It seems that the most common type of knife (that is actually carried) is a small folder. It is followed by a larger folder, and then fixed blades. I think this is all wrong. Local laws aside (which may ban certain blade lengths, or fixed blades), I think fixed blades should be the most carried followed by large folders and then small folders.

I started out carrying small folders. Why not? They are slim, small, and light. But I splurged one day on a Manix, my first large folder. I found that I could carry it without noticing it. So why carry something smaller? If you are wearing pants with a belt (as most men do, most of the time while outside the house), the size and weight difference between a Manix and, say, a Leek, is functionally and practically zero. But the Manix performs much better than the Leek.

Then I started trying some fixed blades. Some were bulky and uncomfortable to carry, but the good ones with the well-designed sheaths were also not noticed. A fixed blade carried on the belt horizontally is just as comfortable and easy to carry as a Leek (or a Swiss Army Knife, or a Case slipjoint), yet it performs better in every way. A fixed blade is faster to pull and return, is strong in every way, does not have weak points like a lock or pivot, and is more reliable over the years (every single folder will require service of the lock and pivot). I do not understand why many people carry a small folder and just assume that anything larger will be uncomfortable.

Now, if you are wearing shorts, and/or no belt, or fixed blades are illegal in your state, you are of course not who I am talking about. I do wear shorts sometimes, and a Manix would be a burden in that case. But in general, I do not understand why the best, highest-performance, strongest, and most reliable knives are not carried more often when the knife-user is wearing pants and a belt (or shorts and a belt).

Try it and you might be surprised how a fixed blade on your belt can actually be more comforable than any small folder (SAK, Leek, Delica etc…) as it frees up pocket space and doesn’t dig into your thigh when you sit. You may, however, have to experiment with sheath options and positions just as you would with pocket positions and clip choices using a folder.

My state (California) allows fixed blades to be carried, but only if they are open carry. Some people suggest that carrying a fixed blade is not practical because it has to be visable, and they like to conceal their folder. This is false logic. Clipped folders are visable. Also, if you are scared of carrying your knife in the open because someone might see it and freak out, then you are scared to take your folder out of your pocket. In other words, if you are not willing to open carry a fixed blade, you are not willing to use your folder anyways and there is no reason for you to carry at all. Leave the knife at home.

I carry a knife (almost always an open carried fixed blade) when I think there is a chance, even a slight chance, that I will need a knife. If the chance is zero, I do not carry. The same goes for a hammer, a saw, or a wrench.

I really like simple fixed blades that are somewhat small.

No folder can touch a knife like this in terms of overall performance, strength, comfort of carry, speed, safety, or reliability. Oh, and price/performance and value as well.