Why Have a Knife Big Enough for Belt Carry?
So pocket knives suck. And nobody straps machetes to their back(at least not when their girlfriend is watching) That leaves a mid sized knife with a simple, multi-purpose design for general, but heavier use than tiny knives like my beloved CRKT S.P.E.W. Wait why the heck did I just diss folders? That’s an article for another day, until then you just have to feel the sting of my evil words. But I digress. The point is the knives I suggest are better than the knives my brother uses, so you can laugh at his recommendation here
To the real steel and wood of the matter now(Yea! Down with plastic handles!) You need a mid sized knife that can stand up to the random needs life throws at you. Like slaying stray cats or cutting a piece of ham. For light tasks and practicality I always carry a small neck knife, but that doesn’t eliminate the need for something bigger, more durable, and expensive enough to annoy your friends with. Folders of that size are impractical, and lack the structure and comfort to do heavy tasks like cut through cars doors(you just never know), or cut through the giant cheese block of the moon.
Now let me explain the problem with so-called “bowie knives”, because these are not at all what I mean when I say belt carry fixed blade. The term Bowie Knife is a meaningless term that dominates the fixed blade market. It applies to a general shape, but very broad category of often cheaply made knives, that aren’t even practical if they were built well. The blade shape that I usually see as a “Bowie” is over-sized, not a useful design for ordinary cutting tasks, is purely horrific for skinning due to the guard style, impractical for cutting cucumber slices, and the only thing it does well at all is chop larger things. But wait, isn’t that what a hatchet or machete is for? Use the right tool for the job.
Okay, so REAL fixed blade knives. Unless you have a very specific purpose for your blades, you need an all-round functional shape. Something reasonable in size, safe to handle, and comfortable to hold and wear. Yea, that’s a lot, but its not overly complex to choose one. Knives with giant guards and/or hulking rectangular(or sometimes round) handles are awkward and useless for most tasks. Knives with blades excessively large(think how much blade you actually use to cut things) are just cumbersome, and annoying to wear. Wait I just insulted Bowie’s again…hmm. Ehehehe. And lastly, knives with zero between your fingers and certain impending doom…well, enough said. You need one that either has a practical design of guard, or a handle design that eliminates the need for a guard. Exceptionally bad is a handle that slopes in towards the blade AND has no guard(dammit Morakniv!)
To sum up, you need a medium sized blade that works for most tasks with an ergonomic handle, and a little something that doesn’t get in your way between your fingers and the edge. Of course I’m here to sell you one. (well kniveshipfree is, I’m just getting the commission.) You’ll find it ticks all the boxes, and has some serious style. Besides that, quality is a no-brainer in a knife. You need one that’s made of damn good steel and heat treated properly. And you need it to be all shiny. What? Yea, man. SHINY. Its a deeply important quality that is often overlooked. Always choose shiny. Have a great day, and make it even better by clicking the >>>>link<<<< to this beauty of a blade by Arno Bernard!
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Originally published at https://realmensstyle.com on August 9, 2020.
