Which is better – a fixed blade or a folding knife?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “factor knife winter blade“
About Adeline
Written by: Adeline
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Which is better – a fixed blade or a folding knife?
You can check the answer of the people under the question at Quora “factor knife winter blade“
About Adeline
Original question:
Are fixed blade knives more durable than folding knives?
Under extreme conditions I’d say a fixed blade is far more durable than a folding blade. Folding knives have a couple of weak points that a full tang knife doesn’t.
image by Waerloeg – Made in inkscape, CC BY-SA 3.0, File:Folding knife locking mechanisms.svg
First the blade is only supported by a very small part of the handle.
Second the pivot pin is basically taking all the force put on the blade.
Third the blade locking mechanism can easily fail under duress.
See any such weak points on this full tang knife?
Even a hidden tang knife is stronger than a folding knife.
Do I carry a folding knife? Yes. Do I use it as hard as one of my full tang knives when in the field? No.
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I prefer a fixed blade knife. However, any knife you have is better than the one you left at home.
A2A. I don’t have anything to say that hasn’t been covered well by other answers.
I’ll only comment that growing up in the 70s, every kid had a pocket knife at school. Such things are taboo today, but you weren’t a young man without that tiny accoutrement.
I spent most of my life with some sort of folding knife in my pocket. In a pinch I have cut some meat, but mostly I just opened boxes.
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Which is better – a fixed blade or a folding knife?
Fixed.
Really? Yes, no hesitation. Anything you can do with a knife goes better with a fixed blade. Whether it’s stabbing someone:
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Or you can have a Puukko knife for peeling apples and cleaning vegetables.
Pretty much the only reason folding knives were invented was convenience. Not because it would make them better at the job of doing knife work, but they were just easier to carry around.
Which is why I carry a folding knife, not a fixed blade, because it’s not allowed to walk around with fixed blades in The Netherlands, while this Kershaw OD-1 is not illegal.
Not because it’s better at its job than a Puukko, but easier to carry around.
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It’s really dependent on the particular need at the time. Both are necessary at times. You don’t really want to baton a folder through large chunks of wood. And using larger fixed blades for finer, more detailed work can be difficult. My rule is you can’t have too many knives, or blades, in your inventory. They all have their place and uses. And make sure they’re all sharp! A dull blade is a dangerous blade. It takes more effort to cut with a dull blade, and the possibility of a slip increases. Flesh vs. metal is never a contest.
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Folding knives are mainly for gentlemen, and attention is not to harm anybody, and fixed knife blade are usually carried by people who are on self guarding, and ready to defend or attack. With out fumbling to open the blade. Fixed blades knife are weapons of criminals and thugs.
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That depends on the intended use. My boot knife is a Gerber Mark 1. It is intended for self defense and there is no way you want a folding knife, even with a locking mechanism. If it …
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For what? The usage or purpose will answer your question. Folders come in lots of utility and specialty designs and fit pockets nicely.
Quality straights are rugged and come in fewer specialty designs.
My personal favorite “every day carry” blade (I have hundreds to choose from) has to be Grohmann’s Canadian Belt Knife. Fixed blade. Beautiful handle. Small and very unthreatening looking. Very high utility rating as it can be used for shaving kindling or skinning or opening boxes. Extreme quality. [Warning: There are many ripoffs of this fantastic blade design, with cheap plastic handles and god-only-knows what blade steel.]
The only downside is that with a 4″ blade, it is illegal to open carry in many world locations. For U.S. location knife laws, go to akti.org
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Definitely a folding knife. Easier to carry. But I do have a fixed blade knife that I hang by my head in my teardrop trailer…less to fumble with in the dark.
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That is like asking which is better Phillips or flathead screwdrivers? They are intended and built for a similar job, but not the same job.
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I prefer folding knives. Victorinox has very reliable quality, the arrangement is attractive and secondary tools (esp the scissors) can often be useful. Not least important, Swiss army knives are easily recognized and will not seem threatening to others. Also I spend most of my time in the city and do not engage in extreme wilderness sports so there is little reason I am likely to need a big survival knife capable of doing things like skinning game.
