Why would anyone carry a fixed-blade?

[killgar]

I often encounter this question or sentiment, usually from people who believe that if you are carrying a fixed-blade that you're some kind of Rambo-wannabe, trying to play macho tough-guy, etc. Normally I don't waste my breath on such people as I have an aversion to spending my precious time trying to educate people who are to stupid to think for themselves. But I will share this story here-

A few decades ago a biker friend of mine was riding home one night when he swerved to miss a dear crossing the road and wound up wrecking in a ditch. He was seriously injured, broken bones and bleeding pretty badly, and to make matters worse his pant leg got caught up in the bikes chain and sprocket. So there he was, at the bottom of a roadside ditch, mangled, bleeding to death, tethered to a 700 pound motorcycle. No one saw him go down, no one knew he was there, no one was coming to save him. He didn't have long to live. And even though this was before the age of cell-phones, even if he had one it wouldn't have mattered.

He had an old Ka-bar in a sheath hanging from his belt, the same Ka-bar he carried in Vietnam. He pulled out the knife with his one good hand and quickly cut his pant leg free from the bike. He then crawled up out of the ditch and was spotted by a passing motorist. The motorist stopped, administered first aid, stopped his bleeding and drove him to the nearest hospital.

My friend survived. When his bike was recovered, the knife was recovered as well. He still owns that knife to this day.

It's possible that if he had been carrying a folder in his pocket, or in a sheath on his belt, that the outcome would have been the same. But we'll never know because he didn't have a folder, he had a fixed-blade. And that fixed-blade was right where he needed it to be, and it did exactly what he needed it to do when he needed it the most. I for one never argue with success.

Why would anyone carry a fixed-blade? My friend could answer that.

 

[Biginboca]

I would say because they need a knife and want one stronger or faster to deploy than a folder. That's what I think anyway.

 

[Big Mike]

The more important question is why not carry a fixed blade?


It's superior in every way as a cutting tool to a folder.






Big Mike

 

[MEJ]

I just got my motorcycle endorsement and this is going to make me a bit more cautious.. I live on deer island also because there are no natural predators to stem the tide. I always make sure to grab a folding knife whenever i go out riding just in case i ever need it.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[Will Power]

Good account, thought provoking.

Another reason could be that a lot of them look damn good !

 

[SChief454]

I for one would not disagree with the logic of carrying a fixed blade. I have been know to do so myself. I suspect the issue for most people, particularly those in other than very rural areas is the reaction we get from the public. Additionally, state laws vary significantly. I live in CT right on the RI boarder. CT has a four inch blade limit where RI has a three inch limit. All of these factors have to make us think twice about what we carry and where. Would I feel safer with a fixed blade, sure. As long as I could legally conceal it. I think it all depends on the circumstances. One of my favorite knives is my Spyderco Street Beat. If I could I would carry it all the time.

By the way, I am glad to hear your friend came out of that situation ok at then end. We don,t often enough hear stories of how our knives contributed to the safety and or well being of an individual!

 

[GMAHN]

That is a nice story but it doesn't really speak to the merits of carrying a fixed blade.
While fixed blades are stronger and have more possible blade versatility than most folders they certainly don't carry as easily.

 

[Bigfattyt]

B

I just got my motorcycle endorsement and this is going to make me a bit more cautious.. I live on deer island also because there are no natural predators to stem the tide. I always make sure to grab a folding knife whenever i go out riding just in case i ever need it.

Thank you for sharing.

My cousin hit a deer doing 95mph on his brand new Ninja. He woke up down the road, and could not find his bike, and could not figure out what had happened for a while. He walked back about 100 yards or so and found his bike in the ditch. It had cut the deer clean in half.


The ninja was brand new. He had just totaled out his older bike. He went off an embankment at about 85 at a curve in the road. Landed on the wheels after an 8 foot drop. Went over the handle bars. Broke two strands of barbed wire with his back. Then he went through a two trees that had grown into a V. The trees stopped the bike.

He still has that same leaher jacket from both crashes. He literally walked home from both crashes with out any injuries outside some bruising. The barbed wire should have severed his spine if not for the jacket.


He lived outside Spokane WA for both of these crashes. (Every member of his famiky has hit at least one deer. Some have hit several). My dad hit a deer on the way to their house too.

I agree. There s really no good reason not to carry a fixed blade, if that is your preference.

I often do.

Though recently, I have migrated to traditional slip joints.

 

[Hauling]

B

My cousin hit a deer doing 95mph on his brand new Ninja. He woke up down the road, and could not find his bike, and could not figure out what had happened for a while. He walked back about 100 yards or so and found his bike in the ditch. It had cut the deer clean in half.


The ninja was brand new. He had just totaled out his older bike. He went off an embankment at about 85 at a curve in the road. Landed on the wheels after an 8 foot drop. Went over the handle bars. Broke two strands of barbed wire with his back. Then he went through a two trees that had grown into a V. The trees stopped the bike.

He still has that same leaher jacket from both crashes. He literally walked home from both crashes with out any injuries outside some bruising. The barbed wire should have severed his spine if not for the jacket.


He lived outside Spokane WA for both of these crashes. (Every member of his famiky has hit at least one deer. Some have hit several). My dad hit a deer on the way to their house too.

I agree. There s really no good reason not to carry a fixed blade, if that is your preference.

I often do.

Though recently, I have migrated to traditional slip joints.

