Why would anyone carry a fixed-blade?

Aside from not being able to carry a fixed blade concealed, I think a folder has enough "knife" for most of what I do. When I go camping or outdoors, then I bring along my fixed. But otherwise, a folder can do everything a fixed blade can, according to my needs and lifestyle. Also, when it comes to pocket carrying, a fixed blade is almost twice as large as a folder for the same blade size, since you can fold a folder. Just makes it a lot more convenient for me.
 
I carry a fixed blade because i want to and because I use mine for work everyday.

But the real answer is, we carry one because we want to...whats so wrong or right about that?? Ask the same skeptic why he carries a cell phone. I dont carry one because I dont need it. What makes one of us right and the other wrong...nothing.
 
Please don't misinterpret this as a "fixed-blades are better than folders" thread. That was not my intention. I just thought I'd share my friends story.

While it's true that the fixed-blade could have injured him during the crash, it's also possible that a ball-point pen in his pocket or the earpiece from the eyeglasses in his pocket, could have stuck him through the heart. But they didn't. I judge the story by what actually happened, not all the "what-ifs". In such a situation, the what-ifs are endless.

I can tell you the following, as he told me-

1. The impact of the crash caused his wallet and a can of Skoal to leave his pockets (he didn't have a chain wallet), it took a bit of searching to find his wallet. I'd imagine that a loose pocket knife in his pocket, even one clipped on, could have also been lost in such a manner.

2. He only had the use of one hand as the other was badly mangled.

3. He was bleeding to death and didn't have a lot of time to act.

Though he wasn't carrying one, he did own some folders, if he hadn't been carrying the Ka-bar, he would have been carrying a Buck 110 in a leather belt sheath. This incident happened back in the early eighties, before the modern era of one-hand folders. He also didn't have one of those "one-arm bandit" thumb-stud attachments for the 110.

After the accident, my friend had a proud affection for his Ka-bar, but not because it displayed any special abilities. It was the kind of proud affection that people take in objects that they used, or were used, to save their lives. My friend made it clear to me that under the circumstances, and in the condition he was in, that if he had to fumble with a folder instead of just pulling out the Ka-bar, that he likely would have bled to death before getting himself free.

We'll never know if the Buck 110 would have served him just as well in his time of need. All I do know is that the guy who had the experience told me that it wouldn't have.
 
I dunno about the stories relevance, but I carry my Esee 4 on my belt on the right side of my hip. It's in a sword draw type position and it's incredibly comfortable, EXTREMELY accessible and the fasted draw action I've ever had, conceals with any shirt that goes 2 to 4 inches below my belt and is very secure as I move around. So you can't pull the "it's inconvenient to carry" card on me! I wont leave the home without the strength of a fixed blade.
 
I fail to see why this is a good example to prove the worth of a fixed blade. Literally everything you said could have been accomplished (faster mind you) with a folder. I see no reason to carry a fixed blade in a non-tactical/survival situation.
 
I don't think I would care to filet large fish with my folder. Somehow that just doesnt' compute.
 
You can carry a pretty big folder in your pocket, such as a spyderco military or zt 560, but an equivalent size fixed blade probably wouldn't fit.

Otoh you can carry a fixed blade that would be much stronger than any folder. I don't think I need to carry a fixed blade rig that offers faster draw than my folders but I'm interested in a small fixed blade that would be strong enough to pry with if I needed to do that.
 
I think fixed blades are great for working environments where a knife is needed, but not physically in your hand all the time. What I mean is, say your job is to open boxes frequently, a folding knife would have to be opened, the task performed, closed, then placed back in the pocket, whereas a fixed blade would consist of unsheath, cut, resheath. Just a tad bit more convenient.

I'd like to carry a fixed blade around my neck of suburbia, but I'd end up attracting too much attention since I have to open carry. I can head up about thirty miles north where open carry is more common place, but still slightly taboo.
 
killgar said:
Please don't misinterpret this as a "fixed-blades are better than folders" thread. That was not my intention. I just thought I'd share my friends story.

While it's true that the fixed-blade could have injured him during the crash, it's also possible that a ball-point pen in his pocket or the earpiece from the eyeglasses in his pocket, could have stuck him through the heart. But they didn't. I judge the story by what actually happened, not all the "what-ifs". In such a situation, the what-ifs are endless.