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Choosing between a fixed blade and a folding knife can be a difficult decision, but there are some key factors to consider before making a purchase.
Fixed blades tend to be sturdier and have a longer lifespan than folding knives, but they can be more difficult to carry around. Folding knives are easier to carry around, but they may not cut as well as fixed blades. It’s important to choose the right knife for the job at hand.
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It is not a matter of preference, but a matter of circumstance. When I am in an office environment I prefer a pocket knife, usually a small lock blade, or swiss army, when I am out hiking I usually carry a fixed blade knife. Both work, both do what I need to do at the time.
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Thx4A2A-
The buck knife folder was developed, I’ve read, because cowboys falling from their horses kept skewering themselves on fixed blades.
99% of the time I carry 2 folders. Hunting deer I carry a small fixed blade in my pack, it’s easier to clean after field dressing,
when I landscaped I used a fixed blade for cutting sod-
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Yes, full tang knives are much stronger and more durable than any folder. The locking mechanism in folders creates a weak point in the knife that you will not find with a fixed blade. Properly heat treated, a fixed blade is much tougher and stable, and should always be your first choice if strength and durability is needed. RT
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Fixed blade knives are more reliable, hands down! But unfortunately they are viewed as aggressive and offensive. Folding knives are usually better hidden and therefore seen as more politically correct.
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As my ol’ daddy used to say, “proper tool for the proper job.”
That said, I don’t need a fixed blade too often, but I am hardly ever without a folder.
It’s a rare day I don’t have my Benchmade 9750 Mini-Coalition automatic in my pocket, except when I forget it in my jeans and it goes through the wash, or I am on an airplane.
In the former case, I then have to break down and carry my Benchmade 4300–1 CLA automatic.
Sometimes, if I know I will be using a knife hard that day, I will carry the CLA intentionally as it has a longer blade (if slightly lesser steel, 154CM vs S30V) and a much more robust grip. The 9750 is my “Possibles Knife,” for anything under the sun with no preparation. The 4300 is my “Working Man’s Knife,” for hard work in the field or on the bench.
If I am on an airplane, my knife is usually in the baggage hold in checked luggage.
And some days, if I have to dress up for something— not often since the country got Coronaed— I usually haul my ProTech Godson automatic with the burl ash scales, mosaic button and blacked out blade. This one is my “Sunday Go To Meeting Knife,” in case one of the hymnals has a stray thread needing trimming or we are attacked by a rabid anti-Christian with a gun and I run out of ammo in my primary weapon, or something.
I also have lesser knives for specific purposes— a Flexcut Carving Jack for wood carving, several retractable razor knives for veneer work and the like, an X-Acto for tiny fine detail work, etc— but I don’t usually carry them.
I am— all my life, unfortunately— one of those idiots who will grab something needing the application of a knife before reaching for the knife, meaning I have to put it back down to open the knife, or use a one-hand opener. Texas having finally restored some measure of liberty to her citizens and making automatics legal, I carry them.
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The only question that will instill greater argument than the “best gun” fights on here is ask about knives.
I knew an old Navy Corpsman with the Marines. He was in Korea, Viet Nam and except when he was work in a prison, he was never without his Marine KBar. EVER.
I have tried carrying something that big, but hated it.
Growing up from before I had a driver’s license I had a Buck Folder, i even carried it in Nursing School, and as an Nurse until I began working in a Prison. For a while, due to weird loopholes about knives in prison, I carried leatherman tool, then they closed the loophole.
Today, the leatherman tool is my goto knife on land.
Sailing has special sailing needs, I have a leatherman like tool specialized for sailing. And a specialized sheath knife on my vest.
My Buck is my camping knife along side my leatherman.
Modern knives are specialized and work as tools to fit the job.
They can also be great weapons. If you train with them.
