Too Much Focus on Blade Length?

ebidis · Feb 27, 2016

I really like this one for EDC. 2.25 inch blade, 3.25inch handle. I can actually get a full 4 finger grip, yet it's very compact.

For people who live in an area with blade restrictions, why should they also have to have tiny little handles? I think more makers should offer knives with small blades and full size handles.

EChoil · Mar 2, 2016

Gotta agree that while that CQC-7 and other longer handles are sometimes ridiculed by sight, they sure feel good doing hard work in gloves at 20-below...or while sweating your eyes burned in a swamp with it coated in moss and greasy water.

T.K.C. · Mar 2, 2016

I like balanced knives, so blade to handle ratios are important to me; it is of paramount importance to me. Aesthetics is important; if the knife doesn't appeal to my eye, I am not going to consider it. I like what I like, you like what you like. I DO consider blade length.

RevDevil · Mar 2, 2016

Etna said:
I can't wrap my head around how so many people claim to need a blade length > 3.5" when the conscripts in my country (myself included) and many other countries can successfully complete their service with the standard-issue Victorinox SAK that has a blade length just slighly over 2 inches...

What country would that be? Welcome to America, everything is bigger here.

Reswob · Mar 2, 2016

kniferbro said:
I think blade to handle ratio is even less important. If you like the blade and like the handle what does it matter what their ratio is?

From an engineering perspective, a small blade in a long handle is wasted space. From an aesthetic standpoint it doesn't work either. I would never buy a knife with a poor blade:handle ratio.

Thus, since I like a full grip, most of my knives are "large" (or what I consider medium/normal) around 3.5". Small knives, under 3", also tend to be difficult for me to open so I don't typically buy them.

Jens Schuetz · Mar 2, 2016

I like big handles due to my hand size. That's prettty much fixed but the blade length can vary based on tasks and legal limits.
Might even go for a super large handle to increase reach if only a very tiny blade is allowed.

stabman · Mar 2, 2016

Etna said:
I can't wrap my head around how so many people claim to need a blade length > 3.5" when the conscripts in my country (myself included) and many other countries can successfully complete their service with the standard-issue Victorinox SAK that has a blade length just slighly over 2 inches...

Well, because for those of us NOT in the army, things like cutting a sandwich without getting gunk in the pivot is a concern.

Or for woods use...sure you can do it with a small knife, but it takes more work, doesn't do it as efficiently, and is less fun.

The army isn't supposed to be fun, and you have to make do with what they give/allow.
Civilian life is supposed to be fun, and you get to choose what to carry. :thumbup:

stabman · Mar 2, 2016

Reswob said:
From an engineering perspective, a small blade in a long handle is wasted space.

Not if it is engineered that way.

Engineering is about finding the best (or sometimes the best/cheapest/quickest) solution to an issue.
If the issue is having a big enough handle to hold onto while having a blade of a certain length...well, you do the math.

Jens Schuetz · Mar 2, 2016

Engineers aren't artsy kind of designers. We make stuff work the best way and that's usually it. Most of the time that looks good if you have a function over for mindset to begin with. Often some real designers have to work things over or provide constraints from the beginning.

Who's idea is that 1:1 would look best? Would a golden ratio for example be really that bad?

Insipid Moniker · Mar 2, 2016

Reswob said:
From an engineering perspective, a small blade in a long handle is wasted space. From an aesthetic standpoint it doesn't work either. I would never buy a knife with a poor blade:handle ratio.

Thus, since I like a full grip, most of my knives are "large" (or what I consider medium/normal) around 3.5". Small knives, under 3", also tend to be difficult for me to open so I don't typically buy them.

Not to offend, but the comment about the engineering perspective is kind of baffling. Engineers design things to specs. If asked to design a folding knife to accommodate large hands with a shorter blade, none of the engineers are gonna throw up their hands and cry over the wasted space.

mauser9 · Mar 2, 2016

Hate gippy length blades. Like the Sog Trident Tanto as blade is closer to 4 inches.

Kwon Kwang · Mar 3, 2016

stabman said:
Well, because for those of us NOT in the army, things like cutting a sandwich without getting gunk in the pivot is a concern.
Or for woods use...sure you can do it with a small knife, but it takes more work, doesn't do it as efficiently, and is less fun.

The army isn't supposed to be fun, and you have to make do with what they give/allow.
Civilian life is supposed to be fun, and you get to choose what to carry. :thumbup:

Great post! :thumbup:

22-rimfire · Mar 3, 2016

As always it is mostly personal preference and what you are comfortable using. I don't particularly care for larger bladed folders. Anything larger than a Spydie Delica (give or take a couple 1/10ths) is too large for me personally. I have two Enduras and had great hopes for them when I purchased them.... but I just don't like the blade length. It makes me uncomfortable if I am around other people. So, I don't even really consider any knives seriously for regular using with blade lengths like the Endura.

I have a Cold Steel Tuff Lite and it is certainly a user and the blade length is comfortable. But I like some just a tad longer if I am not restricted in blade length. The old legal blade length in TN was 3.5"; now there is no limit. But I still have a certain size that I am comfortable with for general using.

A lot of people like the small Spydie's. I feel sure that I would like a Dragon Fly or something similar, but I am pretty comfortable where I'm at. My small Spydies are the Native and Kiwi 4.

I like the variety of available knives these days. The variety is really amazing when you think about it. As far as big handles and smaller blades, I would choose if I need a smaller blade length or something that is a lot lighter for whatever reason. Kayaking might be a use that I might consider a smaller than my normal size. And there are always the Vic SAKs that I am very comfortable with in terms of using an the expected quality. Only the smallest ones leave me wanting and being dissatisfied with the features like "snap".