An Argument for Small Fixed Blades

I have a dark secret….. while I started Fireside Company making scales for folding knives, all my favorites were fixed blades, and today it’s all I carry and use. Don’t worry, I’m not going to make the tired arguments opposing folders by waxing on about lock failure, blade play, or deployment issues, those are non-starters for me, and frankly, they can get a bit silly. Despite the title, I’m actually not making an “argument” at all, fixies just fit “my” needs better from day to day, and that prompted me to start making what I wanted to see on the market – here’s why:

When I reach for my pocket knife it’s usually for one of two things – to open a package or to slice up a piece of fruit for my kids. I want to clean that knife easily without worrying about gunk or rust in a pivot or between liners. Not to mention, I’ve scraped up a few steering wheels getting in and out of vehicles with clips attached to my pocket.

Now to get slightly geeky… I’m not much of a fidgeter, so while I’ve been known to use the “Spydie flick” opening technique on my share of folding knives, these days I enjoy slowly removing my knives from their sheaths and the satisfying sound of returning them to said sheath when I’m through with a task. I feel like I have my little Excalibur or Sword of Omens with me (yeah, old reference!) and am ready to take on whatever the day throws at me, be it junk mail, or that branch that keeps whacking me in the face when I get out of the car. I like cleaning these blades regularly and wiping them down with our all-natural/food-safe F Balm (shameless plug #1) after a stropping session. You have to be deliberate about carrying and caring for a knife if you want it to be a worthy companion, and in a world where everything is fast and faster, there’s something intrinsically enjoyable about that. The “Edison” pattern we make (shameless plug #2) has a profile that in my opinion is perfect for EDC (Everyday Carry). The blade is approximately 2.7″ which is plenty for my daily tasks, and it’s legal to carry in most states (just make sure you do your due diligence on that). The handle is just long enough to get a solid grip on (especially with a lanyard) and the overall footprint is roughly the same as a large folder. One of these paired with a Swiss Army Knife or one of our Coyotes (shameless plug #3) is EDC nirvana for me.

This is my story, I’m a weirdo, and I’m here for any other weirdos that can identify. Head over to the Shop if you’re ready to EDC a knife that doesn’t fold under pressure! Sorry, I couldn’t resist with that last line, but seriously, just carry something… anything… your keys and your teeth will thank you, and once you start carrying a knife you’ll be surprised how many times you use it throughout the day.