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Comparison Ganzo G8012 vs Gerber Folding Sheath Knife

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Ganzo G8012
Gerber Folding Sheath Knife
Ganzo G8012Gerber Folding Sheath Knife
from $32.03 up to $43.68
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from £189.00 
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Main
The sheath of the knife is equipped with a sling cutter, a sharpener for the eyeliner of the blade and a flint. Luminescent notches on the handle. Massive blade.
Type
camping (hunting / fishing)
EDC (everyday)
Specs
Designfixedfolding
Lockback lock
Blade profiledrop-pointdrop-point
Main blade typesmoothcombined
Blade materialsteelsteel
Matte blade finish
Steel grade7Cr177Cr17Mov
Hardness57 HRC
Blade length115 mm91 mm
Blade thickness5 mm
Handle material
plastic /ABS/
plastic
Length245 mm216 mm
Length (folded)124 mm
Weight
356 g /with case/
122 g
More features
 
 
subdigital notch
mount for strap
plastic scabbard
blade lock
opening with one hand
subdigital notch
mount for strap
carrying case
Tool
Features
glass breaker
 
Country of originChina
Color
Added to E-Catalogjanuary 2017april 2014

Type

The type describes the general specialization and design features of the knife. Among the most popular modern types are EDC (everyday), Swiss, hunting / camping, diving (underwater), as well as such specific options as machete / kukri, butterflies, poke and throwing knives, as well as karambits. Note that multi-tools, multi-tools-trinkets and Kubotans / Yawars actually do not belong to knives at all. Here is a more detailed description of each type

— EDC. The English abbreviation EDC means "everyday wear"; it denotes not only knives, but also other small items that are constantly carried with you - from wallets and watches to flashlights and first aid kits. Specifically, EDC knives are mostly small to medium-sized folding products (blade length in most cases does not exceed 90 mm), with a blade lock, a pocket clip and very few or no additional features. Such knives are designed mainly for everyday situations in urban environments, although they can be useful both in nature and in an extreme situation.

— Swiss. Knives that originally appeared as a multi...-purpose tool for the Swiss military (hence the name) and have become popular around the world due to their practicality and functionality. The distinctive features of the Swiss knife are, firstly, a folding design, and secondly, the presence of at least one additional tool that folds into a handle (in addition to the main blade). At the same time, the assortment of such tools is very diverse, it can be almost any additional devices used in modern knives (see "Functions and Capabilities"), and their number in the most functional models can reach one and a half dozen or even more. Swiss knives are mostly small in size, but there are exceptions. In general, they are not well suited for complex large-scale work, but they are indispensable for small tasks that suddenly arise in everyday life: cut a thread, open a bottle, unscrew or tighten a couple of bolts, etc.

– Hiking (hunting / fishing). Knives designed specifically for use in nature - while hunting, fishing or long hikes. Such models often have to deal with different tasks - from cooking and cutting wood chips for a fire, ending with butchering prey. Therefore, there are no clear differences between hunting, fishing and camping knives, which made it possible to combine them into one category. Ease of use, reliability, the ability to withstand long-term high loads and maintain sharpness are especially important for them. Such knives are made mostly clumsy, and rather hard steel is most often used for blades (however, there are exceptions). Many hunting models are not equipped with a sub-finger notch (see "Additional") - this expands the number of grip options available in use. Also, “purely hunting” knives may have an additional specialization related to butchering prey - for example, a Gut-Hook profile (with a hook on the blade for butchering carcasses) or Skinner (a short and wide blade, convenient for skinning). As for fishing knives, their universal models often have slightly longer and narrower blades than classic camping and EDC knives - so that it is convenient both to work with tackle and to clean or gut the catch. For the convenience of removing scales from fish, fishing models may have teeth on the butt of the main blade or even a separate blade resembling a file. We also note that many fishing models are equipped with bright inserts in the handles, which makes it easier to find a knife in the grass or under water; and the handles themselves are often made of lightweight materials that allow a knife that has fallen into the water to stay on the surface. The range of additional tools in hiking models is usually small - in some instances, there may be a file, a cullet and / or a sling cutter.