I can tell you the following, as he told me-

1. The impact of the crash caused his wallet and a can of Skoal to leave his pockets (he didn't have a chain wallet), it took a bit of searching to find his wallet. I'd imagine that a loose pocket knife in his pocket, even one clipped on, could have also been lost in such a manner.

2. He only had the use of one hand as the other was badly mangled.

3. He was bleeding to death and didn't have a lot of time to act.

Though he wasn't carrying one, he did own some folders, if he hadn't been carrying the Ka-bar, he would have been carrying a Buck 110 in a leather belt sheath. This incident happened back in the early eighties, before the modern era of one-hand folders. He also didn't have one of those "one-arm bandit" thumb-stud attachments for the 110.

After the accident, my friend had a proud affection for his Ka-bar, but not because it displayed any special abilities. It was the kind of proud affection that people take in objects that they used, or were used, to save their lives. My friend made it clear to me that under the circumstances, and in the condition he was in, that if he had to fumble with a folder instead of just pulling out the Ka-bar, that he likely would have bled to death before getting himself free.

We'll never know if the Buck 110 would have served him just as well in his time of need. All I do know is that the guy who had the experience told me that it wouldn't have.
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The date and the evolution of folding knives is an important fact to point out. Thanks for some clarification. I would have some special affection for whatever knife I had that got me out of that situation also!
 
It does seem that a lot of modern fixed blades have sheaths that have retention systems (straps holding the blade in etc) that could really slow down deployment. On ones that don't, I feel it would make the blade likely to go flying out of the sheath in a car accident. Of course even a good pocket clip might not hold a knife in your pocket either. I had 4 friends hit a tree going about 60, and all their shoes came off (boots even) and landed in a pile 30 yards or so down the road. Somehow they all lived, even though two of em had very significant head injuries, and one was in a coma for a month. That is a crazy amount of inertia to make shoes and boots come off and fly that far... :eek:
 
Good story about the fixed blade and motorcycle. A sheathed or tethered folder would have likely been just as effective though. ;)

The reasons I prefer to carry a fixed blade, safety and hygiene. :)
 
MEJ said:
..............live on deer island also because there are no natural predators to stem the tide.............
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I wouldn't worry about your tiny deer up there. I've honestly seen dogs that are bigger. I'd worry more about those wild turkeys up on Buckhorn road.
 
We'd all be carrying fixed blades if it weren't for the pervasive influence the socialists have over society, the girly men who are afraid of guns and knives.
 
The only reason I don't is because I can't really understand the knife statutes in Washington state. Don't want to do anything illegal now. But if and when I understand the statutes i'm going to build my own and carry it with pride.
 
killgar said:
Please don't misinterpret this as a "fixed-blades are better than folders" thread.
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Fixed blades ARE better than folders in every way except compactness & possibly convenience.

HotSteel said:
We'd all be carrying fixed blades if it weren't for the pervasive influence the socialists have over society, the girly men who are afraid of guns and knives.
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No we wouldn't. Some of us like to be able to sit comfortably in an office chair.
 
Lol, the only reason I don't carry is because I don't want someone to call the cops on me. Then again, if I really needed to carry a fixed blade everywhere I go, I might as well just go Machete on everybody and carry a huge trench coat that screams PEDOPHILE.
 
When i'm on a boat, i'll carry nothing but fixed. I don't want to have to eff around with a folder if i'm being pulled into the water by a weighted rope.
 
fuzzwuzz133 said:
Lol, the only reason I don't carry is because I don't want someone to call the cops on me. Then again, if I really needed to carry a fixed blade everywhere I go, I might as well just go Machete on everybody and carry a huge trench coat that screams PEDOPHILE.
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I know plenty of people that wear trench coats that aren't in fact pedophiles. People that wear trench coats like to expose themselves, not children. :P
 
Tyronethepro....Any fixed blade of any length is legal to carry in Washington as long as it is not concealed. With the exception of the city of Seattle which has a 31/2" blade length limit. I wore an 18" Kukri everywhere daily for years and had absolutely no problems with law enforcement.
 
wildmike said:
Tyronethepro....Any fixed blade of any length is legal to carry in Washington as long as it is not concealed. With the exception of the city of Seattle which has a 31/2" blade length limit. I wore an 18" Kukri everywhere daily for years and had absolutely no problems with law enforcement.
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This is good to know. I often go across the line and leave my fixed blades at home. I always just clip a small folder on my pocket when I go across the line.
 
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