What's up with "Mini" knives?

I don't think of either of those two knives as being mini, just smaller versions of the original. 3" - 3 1/2" is plenty of blade for the tasks I use a folder for.
 
I estimate most folks living in the U.S. today live in cities, vs. in small town or farms.

Outside of the kitchen, most folks living in cities only need to open boxes and blister pack, or cut string, or tape with their knives. How much of a blade is truly needed for those tasks? A typical box cutter from Sears only has a blade about an inch and a half long, and that is long enough for probably 95% of what people need to use knives for.

Larger blades are great for shaving wood for kindling, butchering animals, making improvised shelters, making traps, food preparation, whittling stakes...much of which would be related to outdoor activities.

Smaller bladed knives are also better suited for fine detail work which is what I believe most folks would be using a sharp edge for, anyway.

I have large folders and small ones, but I usually just carry the smaller ones for EDC, such as a small stockman, or at most, a Benchmade Ares.
 
The knife I carry depends on the situtation. I used to like bigger blades for EDC until I got my Native about a month ago. Then I realized that with it's choil-lengthened handle, the sub 3" cutting edge was idea for my general needs. I work in a grocery store, on the management team, so I don't do a lot of cutting over the course of a day. I'll open boxes and cut some string or whatever, but nothing that needs a huge blade.

If the situation calls for more knife, then I'm prepared there too. I do my share of minimalist camping and I've got the knives I may need out in the wilds. I usually carry my RTAK for the big stuff and a smaller (5 to 7") fixed blade for other stuff.

If the situation calls for less knife, I'm pretty well off with one of my stockmen.

One time I tried to experiment with how much knife I really needed on a day to day basis. I emptied my pockets and dropped a Victorinox Classic in my pocket. I got along just fine with it's inch long blade. Granted I'd like to have more knife than that, but it's nice to know I could get through my daily chores with just that.
 
yea i just bought this mini skirmish and i feel like people are going to go what the heck do you need all that knife for in town!!...and its 3 1/2''
 
The tools that you carry and use depend on your needs and personal preference, If you need a large blade that's fine. I have carried a SAK and a stockman for 40+ years and the most used blade is a 2" sheepsfoot.

Luis
 
Excellent replies all, but I don't think my question has really been answered. Some have stated personal preference in choosing smaller knives, but that's pretty much a given, if not for legal reasons. Why do you prefer smaller knives, that's what I want to know.

Others have said that they usually only use the tip of their knife, so a small knife is all they need. But a large knife, like the Military, will do the fine jobs just as well, while being easy to carry and while having that extra blade length if needed. Doesn't it make sense to carry the larger knife, if both are comfortable to carry and both do the fine chores equally well? I mean, since the speed limit on the Interstate system is 65 MPH, do you want a car that can just do 65 MPH (Yugo), since that's all you really need, or would you rather drive a car that can do 200 MPH (Ferrari 430), even if you (mostly) don't use the extra power?

And to address the comment that it's all relative, and where do I draw the line, I say that a folder is the pocketable equivalent of a fixed blade knife. That is, we carry folders because they are easier to carry, and less frightening to the sheeple, than a FB. But the folder is only doing tasks that FBs have been doing for centuries. And no matter what kind of FB you carry, whether it is a hunter or tactical or utility knife, the size has pretty much settled down to the 8-1/2" to 11-1/2" range. So, if you accept my proposition that a folder is the politically correct version of a FB, then I say that the size of your folder should be in the range that I mentioned.

I know I'm leaving out the cute little "city knives" and other small utility knives as well as larger bowies and mini-machetes. But those who carry working fixed blades, whether they be ranchers, hunters or soldiers, usually end up with knives of the size that I mentioned above. To summarize, I feel that the practical, usable length of FB knives has been established over centuries of use, in all types of situations. To have a practical folder then, is to have one that is similar in size to those FBs.
 
For years, as an issue of pride, I carried only tiny pen knives, even while in the out of doors, and never had a problem. I've gutted many deer with a tiny Buck penknife, and actually prefer a small blade for such a task because it's much easier to reach up inside the chest to sever the pipes coming down from the mouth with a small knife, but you do get a little messier this way. (I know a lot of people prefer to use a larger knife to rip up through the edge of the sternum to open up the chest for this purpose.)

I at one point decided to use the Vic Classic for my next deer, but decided not to because of all the nooks and crannies that the gore would get into. I can assure you that it would be no problem at all to gut a deer with such a knife.

