What's up with folders?

I have both folders and fixed, but one thing I like about folders is I can take them out of the house all day long. Where I live carrying a fixed blade is going to draw unwanted attention.
 
Relativity is a crazy thing.

Some people can't imagine spending $100+K on a car but many do...and to take it even further, many people who spend $100+K on a car can't imagine how someone could spend $25K on a car and be OK with that...

To make this absolutely insane, in many cases both of these types of people will have a very similar income.

Whatever makes you happy as long as you understand that there is no "right" just "right" for you.
 
The CRKT Journeyer is one cool and affordable folder that converts to a fixed blade. Check them out.
rolf
 
"What's up with folders?" Essentially, we all have different tastes and uses for our knives. For myself, I don't like, or use, fixed blades, except for dive knives. They aren't exactly appropriate for a law office and, on my own time, I'd rather take a beating than go camping or "bushcrafting." I like small gentleman's folders, or medium-sized titanium folders, for convenience and pocket jewelry and I'm willing to pay a few hundred dollars (can't bring myself to go above $500) for the pleasure they give me. Your question comes across as "I like X knife. Why would anyone else have a different use for a knife or like a different style?" It's kind of like "What's up with sports cars? I hunt and fish, so I drive a pickup truck. I have no idea why anyone would want a convertible." Who cares why? Enjoy yours and we'll enjoy ours. :-)
 
Maybe it's a simple as....

If you have the ability to ask a question like this, then nobody will have the ability to answer it?
 
I like folders because I CAN carry it with me every single day. I find a folder to be a very useful tool. I like really well made things, so a custom folder or a mid-tech are just amazing. I am, and always have been a huge fan of Chris Reeves' knives. In fact, a large Sebenza was my first expensive knife. The tolerances are so tight on a CRK knife, that I hold every other knife up to the Sebenza's tolerances. I have carried a knife with me since I was 7 years old.
There are enough knives for each of our different tastes. If you don't want to spend $500 on a knife, don't. As for me, I will buy what I like, regardless of what anyone thinks.
 
JohnnyBlades said:
For everything I would use a folder for, which is 90% opening boxes/packaging, a 30$ Kershaw blade does the job just fine. And if it breaks, I can buy 6 more for less than $200.
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Some of us might break one of those knives daily with the abuse some of our jobs require. For instance I work on a farm/agriculture and abuse the hell out of my knives and wear them out and chip blades fairly quickly. I dont have excess funds by any means. I have less than $100 to my name right now and make $12.50 an hour. Yet I edc a $485 folder and a $265 fixed blade. And have spent maybe 4-5k+ in the last 4 months. Will the $485 blade I edc now out preform the other 4 folders I have in the 150-250 range? not really but personally I love quality tools and people who take pride in their craftsmanship (very rare these days). If you look at inflation 500-1k really isnt that much money for a high quality tool, youve just been fooled by capitalism and china :D I'm also single :D


If you only open packages youll never notice much difference. But if you are like me and use it and abuse it everyday and rely on it to always function at 100%, the difference between your tacforce and my inkosi isn't even remotely comparable. But if it works for you and you have no issues with it, that is all that matters. To each his own :D


*edit*


The absolute cheapest I would go for EDC and would be comfortable with is a Doug Ritter Grip in M390 @ $140
The ONLY blade "less" (that would be sacrificing 1 hand opening/closing which is important for me and blade steel) than the Doug Ritter would be a Case Sodbuster in CV @$30-35.

I own neither of them but they will pretty much be my only recommendations to anyone on a budget. I greatly support US made and will do my best to not support mass production china/taiwan. Its worth it to be patient and save just a bit longer and support my country instead of mass production companies that cut corners, copy other designs, and use cheap materials.

Excuse me while I finally go order that Yellow Case Sodbuster in CV :D
*edit*
and an orange Case Sodbuster Jr. SS :D
 
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Well to start folders stay cleaner and sharper.
Assuming one uses it on food occasionally and breaking down trash occasionally that can be important.
One of the reasons I gave up on the one knife for one month challenge is I got tired of washing the sheath inside after the trash day trash break down. Actually I was washing the knife and sheath every evening. It is much easier to just wash the blade and fold'er up.
and
A lot of fixed blades are just WAY too thick for practical City Slicker use. I cut more cardboard than I do dig my way out of a mine cave in with my EDC.

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd finally . . . I am fed up to here with my sheaths making my hair whittling blades dull.

I carried this sucker for a good bit of the summer. Ground it thinner, did what I could to make the sheath grip the blade so the edge couldn't hit on the sheath and make it dull. Sucks. 3V I love. The sheath sucks.


I carried these today (Grip and Spyderco Tasman and I didn't miss the fixed. (well there is that little Super Edge but that was just fooling around).





and the top knife today


As far as price for a folder . . . I feel vaguely uneasy if I pay less than a hundred dollars. The one I been looking at lately is about $180. Probably won't get it until the Spring.
Sure one can get a nice Case in super basic steel for fifty bucks. Usually I want better steel, larger knife, some dambed lock thing I can play around with . . . that costs more. And that's fine.
 
