| For light duty a folding knife is certainly easy to | | | | wrong application thereof. You will find that even |
| work with. Simple carving, whittling, opening | | | | the finest of fixed blade knives for cutlery will |
| boxes, envelopes...these duties are pretty simple | | | | often twist and break off at the tip if you |
| and straight forward and are not too demanding | | | | suddenly find yourself having to use one as a |
| on the carriage or the lever. Folding knives are | | | | flathead screwdriver. They are harder to carry |
| easier to carry (and loose) plus there are many in | | | | around unless you have a carrying case, so they |
| different price ranges. Fixed blade knives are | | | | usually stay in the toolbox. |
| heavier duty by far, and they range in many | | | | Many of your folding knives are used in the |
| different sizes and weights for different tasks. | | | | streets for the ease of carrying around and the |
| Lack of moving parts makes fixed blade knives | | | | ability to conceal. In some states having a knife |
| entirely more durable. | | | | over 6 inches is a crime so watch what you |
| Folding knives have casing which covers the blade | | | | purchase if you plan on having it on your person. |
| like a sheath that should be periodically cleaned, | | | | Usually hunting and larger type serrated knives |
| and the pivot screw should be oiled especially with | | | | are perceived more as tools as opposed to |
| outdoor use. This is usually where most of the | | | | folding knives. |
| folding knives fail after prolonged use break or | | | | Quality of anything you purchase is usually the |
| rust shut. Many of us have used these in place of | | | | result of what you are willing to pay for. This |
| a screw driver and broke the tip off at the end | | | | pertains to fixed blade knives, as well. It is easy |
| of the blade. Have you ever used a folding knife | | | | to find reasons to favor one over the other or |
| that didn't have a lockout mechanism? I used one | | | | vise-versa; if it fits within your budget, try not to |
| to scrape and pry off old caulk from windows | | | | go cheap on your tools - any tools. I have learned |
| and when I put pressure on the wrong side of | | | | this the hard way, having raced through countless |
| the blade, it snapped back on my fingers...and it | | | | fixed blade knives, multi-tools and folding knives, |
| hurt. Of course there are decent and functional | | | | cheap and expensive. As long as you properly |
| folding knives that are part of multi purpose | | | | take car of, and don't lose or leave your more |
| knives, but the little blades in those usually don't | | | | expensive tools, they tend outlast and outwork a |
| have lockouts, so they are equally as notorious | | | | cheaper tool. As a final thought, I would choose to |
| for closing when you least expect it. | | | | have top of the line-or at least moderate-when |
| Don't get me wrong, fixed blade knives break too. | | | | purchasing a fixed blade knife. |
| Usually it has more to do with the application - or | | | | |