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Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 5:06 pm
by Airlsee
4mm? 2mm? What and why? How much does length & weight play a part? I understand everyone's needs are different, just curious as to how the community feels.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:07 pm
by brainfriction
I feel like 3.5mm (Manix, PM2, etc) is just about perfect for my needs. Good balance of strength and weight. Some of these ridiculously large, overbuilt folders make me wonder if someone can't decide between a pry bar or a pocket knife, lol.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 6:22 pm
by kodai78
I think the Manix and PM2 are just right for longer heavier knives mine are FFG. I can use those knives for anything. I wouldn’t want to try some things with them though. A smaller, shorter blade (height and length) would be more useful for some tasks. In a smaller knife the DF2 and Chapparal are much thinner and just right. So for me it’s the size of the knife, the use case, that determines “ideal blade thickness”. Interesting question. I hope you get a lively discussion going on the topic.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:06 pm
by knivesandbooks
2 to 3 millimeters. Anything bigger is overkill and can impact performance, I believe. At the very least, it isn't necessary for a folding edc utility knife. 3 millimeters is fine and pretty standard. Especially for a utility knife. I prefer for them to be around 2 millimeters like the chaparral or around that mark. Most knives don't have that though.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:15 pm
by Bloke
Certainly not: Cutting Edge: 2.63", Blade Thickness: 0.150". :rolleyes:

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:26 pm
by vivi
2mm for me, even on longer knives like the Police and Millie. The only thing thicker blades do better is get stuck in things I'm cutting.

Centofante XL? Catcherman Sprint? Diet Millie?

:D

I'm looking at getting my custom fixed blade design made by a custom maker, and I'm specifically requesting 2mm blade stock. I love the Izula but it really needs to hit the gym.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:29 pm
by Bloke
Vivi wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:26 pm
2mm for me, even on longer knives like the Police and Millie. The only thing thicker blades do better is get stuck in things I'm cutting.
;) :)

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:55 pm
by knivesandbooks
Vivi wrote:
Thu Nov 01, 2018 7:26 pm
2mm for me, even on longer knives like the Police and Millie. The only thing thicker blades do better is get stuck in things I'm cutting.

Centofante XL? Catcherman Sprint? Diet Millie?

:D

I'm looking at getting my custom fixed blade design made by a custom maker, and I'm specifically requesting 2mm blade stock. I love the Izula but it really needs to hit the gym.
I'd love a 2mm 3 knife set. 2mm Chaparral size folder, 2mm military size folder, and 3.5 to 4 inch fixed blade with 2mm stock. All with the same general shape, colors, and shape.

I also want a 2mm serrated.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2018 11:19 pm
by sinnyc
2.5mm-ish. I'm a huge Manix fan and have 7 of them. The only thing I'd change on them is blade thickness - just a liiiittle thinner and it would be utter perfection.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 2:59 am
by The Deacon
2mm for me. I love the Chaparral and would kill for a Stretch with a 2mm thick blade.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 6:27 am
by dsvirsky
Put me aquare in the 2mm camp. I can't think of anything I do with a folder where a thicker blade would work better.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:25 am
by Evil D
I like reground blades for the fact that you can still have a 4mm pivot and tang while having a thinner blade.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 7:33 am
by elena86
2-2.5 mm...perfect ...more than 2.5 is overkill...but, that's not enough ....the thinner behind the edge the better.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 8:01 am
by zhyla
2mm for day to day EDC. If I know I'm doing home repair or bumming around some outdoor area I'll take the Manix 2 instead.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 10:41 am
by Bill1170
2.0mm to 2.5mm would be my preference for 3”-4” bladed folders.

EvilD makes a good point about thicker tangs/thinner blades. Not only does this stabilize the pivot but it helps lock geometry, especially so for liner and compression locks.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 11:00 am
by Baron Mind
I'd just love to see Spyderco start reducing their behind the edge thickness

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 11:06 am
by Peter1960
2mm thickness for an EDC-blade would also be my way to go ... but unfortunately it fails due to appropriate offers from :spyder: company.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 5:42 pm
by SpyderEdgeForever
I have gotten by with Opinel and other knives with thinner blades but my ideal would be in the 3.0-5 mm range. I know to some that sounds on the thick side.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2018 11:15 pm
by embry386
I haven't taken the time to look up blade thickness stats, but I'd like most of my knives more if they had about 1/3 their current thickness shaved off. I like thin slicey blades. Having them flat-ground would be even better. It's generally not a major issue for me though, because I know I can always send them somewhere to get reground if it really starts bothering me. Unless the knife is DLC and the regrind would mess up the blades. That's when I get more irritated that it didn't come thinner from the factory.

Both my current favorite EDC blades are neither particularly thin nor flat-ground though, so, that just goes to show that those things aren't particularly important factors for me -- I'll go for the lightweight knives with ergos that fit my hands, regardless of the blade thickness and grind.

Re: Ideal blade thickness for your EDC folder?

Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:19 am
by NoFair
about 2-3mm. The Millie is 4, but tapers pretty well. Can't imagine me breaking it even if it was 3mm