After convincing myself that small knives could do all that I needed them to do, I started having children, and a very bad situation with a loose domestic pet that I won't name for fear of starting a flame war convinced me that I needed to carry a weapon at all times to protect my wife and children, and have done so daily since then for a lot of years.

I carry a big knife so that I can fulfill the moral obligation that I have to protect others and myself from attack. I carry a SAK for everything else. (I also now carry a Becker BK7 when backpacking for "just in case" issues, as well as a potent blaster.)

Other than SAKs, if I'm looking to buy a new knife, it's never a mini version of a larger model. It's always the larger one that I go for.

All this to say that I don't really "get" the desire for the mini versions either, but then I live in a state where 4" blades are legal.

But then I don't really much care about that either.

Sorry for the mindless rambling.
 
I had both the Benchmade 710, and 705. The 705 is a "very mini 710." Apart from the miniaturization, and the recurve of the 710, both of these knives are identical. I sold the 710, and kept the 705.
As stated before, my preference is based on day to day usage. I did not need that much (additional 1 inch) blade. In fact, I found the additional blade cumbersome, when peeling an apple, sharpening a pencil, cutting a steak. I am sadly, a "metrosexual" male. I don't regularly encounter ambushes, have to pry open ammo boxes, or use my blades as step ladders. As such, my choice was based on comfort.
I would also like to say that my preferred edc fixed blades are not 8.5+ inches. They are 7.25-7.5 inch OAL, with ~3 inch blades. And, I prefer these even over the 4+inch folders. I daresay, the large blades will NOT do the fine jobs as well as the small blades.
I realize the potential of large blades, but from a utilitarian standpoint, a large blade is eminently useful in certain forceful situations. Seperating large pieces of meat, wood chopping, hacking, prying...Not situations that many of us encounter daily, or even weekly.

Thanks
Desmond
 
Artfully Martial said:
I feel the para is a superior knife to the military, actually (not just in size)...

Joe Average doesn't need a 4+ inch blade, but sometimes he likes the designs of knives that have them.
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We understand you like the para:yawn: , have you handled the military?
 
i got enough $#it to carry. i got back problems, so i cant use my back pockets.
i don't want my knife taking up any more space than i can help.
 
I've held several militaries, and I actually really like them. A few complaints though:

no steel liners. Maybe it doesn't need them. But I'm paying ~120 for the knife, and I want them, so I'd better get them.

The liner lock is a bit weak for my tastes....it's really comfortable and locks up very well on those I've handled, but it takes extremely little effort (compared to my current liner locks) to push it over. And well, I just don't like liner locks that much.

The knife is HUGEEE. There's no way I could carry that thing around campus. The paramilitary is pushing it as it is. The military will only fit some of my knife pockets, and then, half the knife is sticking out.

If it had a compression lock, partial liners (which are a logical addition to any compression lock/axis lock based knife) and I didn't spend 95% of my time at a university, I'd definitely carry the Military. Even as it is, I'd love to own one, but because of these minor issues, it is relatively low on the list. I still recommend them, of course, but I nonetheless find the para an almost perfect knife, so rather hard to compete with.
 
I like small knives because they are just plain handier. I've had big knives, and carried large knives when I was young and did backpackng. In all the times I carried my Randall 15 I never needed it. I sold it and my other biggies off as I came to the conclusion they were useless. If I carry a sheath knife on a camping trip it is a 12 inch Ontario machete or my martindale Golock.

I don't see folders as a folding version of a fixed blade. It's apples and oranges. I see my stockman or sak as a pocket knife while my pukko or Buck woodsman is my fish and game knife. Different knives for different uses.

For most of what we do with our knives in day to day life you very rarely need more than 2 1/2 inches to get the UPS box open, open the mail, cut some twine, electricle tape, sharpen some hot dog sticks for your kids, open those damm plastic blister packs of anything. But the stockman, barlow, sak or scout knife does'nt have a weapon potential and they are not very macho. As I don't see a knife as a weapon I don't worry about that. If I want a weapon I figure thats what firearms, OC spray, and blunt instuments are for. And for some reason if I want a last ditch eged weapon I'm not going to fool around with a folding knife. Many times I just wear my Buck on my belt. At least here in the Peoples Republik Of Maryland its still legal as long as it's in plain sight. Very strange, they don't want us carrying even a small handgun, but a Bowie knife is okay. :confused:

I've just never had use for a pocket knife over a 2-3 inch blade. And I don't like to be limited to one single blade. I like having a clip, and maybe a sheepsfoot, or screwdriver or other blades on tap in a small package.

