What's your size?

R

Rattler

Joined
Jul 17, 2003
Messages
5
Hello people!

I am a fix blade lover, and quite often wonder what kind of blade length I should be looking for... a 10 inch-er makes a good hack but a bitch to carry, a 3" blade stay happily in my pocket, but seems to defeat the "purpose" of having a knife in the first place... (could have brought along a box cutter instead!!)

Anyway, for my reference, I would like to ask:

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BLADE LENGTH?
 
I prefer a sub 3" blade in either a fixed or a folder. I will take a 4" blade in a fixed, depending on the knife. Anything over 4" is awkward to me.

Paul
 
I'd say that 4" is the ideal for me. I do like bigger and smaller, but 4" is my favorite all-round size.

-John
 
I mostly carry knives with 4-5 inch bladelenght when hunting. I find this lenght to be best for my needs, like skinning, cutting rope and so on.
On an EDC I find 3 inches to be convenient.
 
Originally posted by Rattler
a 10 inch-er makes a good hack but a bitch to carry,
Click to expand...

I beg to differ...

standard


Really, I've been spoiled by the Panther...once you get used to having a 10" blade at your disposal, everything else feels "inadequate" :( Prior to the Panther, my favourite length was 5.5".

RL
 
5" on a narrow blade like the Buck Pathfinder. Otherwise 4" like on my BG42 Vangard and my ShadowIII. More important is the carry system and preventing the knife from catching on stuff around the house and in the car.For the ones I use most,I've either bought new or modified the stock sheath.
guy
 
Depends on the task that I will use it for.

For survival/woods: a long blade is fine... 10 inches is great, and a machete/bolo is even better for chopping. I would then use this large blade AND a smaller, more usable blade for precision tasks (usually a good quality folder, at 3-4 inches).

For EDC: anything longer than 3-4 inches is just plain useless, but I will also choose one that is thicker/tougher or thinner more efficient at cutting, depending on the task, as always.

A good "all around" knife will never be as good at specific tasks as a specialized tool will be.

I always carry a leatherman (great cutting, plus tools) plus a larger, tougher EDC folder (One of my many 3-4 inches models, and often opinels... I'll be trying a CRKT M16 in a few days). When in woods, I add a large, much larger fixed blade (becker brute, bowie), and often a tramontina bolo. I do not carry these on my belt, but rather on my shoulders with nylon straps.

Cheers,

David
 
Hello. I prefer about 3.5 incher, It's about the perfect size for me.
Comfort in my pocket is a huge issue with be because I walk around all day at work and even when I sit for a while, a bit folder get to be uncomfortable for me. Right now, I have several EDCs from 2 to 3.5 inches, and I'm happy.
As far as the box cutter issue goes, I use box cutters at work, but sometimes it feels better and the job gets done more easily with a wider and more solid blade. It's not absolutely necessary, but I've found I like to edc for just about everything except cardboard and paper (which is mostly what I cut at work) but for shrinkwrap and plastic bands, and other stuff, I use the EDC.
 
For a "utility" folder, I like a 3" blade (Spyderco Delica)...For a "defensive" folder, I like at least a 4" blade, generally longer (Cold Steel Vaquero Grande, X2 Voyager...Both have a 6" blade).

For a fixed-blade, I like from 6-8 inches in blade-length, although I DO like my little Spyderco Temperance and Gerber Yari (which both have sub 5 inch blades).
 
Seven inches if straight for utility work, can be effective in defense.

10+" if strictly for defense.

Folders: 3-5 inches is fine and usually what I carry fits into that range for defense.

Brownie
 
2" - 3" for Utility

3.5" - 4" for "bigger jobs".

Anything else I wouldn't be able to carry in a pocket. And therefore isn't carried much.
 
I never could figure out how the folks that haul around 4+ knives every day manage. Seems a bit extreme to me.
 
For folder EDCs I prefer blades just under 3" like my small Sebbie. For folders that meet other needs I try to limit them to 4". I just picked up an Outbounder in a trade and really like the 3.75" length blade. Although larger FBs do come in handy for many chores.
 
General utility = 3" Benchmade. Hunting/Camp knife = 3.5" Dozier. What animal can't you cut up with such a knife?

When I want to wack brush I bring a machete. I rarely want to wack brush.

Bruce
 
Good point made my Moine...

"A good "all around" knife will never be as good at specific tasks as a specialized tool will be. "

When out in the bush I carry a several knives, each has a specific use and depending where I'm going and what type of bush I'm expecting to find.

For dressing game I prefer a 4" - 4 1/2" blade and for a field knife I like a 5" - 6" blade but it must have a fine cutting edge.

I've replaced my large 8" bowie with a Gransfors SFA but it usually stays in the camp.

Cheers,
Collecter
 
I think if I were a poor, hardworking pioneer, I might need a butcher knife for animals and an axe for wood and glad to have them. But knives aren't just for working and now that I'm retired not even for that! They're fun, too, and I don't see carrying that one special blade hoping I can get into a fight or skin a muskrat with it and then spread peanut butter on my banana sandwich. :p

I carry a 3" or maybe up to 4" folder as EDC but I almost always have a SAK or multitool and a neck knife and maybe a new knife I'm playing with. The one knife I won't walk around with is anything over maybe 6" unless I am going to need it for something (I can't imagine what) specific.
 
I like a 3 1/2 inch blade folder of good quality. Sounds like a large Sebenza. :)
 
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