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

[19-3ben]

I’ll add, the thin blade on the SAK has obvious cutting advantages and a well earned reputation for cutting performance along with other thin blades folders like Opinel, MAM, etc...

 

[cricketdave]

You know your needs better then I,but I fail to see how a small folder would not be able to do any of the things you listed. Also how is a smaller folder( everything else being equal) weaker then a larger one? If anything it's stronger.

Its weaker when your stuck doing something when a different tool would be better and you pry the crap out of something, I've snapped a few blades. But no a smaller folder does not cut bale netting as far as you can reach under a 1500lb round bale nearly as well, neither does it cut that same netting off a pissed off steer any easier.

 

[CookieRawwr]

I do like my blades large 3.5" to 4 inches is what the majority of my folders are. My ZT 0450 is about my smallest folder. I usually carry it as a secondary knife to use, when pulling out my XM-24, might not be such a bright idea at a public space or something.

 

[Billy The Blade]

I have used it anywhere a longer cutting edge wasn't needed,

One thing I'm waiting on feedback for is how it fares as a hunting knife.

Nice...Sounds like a versatile
piece

 

[jill jackson]

One of my main uses for a knife is cutting tough thorn branches from my hiking trails. I've found a short less than 3 and a half inches doesn't work as well, as something longer. You need the length to give the momentum and leverage, to power through these tough to cut branches.

 

[Chapp]

^^ Exactly and that's why they make swords, to battle people with Big knives. Honestly I only carry a big blade for possible self defence situations. For work I use something Blur sized but when I hit the town for a night out I take my ZT 0460 CF, it looks way more Stabbyer

I don't know if it's a serious answer, but I'd advise against a folder for self-defense situation, especially flippers. You need too much time to take it out of the pocket, flip it and get a confortable grip.

Just an odd question. You want random examples... slicing a watermelon?

Who carries a watermelon on him though ? Most of the time you want to eat watermelons, I'm sure you have a Kitchen knife nearby.

I’m assuming that’s a joke? Yes, the blades are relatively thin but they’re much tougher than you’re giving credit for. Plenty of boy scouts and even generations of soldiers in militaries around the world can give testament to the toughness of the SAK.

Way less thougher than a proper folder, but it highly depend on the model.

I have a ranch, i cut open hay, trim a hoof, clean a frog. Dozens of other things during a day that a small folder just isn't convenient for. Often things that a smaller folder just wouldn't reach or would flat snap in two.

You're lucky enough to be able to carry a fixed blade, since you don't have to conceal your knife. Why chosing a folder over a fixed blade ?

I don't see anyone being insulting. Just some good natured ribbing. Everyone has different uses for knives and the way you posed the question it seemed you couldn't conceive of any uses outside of your own. If it works for you, you don't have to defend it.

No one is downright insulting, I never said so. I can feel some feel insulted though, which is exactly what I said previousely.

While I'm 100% aware that a blade over 2" generally far exceeds what I typically need in a knife, I have rarely found myself particularly happy with anything under about 3.75". Personally, it's an aesthetic preference that is strong enough to knock out nearly all sub-3.5" blades from consideration. Traditional folders and a few modern folders (Spyderco Pingo, Cold Steel Tuff Lite, CRKT Pingo) are infrequent exceptions, but I rarely carry them.

To be entirely honest, I don't think I'll ever quite outgrow my inner mall ninja. As much as I go on about pragmatism, there's still a 15-year-old deep in my soul that wants to have a big cool knife. I could make the argument that bigger knives fit my hand better, but I rarely run into a situation where it would be uncomfortable to use a SAK or any number of small folders... But I like using my Recon 1 because I get a little endorphin boost every time I open up that arguably unnecessarily large clip point. I like how it looks, and I feel good about how casually I open this aggressive-looking knife for mundane tasks. Additionally, there's a really embarrassing part of me that briefly fantasizes about using these knives in contrived hypothetical defensive combat situations. It makes me feel prepared despite that I am, in nearly any dangerous situation, much better off throwing the knife as a sort of shiny dangerous distraction and using that time to break into a sprint away from the situation.

TL;DR: Bigger knives are cooler and feel more satisfying to own and carry, impracticality be damned.

I really like the answer and the honesty that comes with it. I'm definitely like you, there's this little thing when I just open my Para 2 to cut a rope I could cut with an opinel ^^

 

[cricketdave]

most of the time its more trouble than i want to go to, to add a fixed blade to my belt in the mornings

 

[steel standin']

...Bigger handles that fill the hand are much better for hard , extended work...

This.

 

[rswanson]

This thread has veered right under the bridge where the trolls live.

 

[Pilsner]

This thread has veered right under the bridge where the trolls live.

Possibly. It seems to me that the OP began the thread feeling that there isn’t a legitimate use for a larger folder, because he doesn’t personally need one. Therefore, only admissions that chime with his own world view, “I only have larger folders because of my inner mall ninja” are regarded as valid, with any other case summarily dismissed as bogus. Now that this has become blatantly obvious, the thread has definitely lost any potential it may have had other than for satire.

 

[marchone]

A better question might be, "If the world is filled with 4-inch full flat grind locking folders, why would anyone need a tacticool tanto or Bowie clip point folder instead?"

 

[19-3ben]

Possibly. It seems to me that the OP began the thread feeling that there isn’t a legitimate use for a larger folder, because he doesn’t personally need one. Therefore, only admissions that chime with his own world view, “I only have larger folders because of my inner mall ninja” are regarded as valid, with any other case summarily dismissed as bogus. Now that this has become blatantly obvious, the thread has definitely lost any potential it may have had other than for satire.

