Weight obsession?

I don’t give much thought to weight. I have a couple heavier knives and they don’t get carried as much. I just looked up the weight on my most often carried folder (large sebenza 21) and it’s 4.7 ounces. That knife feels like nothing to me as far as weight goes so maybe 6 ounces is where my line is.
 
Weight is pretty low on my list of priorities when deciding on a knife.
I haven't read the 3 pages, maybe tomorrow, but I imagine all the guys who claim .25 oz over their limit is a deal breaker are willing to pay a premium for extra light weight and high quality.
Same thing shows up in hiking, camping, racing etc., just not a big deal to me personally.
 
What your priorities are is probably determined by what you look at first in the spec section of a knife at shops like BladeHQ. When I see a knife that interests me and pull up the page, the first thing I look for in the specs is usually blade length, then blade steel, then thickness, then handle material, not necessarily in that order... these things usually determine if I close the product page or keep looking for more info...The last thing I look at is weight and honestly have never closed a product page due to a knife's weight. It's always something else that turns me off--usually the steel.
 
I don't give much thought to weight either. I weigh 288 lbs* (slowing dropping..) so I don't fret over a few ounces. Eating a snack causes me to gain 6 oz so I could care less if my knife was 4 or 7 oz. My disregard for weight on knives also helps in saving me from buying carbon fiber or Ti which helps my bank account. I'm fine with SS construction + G10 + decent blade steel at good price (ex. H&K 14715 Axis lock, what I carried today).

If I was a scaling Mt Everest or hiking 20 miles I would be more concerned about weight and what I'm getting for that weight.

* I'm almost 6'8"
 
With today's materials you can have light weight and strength, so just because it's heavier doesn't mean it's better.
Most of my folders are under 5.5 oz. I do check the weight of a knife before a purchase but then again I read all the specs. I don't get hung up on weight to much except for my work knife. Most of the time I carry a tool belt with two pouches at work, depending on what I'm doing one pouch holds different types of screws, straps, fittings, etc. The other holds my tools, a few different types of pliers, screw drivers, level, tape measure, mini box cutter, and my pocket knife. I also carry a cordless impact gun on my belt. If you can drop a few oz when you walk around on concrete and climb ladders all day it can make a difference. I use a 16 foot tape measure instead of a 25, a mini box cutter for sheet rock instead of a full size, all because they are lighter.
 
I’m one of those that consider weight when purchasing or carrying a folder. For me it comes down to what l consider comfortable. I prefer to stay under 4oz but 3-3.5 is even better. After owning, carrying and using well over a hundred folders in the past 20 yrs I do notice a difference.

On the face of it it seems silly to think that 1-2oz makes any difference but it can. Honestly, it comes down to the type of clothing you wear and what you do for a living. For me, my daily carry has become very minimal. 90% of the time I’m wearing running or board shorts. Anything over 4oz starts to pull them down, epecially during activites like running. These days my most carried knife has been a Salt Tasman 2 or my old Pacific Salt. I’m really starting to appreciate FRN these days, even more than G-10...

When I worked in construction for a number of years, I had no issues carry +5oz folder but I also wore Carharts or jeans and carried a number of other tools on my person. Nowadays I don’t have that need anymore so I just prefer to carry something light.

The beauty of the knife market today is that they nearly make something for everyone.
 
I won't carry anything over five ounces or under about 3.5. So, my large CRK's are just fine.
 
For the most part I don't consider weight when making a knife purchase. However sometimes I feel weighed down some with my LM wave, flashlight (both on belt). So I may swap out EDC primary knife.
 
basmca said:
So you actually feel the knives in your jeans when it weighs 150+ grams? (5.4 ounces) to a point where it bothers you enough yo not carry it? Or is it the feel in the hand you don't like?
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I think I explained it pretty well in my earlier post (not just for shorts or dress pants, but also for total weight considering everything I carry) in this thread, but I'll quote it for your convenience:

evilgreg said:
A couple of my reasons for preferring lighter pocket knives:
  • Wardrobe flexibility: in jeans even a Medford folding club/knife is fine, but if you have to wear dress pants or workout shorts a 5+ ounce knife feels like a boat anchor
  • Trimming total weight of stuff my belt is supporting: I carry a firearm as much as legally possible, plus my wallet, my keys, my phone, and my knife, all of which are supported by my belt one way or another (I carry 1 o'clock AIWB, 4 o'clock IWB, or front right pocket). Even light guns are pretty heavy and the 9mm guns I usually carry weigh a fair chunk. The Walther PPS M2 weighs about 25 oz loaded, the Kahr CM9 weighs about 18 oz loaded, and the may-explode-it's-so-unsubstantial Diamondback DB9 weighs about 15 oz. Even a minuscule .380 like my Ruger LCP II weighs 13+ oz loaded. I carry a small wallet, I carry only my car key and my house key on my keys, and I don't want my phone to be any smaller than it is. Saving a couple of ounces wherever I can (light gun, light wallet, light knife) all adds up.
I generally try to carry knives that weigh about four ounces or less where possible. I don't find this particularly limiting, I have multiple ~3.75"+ bladed knives that fit under my weight preferences (e.g. customized Southard Tolk, ZT 0454, CKF Milk, CKF customized SSE, perforated version Olamic Swish, etc.) and they're all plenty sturdy for any practical folding knife use.
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I wear Duluth Firehose Pants probably 95% of the time I'm carrying these days and in those I don't notice weight really at all. I'll happily carry an 8oz folder along with loads of other stuff that makes my life a bit easier.

