Why do you prefer a longer blade?

Sonnydaze

Sonnydaze

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I'm ready to buy a decent EDC knife. I've been looking at the 710 BM, 3.90" blade, since it gets so much press on this forum. Of course, it has a 3.9" long blade.
I've carried a model 690 BM (~3 1/8") and a Caly3 Spydie (~2 1/2") for the last few yrs, and seldom need a length longer than they provide. I just got a Para2 Spydie also, with a 3" blade.
Other than perhaps slicing some fruit, how do you guys use a longer blade? Is a longer blade as "safe" as a shorter blade in daily use?
Is the BM 710 really that good?
Sonny
 
Probably the main thing for me is liking the 4 1/2-5 1/4" handles that come with 3 1/2-4' blades, a good full hand grip is more important than specific blade length or blade shape for cutting power and comfort - pinky is most important part. The only shortish handles I like are chunky Victorinox models.
 
1. Kitchen use (since kitchen knives are never sharp, a good folder usually works better).

2. Because I can.

I usually carry a smaller knife with a super-duper-ultra thin edge to complement the larger one. Though lately that knife has been an OLFA so that I don't cry when I snap the tip off.
 
OrdnanceBubbaUSMC said:
Probably the main thing for me is liking the 4 1/2-5 1/4" handles that come with 3 1/2-4' blades, a good full hand grip is more important than specific blade length or blade shape for cutting power and comfort
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

The other thing is that even if you rarely need a big knife, a big knife can do small knife chores better than a small knife can do big knife chores. I've been carrying a 3" blade EDC for several years, down from the longer knives I used to carry. My next EDC will be a bit longer than 3".
 
I prefer a larger blade for many reasons.

First of all I was a young boy when the TV show Jim Bowie came out [ starring Scott Forbes ] and that had a huge influence on me.

Second I was born in NYC and carried a blade for S/D for more than 18 years there.

Camping was a sport I got into as a scout and I found that a large blade [ for me ] did all I wanted and if it broke [ we were HARD on knives ] I still had a longer broken knife than those that had short blades.

I now use and carry BOTH long blades and short one,mainly cause I can !!.

I do get to baton with the larger blades and they do service and camp knives all too well.

Judging by the number of large blades sold,guess I am not alone in my selection.
 
A big knife can do the job of a small knife, but it's more difficult in most cases for a small knife to do the job of a big knife. In the pocket knife range it often simply means you get a longer cutting stroke, which is more convenient. Less sawing back and forth.
 
Life is too short to carry an ugly knife. Life is too ugly to carry a short knife.
 
I EDC'd a 710 for a while and found it too long for me. I also didn't much care for the length/width ratio in the blade. I find a shorter, wider blade to be much more useful for EDC chores. My Delica 4 FFG has kicked every other folder out of my pocket permanently and as much as I might want to, I just can't seem to find a reason to carry anything else.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Life is too short to carry an ugly knife. Life is too ugly to carry a short knife.
Click to expand...

I like it! :thumbup:

I agree with what was stated. I prefer a knife with a comfortable large grip. If it has a large grip, it better have a big blade too! There is nothing uglier than a poor blade:handle ratio
 
A GOOD, long knife can easily do the work of most smaller knives. IMO the BM 710 isn't quite there ergonomically, while it is a great knife. The handle just doesn't let you safely grip real close to the edge. For some people this is no problem, for some it is. I have no doubt it could do all of my EDC needs well enough. But I find my Spyderco Military does them just a lot better :D The ergos are there to hold it in your basic full grip, further back like the 710. But you can get up on that partial choil in both reverse and forward for different chores. The thumbramp also helps a bit. But it's whatever works for you.

As far as what I actually like to do with it longer... Food prep mainly. Also the other day I had to break down a TON of cardboard boxes to put in our recycling after moving to a new place. The long blade made it a bit easier. Also cut up a cardboard carpet tube which was quite thick, so it would fit in the bin, i actually used a smaller spyderco native to compare. And while it worked, it just took more effort. the CPM M4 steel in my Military absolutely ate the cardboard up and shaved arm hair after it all...

MOST of my day to day could be done with a ~2.5" blade. But for those few chores that aren't done as easy, I'm glad to have the Millie. Plus the millie carries IWB like a much smaller knife, so why not.
 
Reach all the way through an apple and get to the bottom of the peanut butter jar...and handle length.
 
Blades less than 5 inches long cannot reach the bottom of the peanut butter jar!

No other argument is required!

Regards,
:)
 
Theres no substitute for inches!!....My Steve Wheeler custom.....7inch blade..................FES

IMG_0145.jpg
 
Go in the kitchen and throw out all your knives longer than 3 inches.

Let me know how that works for you in a year. ;)
 
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