Do most of us need larger knives?

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MichaelScott
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Do most of us need larger knives?

#1

Post by MichaelScott »

Really? Real collectors aside, speaking of those who carry a knife in order to cut the occasional thing during the day (not kitchen duties), how many of us really need a “larger” knife, anything over 3”? I am also excepting those whose job requires frequent cutting of heavier or tougher materials. I’m focused on most of us who don’t spend considerable time in the woods or on a fishing boat but in the office, at home, etc.

One of my constant pocket knives is this Lil’ Lum which, today, broke down some cardboard shipping boxes.

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No problem. My Para Military 2 stayed on the shelf, and begs the question, why do i need it?
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spyderg
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#2

Post by spyderg »

I typically like to carry about a 3 1/2” modern folder just in case a task comes my way that requires it. However 90%+ of my daily cutting tasks are easily handled by a small slipjoint.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#3

Post by Evil D »

Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#4

Post by ChrisinHove »

I find I either need nothing larger than my Squeak, Dragonfly or Chaparral, or else I need as large as possible i.e. my Military (and hence my current yen for a P4).
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NoFair
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#5

Post by NoFair »

The Military weighs little more than many small knives, has a great blade with a thin tip and carries very well. I very rarely think "I wish I brought a smaller knife" unless it's in a setting where a 4" blade brings unwanted attention.. I usually carry a C22 or Techno when doing office work and something in the 3.5-4" size when I expect to do a bit more cutting or being outdoors.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#6

Post by The Meat man »

I don't know...to be honest, I probably don't need a knife with a blade over 3" but since when was this knife hobby about needs? :p

I prefer a blade to be 3.5 to 4" long. I find a longer blade to be more versatile and useful for a wider range of tasks. As David said, better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#7

Post by shunsui »

Well, not everyone's a midget. People with larger hands like a comfortable knife.

A Delica has zero ergonomics for me.
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sal
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#8

Post by sal »

Hi Michael,

Need is not an effective word. Do you "need" a house, car, food, etc. Do you "need" a computer, TV, etc. ? Do you need steak or even meat?

I Want to carry as large of a knife as I can legally and sometimes I will carry a larger knife. I can just do more with a larger knife. I will sometimes carry a smaller knife (Manbug) but almost always too accompany a larger blade.

sal
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#9

Post by Bloke »

I don’t eat with folders ever so I don’t need anything more than a Man/Ladybug.

I work in an office environment but spend a fair bit of time onboard Naval Vessels and a warehouse environment and look for stuff to cut.

I carry a Military because is a gem that’s so easy to carry and I just plain like everything about the knife. :rolleyes:
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#10

Post by bearfacedkiller »

I could probably get by with less but I find larger folders useful. Three inch blades are great but the 3.5 to 4 inch blades give me plenty of blade without being unwieldy so that is the range I gravitate towards.

I am a blue collar guy with a job that has a significant variety of duties. I literally never know what I might be doing on a given day and my job requires me to spend a lot of time in the woods and pretty much never in an office.

I also believe in always carrying two knives. Sometimes you need the control that a smaller knife offers. For the past three weeks that has been a Shaman and a Maxamet NativeLW. Starting today I have switched it to the S110V Para2 and the Maxamet NativeLW. I had to cut a bunch of foam board and rockwool for a project at work and wanted a little better edge retention. That rockwool is hard on edges.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#11

Post by kodai78 »

Most of my cutting needs could be handled by a small slip joint. I carry a large knife and a small knife for many reasons. Same as I often carry cash, though I don’t need it. Same as I drive an All Wheel drive car even in clement weather. My house has many more rooms than I “need”. The question is not do I need a larger knife, or house or car it’s something else. I will leave that discussion for another time.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#12

Post by ZrowsN1s »

I'm a small knife enthusiast. But I carry for SD too and 3" (or just under) is a minimum for me there. I'm carrying the McBee and the Shaman right now. I'm sure I'll use both throughout the day at work depending on what I'm doing. I could probably get by with just the McBee or a dragonfly, lil native, etc., but with the sketchy people on public transportation, I'm really glad for the Shaman/para3/para2/native/delica/tasman/yo2 in my pocket.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#13

Post by Dingo »

The ukpk is always on me....the rest are nice to have and wants.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#14

Post by anycal »

I am definitely in the other camp - I'd rather have a bigger blade for any task. I don't believe I ever wished for a smaller knife while using a PM2 or a Military. And I don't have guerrilla hands. I always had a larger knife and that is what I am used to.

I have plenty of smaller knives and do enjoy using them. But back to the, 'if I could only keep one', I would definitely keep a larger one rather than smaller.


Bloke wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:27 pm
... I ... look for stuff to cut.

Word! Sometimes I even have to go out of my way to find it :D Wasn't it was the most interesting man in the world who said, 'I don't always cut things, but when I do I use the (Para)Military'... or something like that.
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MichaelScott
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#15

Post by MichaelScott »

Evil D wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 2:37 pm
Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If that was true, I’d have to hire a string of Sherpas to carry all that stuff. :D
Last edited by MichaelScott on Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#16

Post by Bloke »

kodai78 wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:34 pm
Same as I drive ...
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#17

Post by rgrad80 »

shunsui wrote:
Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:17 pm
Well, not everyone's a midget. People with larger hands like a comfortable knife.

A Delica has zero ergonomics for me.
Yes, this!

I’m 6’2” 200lb big hands, the Mili is normal sized for me...the Para 3 just feels awful in hand. Also agree, never said “sure wish I had a smaller knife”.
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MichaelScott
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#18

Post by MichaelScott »

As a stone-fanatic fly fisherman once said, “Need is synonymous with want.” So true.

There are times when I don’t need a knife at all for perhaps hours or days. In my particular situation I hardly ever need a large knife. There have been times when large was not only good but necessary.

I’m not saying that if you don’t have the functional need for a big knife you shouldn’t have one. I have a Para Military 2. I have an absolute lust for the Hundred Pacer. Why? I certainly don’t need one, but it stands outside need, being a unique work of the knife makers’ art. I would undoubtedly carry it and use it but odds are I would never need it.

I was attempting to point out that objectively many of us can use a small knife for most of the cutting tasks we frequently encounter. Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have and enjoy large knives. I’m a case in point.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#19

Post by xceptnl »

I don't find that I NEED larger knives everytime I cut something. I do however almost always WANT to use the biggest knife I have on my person for any given task.

Do I NEED to whip out my orange SE Spyderhawk in a flash to cut a piece of thread? No, but I want to make sure the thread knows I mean business.
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Re: Do most of us need larger knives?

#20

Post by TkoK83Spy »

I guess I could say on a typical week day at work, I don't NEED any knife. They provide us with retractable box cutters and strapping cutting shears. But...theres no fun in that

I could get by with my Chaparral or hap40 Delica just fine. But I enjoy using a different knife almost everyday. Test out the ergos and the steels, plus I enjoy learning and practicing my sharpening techniques on various steels and size/shape blades.
Last edited by TkoK83Spy on Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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