When and why would you need a folder bigger than a Rat-2 ?

[Lapedog]

Just curious. I have a rat-2 for some months, I'm cuting almost everything with it and I didn't touch my Paramilitary 2 once since then. I'm just curious when and why some people need a bigger folder than this size ? I'm not judging, just wanting people input about this.

It's strictly about folders, I perfectly understand why some people would need a fixed blade bigger than a rat2.

To reach the peanut butter at the bottom of the jar.

Also more blade = more section of the blade you can reserve by distributing use elsewhere. The unused portion can remain sharp.

Lastly if it is a self defense folder size can matter.

Generally I prefer knives with blades between 3.25 and 2.75 inches.

 

[22-rimfire]

The PM 2-Endura size is beyond my comfort point.

 

[Dogdrawz]

Whenever you see that Dundee meme?

 

[22-rimfire]

Not everyone has the same "needs" /wants. Thats a good thing. Myself I agree the rat 2 is a good size. My most used folders are 3"-3.25". Then again my most used fixed blades aren't much larger.

Which is why I seldom use a fixed bladed knife outside the kitchen.... I like big fixed blade knives however; just seldom use them.

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Honestly within my city I hardly find myself doing tasks that wouldn't be handled by a 2" blade, let alone the 3.5" to 4" range I seem to usually gravitate towards, but as others have mentioned, I too find a longer handle to be more comfortable to use. There is also the argument that with a longer edge, my blade should stay sharp longer, at least when comparing similar steel types.

Fairly regularly I find myself having to get through various cutting chores that are more quickly and easily dealt with by use of a longer blade, whether that is cutting through thick materials like stacked cardboard, foam, plastic, whatever.

Also, because this thread is lacking in pictures, here is my rather eclectic carry options for today.

A Sebenza with a 3.5" blade, a Leatherman Rebar with a 2.5" blade, and one of my Ulus with a cutting edge and blade length of 1.75".

 

[evilgreg]

I try to ask myself about everything I carry, how useful would this be in a zombie apocalypse? Of course a fixed blade would be better for zombie head-shanking, but in a pinch I'd rather have something like my Olamic Rainmaker pocket sword than a Dragonfly:

I'm a pragmatist, though. Others may carry based on some fanciful cherry-picked extreme scenarios like "I may open a package or two", but not me. When the zompocalypse comes I hope they enjoy trying to penetrate rotted craniums with their impractical little Dragonfly-type knives.

 

[Quiet]

There's preference and there's usefulness. I'm interesting in the latter. I can understand why people like bigger folder, but I need to hear when and why people would need a bigger folder than a 3" blade. Under what circumstances ?

You already have a perfectly valid answer, whether or not you wish to accept it. A better question would be, why would you ask a "Why do you need..." question on a knife board? That's the sort of question that lawmakers ask when they want to ban something. If we only carried what we "needed", we'd all carry SAKs.

 

[HappyDaddy]

I find it useful to be happy. That explains most of the choices I make.

 

[91bravo]

Also, a big knife can do small knife chores. A small knife can't do big knife things.

 

[Wowbagger]

If we only carried what we "needed", we'd all carry SAKs.

What's this "we" stuff white man ?
I carry SAKs at work but they cannot begin to hold up to the cutting I have to do edge wear wise and actually need M4 (Para2 and Military) or M390 (710 and Griptillian) or at a minimum CTS-XHP (full flat ground Cold Steel Ti Lite IV).

PS : link to the punch line.

 

[Durham68]

Food. My edc doubles as a kitchen knife more than anything else. I find knives under 3” inconvenient for this.

 

[Makael]

You already have a perfectly valid answer, whether or not you wish to accept it. A better question would be, why would you ask a "Why do you need..." question on a knife board? That's the sort of question that lawmakers ask when they want to ban something. If we only carried what we "needed", we'd all carry SAKs.

Would need something more substantial.

 

[Ajack60]

Being in construction, sometimes having a longer blade is needed. With blown in foam insulation in a 3 1/2” wall and needing to cut out a section, a longer blade is more useful. Cutting foam insulation from a pipe is neater looking with one continuous cut using a longer blade.

 

[Bob6794]

To those of you who love your penut butter please use a spatula to get all of it out, works good on jam and mayonnaise too. As far as I'm concerned it's a tool designed for this.

In all honesty almost every single one of us can get by with a SAK or Spyderco Ladybug for EDC usage and have all our NEEDS met. But we want something else so we do get something else.

 

[BellaBlades]

3.5 inches = Goldie Lox

 

[Boxer .45]

3" is my favorite, but 3.5 is great for specific needs. Anything larger is too much most of the time.
I'm fine with people carrying and using what they want or need though.

 

[Billy The Blade]

I agree with the majority work /Task specific needs for the larger blade.

one of my Ulus with a cutting edge and blade length of 1.75".

-I'm curious what you use your
Ulu for ?

Olamic Rainmaker pocket sword

That's a Beautiful piece!...Specs?

Also, a big knife can do small knife chores. A small knife can't do big knife things.

^ ^

In all honesty almost every single one of us can get by with a SAK or Spyderco Ladybug for EDC usage and have all our NEEDS met.

...Good Luck with the Zombies
with one of those two options
Lol, B.T.B.

 

[marchone]

3.5" Massdrop Laconico Keen and 4" Shirogorov F3

 

[evilgreg]

That's a Beautiful piece!...Specs?

4.25" blade, 9.75" overall length, weighs ~5 oz, runs on caged bearings and flips open with authority.

 

[cbach8tw]

Three inches meet my needs, easier to carry and the tasks I have are handled relatively easier with that size. However, there is something to be said with a folder with a larger than 3 inch blade (between 3-4), the handle control is the biggest reason, and more blade or cutting surface to use for bigger jobs. I like the feel of my Manly Comrade and the blade shape is just right, I like it a little better than my Peak.