But your question; you don't understand why some folks like mini versions of the larger lockblade ? Heck, I don't understand why some folks like lockblades at all, let alone the tactical stuff. It just seems like to limiting to have only a single blade available.
 
For my EDC I carry a 3 inch blade. This is when I am going out to the store ect... But when ever I am working outdoors than I carry a 4 inch locking blade. When I am camping I carry a fixed blade a a 4 inch folder and a multitool. I carry as much knife as I need. I have never had to little knife.

TBG
 
Klesk said:
Excellent replies all, but I don't think my question has really been answered. Some have stated personal preference in choosing smaller knives, but that's pretty much a given, if not for legal reasons. Why do you prefer smaller knives, that's what I want to know.
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I think a lot of folks answered the question. They can be preferred because they weigh less, excel at small tasks, may be legal, etc...Just have to read the posts.

Others have said that they usually only use the tip of their knife, so a small knife is all they need. But a large knife, like the Military, will do the fine jobs just as well, while being easy to carry and while having that extra blade length if needed. Doesn't it make sense to carry the larger knife, if both are comfortable to carry and both do the fine chores equally well?
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I disagree. A military does not do fine jobs just as well and is not as easy to carry. Not that it couldn't do a fine job, but the larger blade is harder control at the tip no matter what. It's simple physics and the longer blade changes the leverage at the tip.

I mean, since the speed limit on the Interstate system is 65 MPH, do you want a car that can just do 65 MPH (Yugo), since that's all you really need, or would you rather drive a car that can do 200 MPH (Ferrari 430), even if you (mostly) don't use the extra power?
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I understand the analogy, but it doesn't work so well with tools. Would you use a sledge hammer to put in a thumb tack?

And to address the comment that it's all relative, and where do I draw the line, I say that a folder is the pocketable equivalent of a fixed blade knife. That is, we carry folders because they are easier to carry, and less frightening to the sheeple, than a FB. But the folder is only doing tasks that FBs have been doing for centuries. And no matter what kind of FB you carry, whether it is a hunter or tactical or utility knife, the size has pretty much settled down to the 8-1/2" to 11-1/2" range. So, if you accept my proposition that a folder is the politically correct version of a FB, then I say that the size of your folder should be in the range that I mentioned.

I know I'm leaving out the cute little "city knives" and other small utility knives as well as larger bowies and mini-machetes. But those who carry working fixed blades, whether they be ranchers, hunters or soldiers, usually end up with knives of the size that I mentioned above. To summarize, I feel that the practical, usable length of FB knives has been established over centuries of use, in all types of situations. To have a practical folder then, is to have one that is similar in size to those FBs.
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I guess I don't except your proposition as a folder being a pocketable fixed blade. No worries. I still like to carry my larger blade, but I also like the small ones. One of my favorite carries is a Bark River Mikro - a small fixed blade. I wonder how such a small fixed blade fits into your theory?
 
Shmackey said:
The Para is a little dinky knife?

Anyway, to answer your question, the legal blade length in SpyderCountry is 3.5" (go figure). And being a generally law-abiding person, I usually leave my 710 and 'Nook at home. I don't really want to lose my CCW or turn a routine speeding ticket into a strip search because an eager cop took out the measuring tape.
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Hah! Schmackey, just saw that you probably live in Golden and are a CO resident also. I have to deal with the same thing which surprised me when I moved here a year and a half ago from PA. For the same reason I carry a 3.5inch blade if it needs to be concealed. Right now its a BM 940 or BM 551. I find my 710 with its 3.9 inch blade stays at home for the legal reasons. If I am in the field, the 710 goes along, but for concealed carry I always stick to a 3.5 inch blade, and I have a Colorado CCW for firearms and it still doesn't matter.

I don't consider a knife with a 3.5 inch blade a "mini" knife. Its a great size for an all purpose knife.
 
LaBella said:
I am short and prefer a large knife as well.
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I think that's called Short Man's Syndrome. Trying to compensate. :D



Also, I think that anyone that thinks there is no use for a knife blade under 4" is pretty much a mall ninja. Are you serious about this question? You've gotta be kidding me.
 
