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

[Hawk45]

I just find having a small blade to be very useful for many things. Just the other day I had to cut a thread hanging from the sleave of my suit. Not always big things .. but small things too you run into on a daily basis. My dad always carried a fingernail clipper.. I carry a folder. Plus my Sage II is about half the size of your fixed blade and goes in my front pocket. That fixed blade looks like it would be very uncomfortable to sit on. And in an office environment, I couldn't just pull it out of my back pocket and put on the table of a board meeting. Then again, my points may get across faster if I did. Haha.

Just different strokes for different folks.

Cheers.

 

[dsmegst]

When you get bored, unsheathing/resheathing a fixed blade is nowhere near as entertaining as opening/closing a folder.

I totally agree there.

On a serious note, the only fixed blade I've carried (and not during some yard work or outdoors activity) are some neck knives and I've found that to be less convenient than a folder.

I read some comment about legal/non-legal issues and I think the real problem with that is that LEOs often don't know the details pertaining to knife carry. And regardless of how correct you are, you still get taken to the police station or to the local magistrate who may or may not know the details.

Try reading your state's law code and see how clear they are. Would a non-knife person understand the various categories of legal and non-legal knives? And lastly, most of these laws are so vague that they are open to many different interpretations.

I prefer to avoid that sort of hassle.

 

[dsmegst]

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

You've got the world cup going on in your city, right? That's gotta be a fun place to be these days. And given the history of S Africa, they should let you carry a big Zulu spear if need be.

 

[mnblade]

I find it interesting that folders were commonly carried by foot soldiers in both the U.S. Revolutionary War and Civil War. In fact, in Steve Dick's book The Working Folding Knife, he writes:

"American Continental militia were required to provide and carry a folding knife as part of their standard field gear ..."

 

[yablanowitz]

I don't work in the corporate world. I'm in building maintenance, and I use my knives harder than most here. Since we are HUD funded, we have to follow HUD rules, and one of those rules is a "no weapons" policy. My boss views a fixed blade knife as a weapon. I may think that is irrational, but she signs the paychecks, so no fixed blades on my belt. I get by with carrying a Spyderco Mule in the ruler pocket of my carpenter jeans because the whole length fits in the pocket, thus making it a "pocket knife". Overall, I find folders to be more versatile than a single relatively short fixed blade.

 

[arjung]

When you get bored, unsheathing/resheathing a fixed blade is nowhere near as entertaining as opening/closing a folder.

Apart from all the utilitarian reasons stated (smaller, more acceptable in office environment etc.) this is probably one of the major reasons why.

 

[dawsonbob]

Chicks dig it?

 

[Franciscomv]

My EDC is pretty much split 50/50 between folders and fixed blades.

From a purely functional point of view, I think fixed blades are superior. Easier to deploy, stronger, much easier to clean. The problem is finding a way to carry them comfortably. Small blades like an Izula, Becker Necker or similar knives aren't hard to carry in my pocket, but it gets harder with larger knives (like an RC-3 or Fallkniven F1, not huge by any means).

With a folding knife I usually get more blade for the pocket space it takes up. I keep a full size multitool and a stout fixed blade knife in my backpack at all times, so my pocket knife isn't used for very tough jobs.

Another reason why I own and carry folding knives is that I enjoy the design and craftsmanship that goes into building one, from a simple friction folder to a tacticool titanium framelock.

I spend a lot of time outdoors and in rural environments, in those places I almost never carry a folder.

 

[ken erickson]

Interesting reading! Good points on both sides. That being said,( besides this thread needing a picture or two) I like folders and especially multi-blade folders for the VARIETY of blades available to fit a VARIETY of cutting situations.

 

[ASBOB]

I don't engage in many outdoor activities, and live in a conventional, reasonably safe suburban community. While I have a couple for fun, I have almost no use for a fixed blade other than kitchen knives. My knife chores are modest, like opening mail or boxes, so for me, a folder is more than adequate to the task, with no chance of failure with a decent model. In my situation, a folder is the appropriate tool. Also, given my work and home environment, a fixed blade would be out of place.

 

[dawsonbob]

Interesting reading! Good points on both sides. That being said,( besides this thread needing a picture or two) I like folders and especially multi-blade folders for the VARIETY of blades available to fit a VARIETY of cutting situations.

That ... is a truly fine looking knife, Ken. Truly fine.

 

[Tye Possum]

I read some comment about legal/non-legal issues and I think the real problem with that is that LEOs often don't know the details pertaining to knife carry. And regardless of how correct you are, you still get taken to the police station or to the local magistrate who may or may not know the details.

Try reading your state's law code and see how clear they are. Would a non-knife person understand the various categories of legal and non-legal knives? And lastly, most of these laws are so vague that they are open to many different interpretations.

I prefer to avoid that sort of hassle.

That's a good point. As far as I know there's no law saying I can't carry a fixed blade as an EDC in my province but if I go walking into a grocery store with a knife on my belt I'm betting someone will have a problem with that and I'll probably have to have a chat with the police, and even if it's not illegal the cops I talk to may think it is. If I can avoid that situation by carrying a folder instead, then I'm fine with that. I'd also have to worry about any by-law that prohibits me carrying a fixed blade if I go to another town.

I don't really need a fixed blade as an EDC anyway. Cutting some packages or cardboard probably won't make my knife snap in half so why bother carrying such a bulkey knife and sheath on a daily basis? If your job involved some heavy duty cutting, you have a hard time opening a folder or even if you just prefer to carry a fixed blade, then go right ahead I have no problem with that. Fixed blades are stronger than folders so if that's important to you then that's fine, but to say that a folder is a waste of money that's going to break at any moment, I think that's going a little too far.

