Why Carry Big knives?

C

cut finger

Joined
Sep 20, 1999
Messages
178
After reading the new knife law forum, I found myself asking the following question: why would an average knife owner want to carry a really large folder (4"+) except for intimidation. A knife that big is not comfortable to carry usually. The blade will be bigger than necessary for most cutting tasks, and finally it will be scary to anybody except for a knifenut who knows you. I know some may argue this point, but I would bet money depending on who was carrying a megafolder, alot of you guys would be uncomfortable.

I want to make it clear, I don't say it is bad to carry any knife. I just think that the problems of carrying some knives far outweigh any benefits.

If any one is curious, my own carry taste runs towards the medium sizes between 2.5-3.5 with an OAL of less than 8". That is not to say that I don't sometimes carry big knives, but I do so almost always at home or in an environment where they are clearly being used for work.
 
The answer to that one is simple - self defense. Some of us live in jurisdictions where we are not allowed to carry guns, like the state of Kansas for instance. If the knife is only for utility use, then 2.5 to 4 inches is enough for most tasks. If you were forced to defend your life with it, you would want the largest knife possible, though that too is restricted by law. Of course the criminal attacking you has no such restrictions, he doesn't give a damn about which laws he may or may not be breaking. So let's just make laws that only limit law abiding citizens, how stupid is that? As someone in another thread pointed out, the human behaviors we want to stop (eg. murder, rape, etc.) are already illegal. The behavior is the danger, and what should be prosecuted, instead of trying to regulate inanimate objects. You can kill someone with a rock, or by feeding them bacon for several decades, but those aren't illegal...

You mentioned folders, but if self defense is the issue, and it were legal, I'd carry a fixed blade longer than 4 inches. Sorry, I'll stop ranting now, time for my meds.

[This message has been edited by Raver (edited 09-07-2000).]
 
I can see the extra reach being useful defensively. But doesn't the 'extra' length put 'extra' torque on the locking mechanism?
I wonder at what length the compromise to strength becomes a problem.

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JH! I didn't know you were here (too).
How's it going?

 
Locking mechanism? We don't need no stinking locking mechanism! Get a real knife - fixed blade.
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For utility the folder is just fine. For the chance encounter or for "insurance" the folder if fine. But when the chips are blowing in the wind I want a fixed blade. A Randall #1 is just the ticket for serious "social encounters."
 
Large blade advantages:

Cleaning fish (try 48" fish and 3" blade).

Longer edge for better cutting efficiency.

Longer useful edge life since there is simply more edge.

Chopping when the lock is strong enough.

More penetration.

Serration don't get the way as often if it is a combo edge.

Will

 
Originally posted by Loki:
Locking mechanism? We don't need no stinking locking mechanism! Get a real knife - fixed blade.
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For utility the folder is just fine. For the chance encounter or for "insurance" the folder if fine. But when the chips are blowing in the wind I want a fixed blade. A Randall #1 is just the ticket for serious "social encounters."
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LOKI, half brother of Thor and "god" of mischief....
I agree with you, a fixed blade is ideal. But I have to give props to these newer folders. For example the "SIFU", that is one mega-folder I want to have.



[This message has been edited by Roy (edited 09-07-2000).]
 
Originally posted by Raver:
If you were forced to defend your life with it, you would want the largest knife possible, though that too is restricted by law. .]
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Where I come from, Folders are restricted in length.(3.5") Dagger and Balisong are total forbidden BUT other knifes are not weapon's as long as they have no second edge. So I can carry my Bowie, my Project 1 or even a Machete open or concealed without a problem.
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Kurt

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Money talks...but all mine ever says is good-bye.

www.selbstverteidigung.org
 
I carry around 3.75" to 4". Why? Because that's the size that feels right. Under 3", and the knife just feels dinky. Much past 4.25", and the knife feels too big. No other reason.

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AKTI Member #A000832

"Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes, the bear eats you."
 
Many here have said what I would say. Fixed blade, why regulate the good guys?
 
I don't know about you guys, but I was sort of surprised when I got my axis 710 last year. After all that lock hype, I thought for some reason that it was going to be a lot bigger than it turned out to be. It felt kind of dinky honestly. The extra large voyagers are just the right size for me, and the only time the length gets in the way is when I accidently do the splits. Fortunately that is not part of my daily routine.
 
Self Defense has to be the only reason for daily large knife carry. Most chores requiring a knife can be handled by the smallest of knives. That doesn't mean to say that I desire to carry a puny knife either. The opposite is actually true. I sometimes wish that I could strut down mainstreet USA with a 10" bowie strapped to my leg and not even get so much as a glance from passer-bys. But, that's not reality now is it? What I find perfectly acceptable (for normal everyday carry) is a folder with a blade up to 4". I don't even notice a knife of this size in my pocket.I beleive in the rights of the honest, law abiding citizen to carry any knife to which he/she desires. I can't stand to hear another story about someone being injuried by some bad guy just because they were so concerned about legality issues. It makes me sick. I too am concerned about braking the law, but I'm tired of feeling like a criminal for doing something so innocent as carrying a piece of sharp metal in my pocket.
Well, time for me to get off of my soapbox.
--The Raptor--

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Don't be worried about the one that you can see,be worried about the one that you cannot!!
 
