Why do people EDC big knives?

image.jpeg image.jpeg I think it has a lot to do with ones perspective. One persons large is another persons medium and so on.
I thought my large sebenza was as big of a folding knife that I would ever need. Which is still true.
Then I came across this Medford and decided to exercise my past passion for really beefy choppers but this time in the form of a folder.
Its not a 'one knife for all occasions' and its big and heavy but so is my Desert Eagle which is not for all occasions either.
Like so many things we are into, there are so many options and fortunately we aren't constrained to just one.
As with the sebenza I still carry a slip joint stockman when I carry the Medford. This combination gives me many options.
So, I guess a carry a large folder because I like large knives. But I generally have back up knives which are smaller and run in support of the large knives to be used when a large knife is just 'too large' for the occasion.

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My preference is generally around 3" or so. I used to carry bigger knives (Strider SnG, ZT's 0801, 0561, and 0350, as well as a lion steel sr1). Just too much size and weight to carry in slacks and khakis to my desk job.
 
I only EDC XL knives if I know I am making deliveries to Baltimore. For self defense obviously even then I generally have a slip joint for general cutting tasks. When I do carry an XL knife it's either a Cold steel recon 1XL in AUS -8A or a CS Ti-lite. Other than that I carry a standard CS Recon 1 in carpenter steel.
 
I for the most part I swore off mid size knives. I find them to be the most yet least versatile.

I can do most anything I can with a smaller knife I can a mid size knife. So, I rather save on weight and pocket real estate with carrying a smaller knife.

If I was going to carry a midsize and dont mind the weight that day I rather carry a larger knife that I can do more with (maybe), looks cooler, better for self defense (not in practice but its a piece of mind I suppose).

Its really a matter of what type pants I am wearing that day and if im in the mood to feel a knife or not feel a knife in my pocket. Ill even do both carry a small and a big knife. Big to me is anything over 3.25" blade ( although smallest "big" knife I own is 3.4 and I prefer around 4").

Really its I just dont like Midsized 2.8"-3.2" knives.
 
It's really nice to have a big folder for food prep or when wearing gloves in the [long] Winter (I live in New England).

On the other hand, I enjoy smaller knives because there's so much more tip control.

Both have their place.
 
I'm a big guy (6'2" and 225 lbs) with big hands (size XXL gloves). For me, something like a large Sebenza actually feels pretty small in the hand. Delicas and such feel like toys.

I prefer the grip size of something like the Extrema Ratio RAO and my new favorite folding knife, the Bob Dozier Workhorse. Those are probably gigantic to most people, but feel "just right" to me.
 
For example, here's a full-sized Sebenza swimming in my hand...



Most people consider that a large knife. And here's the RAO, which is probably absurdly large for most people...

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I'd guess. 1. Because they like the knife; 2. Because they have some actual use for the length of blade they carry, and, maybe most important: 3. because they can. I usually don't have much need for a 4" or larger blade, and knives that size, generally, get a bit heavy for pocket carry in anything but jeans, but I like my BM 710 and carry it sometimes. A bit of overkill for opening letters and slicing my sandwich at lunch, but it's fun. A 3" blade is plenty for my usual EDC tasks. In my jurisdiction, you can't carry anything with a blade over 4" unless hunting or fishing, but if I could, I'd probably carry a 4.5" or 5" knife that I liked hiking & camping, even though a 4" would probably work fine.
 
I was always taught, You can do little knife jobs with a big knife but you can't do big knife jobs with a little knife.
 
Dfunk1210 said:
My sweet spot is 3.5". I don't mind going 3.25" or up to 3.75". Nearing 4" is where I think it starts to get a bit big for me. I can handle most 4" and I wouldn't mind in some cases, but some like the Manix 2 XL are awkward for me in deploying. That said, I don't think 3.5", which usually is 8.25" overall give or take, is big at all. I mean take a look at fixed blades. When you see a 3.5" fixed blade, big isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It is rather small compared to common fixed blades . So why should a 3.5" folder be too big. But in the end its all preference. I have nothing but respect for those who carry smaller and bigger.
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3.5 is my sweet spot also. My dad always said to have a pocket knife big enough to cut bread. He was born in 1924 and went through WWII and later became an engineer. SO you would think he carried a small pocket knife. But nope. If it wasn't big enough to cut a sandwich it was too small.
 
When I was in the boondocks in Thailand during my stint in the Peace Corps, I would EDC about an 11-12" knife. The handle added about another 8". Anything over 20" including the sheath was just a little cumbersome. It was a handy size that fit in a little day pack.
 
"Large knife" is in the eye of the beholder.

As to the OP's original statement and question, even the smallest knives I carry are pushing his upper limit. That said, however, I have never considered the knives I carry to be "large" knives.

The knives I carry all have blades shorter that the maximum allowed by law so I never worried about what other folks think about what I carry. Since what I carry is legal to carry, my attitude is that folks can mind their own business.

My EDCs consist of 2 FBs with 5-1/4" blades for general use, a FB w/ a 3-1/4" blade for smaller jobs, and then 2 folders with narrow 3+" blades for when a smaller blade is NEEDED.

95+% of what I need to cut on a given day is handled just fine with my 5-1/4" blades. On occasion, a smaller blade is necessary. If I can get by with the small fixed blade, that is my next go-to knife, followed by the folders.

I can do most small jobs comfortably with a larger knife. It's just a matter of being familiar with your tools and using them frequently. I prefer fixed blades as I can get a FB out, cut what needs to be cut and have it back in it's sheath before most people can get a folder out of their pocket. A fobbed switch blade may be out and in use as fast, but is slower to put away (IMO).

Why do I prefer to use fixed blades for every thing? I have NEVER had a fixed blade close on my finger and cut me or break while in use AS DESIGNED. I have had folders break at the pivot while in use, pivots and locks that loosened up over time (I hate liner locks) and cleaning folder pivots can be a PITB.

But in the end, what one carries is dependent on what the carrier is both familiar with and used to using.

The best flippant answer I have seen in this thread (and others) is

"Because I can't carry a sword." But that may change (knock on wood) here in Texas if HB 1935 passes. :D
 
My EDC is a Spyderco Military. All of my coworkers see it and say "that thing is huge" or "why do you carry a knife so big?" I tell them to hold the knife and and close their eyes. They all reply the same way, which is usually a statement about how comfortable the handle is.

The handle on that beast is super comfy and allows for numerous grips. I also wear gloves alot and it operates beautifully with gloved hands. If the blade was another 1/4 inch longer I would be even happier. I have EDC'd as small as a kershaw chive. My knives slowly grew larger and larger and then I found the Spyderco Military. My state has no specified blade length restrictions so I carry what I like.
 
I am 6'4" with big hands, feet, and close to 300 lbs. Not proud of that, but it's true. So, I feel the most comfortable handling large knives. The current favorites are ZT 0200, BM Bedlam, CS Spartan. All feel just right for my hands.
 
This is a hilarious thread, lots of funny responses. Originally when I read the OP I thought he meant 8, 9 inch etc as in blade size! I thought yeah that's a bit much. But then I realize it's overall which then I think most knives can achieve that size.
For me, it was just size and weight creep. A smaller lighter knife is all I need living in a metropolitan city for opening packages etc but then I started buying bigger ones and got used the weight to the point where I prefer to feel the weight of the knife in my back pocket. I like 5 ounce and more otherwise I get that naked feeling. Only when running I want a sub 3 ounce.
I do realize it's a bit ridiculous or impractical to open a large knife in some public areas like the post office, so I will carry a smaller one with a bigger one.
 
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