Start by looking for tool knifes, then add knifes.
Trust me, today knifes the size of a buck 119 or a K-Bar or a Buckmaster Seal Knife are impractical as hell.
My the way, my cousin most died in Boy Scouts when he was cut by another scout who dropped his big sheathknife.
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A fixed blade is always better than a folder less part means less to go wrong, 4″ – 5″ blade is ideal however many blue states have restrictions on certain type of knives. In NYC you technically cannot carry a knife but if you keep it hidden they won’t know, and in the city you want a folder. However if you need to defend yourself against these Marsixt rioters it’s better to have a double edged fixed blade.
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Different tools for different jobs. I am very fond of my Kershaw Dividend (an assisted opening folder similar to the Leek). I also like Ferum Forge’s out the front exacto blade for a handy keychain blade for opening packages and such. Two fixed blades from TOPs, the MiniScandi makes an excellent modern stand in for a Sgian Dubh for kilt wear and their M1 Midget for a useful survival/ field knife without silly gimmicky features or pretending to be a machete. I usually have two or more of those four on me.
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For what?
Day to day EDC?
Folding, easy. Probably a Swiss Army Knife (Pioneer X)
Camping? Fixed blade every time. Usually a Pukko.
Knives are tools, and as such there are no ““one size fits all” blades.
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Yes, fixed blade knives are stronger than folders because there are no moving parts.
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Neither. Both have their uses, advantages and disadvantages. That is why, whenever possible, I generally carry both. I will have a fixed blade with a 4–5 inch blade, lately the Spyderco Bow River
but will also usually have a folder – a Victorinox SAK Trekker (an old model, not one-hand opening and no useless serrations) in my pocket. Neither is specifically for self defense. I simply like fixed blades for most ‘knife stuff’ but also enjoy the utility of a good SAK with a few tools. The Trekker has a pretty good blade, too. For camping or other outdoor activities I will have a larger, heavier bladed fixed blade of some type instead of the Bow River but will still have the Trekker.
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I personally prefer my K25 throwing knife. Of course its fixed blade and I good for camping and fishing. Also self defense. Self defense in my home however. I have folding blades too but I prefer fixed.
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That is purpose-driven. Hunting, camping, bushcraft, combat, and other purposes are best served with fixed blade knives.
General utility–which is most of my use, even if not my favorite–is usually better served with a folding knife.
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Original question: Which is better – a fixed blade or a folding knife.
Well it all comes down to quality and application.
First we discuss quality. A must is good quality steel while there are too many different types of steel used in the manufacturing of knives. There are several known companies in many countries that are known not to use quality steel in the making of their products. Yes there are good quality ceramic blades but I have yet to use one that I consider as good as steel.
Next is application, bringing the right tool for the job. I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t use a 10lb sledge hammer to drive a trimming nail into a wall. The same basic concept applies to knives. You want something that is large enough to do the job but not so large that it makes your task harder to accomplish.
So neither is necessarily better than the other but comes down to personal preferences.
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Well, interesting question – what do you mean by “more durable”
On the one hand you have a single solid full tang knife – vs – a multiple part device that presents it’s blade(s) and or tools.
What can go wrong with the fixed blade knife? You can loose scale(s) / handle or you can dull or break the blade itself
folder – same lost scale or damaged blade but in addition you can have broken/lost pin(s) – springs – locks and just everyday wear – so lots more to go “wrong”.
So right away just from design aspect(s) you are less durable as a folder before you even get to material quality and craftsmanship.
On the other side of the question you have no damage to the knives but your use will cause the blade to dull so the choice of steel, grind and maintenance will show a difference in the “durability” of the tool to cut/slice.
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It would boil down to “better for what”?
Both types come in a huge variety of variations and sizes. I carry a very small fixed-blade knife, a K-Bar “TDI”, on my duty belt. Overall, it’s smaller than many folders.
I have seen folding knives that are a foot long, folded.
