Trail Edge
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I can carry more or larger things in the winter than in the summer, so I like both.
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What are the practical reasons to get large folders versus fixed knives?
- Thread starter maximus83
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And what knives have you carried to come to that conclusion? Specific brands and models please.
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I think people who say things like this say it mainly because they think they're cool.
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I'd love to carry a fixed blade everywhere I go, but sometimes I just can't. But, I would if in my state I could carry concealed fixed blade knives, and if it was legal, I'm pretty sure I would have more fixed blades than folders. But for the reason of concealment, I carry larger and longer folders. I don't want some cocky guy to look at me with a larger fixed blade on my side and think I'm trying to be some badass or trying to showoff, I'm not trying to advertise that I have a knife. I'd rather avoid people like that all together and have multiple folders on me all serving different purposes.
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I think people who say things like this say it mainly because they think they're cool.
A "hard use folder" is a stupid reason to buy a knife. But what I think people are getting at, is if they had to use that knife for a hard task in a emergency, it could handle it. But if you want a knife to be repeatedly used as "hard use," then a fixed blade is what you've got to get.
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If you think about it, you are contradicting yourself because that is precisely why people want to buy "hard use" folders. To handle things in a pinch.
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Sure, a high-quality folder can be stronger than an el-cheapo Ikea steak knife, but that's not a good comparison. All things being equal, a fixed blade is much stronger. I am dumbfounded that anyone is really arguing to the contrary...
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I am dumbfounded that you make such an assertion without proof to back it up....that makes it your assumption....not a fact. BTW if all things were equal than the fixed and folder would be equal strength.
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Besides laws for most people and most places, one of the main things for me is how easy it is to withdraw, open, use, and put away a folder with one-hand and hardly thinking about it. It's not as safe or fast to do it with a fixed blade that is carried in a concealed carry position and when you carry outside of clothing then you have a sheath and handle more likely to snag on things.
When looking at carry weight/bulk you have to add 2 or more ounces for the sheath as well and not just compare folder to fixed blade specs sans sheath.
When looking at carry weight/bulk you have to add 2 or more ounces for the sheath as well and not just compare folder to fixed blade specs sans sheath.
One thing they certainly are better at, is not scaring sheeple.
For me, a "hard use" folder is simply a way that I can carry a knife of approximate equal durability to the small hunting knife I normally carry with me in a non work environment. Our saftey/HR department would NEVER let someone carry a sheathed fixed blade at work, period. A lot of places are like that, unfortunately.
Anyone who thinks I'm carrying it for cool factor, to put it bluntly, doesn't have a darned clue. I carry a heavy duty folder because it suits my needs.
All of a sudden, though, when it's a folding knife that is covertly clipped on my jeans pocket, it's not a huge issue any more. It doesn't make much sense to me, because I can become Stabby McStabStab just as easily with my folder as any other knife including a fixed blade, but it is what it is.
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Another reason (for me) is I simply don't like wearing a sheath. I'll do it in the woods or something. But I don't like the aesthetics. Therefore, for daily urban carry, a 3-3.5" blade folder is always on me, with a fixed blade in the car.
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I have been carrying a ZT350 lately as my folder... Is it as strong as my BK-11? No...? It has done everything I have asked it to do. I carry a big knife cause I have big hands and a smaller knife my fingers hang off the handle and it isn't comfortable.
Not sure I would baton with my Axis folder but would not think twice about doing so with my BK2.
If I had to pry with a knife, I am not doing that with my folder either. Big stuff I would hope to have the Becker. Small stuff, my Scrapivore.
Ditto for digging, chopping, et cetera. Same for any use that will fill a locking mechanism with dirt, mud, grit, etc... that calls for a fixed blade. I'd also think twice carrying a folder in highly corrosive environments such as salt air. It id not a big deal if the Becker gets a little rusty.
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If I had to pry with a knife, I am not doing that with my folder either. Big stuff I would hope to have the Becker. Small stuff, my Scrapivore.
Ditto for digging, chopping, et cetera. Same for any use that will fill a locking mechanism with dirt, mud, grit, etc... that calls for a fixed blade. I'd also think twice carrying a folder in highly corrosive environments such as salt air. It id not a big deal if the Becker gets a little rusty.
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I use a fixed blade only when I'm working in the yard or when camping. Living in California has provides some legal issues with EDCing a fixed blade. During a typical day I never "hard use" a folder anyway. Would still like to carry a few of my fixed blades though.
My hands aren't exactly giant, and certainly not the largest I've seen for someone my size/height, but they're certainly big enough to easily justify a folding knife of this size:
People that criticize others for carrying large knives as a "penis extension" are the same to me as people that criticize others for driving full size trucks as daily drivers. I'm 6'4" and 225lbs, I'm not going to apologize for driving a vehicle that I'm comfortable sitting in, and don't have to worry about being surgically removed from in the event of an accident. Trust me, reinforcing my manhood is the LAST thing I think of when selecting a truck, a knife, or anything for that matter.
I'm also in Cali, and a fixed blade is just not practical for daily use, especially at my company (mentioned in post above). That said, the level of use my knives go through is more than your average folder can tolerate. I've carried smaller knives for some time, but they never fare very well. That's why I switched to the above pictured knife.
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I'm not an engineer, so I can't show you charts and statistics, but a solid piece of metal (full tang) is stronger than a blade on a pivot with locks and pins. You can baton with a fixed blade--for example--and if the steel is appropriate and heat-treated properly you only have to worry about chipping the blade. If you baton on the back of a folder hard enough, you will break the parts.
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Whenever someone asks about lock strength, you always get a multitude of responses saying that it is quite seldom that a "quality" folder fails. Especially the "use your knife like a knife" folks. We always hear that most locks are strong enough for people's uses. However just ask about a "hard use" folder and a lot of the same people will say that "hard use folders" don't exist. Which is it really?