The Allure of the Fat and Chunky

For that one I'm gonna reply with Boris The Blade from the movie Snatch:
"Heavy is good, heavy is reliable. If it doesn't work... you can always hit them with it."
Admittedly, that's for a gun, but it fits here quite good.
The solid feel of a chunk of metal always reassures the neanderthalbrain in us.

There is an inherent lack of strength in all folders, (it folds) and therefore all folders will fail at a point where a fixed won't.
So folders with thick blade stock will protract that point to where a person cannot use his own muscles to reach that.

However I actually like the concepts of redundancy and utility - this is the reason I EDC a small fixed knife + a slicy folder to have it all covered.
 
spoonrobot said:
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.
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This is my thinking as well. I've got more than enough knives; slicing performance is well-covered across various sizes in my collection. Every knife I own doesn't need to be a practical, no-nonsense all-rounder. Where's the fun in that?

I'm not sure why I find chunky knives appealing, but the lizard brain that makes my knife purchasing decisions knows what it likes. They're fun to own. I enjoy carrying and using them. :D

It's kind of like automatic watches, really. One, my phone negates 95% of my need for a watch, and two, my solar quartz G-Shocks do everything an automatic watch does, except better. But what's on my wrist? An automatic watch, because it brings me joy. ;)

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Artisan Proponent (added bonus: weighs nearly a pound!)

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Cold Steel AD-10

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Cold Steel 4-Max Scout

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Medford Praetorian Genesis T
 
Quiet said:
[REPORT POST]

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

LOL
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lol

Me too! I'm carrying that Medford today and I like it. Also, again, I bought a TGLB so I'm definitely a giant hypocrite on this issue. I'm probably still right, though. ;)
 
evilgreg said:
lol

Me too! I'm carrying that Medford today and I like it. Also, again, I bought a TGLB so I'm definitely a giant hypocrite on this issue. I'm probably still right, though. ;)
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Well, two of my favorite chonky boys are my AD10 and AD15, so I can't fault you there!
 
Just say No. :D

Chunky comes in degrees. I favored the two blade GEC #23's at first and they certainly lean toward being a pocket brick. Then I shifted to the 42's (two blade); still a bit heavy but about as brick-like as I am willing to carry. I have since gone to "smalls", but still prefer a two bladed knife. Moderns.... yeah, I have those too and some are pretty chunky. I favor the thin ones overall.
 
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 . . .
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Medfords are primarily purchased for heavy-duty use as props in Instagram EDC photos. #changemymind
 
I like my knifes like I like my women: thick, strong, and capable of anything life throws at it.

Well, maybe not lol. I think the regular Hinderer was too thick for me. But to each thier own. I'm sure companies will keep pumping them out as long as people buy them. I don’t see their appeal, but I'm down to listen.

I would assume something along the lines of looks and use/ abuse with out worry.
 
I almost bought one of Bob Dozier's folders. I handled one or two at the Blade Show and decided although I like the knives and stuff Bob makes, I know I won't carry one of them. So, I keep my money in my pocket.
 
For me, it was the same sort of "beginner" fascination as a teenage boy has for fast cars and big trucks. There is something satisfying about having the capability, even if you don't need it.

Experience teaches that there is a "Goldilocks" point on the spectrum from sharpened prybar to filet knife. An acceptable compromise in blade strength, for cutting performance.

Though I still love a chunky knife.....

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Considering the ad10, if you have one with the hollow grind (like I do) they are heavy duty AND slice very well.

4max Scout not so much, but that thing is just a chunky thing of beauty and superbly fun to chop at things with. It doesn't cut half bad, but it's no super slicer!
 
Thick can be stronger to a degree, but it's quite funny to see the cutout on a framelock be barely a millimeter thick and the knife to have almost a quarter inch thick blade. Which is going to fail first, do you think? I've seen better cutting geometry on a felling axe than some of these folders.

There are machetes with super thin blades, I've put machetes through things I thought would break them but they flex under the stress and keep on working.

It's becoming more about art and style. If you like a design, buy it. You earned the money, not everyone else on the internet.
 
They are great for spur of the moment looting. Just toss that 6.6oz ZT at your nearest window...

Or at some innocent pedestrian's head.
 
MarkN86 said:
Thick can be stronger to a degree, but it's quite funny to see the cutout on a framelock be barely a millimeter thick and the knife to have almost a quarter inch thick blade. Which is going to fail first, do you think? ....
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Obviously the blade. When you use them properly the stress on the lock should be minimal.

n2s
 
DocJD said:
Nope ! :p

But no more silly , IMO , than an expensive frictionless ceramic ball bearing flipper . :rolleyes:
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:) Actually , if we're gonna put the AD-10 in this category , which IMO is so wrong ...I do have one these in my pocket ! :cool::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Aside from prying, thick blades are unnecessary unless they're also long blades. You can't really chop with a 3.5" blade no matter how thick it is.

Girth must be proportional to length (TWSS)
 
I actually had a purpose for carrying a thicker blade.
I used to deliver those 5 gallon jugs of water (horrible job BTW my back still has problems even after 10 yrs away). Whenever one had a leak I had to cut it to make sure it wasn't washed and refilled. I broke a thin blade on that that heavy duty plastic. So I bought a SOG Vulcan (pretty thin actually, If compared to a Praetorian). As long as the tip was sharp it did the job very well.
Nowadays my thickest regular carry knives are about 5/32" thick. Never had an issue with 'em.
 
Nothing new about chunky folders.
It is apparent that some of y'all have never heard of sunfish knives/elephant toe knives. They first became popular ~1900, as hard use knives and had nicknames like "pocket axe" and "rope splitter", which hints at how they were used. And yes, people batonned with them.

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