The Sweet Spot!

[Old Hunter]

Following, and participating, in the two threads where the discussion and evolution of the 2015 Blade Forum Club Knife is going on has been fun and enlightening for me. I laugh at, agree with, disagree with, and am surprised at, some of the ideas and thoughts thrown out - some make me chuckle and some sway my thinking. One thought that keeps coming up in all aspects of the discussion is individual likes and dislikes - we each settle into aspects of pocketknives that we like and that we don't like - eventually we each develop a "sweet spot" by trial and error. I thought it would be fun to hash out the details of the Sweet Spot - I'll give you my thoughts - and I'd like to read yours - pictures are always desirable.

I don't care for a pocketknife less than 3-3/8" nor more than 3-7/8" for EDC use (I use bigger knives when I am hunting). My favorite EDC size is 3-5/8" for a Stockman, and a little more is okay for a Jack or Single Spring (Double End Jack). Here are two top-rated knives for me; the Case 6318 and the Case 63047. I find I like the 6318 just a tad more, but when I change to a thinner, Single Spring pocketknife, such as a Case 06247PEN or the new GEC 38 frame Farmers Jack, then 3-7/8" is perfect. When it comes to a square bolster knife (I really like the looks of these) I like to drop back to the 3-3/8" Stockman (such as the Schrade 34OT). That's where I'm at - how about you? OH

 

[Modoc ED]

All nice looking knives. All frames are suitable for a blade forum knife. Not sure I can follow another thread concerning "the discussion and evolution of the 2015 Blade Forum Club Knife.

 

[556hunter]

As far as size goes, I definitely prefer 3.75"-4.25" knives.i can go a little bigger than that, and a little smaller than that. I just depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing. My favorite pattern is a scout knife it's closely followed by two blade jacks and stockmans

Here's some of my favorites

 

[Whetstone39]

For a folder 3 3/4 - 4 inch is my sweet spot. Although I generally carry 2 knives, with a scout, SAK, or other knife with a cap lifter riding as my "support" knife. The Lanny's Clip is one of my favorite patterns, and this Lloyd checks nearly all boxes for me.

 

[Old Hunter]

All nice looking knives. All frames are suitable for a blade forum knife. Not sure I can follow another thread concerning "the discussion and evolution of the 2015 Blade Forum Club Knife.

Thank you for the compliment on my knives Ed! Let me be clear to all - THIS THREAD IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ANOTHER 2015 FORUM KNIFE THREAD! The 2015 forum knife already has two threads and a life of it's own, still evolving and being skillfully guided by our buddy Waynorth. This thread is centered around the thought of the "sweet spot" in a traditional pocketknife and a discussion of any pocketknife that fills the sweet spot for you - whether long discontinued or a traditional you can order and buy today. There is no right or wrong in this discussion. Thanks to any and all who participate and to 556hunter and Whetstone39 for kicking it off (nice knives gents) - that is what I had in mind.
Regards, OH

 

[Modoc ED]

Oh, Ok. I gotcha now. While my Sweet Spot used to be 4 + inches, my Sweet Spot now is around 3 7/8" as evidenced by my Case 6347 Stockman from the 1940 - 1964 era. Gotta love the old Case red bone as shown in my picture and your first three pictures.

 

[kamagong]

My sweet spot is found in a single blade knife, ~ 3 3/4" closed. Sometimes I'll throw in a different sort of slipjoint in my pocket for the day's anticipated activities, such as a harness jack if I'll be spending time outdoors or a utility knife if I'm headed to a barbecue. But for normal, every day carry that size knife strikes the best balance between ease of carry and comfort of use.

- Christian

 

[thawk]

3 3/8" Clip, sheepsfoot, and pen

Junior Cattle Knife

 

[black mamba]

I'd say my preferred is 3¾ to 4 inches, but occasionally I carry knives up to a quarter inch bigger or smaller. I love a good sowbelly, but it is a somewhat broad or deep knife, and many times I like a slimmer serpentine stockman. On a 4" or longer knife I like a muskrat clip main as it rides lower and slimmer in the pocket. Here are some examples:

4⅛" Tidioute Cuban

4” Kabar

3⅞” Case #47

3¾” Fight’n Rooster

3⅝” Sears Craftsman

3½” Rough Rider

 

[dannyp]

The sweet spot for me (as of now) falls in the 3 3/4" to 4" size. While I like all different blade styles, a good clip master blade is the best overall for me in both utility and aesthetic appeal. Bonus points are awarded if it has at least one straight edged secondary blade, otherwise I would rather have a single blade folder. I've also come to slightly prefer stainless and will pick it over carbon steel if it's available in a similar option. It isn't enough of a preference to stop me from buying a knife that is only available in carbon steel, though.