That said, in my last job I had to wear scrubs and I've been in the hospital for almost 4 weeks wearing pajama pants and that drastically changes what's comfortable to carry. In that situation over 4oz starts to get cumbersome and anything over 5oz is downright annoying.

Because of that I like to have options in a broad variety of sizes and weights. Heck, if you want large, tough knives in a lightweight package check out the Spyderco Pacific Salt at 3.1oz and the Cold Steel Broken Skull at 3.0oz. Both are pretty high quality and tougher than a $3 steak.
 
I tend to prefer carrying larger folders, so weight is not very important to me at all. I would never let it stop me from buying a knife personally. I do, however, appreciate lightweight knives as well, and it's good to have different things for different uses. I keep a pair of LW dragonfly's (one serrated) clipped in each of my back pockets for utility purposes, and I appreciate the fact that they are so light that they practically disappear. As I said though, I generally gravitate towards big knives, so weight is not really a concern for me.

I've seen a few You-tubers obsess over weight, and I can't help but wonder if the proliferation of knife you-tube reviews have helped spread this obsession. I mean, stating the specs is part of almost any knife review, and I wonder how many people might not consider the weight if it was not brought to their attention so much. I'm not necessarily referring to the posts in this thread, I think most of the guys here on the forums have learned what they like through their own experience.

I feel similarly about deep carry clips. I personally can't stand them, but I've heard many reviewers complain about knives without them. It seems to me that perhaps this may have caught the ear of knife companies, and more knives are coming equipped with them. I wonder how many people really want to make their knife harder to access just to appease the "sheeple" and not offend the masses.
 
basmca said:
Everyone has things they like and dislike in knives, some want flippers, some hate it, some only carry fixed and some won't even take them out of the kitchen, ect ect.

Most things i can understand, but the one thing i just don't get is the obsession over a few grams. It's not like you're going to notice the difference between the token light knife(benchmade bugout) and a mini grip, delica or ZT 0450 (Cf)

Personally i want a knife that's at least 100 grams.

So please explain to me why so many of you guys want lighter and lighter knives, at the cost of quality and strenght.
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Ha, ha, ha this made me think of the other day . . .
I soaked my Buck 110 belt pouch in warm water, wrapped up the knife real well in several layers of plastic wrap, put the knife in the pouch and let it dry. Next day the pouch was still damp so I got the idea that a gentle way to apply some warmth to help it dry faster was to just put it in the pocket of my sweat pants while I hung out around the house . . .
I already had been carrying my Para2 M4 in the right pocket all morning so I just dropped the pouch with the old brass and diamond wood 110 into my left pocket.

Ohhhhhh my GOSH ! I almost didn't make it down the hall . . . the 110 was literally pulling my sweat pants down off my waist ! ! ! !
I hadn't even noticed the Para2.

More to your question : The other day I picked up my 940-1 in carbon fiber and I kind of did a double take . . . THAT is impressive . . . for that much blade length this thing is soooo light !
And certainly strong enough for anything I will ever use it for (knock on wood).
. . . dude . . . if you leave the thumb stud off you save like a whole gram ! Maybe two!
o_O :D
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Another knife that is silly light for how it feels in the hand is my Grail Brad Zinker Urban Trapper.
As it came from the factory it is a feather but look at this big fat assed handle that I put on it . . . and it is still just super light. Occasionally I'll carry it in the bottom of my pocket (it now has no clip) and it is perfectly comfortable ! ! ! ! Usually I carry it in a belt pouch because I want to keep the ball bearing pivot as lint free as possible.

Nah . . . I kind of like light knives.
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And speaking of light and practical check out this little sucker if you haven't already :
Spyderco UK PK in S110V no less !
Super little knife !
IMG_4516.jpg

One thing about the 110 though . . . if you are out fishing and you forgot your anchor a 110 tied to a rope and dropped over the side will certainly keep your bass boat from drifting. ;)
 
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I prefer 3-4 oz knives, but I rotate heavier ones too. I don't 'hard use' my carry knives. I prefer Moras, scizzors, box cutters, machetes, hatchets, ect. My sticking point is blade length. Even though I will probably never find myself in a deadly situation, I prefer knives that can double as self defense knives (3.5" and >).
 
basmca said:
So please explain to me why so many of you guys want lighter and lighter knives, at the cost of quality and strenght.
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No one here is sacrificing quality and strength for lightness so you can scratch that statement. I’m not weight obsessed but it is one of the multitude of factors that plays a part in whether I will like a knife, including blade length, blade steel, clip, type of lock, etc.