Folders have some advantages over fixed blades, smaller package, possibly multiple blades for a variety of tasks, and they don't tend to scare people as much. The only real advantage a fixed blade has over a folder is strength and for my EDC cutting tasks I can live a little less strength if I get all the advantages of a folder. So basically to each their own.

 

[dberry]

A folder is usually easier to carry and I think most people arent goin to use a folder for heavy duty job. I use mine for simple utilitarian tasks only. I too carry a fixed blade 80% of the time a fixed blade is more for heavier tasks but a folder has it uses.

 

[Ankerson]

That's a good point. As far as I know there's no law saying I can't carry a fixed blade as an EDC in my province but if I go walking into a grocery store with a knife on my belt I'm betting someone will have a problem with that and I'll probably have to have a chat with the police, and even if it's not illegal the cops I talk to may think it is. If I can avoid that situation by carrying a folder instead, then I'm fine with that. I'd also have to worry about any by-law that prohibits me carrying a fixed blade if I go to another town.

I don't really need a fixed blade as an EDC anyway. Cutting some packages or cardboard probably won't make my knife snap in half so why bother carrying such a bulkey knife and sheath on a daily basis? If your job involved some heavy duty cutting, you have a hard time opening a folder or even if you just prefer to carry a fixed blade, then go right ahead I have no problem with that. Fixed blades are stronger than folders so if that's important to you then that's fine, but to say that a folder is a waste of money that's going to break at any moment, I think that's going a little too far.

Folders have some advantages over fixed blades, smaller package, possibly multiple blades for a variety of tasks, and they don't tend to scare people as much. The only real advantage a fixed blade has over a folder is strength and for my EDC cutting tasks I can live a little less strength if I get all the advantages of a folder. So basically to each their own.

That is a good point...

It doesn't matter how legal it is, the Police might not know if it is or not...

Also if someone calls whether or not the knife is being legal isn't going to be their 1st concern they have once they get there. All they know before they get there is there is someone with a weapon.....

So just saying I can do this because it's legal doesn't really mean a whole lot and I am not going to risk being shot just because..... Or to prove a point.

All it takes is one phone call to 911 and there is going to be a problem.

 

[Macchina]

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. Folders only seem nessesary IF you work in a corporate environ. If not, you are just wasting your hard-earned cash on an inferior product (IMHO). Folders fail, period. A solid piece of steel does not, unless put under extreme, extreme stress.
I just can't figure out why so many people continue to buy into the tactical folder thing....what's the point? Please clue me in? And I mean that in the most humble, non-confrontational way Here's my EDC.. and I thought it was kind of big at first, but now, I can't feel that it's even there.
Once again, I mean no disrespect to those with folders!, I just want to be given a reasonable argument for there usefulness.

I hate to say it, but the steel, G-10, and screw construction of my folders are a lot stronger than the leather that is keeping your blade from giving you a second brown eye. If I am in an auto accident, or if I slip on a banana peel, or if I jump up the stairs and snag my back pocket, I have several thousand pounds of shear strength keeping my blade from puncturing my special areas. If you fall over, you have an incredibly strong and sharp blade vs. a bag made of string and cow skin! I am happy carrying my folders that come with the tiny risk of exploding in my hand whilst I cut a sandwich in two. I would not be happy carrying around a ball-hungry piranha which is kept separate from my tasty man-jewels by just a thin bit of dead animal...

 

[SSonnentag]

I love living in an area where nobody looks twice at a guy in a grocery store or a bank wearing a knife or a gun. It's the way it's meant to be everywhere.

 

[squinty]

I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. Folders only seem nessesary IF you work in a corporate environ. If not, you are just wasting your hard-earned cash on an inferior product (IMHO). Folders fail, period. A solid piece of steel does not, unless put under extreme, extreme stress.
I just can't figure out why so many people continue to buy into the tactical folder thing....what's the point? Please clue me in? And I mean that in the most humble, non-confrontational way Here's my EDC.. and I thought it was kind of big at first, but now, I can't feel that it's even there.

Once again, I mean no disrespect to those with folders!, I just want to be given a reasonable argument for there usefulness.

Where I live, sheath knives aren't legal for concealed carry, and open carry of a straight knife would elicit unfavorable attention. "Pocket knives" however are perfectly legal. So a folder in the pocket it is.

 

[SSonnentag]

I hate to say it, but the steel, G-10, and screw construction of my folders are a lot stronger than the leather that is keeping your blade from giving you a second brown eye. If I am in an auto accident, or if I slip on a banana peel, or if I jump up the stairs and snag my back pocket, I have several thousand pounds of shear strength keeping my blade from puncturing my special areas. If you fall over, you have an incredibly strong and sharp blade vs. a bag made of string and cow skin! I am happy carrying my folders that come with the tiny risk of exploding in my hand whilst I cut a sandwich in two. I would not be happy carrying around a ball-hungry piranha which is kept separate from my tasty man-jewels by just a thin bit of dead animal...

LOL! That was original, and humorous.

 

[dawsonbob]

I love living in an area where nobody looks twice at a guy in a grocery store or a bank wearing a knife or a gun. It's the way it's meant to be everywhere.

Y'all ain't from around here, are ya?

Here in California, almost everything is alarming to some folks.

 

[SSonnentag]

Y'all ain't from around here, are ya?

Here in California, almost everything is alarming to some folks.

Nope, I'm 3 hours east of you.