I simply don't need a big knife for my daily stuff. A 4" (closed) stockman and/or Vic Tinker get me by just fine for my normal every day cutting needs. I also have more options from several smaller blades than one large one. I'm 6'2", 215-220 lbs so carrying a larger knife wouldn't be all that big a deal. I just have no use for a large bladed knife. Besides, I'm not using it for self defense, hunting grizzly bear bare handed, building shelters, prying open car doors or felling trees, Maybe I'm missing out and not living a full life, but I'm pretty much cutting fruit, boxes, rope, string, various packaging, sharpening a pencil or two, removing slivers, etc, etc, etc.

So, simply put. I have no real need for a large knife.
 
kbog said:
I think a lot of folks answered the question. They can be preferred because they weigh less, excel at small tasks, may be legal, etc...Just have to read the posts.
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Yes, I read all the posts, I don't think you read my post. I understand legal reasons - as some of you know, I'm buying a sub-3" bladed knife specifically for a trip to Washington D.C. I also understand that some have said that they feel that a small blade is all they need. But what I don't understand is why people (except for legal reasons) get all excited about the BM 635, when the BM 630 is just about perfect.

Going back to a car analogy, even though my previous one was not well-received, imagine you could buy 2 similar cars, both looked about the same, both fit in your garage, both got about the same gas mileage, but one was a 2 seater and one was a 4 seater. If you said that all you need is the 2 seater, because only you and your spouse ride in it, wouldn't it still make sense to buy the 4 seater, just in case? Even if you only used 2 seats 364 days of the year, that one time that you really, really needed the extra seats, wouldn't it be worth it?

I guess I just can't fathom the thought process. In the case of the BM 630, we have a highly anticipated knife, built by a well-known, -liked and -respected knife company and designed by a very hot custom knifemaker, a knifemaker whose custom offerings go for 4 - 10 times their initial price on the secondary market. I'm sure these 2 pored over the design, making sure it was just right and manufacturable at a reasonable price point; I'm positive that the dimensions of the knife were not decided upon lightly. The knife itself is made of the finest materials and is one of the best made production pieces, period (literally hundreds of production and handmade knives have passed through my hands in the last 3 years, so I have a pretty good idea of what is well-made and what is not). The knife carries well, and is a nice, useful size. Yet, after all that, many have asked for (and got) less. I have held the BM 635 and honestly thought about putting one on my keychain, I guess I will never "get it".


Copper Crayon said:
...Also, I think that anyone that thinks there is no use for a knife blade under 4" is pretty much a mall ninja. Are you serious about this question? You've gotta be kidding me.
Click to expand...

I didn't say that there is no use for knives with blades shorter than 4", I just wondered why people make such a big deal of "mini" knives. Check back at old posts and see how many people were more than happy when the Paramilitay was announced, and how many calls there were for a smaller version when the BM 630 hit the shelves. I can understand being excited about a small, standalone knife; but in the case of the Para and 635, they are smaller versions of knives that were already judged to be "just right" by the makers and designers, in this case, Sal Glesser and Neil Blackwood, two very respected individuals in the field of knife design and manufacture.

And as for your "mall ninja" and "are you kidding me" comments, I asked a serious question and I request that you refrain from commenting unless you have a serious answer; trolling is not looked upon very favorably here.
 
The thought process:
They just fit in my pocket better. And quite often, they are just easier to open and feel better in my hand. Many really nice knives are too big, and I think it is a great benefit for companies to offer smaller versions or multiple versions of knives they sell. In fact, I think most popular knives should come in 3 sizes, so you can get exactly what you want.
Also, I tend to avoid large liner locks. Often, in larger liner locks the liner lock isn't thick enough and I'm just not confident in them. In smaller locks, the lock is usually much better, and I have more faith in them.
.
Also, I'm not sure if you're asking about the "more for your money" factor, and I used to feel that for $150 you should get a whole lot of knife, and then I carried only large knives for a while and found them cumbersome.
 
3.5" is the longest blade I ever need for anything I do. I can field dress a white tail with one that length without hesitation and thats the biggest job I take on at any time usually. Anything bigger than that is just too hard to control for me personally.

As for my EDC: I usually have a Salt 1 from Spyderco or my David Boye folder that are both about the same size. Sometimes I'll carry one of my own handmades like the one in my signiture line that is basically the same size as the above two. I never really see the need to carry one much bigger than these. The biggest one I carry now is a Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter which is a big knife but not overly so. I'm sure I just carry it due to it being new. I'll drift back to the smaller Salt or one of the others here in a week or two.

When I travel I sometimes take a bigger one with me in my bag like my Cold Steel Ti Lite or Vaquero but not always. Anymore, now that I'm legal I just take a pistol with me.


STR
 
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