I came to view weight as important after switching for a week my work EDC Benchmade Auto Presidio weighing 5.62 ounces for a lighter Griptilian. I noticed the ~1.5 oz weight difference immediately. I wear 5.11 pants on duty so they are heavy in their own right but then you add in all the gear on top of that... my work pants are downright heavy and burdensome. Any weight savings helps out so sold off the Auto Presidio. Off work I’m generally wearing lightweight shorts 8 months of the year because I live in the humid south. Try carrying a 5+ oz folder in fishing shorts and they’ll fall to the floor. The knife would probably weigh more than the shorts themselves for petes sake. Different knives for different tasks and attire, but I’d personally rather not carry a pocket brick when running around in 100 degree weather with 100% humidity, especially when a lighter knife cuts just as well if not better.
 
Why do so many people go the opposite way and carry large and heavy knives when they don’t need to? Why would anyone go out of their way to make their lives more cumbersome? That’s the real mind boggler to me. I’ll never understand that.
 
About the limit for my jeans carry is a XM-18. Anything else drags my jeans down. Summer cargo shorts carry is usually a spyderco or lighter aluminum handled blade.

I will carry heavier folders in the winter in a breast pocket in my jacket or vest.
 
Shotgun said:
Why do so many people go the opposite way and carry large and heavy knives when they don’t need to? Why would anyone go out of their way to make their lives more cumbersome? That’s the real mind boggler to me. I’ll never understand that.
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I don't make it a point to carry the largest, most cumbersome knife I can. I just never say "Gosh I like that knife a lot but it weighs 5.5 oz and I like to stick to 4 oz and under". Or "Gosh that 5.5 oz knife really feels heavy in the pocket. I need something lighter."
 
I work as an eye care professional and have found that heavier folders don't carry well in office attire. They leave bulges in pockets where a lighter knife will never be noticed. My preferred carry is the US made Kershaw Zing or my Benchmade 531.

If I ever lose the 531, I will happily replace it with Benchmade's Bugout. Not because of the weight but, because I consider it a better knife and more comfortable in the hand. IIRC, it cost a little less, too.

FWIW, lately, I have been reaching for the worst knife I own. A Cutco 1891 folder.
Lightweight and cheap. If I lose it, I am not out much.
 
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I wear jeans about 8 months out of the year, and shorts the other 4. In jeans, I can get away with a knife over 5 oz. in weight, but 5 oz. is where I draw the line in shorts -- and even then, I prefer to go lighter if possible. My experience with everything that winds up in my pockets is that even an ounce of difference is a lot.

When I'm wearing shorts in the summer, and running or playing with my kid, most knives north of 4 oz. feel like a brick flopping around on the edge of my pocket. Every time I get excited about a heavier knife, and carry one for a little while, my pocket reminds me why I prefer that weight limit. ;)

That said, GB940Rookie makes a point I absolutely agree with:

GB940Rookie said:
Size and feel in pocket seems to be more important to me than weight.
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For example: I used to own a G10 Manix 2, and that knife and my current EDC -- an Emerson CQC-7 -- are both right around 5 oz. Despite being the same weight, the Manix is an unmistakable presence in my pocket; it never really disappears. The CQC-7 is much narrower than the Manix, and carries better for me (it even does pretty well in shorts).

Lately, I've been experimenting to see how light I can go and still love a knife. My Manix 2 LW (2.8 oz.) is simply delightful, and the 4.4 oz. G10 Military is an insane amount of knife for that weight. Neither is a prybar, no, but nor do I feel like I'm sacrificing strength or solidity on the altar of weight.
 
Dadpool said:
I wear jeans about 8 months out of the year, and shorts the other 4. In jeans, I can get away with a knife over 5 oz. in weight, but 5 oz. is where I draw the line in shorts -- and even then, I prefer to go lighter if possible. My experience with everything that winds up in my pockets is that even an ounce of difference is a lot.

When I'm wearing shorts in the summer, and running or playing with my kid, most knives north of 4 oz. feel like a brick flopping around on the edge of my pocket. Every time I get excited about a heavier knife, and carry one for a little while, my pocket reminds me why I prefer that weight limit. ;)

That said, GB940Rookie makes a point I absolutely agree with:



For example: I used to own a G10 Manix 2, and that knife and my current EDC -- an Emerson CQC-7 -- are both right around 5 oz. Despite being the same weight, the Manix is an unmistakable presence in my pocket; it never really disappears. The CQC-7 is much narrower than the Manix, and carries better for me (it even does pretty well in shorts).

Lately, I've been experimenting to see how light I can go and still love a knife. My Manix 2 LW (2.8 oz.) is simply delightful, and the 4.4 oz. G10 Military is an insane amount of knife for that weight. Neither is a prybar, no, but nor do I feel like I'm sacrificing strength or solidity on the altar of weight.
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Well said. The Manix 2LW is a perfect example. 2.9 ozs but grossly big in pocket. My 4.4 oz GB2 is a pleasure to carry. The M2 is relegated to work only.

For shorts I rarely go above 3ozs. Hello 940, Rookie G10 and Chaparral.
 
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