Fixed Blade or Folder?????

[the Ferret]

Neck knife or belt knife for me ..fixed blade.

I don't like the gunk you get in a folder either, especially since I use my knives more for lunch prep than anything else  

[Minuteman]

I like both ut you can't get the folders open when youre hand is stuck in a rottwielers mouth! I carry a fixed blade in the woods and a pocket clip combat folder (Spiderco) one hand opener for every day use.  
 Sheath knives are quicker into action if speed becomes a factor. Like if yer Mickey and you shot your one arrow into a rutting buck. You think its dead and walk up to claim yer winter meat when all of a sudden the buck gets up and charges you. Happened to a preacher friend of mine. Shot it four times with a shotgun, thought it was dead.
 In the ensuing wrestling match he had to remove his belt to tie the dern thing up to a creek edge tree root before he could open his folding knife to stab it to death. Darn near killed him.
 Can't have too many knives though of either kind.

[Flatstick]

For hunting I like a fixed blade, but for everyday use I carry a couple of folders. A small Gerber in my pocket and a medium sized Benchmade on my belt. I just recently had to go on a buisness trip where I had to go thru security at the airport, so I left my knives in the truck, man,,,did I feel naked without a knife on me somewhere!  

[BobW]

was always carrying a folder (still do), but now only use fixed blade for game.  Easier to clean up, and I don't worry as to what is in those little spaces when cutting some pepperoni or cheese for lunch.

[Killdeer]

There is a Kershaw Leek clipped on my right front pocket. This is for everything, it is a thin, one-handed assisted-opening knife with a half straight, half serrated blade. There is Everready in my waist pack's side pocket. Everready's job is opening up critters and emptying them out, making them ready to carry or drag. There is a Buck Vanguard in the main pack compartment. It travels with me in case I need to cut saplings or summat, make an emergency camp. Once in camp, it skins, dislocates, disjoints and makes big pieces smaller for wrapping.

Everready's teef (before rescaling)
 

Everready with his new Lignum Vitae scales
 

Time for the Vanguard
 

So, you see, I could not answer the question.  :(  
Killdeer

[frankwright]

I cleaned many deer with a Schrade Folder. It always worked good and stayed sharp. It was a pain to clean all the nooks and crannies from the knifes internals though.

I started carrying a fixed blade in my ever present fanny pack and have really grown fond of a small fixed blade knife.

The Helles are the ones I have used the most lately.

[Diamond Paul]

I like a fixed blade for cleaning deer.  I have a Dozier Delta Traveler that I like a lot.  I also carry a Spyderco folder with a skinning blade.

[woodchucker]

Thanks for all of the replies!!!!! I "like" sheath knives.....They just don't "like" me very much LOL.

I'm very hard on the sheaths,I end up sitting down and poking the tip through the sheath.Or,I slice through the stitching,sometimes even the side of the sheath putting the knife back in.

The "original" sheath for my Buck folder lasted about 3 years.It rode on my belt every day and I had to re-stitch the belt loop twice.The third time the leather belt loop ripped.I picked up another one at a flea market and that one lasted about 2 years before the snap broke. It's a little heavy but it's been riding in my pocket ever since.

[Carbon Caster]

Chuck,

Have you ever tried a cross Draw style sheath??

[woodchucker]

I have a big Ontario Knife Co. "Old Hickory" butcher knife that I have been thinking about getting a "Mountain Man" sheath for. (from Dixie Gun Works)

[W.Tim]

Killdeer, nice job on the knife rescaling      

[Killdeer]

Hey woodchucker, those are about the easiest sheathes to make. It is a folded piece of leather, and the old way of making them only required brass upholstery tacks driven through and bent over to "sew" it together. You could also use a welt, if you like, and rivets or screw posts to fasten it.

No stitching is necessary, no belt loop, just a cut-out in the edge to hold it on your belt or sash. Another style doesn't even have the cutout, just a "wing" at the top of the sheath to hang over the top of your belt.

Make it with a medium-heavy cowhide.

Killdeer

[Cutty47]

Killdeer, good stuff.  Thanks.

[StickBowManMI]

I always carry a fixed blade knife and a "folder" as a backup or to do whatever needs to be done. My folder is a Kershaw. This way my fixed blade stays sharp for its primary purpose.

[woodchucker]

Killy, I'm looking for a piece of leather My Deer LOL    

Just might make a "Moutain Man" out of this Old Indian yet LOL!!!!!  

[Scott S.]

I voted fixed blade, but I have been known to carry a folder instead or in addition.  Some days it's Ginger and some days it's Mary Ann.

[adkmountainken]

Chuck,
      the picture of my long knife on page 2 of this thread shows the sheath which is the style Carbon Caster and Killy are talking about. this style sheath can be worn MANY ways and is very comfortable and durable.

[woodchucker]

Ken, Oh Boy!!!!! You would be PROUD of me!!!!!

I got me a BIG old Ontario Knife Co. "Old Hickory" butcher knife with a 7" blade!!!!!

All I gotta do is make a sheath for it.....  

[nockhunter]

I always carry both, my #1 fixed blade is a buck 124(frontiersman)my favorite,and in my pocket is any number of folders,mainly a case mid folding hunter because of the pocket clip.

You can never have enough knives...............

Mike

[adkmountainken]

Chuck,
      they are excellent knives, great steel!! i carry one a lot and it can take a beating!