Clearly a case of a logical fallacy, commonly referred to as the "No true Scotsman" fallacy.

If the OP opens with a seemingly neutral position but then moves the mark such that he regards every opinion that favors a large folder as stupid, and the opinions of those who corroborate his preconceived notion as being wise, his position is supported and he calls it a victory.

Also influenced deeply by the ye olde concept of confirmation bias.

I’m assuming that’s a joke? Yes, the blades are relatively thin but they’re much tougher than you’re giving credit for. Plenty of boy scouts and even generations of soldiers in militaries around the world can give testament to the toughness of the SAK.

Way less thougher than a proper folder, but it highly depend on the model.

Not sure how you figure that. Have you actually broken a SAK? if so, what were you doing with it? What part broke? Blade? Screwdriver?
I love my SAK's but I'm certainly not a flag waiving fanboy. But if you consider the Rat-2 to be tough enough, I have a hard time imagining a situation in which a Rat-2 would survive, but a Vic Pioneer (as one example from their line-up) would break. I'd also bet that given the long and storied history of SAK's in military service, where tools really are used hard, if they were delicate, we'd have heard about it. I'll double down on that bet, and with the full admission that I have no experience, nor statistically valid data to back it up other than common sense, SAKs in combat theaters outnumber the Rat2 by a factor of dozens-to-one.

Anyone who has carried a SAK into a war zone feel like chiming in here?

 

[rswanson]

Possibly. It seems to me that the OP began the thread feeling that there isn’t a legitimate use for a larger folder, because he doesn’t personally need one. Therefore, only admissions that chime with his own world view, “I only have larger folders because of my inner mall ninja” are regarded as valid, with any other case summarily dismissed as bogus. Now that this has become blatantly obvious, the thread has definitely lost any potential it may have had other than for satire.

Normally I don't engage in these sort of shenanigans but every once in a while I get sucked in I suppose. I'm always left wondering what sort of value could be gained from this hypothetical "answer" to the "question" but these matters never seem to resolve anyway.

 

[LG&M]

Its weaker when your stuck doing something when a different tool would be better and you pry the crap out of something, I've snapped a few blades. But no a smaller folder does not cut bale netting as far as you can reach under a 1500lb round bale nearly as well, neither does it cut that same netting off a pissed off steer any easier.

So because the knife is smaller it must pry and not cut? I haven't thought of it like that
How much more under the 1500 lb will a large knife reach 1" 1.5"?
Might the steer be upset because he was nicked with a knife?

 

[DocJD]

I'd advise against a folder for self-defense situation, especially flippers. You need too much time to take it out of the pocket, flip it and get a confortable grip.

I actually agree that a flipper is not optimal for a folder intended for SD .

A nice big wave opening Cold Steel with a Tri-ad lock would be much preferred . The bigger , the better !

 

[marchone]

Possibly. It seems to me that the OP began the thread feeling that there isn’t a legitimate use for a larger folder, because he doesn’t personally need one. Therefore, only admissions that chime with his own world view, “I only have larger folders because of my inner mall ninja” are regarded as valid, with any other case summarily dismissed as bogus. Now that this has become blatantly obvious, the thread has definitely lost any potential it may have had other than for satire.

Yes, world view or life experience. Or lack of. Take your pick. I've been holding this back but the OP comes off like an angry 15-year old. Yawn.

 

[sgt1372]

I own a few but seldom carry any knife that is 3" long (or shorter).

Was carrying a 3.75" CRKT C/K Folder last week which, for those who are unfamiliar w/it, is a very BIG folder. Was carrying a 3.6" Rat-1 for a few days this week but am carrying a slim 4" Artisan Cutlery Shark today because it's all that I feel that I needed to carry today.

Have also a variety of Spyderco specialty knives (like the the Introvert, P'Kal, Karahawk etc.) which are well under 3" long but seldom carry them because I don't find them practical for EDC use and would only carry them if I was looking for a fight and I'm too old to do that anymore. LOL!

 

[tiguy7]

I like the two handed grip.

 

[TrainedBullets]

Based on my needs, I’ve evolved to a keychain LM, Medium SAK, a 2.5” fixed blade, and a 3.5-4” Fixed blade.

The LM is primarily for pliers, scissors, and phillips screws. The SAK is primarily for opening bottles, flat screws, and lending to others. The small fixed blade is for cutting most things. The large fixed blade is only for when the small one isn’t enough knife. I do often leave the large fixed blade in the car, but am almost never without the other three.

 

[James Y]

For a single-bladed locking folder, my preferences normally range from 2.75" to around 3.5", but I will occasionally carry and use 4" blades, like my Spyderco Military, Police, etc. There are some chores where the added handle size and blade length/reach are preferable, and some days I simply feel like carrying bigger. It's great to have the freedom to be able to have that choice.

Regarding SAKs, I've had and used them for around 40 years, and have never come close to breaking a blade or any other tool on one, other than a scissor spring, which was replaced. And at one time my only EDC knife was a SAK for around 10 years, used for everything I needed a knife for. SAKs are pretty darn tough, and you're not gonna break one 'cutting an apple'. I couldn't care less if anyone is pro or anti-SAK; but if anyone thinks they're brittle then they've never used one, or don't understand thinly-ground blades.

Jim