I like my using knives to have a blade between 4" and 5" long. Why? I don't really know, but that's what feels "right" to me. I think it's because the first few knives I carried on a regular basis had blades about 4" long and in food prep I commonly use a set of steak knives with 5" blades.

The definition of "comfortable" carry seems to vary greatly between different people. It's amazing to me, but some dudes actually carry large fixed blades in the waistband on a regular basis. At the same time though, you see a lot of people complain that the Spyderco Military, with it's super thin and light handle, is uncomfortable to carry.
 
I tend to favor knives that most forumites would consider small or medium sized because I fear hassles from the police more than I fear a violent attack from a criminal. I have never been mugged and I have not been in an actual fight for twenty-six years. There are probably a number of reasons for my history but the two most obvious are my size and my lifestyle which is big on libraries universities, and bookstores and not much for bars etc. In my environment, a Mini AFCK is seen as huge; don't even mention a Sifu!

On another topic, I would like to say that I understand the argument that criminals have weapons (in this case big knives) so "good" people should carry them also. The problem is that if the law in one's area does not allow a certain sized knife, then whoever carries this big knife is now a criminal also. I don't think honest people should model their behavior in any way after criminals. I believe that one has the right to protect oneself against crime, but it should be done legally. For instance, why not a legal sized knife, pepper spray and a cell phone? It may not be as macho but if these tools can prevent victimization,they are just as good.
 
The size of a knife in itself might be enough to end a confrontation if your attacker has some common sense and you yourself are smart about dealing with the situation appropriately. If a large knife can do this for me just once, I see value in carrying it. On the other hand I have gotten box razors held to my neck when I was robbed in middle school, and drawing anything at that point might have gotten me killed. Of course I didn't even carry a knife back then, and it turned out better that way. But once something like that happens to you on a crowded san francisco bus in broad day light, and nobody older tries to help you, it makes every pocket knife seem a little too small.

[This message has been edited by generallobster (edited 09-07-2000).]
 
Bigger knives are better suited to a combat situation.
Bigger knives are better for big cutting tasks.
Bigger knives are better for people with big hands.
Bigger knives are good for people who don't feel that a <3" blade is always adequate.
A .357 will work just fine for home defense, and a .22 is all you need for target shooting, but some people still prefer a 12 gauge and a .44.
Why should a 4 or 5 inch blade need justification, while a 2 or 3 inch blade does not, and most of your cutting tasks could be handled by a .5" blade?

If you look at the wording of the NY law which prohibits blades over 4", it quite clearly states that large knives cause crime or cause people to commit crimes. I think this law should be stricken because its reasoning is absurd. Whether or not a >4" (or >2") blade is absolutely necessary for someone's daily cutting tasks is immaterial. So long as a crime is not being committed with it, it shouldn't matter if someone's got a sword inside their jacket. Items do not cause behaviors, unnecessarily large items do not cause behaviors, carrying and concealing large spring operated knives will not cause a person to commit a crime. Why carry big knives?- there are many reasons, but why ask?

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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra
 
I tend to favor knives that most forumites would consider small or medium sized because I fear hassles from the police more than I fear a violent attack from a criminal. I have never been mugged and I have not been in an actual fight for twenty-six years.
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Well, when was the last time that the police hassled you?
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I don't think many officers would arrest you for carrying a knife that's one inch over the blade length limit. And even if they do, the prosecutor would be unlikely to try the case. I mean, people do get convicted under blade length rules, but it seems to be vary rare.
 
In all fairness, I have never arrested or searched by a police officer. I come from the old school, whenever I have encounters with the police; I try like heck not to give them a reason to get pissed at me. Although, I believe it is less so now that I am older, I d3veloped my cautious attitude when I was young because as a black man there is always the possibility that somebody thinks you are one of the "usual suspects."
Although I have never been arrested, when i was younger, I was pulled over by police who were definitely looking for some reason to take me in (probably because of out of state plates when I was in college and grad school) if one of those officers had seen a Sifu or XL Voyager, I would have been in a bind. Alot of you guys probably think this is just another black guy whining, but everybody in America cannot assume that authorities will automatically recognize that he or she is a "good guy." That is why I keep my carry knives fairly small.
 
I have three feet of hair and wear a motorcycle leather most of the time, so I fall well within the "Usual suspects" category myself. Never been arrested, but I've been searched often enough to make sure that my carry is legal. Of course, the average length of blades in my home is around 2.5 feet, but that's a different story.
As for not modeling our behavior after criminals, I'm sorry, but I think that's a rather dangerous mindset. Ignoring a problem or its potential does not negate it. If it makes you feel better, react to your environment, not to criminals, but be aware of what affect they have on your environment.

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Oz

"I went to one of those so-called 'All you can eat' buffets last night, and I'm on to their little game.
They stop filling up the thousand island bucket after you empty it three or four times."
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
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