What’s your preferred folder size

Interesting question! I was just thinking about this today, before I noticed the thread.

My collection is almost a perfect split between small, medium, and large folders (as defined here). I generally lump my 3.75"-4" blades in with the four-inchers, because they tend to feel like large knives to me; having those count as medium in this thread skews my numbers a bit.

One thing I've just figured out -- after pulling a bunch of my smaller knives out to evaluate a potential addition to my collection -- is how much of my focus over the past couple of years has been on ~3.25" and ~4" blades. The legal limit in my city is 3.5", so when we first moved here I initially focused on that size; capable, medium, and as large as I can carry. But over time, unconsciously, I've gravitated more towards either side of that length.
 
My favorite folders are mostly between about 3.7 inches up to about 5 inches. Big hands and stout blades.
 
using you're sizes......medium and large are what I use and like and find useful. the small size I have no real use for except for 3.25".
 
Given my choice I like a nice large folder 3.75 - 4.0" blade.
I never go less than 3.35", or the handle is usually too small for my hand.
 
My preference is mediums, between 3.4" and 3.75". I'm debating getting a 3.2" one, which will be the smallest I've ever owned with a clip.
 
I prefer knives at 3" or just under because here in Michigan there's a lot of grey areas when it comes to knives. The laws are not preemptive, which means that each city can have their own knife laws that supercede state law. In Detroit there's a 3" law, which is absolutely ridiculous, especially when I have a CPL, so I can legally carry a pistol but not a blade over 3" in Detroit.
 
I was thinking about this thread today, and a few months on (hopefully not so many as to count as a necropost -- this thread was last updated three months ago) I find that ~3.25" blades remain a real sweet spot for me in terms of EDC knives.

My current stable of blades this length covers everything from classy to lightweight to tactical to "aesthetics first," all with just enough handle and a pleasing, useful amount of blade for my needs. It's a versatile size for a folder, which is one of the things I like most about this blade length. :)

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0450, Deka, Bugout, Bulldog, Rhino, Sheepdog, Praetorian Genesis T
 
I buy knives I like, from the Manbug to the Police model, but 90% of the time I carry what would be considered small folders.. with 3”-ish Blade being my choice.
 
I prefer a knife that doesn't take up a lot of room in my pocket. A large Sebenza/Inkozi is about my upper size limit. The Laconico Keen seems just about right for me.
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Small tends to be what finds it's way into my pocket most often.

You should have run this as a poll. I'm too lazy to do the math myself :confused:
 
Depends on the day, event or task honestly. I prefer to have a wide variety of sizes for different tasks or carry styles. That being said, a majority of my folding knives are the standard 2.9" - 3.8".
 
Should've made this a poll; it'd be nice to see the votes compiled.

I'm finding I like a 3.25" blade with most of it having a sharp edge. Smaller than that and it's awkward to cut up an apple, larger and it's hard to use the tip. If we take food prep out of the equation, I'm good with small.

A couple of favorites:
  • Spyderco Polestar (3.25", all sharp)
  • Victorinox 91mm (2.75"?)
  • Spyderco UKPK (2.95" w/ a finger choil)


sabre cat said:
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I carried a 2.5 inch Vic Cadet for a month. I never want anything smaller than that. I don’t see how anyone can use super small stuff.
That’s anything under 2 1/2 inches in my book.
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I like the smalls for just the odd cut here and there. Nothing where I feel the need to have my whole hand wrapped around it. For example, opening a package, cutting a string; that kind of thing. For this kind of use, even the tiny Vic Classic gets 'er done.
 
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