Whatever tasks you need to complete with your knife, there are two main blade categories to choose from: fixed and folding.
Under these two umbrellas, there’s an extensive range of knife types; it pays to understand the basic pros and cons of folding versus fixed knives to help narrow down which everyday carry or outdoor knife is right for you.
What is a Folding Knife?
Fairly self-explanatory, a folding knife has a blade (or multiple blades) that can be folded into the handle. Pocket knives are the most common type, and some people may use the terms ‘folding knife’ and ‘pocket knife’ interchangeably, although there are other types of folding knives, like lock knives, for instance.
These kinds of knives are useful for a range of everyday tasks like cutting rope or food, etcetera and can be easily carried in your pocket, making them handy for various scenarios, whether it’s for everyday use or when out camping.
What is a Fixed Blade Knife?
Again, pretty easy to discern from the name, a fixed blade knife has a blade that cannot be folded down into the handle – the blade cannot move and remains fixed in. The most common versions of these knives are sheath knives.
Fixed blade and sheath knives tend to be used as camping, hunting or survival knives, along with being good general-purpose and utility blades.
The Pros of Folding Knives
For many looking for a general-use knife, folding knives and pocket knives are the go-to option. They are convenient and can be easily carried in your pocket or bag without having to worry about a sheath.
They’re lightweight and have the potential to include multiple blades or tools, with things like Swiss Army knives being all-in-one options that serve as great backups to have on hand when going about normal life or heading out for a bit of camping.
The smaller and concealable nature of folding knives also means they are more likely to be law-compliant for carrying in public. Provided your folding knife isn’t a lock knife and the cutting edge does not exceed 3 inches, you can carry it in public without a ‘good reason’.
To summarise, the benefits of opting for a folding knife include:
- - Convenient to use
- - Easy to carry
- - Lightweight
- - More likely to be able to carry in public
The Pros of Fixed Blade Knives
While pocket knives or lock knives may be good to have on hand for general use if you’re looking for something that’ll hold up against more rigorous tasks, a fixed blade knife is probably your best bet.
Fixed blades are good for hunting, bushcraft, outdoor and survival scenarios. Unlike a folding blade, these knives have no moving parts, so have less opportunity to break – a good quality sheath knife will keep serving you well with very little chance of failing.
Fixed blades, in their many forms, are strong and versatile. You can use them for a range of things when out camping, not just cutting but hammering with the pommel, digging, fire-making and whittling.
The lack of moving parts and general accessibility of the blade itself also allows for easy maintenance and cleaning. To summarise, fixed blades knives are:
- - Strong
- - Durable and won’t break easily
- - Easy to clean and maintain
- - Versatile
The Cons of Folding Knives
Because they fold in on themselves and hinge on a pivot point, folding knives are more prone to damage. With a slightly too-rigorous cut, you could end up loosening the blade from the handle or separating them completely.
Having moving parts also means they can be harder to clean and maintain as there are more crevices to collect dirt and more chances of things going wrong.
- - Less durable
- - Harder to clean
- - Additional maintenance
The Cons of Fixed Blade Knives
Fixed blades can be slightly less convenient for carrying for general use as you can’t really keep them in your pocket. Your fixed blade probably won’t be suitable for carrying in public unless you can defend yourself with a ‘good reason’, like it being necessary for your job.
They cannot fold, so are always ‘open’ – you will need to carry fixed blades in a sheath to keep yourself and the knife itself protected. This can make carrying them around slightly bulkier and more cumbersome.
- - Need to carry a sheath
- - Less convenient to carry
Which Knife is Right For Me?
This will generally depend on what you need the knife for and what you’ll prefer to use. In most cases:
- - Folding blades: are better for general, everyday use and practical tasks.
- - Fixed blades: are better for camping, bushcraft and outdoor survival scenarios.
Whether you decide a folding or fixed blade is right for you, there is an almost endless array of designs and variations available to choose from. Take a look at our comprehensive range of knives and blades, including lock knives, hunting knives, multi-tools and even throwing knives, to discover the best blade for the job.