I like the edit to stay on topic and I hope your cousin is never on the same road I am.

 

[MEJ]

B

My cousin hit a deer doing 95mph on his brand new Ninja. He woke up down the road, and could not find his bike, and could not figure out what had happened for a while. He walked back about 100 yards or so and found his bike in the ditch. It had cut the deer clean in half.


The ninja was brand new. He had just totaled out his older bike. He went off an embankment at about 85 at a curve in the road. Landed on the wheels after an 8 foot drop. Went over the handle bars. Broke two strands of barbed wire with his back. Then he went through a two trees that had grown into a V. The trees stopped the bike.

He still has that same leaher jacket from both crashes. He literally walked home from both crashes with out any injuries outside some bruising. The barbed wire should have severed his spine if not for the jacket.


He lived outside Spokane WA for both of these crashes. (Every member of his famiky has hit at least one deer. Some have hit several). My dad hit a deer on the way to their house too.

I agree. There s really no good reason not to carry a fixed blade, if that is your preference.

I often do.

Though recently, I have migrated to traditional slip joints.

Your cousin is a very lucky person (deer not so lucky) i on the other hand am not so lucky... my brother has crashed 3 times (twice in a car and 1 on a bike) and has never been seriously hurt... on the bike he was wearing a leather jacket and ended up taking a small chunk out of his elbow. I put my car in a ditch on the very day i got it and destroyed the right side while drove the car away unscathed both times. My point being some people are luckier than others, hope your cousin slows down and becomes a bit more cautious before he seriously hurts himself.

I definitely agree that you should always carry some kind of blade.

 

[nccole]

When people ask why you carry a fixed blade is it a general question or more of why a fixed blade and not a folder? I see your story more of a why to carry a knife in general not why a fixed blade was better than a folder in his situation. I think a folder would have been just as good in his situation. Do you feel that the fixed blade was the better choice, and if so why? Sorry to sound corny, just curious to hear more of an explanation, as I am not one of said time wasters, just curious.

 

[SChief454]

I suspect he feels his friend would not have been able to access a folder in his pocket in the situation he was in.

 

[nozyk]

Great story with a happy outcome that could have been tragic. I love my fixed blades but here in Jersey and New York I would not be out on the street long with

a fixed blade.I always have at least one to three folders on or about my person,even when I venture into communist occupied NYC. Your friends

outcome may have been different with a folder based on several criteria,from being able to get at it in his pocket,to opening it,to it's relative size imho.

Look at that kid who cut his arm off with a SAK a couple of years back after a mountaineering accident. Bottom line,if he did not have some sort of knife,his

chances were zero to none~same as your friends would have been.You just never know,so always go as prepared as possible,even if it's for a quick beer run.

 

[stabman]

It's possible that if he had been carrying a folder in his pocket, or in a sheath on his belt, that the outcome would have been the same.
Why would anyone carry a fixed-blade? My friend could answer that.

It would have been entirely the same, as long as the folder had an edge.

The question your friend could answer is, "Why carry a knife?" Fixed blade or folder is irrelevant really, given the situation.
It's not like he batonned the motorcyle in half to get out from under it...

 

[totallynotalex]

It would have been entirely the same, as long as the folder had an edge.

The question your friend could answer is, "Why carry a knife?" Fixed blade or folder is irrelevant really, given the situation.
It's not like he batonned the motorcyle in half to get out from under it...

I think he was trying to say that he might not have been able to get into his pocket or open the knife in his situation.

 

[stabman]

I think he was trying to say that he might not have been able to get into his pocket or open the knife in his situation.

I can't see many situations where that would be the case though.
If we're talking odd situations, how about you fall over and the weight of the motorcycle causes the fixed blade to go through the sheath and into your leg? (positing a leather sheath in this scenario) There's weird forces involved in auto accidents.

 

[nccole]

I can't see many situations where that would be the case though.
If we're talking odd situations, how about you fall over and the weight of the motorcycle causes the fixed blade to go through the sheath and into your leg? (positing a leather sheath in this scenario) There's weird forces involved in auto accidents.

I thought a fixed blade could potentially be more dangerous as well in an accident. An accident could certainty de-sheath a knife and send it flying. I would guess a tip up folder (with spine against seam of pants) would more likely stay in place and not come open than a fixed blade would stay sheathed.

 

[CL01]

If one can carry it concealed, I think a FB is ideal. However, there's nothing wrong with a good folder & I agree that the big question is why wouldn't you carry a knife, period (Folder or FB).

 

[timbit]

I use a fixed blade because they are more comfortable in my hand. The weight, feel and balance of a fixed blade just "does it" for me. I never EDC a blade longer than 3", so I never get the 'rambo' effect.

 

[jdm61]

Oddly enough, it can be a legal issue. In Germany, you can't carry a folder that both locks AND can be opened with one hand since the new knife laws were passed a couple of years ago. That precludes carrying many of the modern folders unless they have the flpper ground off or the thumb stud removed. But the still respected and apparently politically influential German hunting lobby, paticularly the ones from the southern lander like Bavaria, got an exception to the law where you can still carry a fixed blade hunting knife as long as the blade is less than 12 cm or around 4.75 inches. So that means that you can't carry a little locking Spyderco, but you can carry pretty much any bushcraft size blade. Strange but true. My friend Jenni is the Bark River distributor in Germany and suffice to say that she is not entirely displeased with the current state of the law as about 80% of her BRK inventory is legal for carry.