What tasks for a 4+ inch blade on a pocket folder?

ZDHart

ZDHart

Joined
Feb 16, 2010
Messages
471
I've always had knives in the 2.5" to 3.25" range and they've met my modest needs very well... In fact I haven't really felt a "need" for anything longer than about 3".

I do recognize the benefit of long reach for defense use and recognize the applications for a long fixed blade knife for outdoors/camp wood processing and such, but I'm not sure what application there might be for a knife like the Resiliance or Military... so I ask...

What do you choose a 4" + folding blade for besides defense? or does a 3" blade pretty much meet most or all of your general needs that a pocket folder would be used for?

I recently bought a Resiliance and while I like the knife... I fail to see what benefit that extra 1" of blade might bring me in general day to day use.
 
The longest folding blade I carry is the SC Military. You already acknowledged part of the appeal being defense. Other than that I find it works well for food prep. Having that extra length makes it better for slicing food and things, like bread or large tomatos for instance, without having to burry the handle in messy food.
 
Long sweeping cuts, like cutting long papersheets or cardboards. That's why I prefer thin and long for EDC.
 
Ah yes, food... I had overlooked that application. Generally I'd prefer fixed blade for that (no pivot for food to get into), but a 4" folder travels more compactly than a 4" fixed and with a long enough blade, it's easier to keep the food out of the folding mechanism. I don't usually think of my knife so much as a defensive tool because I always carry a G19, G23, or G30... and I know my knife fighting skills totally suck anyway. Would much prefer to defend with bullets vs a blade.
 
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Cutting insulation. Cutting thick rope. Opening feed bags (the extra length allows you to cut both sides of the bag at once). Slicing thick salami. Cleaning fish.

Lots of jobs, but the extra length helps keep the pivot out of the mess and the larger handle allows more pressure to be brought to bear.

Andy
 
First off, most 3", 3.5", and even some 4" knives have small handles. Too small for my tastes.
Secondly, sometimes more is just better. If the blade is longer it will take longer to go dull (a 6" blade has the same cutting surface as two 3" blades), and sometimes it will do the same job faster (one stroke with a 6" blade is equal to two strokes with a 3" blade).

I think my ideal blade length in a folder is around 5", but the Spyderco Military keeps things legal in restrictive areas and uses all my favorite materials (and has that amazing handle), so that's usually what I carry.
 
You can always choke up on a large knife and do small knife tasks but it's sort of hard to add extra length to a small knife to do large knife tasks.
 
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