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Deer said:
The ONLY blade "less" (that would be sacrificing 1 hand opening/closing which is important for me and blade steel) than the Doug Ritter would be a Case Sodbuster in CV @$30-35.

I own neither of them but they will pretty much be my only recommendations to anyone on a budget. I greatly support US made and will do my best to not support mass production china/taiwan. Its worth it to be patient and save just a bit longer and support my country instead of mass production companies that cut corners, copy other designs, and use cheap materials.

Excuse me while I finally go order that Yellow Case Sodbuster in CV :D
*edit*
and an orange Case Sodbuster Jr. SS :D
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The large Sodbuster is one of my most frequently carried knives.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

While it is true that the Sodbuster isn't a modern "one hand opener" design in that it lacks a spydie hole, thumb stud, flipper or whatever, it is also true that farmers and tradesmen have been carrying that pattern for centuries and have been opening and closing them with one hand just fine.

To open a knife like the Sodbuster one handed, pinch the spine with your thumb and forefinger while pressing the frame down with your middle and ring finger. This will open the knife just enough to be able to swipe the handle open by hooking the butt end on your thigh. You will be left holding the knife in a choked up fashion and if you have half way decent knife handling skills, it's trivial to move to a standard grip.

This takes longer and it takes practice. I suspect that many guys who've grown up with modern designs won't have the patience for it, but it's definitely doable and not at all hard. Traditional lockbacks like the Buck 110 and ring lock knives like the Opinel #10 can also be easily opened one handed using this approach.

Speaking of the Opinel #10, it's even easier and safe to one hand open and close due to the lack of back spring. It's also a much, much, much tougher knife than the large Sodbuster and the Sodbuster is a plenty tough knife. You can pry with an Opinel #10 every day for years and the only risk you'll face is eventually work hardening the blade and snapping it. But the pivot won't loosen up on you and you won't develop vertical play.

As for one hand closing, the Sodbuster is easy to close. Hold the knife by the back of the frame keeping fingers clear of the well and close the blade on your leg. Just keep your finger tips clear, as some slip joints have hungry snapping springs. The Opinel 10 is much easier and safer to close one handed due to the lack of a spring. Traditional lockbacks like the 110 can be closed one handed but it's a risky move and easy to screw up when working in a shop situation. More of bar bet or parlor trick type move.
 
Hi! I like folders because they... fold :):p and for their easy carry as small pocket-able EDC blades. I like "modern" folders for their engineering solutions (construction, locking mechanisms, etc.) and the research on materials they are made of. I like some traditional folders as well, but use them very little. I like fixed blades for their suitability, safety and simplicity to carry out specific outdoor tasks but, for me, they are impractical (and illegal :() for my urban/working environment.
 
JohnnyBlades said:
there are so many vastly superior fixed blades in the>100$ price range that I would be very hard pressed to ever consider one of the premium folders that so many members on here boast.
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A fixed blade that can be legally and unobtrusively carried (i.e. an office setting) might well be too short for the job. A longer blade could get you fired or arrested.
 
Wowbagger said:
Well to start folders stay cleaner and sharper.
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That's just plain wrong.

Sonnydaze said:
A fixed blade that can be legally and unobtrusively carried (i.e. an office setting) might well be too short for the job. A longer blade could get you fired or arrested.
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Depends. Where I live you can carry a 4 1/2" fixed blade without problems while one-hand locking knives are problematic.
 
I typically carry a 3"+ modern folder AND a fixed blade *gasp!*
And often even a 3rd pocket folder as well like a SAK, lady leg, or leatherman style, etc...

Why, because I like to, that's why.
 
To cut to the chase- Quality is a matter of fact, taste is a matter of opinion. Everyone has a different tolerance level for the pricing and it's up to the owner whether to take pride in a knife that is a straight tool or a piece of pocket art.
 
What's up with fixed blades?? I love to just drop a folder in my pocket and not worry about sheathing it. (Of course I carry true pocket knives (slipjoints) not the big bulky moderns that the gen forum talks about 90% of the time).

The only time I carry a fixed blade is while hunting/fishing/camping.
 
Everything is Relative! From How much you can afford to spend to The particular knife law's in your part of the world. Then of course there's just what are you buying the knife for. A collection or for your job or is it just to have on you in the chance you may need it at some point through the day. I myself like both fixed blade knives and folders but I live in the city and rarely get to the country these days so I stick with the folder's. But if I had the opportunity to get out hunting and fishing more I'd buy both. Ether way it's good to hear different opinions on the subject for sure. This is a great thread.:cool:
 
I'd rather spend more money on a folder than a fixed because that's what I'll actually carry every day and use.
 
I like a good folder because I can clip it into my pocket and not have to put up with a fixed blade in a sheath getting in the way of my seat belt, poking me when I lean or twist a certain way, etc. The folder just hangs out there unobtrusively until needed, then I whip it out, open it, use it, fold it back up, and return it to the pocket. Easy peasy. I'm also attracted to folders for much the same reason I'm attracted to guns; I like simple (relatively speaking), functional mechanical devices. A nice folder with its multiple parts fitting and functioning together is more interesting to me than a fixed blade. I do like fixed blades for various uses, but I find a good folder more practical and more satisfying to carry on a daily basis.
 
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