- Multitool. A versatile tool, most often a folding pliers with advanced features; in some models, scissors or pruners may be the main tool, but the basic design principle remains the same. The handles of such tools accommodate additional folding devices - knives, screwdrivers, etc.; there, in the handles, the sponges of the pliers hide when folding the multitool itself. In general, this is the most versatile type of pocket tool, surpassing even Swiss knives in capabilities; although the specific functionality of the multitool, of course, directly depends on the model.

— Multitool-keychain. A compact variety of multi-tools (see above), which can be worn on a keychain, on a carabiner, in a breast pocket. Multi-tools in the form of key rings are not amazing with a variety of tools, but this option can be useful in some unforeseen situations - for example, with the help of built-in miniature devices, you can fix a fallen bolt on sunglasses, cut a broken nail, etc.

— For diving. Knives designed for scuba divers and divers. Most of them have a clumsy design and a thick, durable blade that can be used as a lever or wedge. The blade often has a combined or purely serrated sharpening (see "Type of the main blade"), convenient for cutting ropes and nets; Many diving knives are double-edged. The handles of knives of this type are large and at the same time quite light, due to which, when released from the hands, the knife becomes vertically on the bottom, on the edge, or even floats to the surface. This, combined with bright inserts, makes it easier to find a lost instrument. Also note that diving knife sheaths are usually equipped with a universal fastening system that allows you to attach them to almost any part of the body or equipment at any angle.

- Machete. The traditional machete is a long (on average 40-50 cm) and wide knife with a blade that widens slightly from the handle to the tip. In addition, in our catalog, kukri, parangi and some other specific types of machete, originating mainly from Southeast Asia, also belong to the machete; see "Blade Profile" for details. Be that as it may, all these varieties have common features, which made it possible to combine them into one type. First of all, these are large sizes and heavy weight, which is why machetes (of all types) are designed mainly for cutting, and not for cutting. Such a knife can be useful when cutting through a road in dense shrubs, harvesting firewood from branches of small thickness, and even when cutting prey while hunting. Of course, a machete will not replace a full-fledged ax; on the other hand, a wider and longer blade is an advantage in some work.

- Butterfly. Another name for this type is balisong. A kind of folding knives, which has a rather original design: the “butterfly” handle consists of two halves, which are attached to the blade with swivel joints. When folded, the blade is completely hidden inside the handle, and when unfolded, both halves rotate 180 °, freeing the blade and forming a one-piece handle. This design allows you to open and fold the knife with one hand, with almost no physical force - although this will require some training. In addition, you can perform quite spectacular tricks with a balisong.

- Mushroom. Knives designed for picking mushrooms. An almost obligatory element of equipment for such a knife is a sickle-shaped blade, which is very convenient to cut prey; such a "sickle" may be the main blade or complement a more traditionally shaped blade. There are other blade options, but much less often; well, in any case, the dimensions of the blade are usually small - otherwise, when picking mushrooms, it is not required. Another feature popular among knives of this type is a brush for cleaning the caps of the collected mushrooms from litter.

- Tychkovy. Knives of a peculiar design: T-shaped or L-shaped, with a handle perpendicular to the blade. In use, this handle is clamped in the fist, and the blade protrudes forward from the fist; the heel - the back of the blade - is made thin, which allows you to squeeze it between your fingers without any problems. The length of the blade in most models of this type is small, and folding is not provided. Such products are designed mainly for use as a means of self-defense, although the “peaceful” use of a butt knife is also possible - for example, for cutting dense material or for opening adhesive tape on packages. In addition, some hunters use such knives when skinning.

- Karambit. The traditional karambit has a rather narrow and long blade with a pronounced point, shaped like a claw - bent down - and sharpened from the concave side. In addition, in our time there are various modifications of such blades, sometimes only approximately resembling the original. The handle is also often bent, so that the whole shape of the knife can resemble a sickle. Another practically obligatory feature of karambit is the ring at the end of the handle, into which the index finger is threaded when held (the knife is designed for reverse grip by default); in some models there is also a second ring, under the little finger. As for the purpose, initially karambits were intended for rather specific tasks, such as collecting coconuts, and in our latitudes such knives are poorly suited for domestic use. However, there are still everyday situations where karambit can still be on top - in particular, cutting ropes, ripping fabrics and opening various packages.

