All About Pocket Knives

I know we all have knives of all different sizes, but I have almost completely divested myself from the small ones over the years. I'm a white collar stiff, and even so, I hardly ever carry anything shorter than a 63090 stockman (3-1/4" closed), even though I have a pile of peanuts and pen knives that gather dust. More often, I'll be carrying a 32 stockman, canoe, 107W or ratcliffe.

I'd be curious how everybody else views this - about how short do you like to go for everyday carry ?

Although I enjoy smaller knives as collectibles, I don't think I ever CARRY one shorter than 3 1/2 inches. And often a fixed blade or folding hunter on the belt.

I prefer 3-1/4 to 4".
3-1/2 to 3-3/4 about ideal.
I do have a Case 6375 at 4-1/4 that I'll slip into the pocket every once in a while.

The Victorinox Classic, at a tad over 2 1/4" is the smallest knife I carry. And in most cases, I'm not using the blade, just the scissors. Normally, it's 3". I have lots of 3" lockbacks--they're great for a watch pocket. Same with Small Stockmen. 3.75-4" is about perfect.

3" closed is the shortest I'll go. Anything less than that is simply too small.

______________
Mike

My favorite EDC is the Case 047 pattern which is right at 4 inches. Sometimes it’s a Schrade 881 which is just a tad shorter. My back pocket carry is a 4-3/4 inch lock back. Even when I worked an office job I carried a Case 18 pattern stockman (3-5/8 inches).

Anything less than 3-1/4 inches is too small for most jobs IMHO, unless you’re just working fingernails. JMO. But any knife is better than no knife!

Ken

I'm with you Ken
My favorite size is around 3 1/2" to 3 3/4". I feel they are the most handy in that size range. Bigger than that, they get uncomfortable in the pocket.
IMHO
God Bless!

Thé little Richards and the Chinese wood and brass live in my changepurse. I like the can opener and screwdriver on the Richards and the other one is actually a two blade which you don’t often see.
The Coast three blade is my purse knife.

I can carry a 2 3/4" knife with no problem, all the ones I have are schrades with two or three blades that are on the same serpentine frame. Naturally I prefer the three blade. It's a pretty small pattern but never inadequate for typical pocket knife tasks. I don't usually carry a knife that small though.


Examples of the type.
A later variant with delrin handles but it gives you an idea of the size.

Mumbleypeg wrote:But any knife is better than no knife!

Ken

I like it!!!

I tend to favor smaller knives now as my cutting shores are pretty much limited to trimming errant brush hairs on my lettering brushes and cutting paper for patterns.My carry knives of late have been a tiny Victorinox with metal handles and an older Smith & Wesson metal handled folder.

I have 2 Case Peanuts which I love but seldom carry. I am afraid they will fall out of my pocket.
Their small size makes them weigh considerably less than longer knives. The small blade size
however does the job in most circumstances.

My favorite size to carry is 3 1/4 to 3 3/4 inches.
Bob

ps The pen knife below is a mere 15 gm weight.

If you have joint problems in your hands as I do, then too small a knife gets to be a problem manipulating. I have small knives, but don't carry them, preferring 3 1/2"-4 1/4" folders.

For carry 3 1/2" is the smallest I go. Prefer around 4".

I got this Buck 705 for $5 at the pawnshop. It's the tiniest real pocketknife I ever saw. Still, opens boxes etc. very well. I personally prefer a 4 inch stockman or a large Copperlock or Tribal Lock for EDC.

4 1/8- 4 1/4 are my most favorites. I especially like the jumbo Congress knives and the big stockman knives like my CASE 6375’s and Camillus 89’s.

3 5/8 is about my lower limit. Anything smaller than a Camillus 72 or a CASE 6318 and it’s just too small for my hands.

3 3/8 is my lower limit. The CSC Co-Op boys knife is that length, this knife has taught me my lower limit, and if it was a clip blade it would be way less useful for me.

I normally drop a 3 7/8" or 4" knife in my trouser pocket. When I wear a vest I usually carry a little 3 1/8" knife in my vest pocket to go along with the larger knife. For me 3 1/8" is the lower limit.

I've got a small SAK on my keyring for finger nail work, I like good ole bigg'uns and big ole good'uns for tote'n and cutting, although I slip a pen knife in my watch pocket if it's a small pocket now and then.

I usually have one of these on me. All Cases. Top to bottom, a #6233 at 2 5/8", a #6227 at 2 3/4", or a 3" toothpick, either the #610096 or the #510096. Another pocket will have something closer to 4".

I guess 3 3/8" is the limit for me, I carry this 6202 1/2 to work every day and she does the trick for opening boxes, letters and mandarin skins. It cuts an occasional thread too, I can't imagine not having some sort of knife on hand wherever I go.

Colonel26 wrote:4 1/8- 4 1/4 are my most favorites. I especially like the jumbo Congress knives and the big stockman knives like my CASE 6375’s and Camillus 89’s.

3 5/8 is about my lower limit. Anything smaller than a Camillus 72 or a CASE 6318 and it’s just too small for my hands.

RIGHT you are about the 75 series. Pictured from right are my 3 stockman; XX 6375 red bone, yellow 3375, blue workman 6375, and red bone XX 6275 Moose. They are among my favorites for a hand filling work knife. BUT, 4 1/4" is as big as is comfortable in a pocket.

OLDE CUTLER wrote:

Colonel26 wrote:4 1/8- 4 1/4 are my most favorites. I especially like the jumbo Congress knives and the big stockman knives like my CASE 6375’s and Camillus 89’s.

3 5/8 is about my lower limit. Anything smaller than a Camillus 72 or a CASE 6318 and it’s just too small for my hands.

RIGHT you are about the 75 series. Pictured from right are my 3 stockman; XX 6375 red bone, yellow 3375, blue workman 6375, and red bone XX 6275 Moose. They are among my favorites for a hand filling work knife. BUT, 4 1/4" is as big as is comfortable in a pocket.

IMG_2922.JPG

Very nice!

I like a Case 055 pattern for carrying. So about 3-1/2 inches seems perfect.