.

The Spyderco Military is a good example of a big folder that is easily carried. And the extra blade length is very useful when it comes to slicing up meat, mushrooms, onions, carrots and tomatoes, all of which the Millie does very well.

Heavy, thick, overbuilt is all very well for marketing purposes, but if you need such a large, robust folder, you really should be carrying and using a fixed blade.
 
The Voyager X2 is just about ideal for me. The Voyagers are not heavy at all, jeans pockets are usually at least 6" deep, I see no downside to carrying a 6" blade.
With a longer blade many tasks become much easier, like slicing watermelon! (and rope, cardboard, cloth, etc...) on top of that you can trim the hedges whenever you feel like it.
I have found that trying to eat my dinner with a 8" blade is a little unwieldy, 5" to 6" feels perfect.
(Can't wait for the 2010 Voyager!)
 
I have 2 large Voyagers with clip point and tanto style blades. They feel pretty darn long @ a 4" blade length.

They don't see much use since I much prefer Benchmade and Spyderco knives. Only my BM 710, Spyderco Military and Police 3 have blades that are as long or longer than the large CS folders.

I like them well enough to keep them though...they're awfully light, very sharp and inexpensive by comparison.
 
Most of my folders are 2 1/2 to 3 inches, which is great for my urban lifestyle. Outdoors I prefer fixed blades. However, when I can't carry a fixed blade outdoors I pack my Benchmade Rukus: blade length a little under 4 1/2 inches, and built like a tank. It is my "folding fixed blade" outdoor knife.
 
Psychopomp said:
As I've said many times before, I live in a very liberal, tolerant area so I'm at all concerned about the size of the knife I carry. No one's ever batted an eye when I use a knife and I'm sure no one will.

That said, I prefer smaller knives with blades less than 3.5 inches. Right around three inches is ideal for me as long as the handle is comfortable, but I'll carry a knife that's bigger or smaller if I like it.

My thinking is why should I add more weight by carrying a four inch knife when a three inch or smaller blade will do the same thing. It's a comfort thing for me. But like I said, if I find a bigger knife that feels good in my hand, and isn't too much to carry around, I'll carry and use it happily.

I don't see folders over four inches as very pocket friendly though.

I EDC'd a Benchmade 710 for a lot of years until I realized that it was just way too much knife. So I switched to a Spyderco Paramilitary which is just about perfect in terms of blade length to handle ratio.

Right now I'm rotating between a Queen #31 two bladed congress, a Ka-Bar stockman and the Paramilitary for daily, around town and going to work carry. If I'm going into the woods for a while, of course I'll take a much bigger knife.

In the end it's all an issue of need and comfort. I don't want or need five inches or more of folding knife in my pocket.
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Psychopomp, can't remember if you have ever told me where you are in WNC or not, but I also make WNC my home, and agree 100% with the laidback attitude you find in most parts of this fine land. Some this is God's Country; I say it too!:thumbup::thumbup:
 
A larger knife (within reason) can do most of the things a small knife can do, as well as those things a large knife can do.

I often use my folders for hard tasks which a smaller folder could not do. My EDC needs to be able to cut tough materials and split boards down into kindling, so a strong lock and a sturdy blade are essentials. Enough blade for me to get two hands on is also a must.

So for me, a larger folder is to be preferred.

Andy
 
I have big paws and enjoy/enjoyed carrying my SMF, Skirmish, Police, Military, 710, MUDD, Voyager etc. However, all are too big for comfortable pocket carry.
 
My current carry as a hard use knife is a Geber 06 auto. Carried a Kershaw Lahar till last year but lost it while camping out in the mountains.

So as it stands now the Gerber is the longest folding knife I own. My Tenacious would come close second. I honestly feel no difference in carrying either knife in terms of length although comfort is much better with the Tenacious.

My ideal for pocket carry would also be around 3.5" to 4". That being said I might try carrying a much longer knife when a pre-owned Cold Steel Vaquero XL finally arrives soon.
 
adorable_harree said:
My current carry as a hard use knife is a Geber 06 auto. Carried a Kershaw Lahar till last year but lost it while camping out in the mountains.
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Good reminder of the value of having a backup blade in the boonies. Outdoors, a knife is just too valuable to risk being without. My SAK Super Tinker disapears into my pocket, always ready if my Rukus goes AWOL.
 
CountyRat said:
Good reminder of the value of having a backup blade in the boonies. Outdoors, a knife is just too valuable to risk being without. My SAK Super Tinker disapears into my pocket, always ready if my Rukus goes AWOL.
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Copy that sir...Lesson learned. I pack daily another knife now, a TOPS scalpel FB just because of the incident. But dearly love that lost Lahar, Saw another one at my favorite knife shop but it's not the same for me.
 
For me a blade between 4"-5" is ideal. I can do anything with my BM610 that I can do with a smaller knife plus a whole lot more. A lot of this is just what you are used to: used to small blades, you probably wont find a large knife dexterous enough, if you are used to a larger blade you will be more than dexterous enough with it and simply wont need a smaller blade to do finer work. This is the point that I find myself in. Although, as much as I like my 610 I have been looking around for a fixed blade w/ a 5" blade and ~4.5" handle, to EDC but these specs are very hard to find in the syle knives I prefer.
 
I often use my folders for hard tasks which a smaller folder could not do. My EDC needs to be able to cut tough materials and split boards down into kindling, so a strong lock and a sturdy blade are essentials. Enough blade for me to get two hands on is also a must.
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What folders do you have that meet these requirements. Just Curious??
 
i don't know if a byrd cara cara is considered big, but I love it it's the first thing i reach for before i leave my house. that said i do also carry a sak for when there are sheeple around.
 
I really like moderately large blades. The 710 is just about my Ideal length. I usually don't need all that length, but it's still a heck of a lot of fun to have. And it doesn't dominate the pocket either.

Those 7.5" espadas are absolutely ridiculous.
 
dangreco said:
I really like moderately large blades. The 710 is just about my Ideal length. I usually don't need all that length, but it's still a heck of a lot of fun to have. And it doesn't dominate the pocket either.

Those 7.5" espadas are absolutely ridiculous.
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Agreed on all acounts. I tend to like the 3.5 to 4 inch range. My large seb is my overall fav blade
 
The Camillus CUDA MAXX and the MADD MAXX are two of my favorites. They have 5.5 and 7.0 inch blades respectively. My short MAXX has a Talonite blade and is carried in the RFP of my shorts (summertime). The long MAXX was ground to a clip point from a spear point, is D-2, and is carried in the RFP of my long pants (winter). When deer hunting, I like to stand behind a tree. When the deer runs by, I hold the knife out with the point in the air and gut 'em on the run. Try that with a gentleman's folder.
 
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