These have been my most carried knives recently.

 

[Old Hunter]

Some great knives being displayed gents - as different as may be our favorite knife styles these are all classics in design and style. Just cannot beat a 47 pattern Ed, Hawk your Craftsman is as nice as I've ever seen, Mamba - great collection and terrific photography, Danny, you have the widest range of sweet spot styles I've yet seen. Thanks for showing your steel! OH

 

[pinnah]

OT, great idea for a thread.

For me, the size is about 4.75", the size of an Opinel #9, or a full sized Sodbuster (not pictured).

url=https://flic.kr/p/p5fKxo]

[/url]Big folders by Pinnah, on Flickr

I use my EDC knife for food a lot and I have XL sized hands. I find knives like the Buck 500 or the Buck 307 (not pictured) frustratingly small when working with food. Also just a bit too small in hand when working with wood.

I enjoy using bigger knives. Favorite in my hand is the Opinel #10 and the Schrade 6OT (not pictured) or Buck 110 but the big lock backs are too heavy to pocket carry and all of those knives feel just a bit too big to be used in my suburban setting. I can use a Opinel #9 or large Sodbuster and won't cause a stir.

 

[jackknife]

My sweet spot has continuously shrunk over the years. It used to be about the 3 7/8 of my Buck stockman. Then it was the 3 1/4 of my Buck cadet. Then for years it was the peanut. The peanut may be a bit small, but I've gotten very reluctant to give up pocket space these days. If Ihad to pin done a real sweet spot for me, it would be about 3 1/4 like my Sardinian resolza. This is also the same size as my Italian zuzva. Both are anise size for a edc pocket knife for a retired city guy. Big enough for daily cutting of things that need to be cut, like boxes, packages, twine, a piece of cheese. Small enough to not be noticed when you don't need it. I seem to get by very well with two inches of blade.

Sometimes I even go smaller, and still get by just fine if I don't have to slice a loaf of bread or field dress a brontosaurus.

If I'm going off in the woods, or on a trip, I'll take along a large knife. But it's rarely needed.

 

[Old Hunter]

Thank you Dave and Jackknife - it's people's thinking/perspective that makes this topic so interesting to me - thank you for your viewpoints. OH

 

[Augie]

I prefer a 2 blade Barlow in the 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 range, the GEC 77 is my EDC. The Wostenholm's are about a 1/4" smaller than the GEC and are another favorite of mine.

 

[waynorth]

Any one of these three, sometimes 2 of them, have been following me around lately - I guess because they fall into my unconscious size parameters -3 1/2" to 3 7/8", and lately single springers.

But I carry them mostly because I have recently (in the past month or so) sharpened all three of them!!
Reminds me - time to oil the joints!!
There - that's better!!
The sweetest spot for me contains the following attributes:
Sharp, not too fat, snappy, and interesting or beautiful!!

 

[knarfeng]

Like others, my sweet spot has drifted back and forth over the years.

My current sweet spot is 3 5/8". But I will carry anything from a peanut up to a 4" stockman.

 

[KBA]

I have yet to find a sweet spot. I suppose that is because I carry for my needs, my location, and even the clothes I wear. I loved carrying the 81 at 4" when I would relax around the house, but that 4" is to much when I dress differently for work. I carry the 33 when at work.

I have found that anything over 4" I do not enjoy or have need for as an edc.

I am looking forward to the 83 as an edc and hope it hits the spot for my needs. Right now the 57 is pretty close to perfect for me. My range would proabably be 3 1/4 to 3 3/4.

 

[kamagong]

Any one of these three, sometimes 2 of them, have been following me around lately - I guess because they fall into my unconscious size parameters -3 1/2" to 3 7/8", and lately single springers.

But I carry them mostly because I have recently (in the past month or so) sharpened all three of them!!
Reminds me - time to oil the joints!!
There - that's better!!
The sweetest spot for me contains the following attributes:
Sharp, not too fat, snappy, and interesting or beautiful!!

That's so awesome Charlie. Why bother with hunting for the oldies when you can just get them built the way you want?

 

[Cory Hess]

I'm finding that my sweet spot is between 4" and 4.5". I don't need a blade that long, but I have some ham hocks and I'm much more comfortable with all four fingers wrapped around the handle. I'm just too clumsy to go with a half grip. I tried carrying smaller knives like the GEC #15 and Queen #03, but ultimately found that I prefer the longer knives. These are the two that have been riding with me every day lately: