The Allure of the Fat and Chunky

jideta

jideta

Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
2,099
What is it?
I think maybe the trend started with Strider?
All these fat and chunky 1/4" thick folders started to appear.
What is it about them?
What are you folks doing with your knives that you need them?
An inquiring mind wants to know...
 
I have a Medford. It's bad at being a knife; if you compare it to knives that have blades that are half as thick it cuts about half as well. It's twice as good at being a knife as a sharpened spoon is, though.

Also, don't forget that chunky monkeys are super great for use as tactical paperweights to hold down tactical hankies for tactical pocket dump shots . . .
 
Most of these types of knife I see aren't exactly cheap.
Is it one of those "I need to get one to know one" things?

DocJD said:
:) Why would anyone want an ax , hatchet or pry bar ? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
You carrying one in your pocket?
 
jideta said:
Most of these types of knife I see aren't exactly cheap.
Is it one of those "I need to get one to know one" things?


You carrying one in your pocket?
Click to expand...
Nope ! :p

But no more silly , IMO , than an expensive frictionless ceramic ball bearing flipper . :rolleyes:
 
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jideta said:
....What are you folks doing with your knives that you need them?
An inquiring mind wants to know...
Click to expand...
In my opinion they aren't doing much cutting. I don't understand the allure. Any chunky knife I have ever purchased never got carried after the first week of ownership. That is about how long it takes to realize you purchased a dud.
 
I don't mean to put anybody down.
I own some 'special'(dumb) knives too.
I'll admit that sometimes one of these boat anchors will catch my eye but I quickly come to my senses.
Was just wondering maybe I'm not seeing it, maybe there's some Navin Johnson like 'special purpose' for these types of knives.
Maybe I'm missing something?
 
Hmm. I have a Cold Steel 4-Max Scout. It cuts quite well for its thickness. Not as slicey as, say, my Schrade Old Timer Muskrat, nor as light, but I like its air of indestructibility and that it is a genuinely well made knife, certainly at its price point. I sometimes use knives for unexpected applications for which I could neither have planned and at places and times where retrieving a proper tool was not logistically possible or timely. Those uses were nothing extraordinary, but since I don't like to carry things I don't use, some sort of knife is always in a pocket, so it gets used. A couple of broken blades later, I have a 4-Max. But I like knives, too. Pretty much all of them. So there's that.
 
I agree, I like most knives but when a pocket knife weighs as much or almost as much as my sidearm I'm not to excited about it. I had a Satu years back and while a nice stout knife it'll start tugging at the pants some what through out the day with it weighing around 10oz.

My R9s handgun didn't weigh much more than that Satu. I feel like if I need a folder that heavy duty I'm going to carry a fixed blade. I'm not saying I don't like them or any other big folder because hey it's a knife and that's why we are all here. I just don't care to carry one for any length of time and don't own any at the present time. Like mentioned no Discriminating here as well.
 
I must admit I had a fancy for "strong" knives, fixed or folders. All have proven to be disappointing as far as my real cutting needs go. I still have many of them but they are just eye candy. Or to be used someday, when I may live in rougher conditions. My current cutting needs are admirably met by thin blades. That's what I'm hunting now.
 
They're fun, something different. I have an artisan proponent, blade stock is a hair under 5mm and weighs about 10oz. It cuts regular mundane stuff ok, great at chopping, sucks at most food prep. Really excels at conjuring SHTF day dreams.
 
Dammit, I thought this thread might be about me. I'm kinda fat, kinda chunky, and definitely alluring.

I admittedly don't get the allure of that type of folding knife but I also don't like the Ti handle craze that has been going on the past few years. Variety is the spice of life. I hereby promise not to buy Medfords so you folks can have your fat n chunky knives. When I hear fat n chunky folders, I think of Medford.
 
I guess they would work fine for all cutting tasks that aren't "through cuts". That's hard to define, as we always cut through things we're cutting. But for example, a thick knife wouldn't be good for cutting apples or cheese, but would be fine for cutting rope, fabric and packing tape.

It's just a fad; we'll look back on it 20 years from now and laugh.

So far, I'm talking mostly about folders. For fixed blades, there's the category called "choppers". Apparently some folks like to use a heavy, thick-bladed knife to replace both a hatchet and a smaller/thinner knife. For "camp chores". I'd rather have a hatchet and a Swiss army knife than a "chopper". Probably pay half as much, and do a better job at everything.
 
evilgreg said:
I have a Medford. It's bad at being a knife; if you compare it to knives that have blades that are half as thick it cuts about half as well. It's twice as good at being a knife as a sharpened spoon is, though.

Also, don't forget that chunky monkeys are super great for use as tactical paperweights to hold down tactical hankies for tactical pocket dump shots . . .
Click to expand...
[REPORT POST]

"I'm in this picture and I don't like it"

LOL
 
The Medford Praetorians work. They are chunky knives, but they also have very wide blades with long flat grinds, so the edge works well. But, they are heavy and overly built. They are kind of like driving an old Ford pickup in a modern world full of similar-looking aerodynamic vehicles.

n2s
 
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