When is big too big?

[glockintosh]

I just got the other day a Cold Steel X2 Voyager, mostly out of curiosity. Man, that thing is huge! It's almost like a joke knife, it's so big. I can't really imagine carrying it around, even in legal places, because I'd probably just carry a fixed blade. But still, it's kinda cool...

I'm not really a Cold Steel guy, though. I like Spydercos (obviously). So when is big too big? I am thinking about getting a Military, Police or Manix sometime soon, can't decide which one (to get first!). It seems like Spyderco knives tend to look and feel a bit bigger than their actual measurements. Do you get this impression? What do think of big folders?

Best,
Glockintosh

[vampyrewolf]

how big do you want? :p

my local has a couple "super-sized"(aka demo) knives, same steel and construction as the smaller ones.... but with a 15" blade....

Personally I prefer the 3" range for edc, need to get a new sheath for my 5" fixed but that can wait a year now. Carry a ss pe police on my neck till the leather boot rig comes(next few days), have custom leather for my belt for the frn endura from the same guy.

if I'm hitting the bush or camping, I've got a couple short swords that do a nice job on wood, or the axe with a crazy sharp edge for an axe.

[glockintosh]

Oh, I guess I should have clarified. Big fixed blades have their places. I was wondering about folders. This CS X2 Voyager is almost ridiculous like big. I'm thinking a Millie would be more EDC friendly. I think the Camillus Mad Maxx is like 6" or 7" (blade length). And the SOG Pentagon II has a 5" blade. Think that's necessary? It's cool, that's for sure :) ...but necessary? I have the feeling my CS is gonna be a drawer queen, or I might carry it when I'm insecure and feel like overcompensating....(did I say that out loud?)

Glockintosh

[The Deacon]

Think big folders are impressive, and thus interesting for the display case, but prefer something that rides easy when dropped loose in my back pocket for carry. That's why the Persian is the largest Spydie I own that sees signifcant pocket time. Police is just a tad too long, Milie even larger, Manix both too long and too thick for my tastes. All great knives, if I were in any shape to do serious "outdoorsy" stuff anymore I would get a belt pouch for mine and carry it that way.

[Titus]

I don't usually like to go anywhere without a knife with a blade of about 3 1/2 " or more. I would carry bigger knives like the Manix if they were legal here. Knife laws are really annoying.

[DAYWALKER]

Aloha glockintosh,

Awesome dude! That one is wicked! Have you seen/handled their HUGE Ti-Lite variant? Whoa!!!

I have carried a clipped version Vaquero Grande with minor discomfort IWB...it was just a lot of fun when people ask to borrow a knife and then "Click"! Their faces look like this: :eek:

God bless :cool:

[clovisc]

i've got big hands, so to me, the manix seems the perfect size for a folder.

i might get a CS vaquero grande some day... i just really like the idea of a curvy, folding machete... :D i could see myself carrying it, too...

if i want a blade more than 4", though, i'll go with a fixed blade. the fixed blades i like to carry are usually about 7"-8" in length...

[UK KEN]

Aloha glockintosh,

Awesome dude! That one is wicked! Have you seen/handled their HUGE Ti-Lite variant? Whoa!!!

I have carried a clipped version Vaquero Grande with minor discomfort IWB...it was just a lot of fun when people ask to borrow a knife and then "Click"! Their faces look like this: :eek:

God bless :cool:

Chad

Greetings Sir!

I used to have all four of the Nogalles range from Cold Steel as you say the Vaquero Grande is a BIG knife :eek: The X2 Voyager is also a huge looking knife and certainly raises an eyebrow or two when flipped open.

For practical carry purposes a three to four inch blade is enough for me. I have had Spanish made folders in the past which were carried a sheath because the handle was four inches and the blade over six!

Regards, Ken

[DAYWALKER]

Chad

Greetings Sir!

I used to have all four of the Nogalles range from Cold Steel as you say the Vaquero Grande is a BIG knife :eek: The X2 Voyager is also a huge looking knife and certainly raises an eyebrow or two when flipped open.

For practical carry purposes a three to four inch blade is enough for me. I have had Spanish made folders in the past which were carried a sheath because the handle was four inches and the blade over six!

Regards, Ken

"Sir?" :p

Anyway Ken...IS there such a thing as "big" knife compared to a man of your build? I find that hard to believe my fine fellow...

See, when I open up that Vaquero Grande, it's taller than me! THAT'S a big knife.................................................................for me anyway! :p :D

God bless you and yours Knifebro :cool:

[WORKER#9]

I like big folders, dont carry them much but they do look so nice!

[glockintosh]

I like big folders, dont carry them much but they do look so nice!

Yeah they do :) I guess I'll save this CS for when I want to pull a "Crocodile Dundee" and stick to my Endura for day to day carry. That's a great pic, by the way :D

Cheers,
Glockintosh

[gordonk]

For me, it depends :) I work in an office environment and aside from knocking down cardboard boxes, anything over 3.5 in. is getting big. Not that I don't carry one, just don't use when sheeple are around. 3 inches is average. Weekends/evenings - if I'm outside doing yardwork, the larger folders have an advantage (more leverage).

- gord

[Joe Talmadge]

Think that's necessary? It's cool, that's for sure :) ...but necessary?

We're knife knuts. Since when does "necessary" have anything to do with it? :)

Seriously, though, there's no objective too-big. There's subjective: whatever is illegal and too uncomfortable to carry. Beyond that, though, for uses such as self-defense, there's no reason not to go big. The only objective factor on "too big" besides legality, is lock strength and reliability at this size. Lock-wise, I start getting nervous at a >6" blade, but others are more comfortable with bigger.

As far as comfort, depending on the pants, I can comfortably carry a Mad Maxx 5.5". Don't think it's overkill, it runs just fine. My usual carry is a 3.5"-4" blade though.

Joe

[Jimmy_Dean]

for me, over 4,5 in. is too big. I prefer a 3-4 inch for EDC, 3.125 being as close to perfect as it gets.

Of course, folding knives are different because a long blade means an even longer handle, which adds up to quite a bit of knife. Personnally, I too find the X2 is almost rifdiculous in its size. I can see times or situations where it might be handy, but the rest of the time, it just looks wrong.

Fixed blades are a different beast. I just purchased a Bill Siegle Hudson Bay campink knife, almost 14in. overall with a 8,5in blade. That thing is going to be really really big, and yet not feel as akward as a folder. So in that case, while it's big, I don't think it's too big....but darn close!

-Dean

[HoB]

Since I am mostly a deskjockey too big is when the knife clipped to my RF pocket pokes me in my....do I dare to go there....loins. . The Manix and the Chinook are nice because they wear comfortably despite their large size be cause they ride pretty high.

[Jimd]

Too big?! I carry a Strider AR and a GB often...no such thing as "too big".

[the boy]

You think the Voyager is to large try edc this . :D :eek: :D :eek: :D







Pics shamelessly stolen from knifezilla.com.

[clovisc]

not so long ago, vincent posted a picture of a strider folder, the blade of which was about 2 feet long.

yea -- 2 feet!!!!

[glockintosh]

Holy schnikey!!! Those are huge! I could use those to clear out my blackberry bushes in the backyard :)

[Jimmy_Dean]

don't mean a thing
maybe it's just a very small ruler :p