- Throwing. Knives specifically designed for throwing. A characteristic distinguishing feature of such a knife is a kind of balance, when the blade is noticeably heavier than the handle. The handle itself has an extremely simplified design, designed primarily for weight reduction and does not imply comfort when held for a long time in the hands. For example, the simplest throwing knife is an oblong metal plate, one end of which is forged to the shape of a blade, and the other plays the role of a handle and usually has holes to reduce weight. In more advanced models, the handle can be supplemented with paracord or other similar material. But linings made of wood, plastic, etc. they are not used in throwing knives - such materials tend to shatter from impacts during unsuccessful throws, and besides, they have significant weight. The blade is necessarily made sharpened so that the knife can stick when it hits, and the blade as such may be absent altogether, since such knives are not designed for cutting.

- Kubotan / Yawara. Kubotans and Yawars are not knives - they are devices for hand-to-hand combat (mainly self-defense), made in the form of a short rod. They are supposed to be clamped in the hand to strike at pain zones, conduct counterattacks, escort people, or simply to strengthen the blow. Formally, the yawara is a traditional Japanese weapon, and Kubotan is a trademark under which a modern modification of the yawara is produced in the form of a keychain. However, most often such devices are found in the format of tactical pens. Compact dimensions allow you to constantly carry such products with you, using them for self-defense, as a high-strength lever, for breaking glass (many models are armed with a special cullet), etc. In addition, Yawars in such a form factor are skillfully disguised as writing pens, which allows you to avoid unnecessary inconvenient questions from law enforcement agencies.

Design

- Clumsy. The simplest option: the knife blade is fixedly fixed in the handle; there is no possibility of folding it. Such knives are not very convenient to carry - not only because of their large dimensions, but also because they require a sheath or sheath, otherwise the blade can damage surrounding objects or even injure the owner. On the other hand, the fixed structure is simple and inexpensive - and at the same time extremely durable and reliable. Therefore, many knives designed for significant loads - in particular, hunting and fishing ones - are made awkward.

Folding. Knives of a traditional folding design: during non-working hours, the blade is folded due to the rotary fastening in such a way that the blade is hidden in the handle. A similar folding principle is used by butterfly knives and multitools (see “Type”), so they also fall into this category. In any case, this design significantly simplifies storage and transportation and reduces to almost zero the likelihood of the blade coming into contact with foreign objects. Folding models are considered somewhat less durable and reliable than non-folding ones; however, through the use of certain types of locks (see below), this moment can be almost completely compensated. But the obvious disadvantages of this design are its higher cost than non-folding ones, as well as the need for special maintenance: a dirty mechanism may require cleanin...g and lubrication. In addition, not every knife can be made folding - for example, for a machete this does not make sense given the size and purpose.

Folding (front-facing). A specific type of folding design, found mainly in EDC knives (see “Type”). The difference between such products and conventional folding knives is that when opened, the blade does not rotate on a hinge, but extends from the front end of the handle, usually under the action of a special spring. Moreover, in the simplest models the spring works only in one direction - usually to open, less often to close; you have to move the blade in the other direction and compress the spring “manually”, by moving a special slider or other element. However, the two-way Double Auto system has become more widespread (for more information about it, see “Lock”). Note that in order to avoid injury (or stabbing), in some “front-end” blades the blade can be removed from the lock and moved back also under the influence of strong longitudinal pressure.

Folding (automatic). Knives with an automatic mechanism for unfolding and folding the blade. To bring their blade into working position, a lock with a powerful spring is used, which is released when the button is pressed. The key feature of automatic folding models is the ability to open them with one hand. A knife with automatic blade ejection often comes to the rescue when it is not possible to use the second hand. As a rule, opening and closing the blade of such knives occurs using a button.

Lock

Type of lock - a device for fixing the main blade - used in a folding knife (see “Design”). Theoretically, such a device should provide additional protection by preventing unauthorized closing (and sometimes opening) of the knife; however, in practice, much depends on the type of particular lock: different types can differ markedly in reliability, and there are solutions that do not provide for rigid fixation of the blade at all.

