why carry a folder unless you work in a "professional" setting?

I agree Powernoodle, thanks for making that distinction. I have read a couple of your posts before and they are always well thought-out and concise. You seem not only knowledgeable ,but willing to be friendly and helpful. I apologize if my initial post was abrasive in any way......just trying to find my way.
 
I carry my folders concealed, usually with a shirt over to hide the clip etc and put them in my waistband with the clip behind my belt and shirt over to hide them.

They are legal to carry, but I do those things to keep from be harassed etc. ;)

I am not one of those hey I am carrying a knife types... ;)

Fixed blades can't be concealed in my state period.
 
Is my knife considered concealed if the top 1/3 of the handle is visible out of the top of my back pocket? Seriously, I don't know this...
 
I have to say that I'm a fixed blade guy — and have been for many years — yet I still like folders for what they are ... and what they are, is cool.

As others have pointed out folders are not only more acceptable than a fixed blade to many people, but they're far more convenient, too. Just imagine wearing your BK-9 to the office; really not a good idea.

A good folder just has a certain cachet that most fixed blades simply don't have. When I go out into the woods, I carry a fixed blade, but for around town, it's a folder, all the way.

Besides, they make such a neat sound when you open them.:D
 
Get an Axis-lock folder. Open and close it about a million times.

Then you will understand :D
 
I've never found a comfortable way to carry a fixed blade on my person. I'm a small person and the size and bulk of fixed blades tend to get in my way when I sit down or do active things. I know for sure that I wouldn't want to carry a fixed blade while rock climbing and I do that a lot, often just on a whim. I want my knife to be able to follow me wherever I go.

I would prefer to carry a fixed blade simply because I could make myself one. As it is however, I'm stuck carrying a production folder until I finalize the plans for my first folding knife.

I've never had a folder fail on me. Perhaps I'm just not cutting hard enough. :)

Phillip
 
I like and occasionally carry a fixed blade but in many cases it's overkill. Also, I've never had one of my folders fail.
 
Quite honestly, I think most American men like to think of themselves as some capable outdoorsy type, but most of us just don't have that lifestyle. I think that as long as I'm not stupidly abusing my pocket folder, that it's mostly fantasy to think that I'll break it due to some inherent weakness. If I lived in the woods and off the land, then I might prefer a fixed blade.

For those who think only a fixed blade will do (for strength purposes), I'd love to read what you all are doing with them with any regularity, that your folders won't live up to.
 
Ankerson said:
I carry my folders concealed, usually with a shirt over to hide the clip etc and put them in my waistband with the clip behind my belt and shirt over to hide them.

They are legal to carry, but I do those things to keep from be harassed etc. ;)

I am not one of those hey I am carrying a knife types... ;)

Fixed blades can't be concealed in my state period.
Click to expand...

I think you're a little too worried. I live in a very liberal state and i've never had anyone turn an eye at my pocket clips.
 
Fixed blade in car and briefcase. Folder in my pocket. I almost 100% carry slipjoints. My dad gave my my first one when I was 4. 51 years later, I have not had a folder fail on me yet and have all my fingers without worrying about a lock or folder failure. My dad spent a lot of time teaching me how to use a knife safely and it sunk into my pointed brain.
 
The problem I have is with the sheaths..... on production knives they are usually not exactly to my requirements (which admittedly are fairly picky). If its a custom knife then you can get some degree of satisfaction but mostly its the same deal - kydex with a tek-lok which seems to be the best option thus far although far from perfect.

This is the reason I have held off buying a Spyderco Street Beat for example, which strikes me as an excellent EDC knife, as I have heard bad things about the sheath it comes with.

Getting a custom sheath made for a knife is not as simple as you'd think, given my location.

But I do own and carry fixed blades from time to time but it definitely requires a bit more thought with regards what I will wear in order to conceal the knife effectively.
 
When you get bored, unsheathing/resheathing a fixed blade is nowhere near as entertaining as opening/closing a folder.
 
I considered buying a surplus tank to use as my commuter vehicle, but decided a sedan would do just fine.
 
If it weren't for those last two sentences, OP, I'd take you for a blatant troll :eek:. No offense intended, for my part; you certainly jump started a discussion! :thumbup:

I don't carry fixed blades because a) I would likely get into trouble with the law if it were concealed, or look like a giant tool if it weren't, b) carrying a fixed blade is very impractical for me...I don't know of any way to carry a big ol' chunk of steel everyday (my only fixed blade is 9+" long overall, without the sheath) in a manner which wouldn't annoy me to no end, and c) I'm not concerned about my folders 'failing' on me in the slightest, so I don't consider them 'inferior products'.

IMHO, You have to be one seriously ham-fisted individual to get any kind of folder to 'fail' during use, be it a slip-joint, lockback, linerlock, or whatever. If you are using your knife in such a manner that you have a problem with your folders 'failing' on you (closing on your fingers, the mechanism breaking, or whatever the case may be), you need to sell all your knives on ebay and get a boyscout to teach you some basic knife safety before you hurt yourself :p.
 
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