Very large folding knives?

Magnaminous_G said:
I don't understand the original post. OP, are you asking if a very large folding knife can substitute for a good folding saw or small axe? The answer is "no way." A good quality folding saw by Bahco or Silky will process wood effortlessly in no time and be almost weightless in your gear. There's a reason by Dave Canterbury swears by them, as do most survival pros. I think it's one of his top ten gear pieces, actually.

You'll find many people here who will always go with a 3 or 4" fixed blade knife and a 9 or 10" folding saw. That covers most of your bases and adds a heck of a lot of convenience in small, light packages.
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No man, I'm not asking if a large folding blade is a substitute for an axe or saw. Truthfully, when heavy work needs to be done, a folding saw isn't a substitute for a large bow saw. Neither is a mini hatchet or large knife a substitute for a full size axe when serious chopping is to be done. What folding saws and mini hatchets offer is handiness in a compact package, thus my wondering about very large folders....

I noticed there seemed to be few folding knives with blades larger than 6".
Would there be interest in a folding machete (that's what I'd like!) or a folding Battle Mistress?

Thanks for all the comments and pictures, particularly the Camillus folder, a knife I thought about originally when I started looking at mega folders.
 
My wife's pocket knife.

SDC10900.jpg


Big enough for ya?
 
Well, the CS Espada seems to fit the bill nicely right now. Long blade made longer when grasped at the end of the handle, and the Triad lock for durability when handling the strains of chopping. I know that Case has at least entertained the idea of doing a limited run of replica folding machetes though. I put the suggestion forward and they didn't say no--not that they said yes, either. :p
 
Cold Steel has the Espada and the Rajah II both of which are huge! The Espada has a few reports on youtube of guys nearly castrating themselves trying to pull them out of their pockets and getting them hung up where the blade opens partially. There are at least two on there of guys showing their cut up pants both on the inside of the pocket. One guy said it came so close to his family jewels that he could feel it but it didn't cut him! Personally I feel the Rajah I and II Wave open as well and carry as easy as many knives much smaller so I'd have to say not having handled an Espada that maybe 6" is enough for a folding anything. I can certainly say from personal experience that they do replace a machete quite easily. Mine has taken down a lot of saplings and branches in the time I've owned it.

STR
 

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Crap...I need to take some new knife pictures, but the ones I own:

Al Mar SERE (original)
Extreme Ratio RAO
Cold Steel Raja 1
REKAT Sifu
Benchmade Skirmish
Benchmade Rukus
Ontario Hossom Retribution
Lone Wolf Knives Harsey Ranger T3
TOPS Magnum 747

The Rukus, Harsey T3 and TOPS would be my top choices given their design and build. Big folders have their place...especially when fixed blades are not an option or the folded size meets a specific criteria or space requirement. I think most here would always opt for a fixed blade if given the choice, but certain Boy Scout events and some operational restrictions make a folder the next best option and big folder do give you more heft and cutting length.

ROCK6
 
parbajtor said:
My wife's pocket knife.

SDC10900.jpg


Big enough for ya?
Click to expand...

:thumbup:

Regardless of country, that's an awesome picture.
I think it's a shame us Brits catch so much flak.
Anytime somebody says locking SAK's are illegal in Britain I'll point them to this thread.

I reckon with modern locking mechanisms (is cold Steel the best?), and honest use, huge folders could be trustworthy tools.

My comments about putting a locking pin on an Opinel aren't about physical strength, rather about surety that it won't come undone.

I also realise the Opinel has a thin blade and shouldn't be torqued. But at an overall length of 20", I'm sure it could make a good light clearing tool, and with a 9" blade it will make a good kindling splitter and kitchen knife. Out of all these huge knives this is the cheapest for me, but IMO it's let down by a handle that is susceptible to swelling and a locking mechanism that can come undone.

FortyTwoBlades
The G10 Espada XL is too much money for me (although this thread isn't about money-the GB small forest is good value at £50 vs £180 for the Espada G10 XL). I'm sure in real world use the Espada tip would hold up, but I would prefer something stouter looking. If Cold Steel ever made a 10" Raja then I would be seriously tempted. :p
 
I had an opinel 12 .. an old one , a gift from my wife :)
its not a chopper but its handy for kitchen duty when we camp

I got a new opinel 10 a while ago , someone stole my old one , I hate them for it and I seriously hope it cuts them , often , but I love the new one too , the blades are ground more convex now , and the knife is a whole different beast to the one I had for so long before , much better :) I use it a lot harder than my old one , and it just keeps on going . amazing what a little tweak in blade geometry can do .

If you want a bigger blade for heavyish work like chopping , a fixed blade is the only way to go , but for a bigger knife for light work , a big folder for sure .

The thought of that length of razor sharp steel swinging around tho due to a lock failure or something ... hell I know what I have done to my fingers with a small knife , Im not about to risk similar with a bigger one .

just my opinion tho
 
Yorkshire Boy said:
I reckon with modern locking mechanisms (is cold Steel the best?), and honest use, huge folders could be trustworthy tools.
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Well I wouldn't feel completly comfortable with locking mechanism on a large blade.

Yet Cold Steel self-adjusting lockback system ("Triad Lock") seems quite great. There was A demo by Fred Perrin sometimes a go: he had been using some cold steel folder as a throwing knife for some time, and the knife had developped virtually no play at all: very impressive.
 
I'm a big fan of the large folder. I've owned a SIFU, Camillus CUDA Maxx, and a Cold Steel Rajah II. Miss the SIFU, and would love to have another. Still have the CUDA Maxx and the Rajah II. I like the weight of the Maxx and it does a great job of limbing small trees and bushes. The Rajah is a little better suited for heavier chopping. I like to carry them when I'm mowing. Let's me trim branches as I go and is actually easier to use and put away one handed than a fixed blade. Probably due to muscle memory and not having to be as careful when I put it away. I bought the Rajah II as a replacement for the Maxx because I was afraid of losing it and having to spend a lot of time and money tracking down a replacement. My biggest knock on the Rajah II is the weight (heavy compared to the Maxx) and the fact that the AUS 8 with the bead blast finish develops surface rust when left in my mowing pants when hung up in the basement to dry. I sweat a lot, what can I say. As for the Sifu, great knife, but didn't want to risk damaging it, so didn't use if for much chopping or hacking. Primarily, because it was too hard to replace. I've handled the Gibbs (@7") Cuda Maxx and thought that it was just to big to actually carry around without some type of sheath. Also, if felt unbalanced to me, IMHO.

Thanks,

GregB
 
I can relate, my vg10 gets surface rust spots when I don't clean it immediately after a run or working out. They come off ex. My cold steel gun site folder still locks fine had it 13 yrs. now. My cold steel recon 1 lock is awesome!
 
I gotta recommend the AG Russell fruit testing knife for a great outdoor food prep knife. It ways practically nothing, 2 oz......4 + inch blade.
 
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