Generally, it’s a matter of function. Fixed-blade knives are generally better for chores like cleaning and skinning game animals, as they don’t have to be stuck in a pocket and they are much easier to clean up. Most all “hunting” knives are fixed-blade.
Fixed-blade knives are also better for combat. Generally larger, sturdier, and as a result, deadlier.
But folders are handy, and smaller utility or “gentleman’s” knives will not raise many eyebrows if produced to open a package or letter. The same could not be said of an “automatic” knife or a large “tactical” folder.
Modern tactical folders, with a variety of one-hand opening methods, offer a very versatile knife in a small, compact package. Further, fixed-blade knives are often illegal to carry, being deemed “daggers”, whereas in all states you can carry SOME kind of folder, if only a small one.
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“Which knives do you prefer, folding knives or fixed blade knives?”
I pretty much carry a folding knife with me everywhere. Except where it is not allowed. Or the days I forget to grab one. They are compact and easy to carry. However, I wi also carry a sheath (fixed blade) kife when I feel it necessary or, at least, useful. Sometimes you just need a good sheath knife to get the job done without having to worry about the blade closing on your fingers, or snapping off easily.
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So why do I have to pick one or the other? I have more than 1 pair of shoes. I don’t wear the same ones for hiking that I would wear to take my girl dancing. Same with knives. Every day, small swiss army knife. Serious cutting? Gerber mark 2. Chopping veggies for stir fry? 12″ chef’s knife. Casual whittling? Boker tree brand stockman’s knife.
How would you feel if someone asked you to pick the favorite of your children???
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Selecting a knife is (to me) as personal as selecting underwear.
I pick what I like, what it is going to be used for as one of the factors, along with looks, quality and price as other factors that helps to shape my decision.
After that I live with my decision, be it a god or bad one, and IF it is not good, then I may look at replacing that knife later on with a more suited one for the job that I needed it for initially.
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A fixed blade knife is generally safer to use than a folding knife because you don’t have to worry about the blade opening up unexpectedly. It is also easier to carry around and use than a folding knife.
However, fixed blade knives do have some disadvantages, including not being as versatile as a folding knife. They are generally heavier and bulkier than folding knives, which can be a problem if you want to keep them in your pocket or purse. Also, the edge of a fixed blade knife can get dull over time which means you will need to sharpen it over time.
Which one do I choose? When it comes to choosing between a fixed blade knife and a folding knife, I suggest you go with a fixed blade knife because they are more durable and will hold an edge for a long time for chopping, carving and other activities. On the other hand, if you want a lightweight knife for safety purposes that is easy to carry around, then go with a folding knife.
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Interested readers “Which knives do you prefer, folding knives or fixed blade knives?” I submit my answer below as a knife enthusiast, carrier and user, most commonly in possession of one or more knives.
As a choice of overall preference in the context of all-knives overall, I think I must choose folding knives as I am more commonly in possession of, or carrying, a folding knife rather than a fixed blade.
I have a selection of more than one type of multi-tool, and different types and configurations of folders including some switchblades and gravity type knives. I also have several fixed blades, most of them are collectibles or for display only.
In reality, my carry preference relates directly to my planned-for or intended uses or need for the knife/knives I choose to carry. Sometimes I carry both types.
Most commonly I am carrying a multi-tool which features a knife blade, among others, as a selection. Otherwise I carry a lock-back, drop-point 4″ folder.
When I do carry a fixed blade, it is normally for a specific purpose such as camping, hunting or fishing. I also carry a type of folder as well.
There are other times when I will carry a larger fixed blade such as a machete or combination type blade for bushwhacking, etc. T…
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Both. I usually carry a folding drywall type knife, a three blade pocket knife and a Leatherman Super 300 on a daily basis. For dress up I carry a smaller three blade pocket knife and a Leatherman Wave. When hunting I carry a Buck Brothers 9″ fixed blade and a fixed blade gutting/skinning knife. I also have several fillet knives for fishing. Can’t have too many.
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