Among the most popular modern locks are liner lock, frame lock, back lock, axis lock, button lock and tri-ad lock, however, in addition to them, there are other options, including double auto, compression lock, viroblock and slip-joint. Let's look at both in more detail:

— Liner lock. One of the simplest, inexpensive and at the same time very reliable locks. The locking element is an elastic flat plate (“liner”) hidden inside the handle; when opening the knife, this plate moves to the side and supports the back of the blade, on which a special recess is provided for the liner. To disengage the lock and close the knife, the plate must be moved with your finger in the other direction, to its ori...ginal position.

- Frame lock. In fact, it is a modification of the liner lock described above, in which the role of the locking plate is played not by the liner installed inside the handle, but by part of the handle itself. Such a lock is considered more reliable, and on the whole it is deservedly so: the part of the handle that supports the blade is much thicker than the “liner” and is less likely to shift when the lock is opened. Also, the advantages of a frame lock include a rather interesting and stylish appearance: knives with such locks are mostly all-metal, without handle linings; and models with linings differ in appearance from knives with other types of locks.

— Back lock. A lock using a locking plate, which looks like a kind of spring-loaded “rocker arm” installed along the knife handle and capable of swinging around a transverse axis. When the knife is open, this plate, with its leading edge, rests against the hook on the back of the blade, preventing it from closing; and to close the knife, you need to press on the part of the “rocker arm” protruding from the handle, releasing the plate from the hook. The pressing force is usually quite large, which minimizes the likelihood of disabling the lock even with the tightest grip. In general, such locks turn out to be quite reliable, but it is very difficult to close a knife with a “backlock” with one hand, and in many models it is even impossible.

— Axis lock. Benchmade's invention: a lock controlled by a special movable pin in the front of the handle. When moved forward, the pin enters a groove on the back of the blade, fixing it; when moved back, the lock is released and the knife can be closed. The pin is often made spring-loaded, and the blade, unlike many simpler solutions, is fixed not only in the open position, but also in the closed position. Thanks to this, Axis Lock is considered one of the most reliable modern locks. On the other hand, such a mechanism is sensitive to contamination and requires some care (however, simple) for reliable operation.

- Button lock. Another lock based on the use of a pin. However, in this case, the pin does not move in the longitudinal groove, but is controlled by pressing a button: this press releases the lock, allowing you to open or close the blade (most often it is fixed in both positions - open and closed). Also note that many knives with a “push-button” lock have an automatic opening mechanism - a spring-loaded blade that opens into the working position without effort on the part of the user.

— Virobloc. A knife lock developed by Opinel and still a “calling card” of knives of this brand. The key element of the lock is a rotating ring with a longitudinal slot installed in the front of the handle, at the point where it connects with the blade. To open or close the knife (and it is fixed in both the closed and open positions), you need to turn the ring so that the slot is opposite the blade - then the blade can pass through the ring to the desired position. If the slot is not opposite the blade, the latter, when trying to open or close, rests against the ring and cannot budge.

- Slip-joint. A type of knife lock that does not provide rigid fixation of the blade. In the open position, the blade in such a knife is fixed by the so-called spacer - an elastic element that is to some extent similar to the back lock “rocker arm”, but does not engage in a rigid engagement with the blade (and also plays the role of a kind of closer for a not fully open blade). To close such a knife, it is enough to apply some force to the butt. “Slip joints” are used mainly in small Swiss knives (see “Type”), not designed for high loads.

— Compression lock. A modification of the Liner Lock described above, created by Spyderco and used in some models of this company. One of the key differences from the original is that the locking plate is located on the top side of the handle rather than on the bottom. Due to this, as well as some specific design solutions inside the mechanism itself, the compression lock turns out to be much more reliable than the original “liner”, however, such a lock is not cheap.

— Levitator lock. A proprietary modification of the Frame Lock (see above), developed by Benchmade. Like the original “frame lock”, it is used in knives without pads. A distinctive feature of “levitators” is a specific pattern of slots in the middle part of the handle - this pattern forms a spring plate. A pin is attached to this plate from the inside, which, entering the hole on the back of the blade, fixes it (usually in both the closed and open positions). The lock opens by pressing the characteristic part of the pattern, which acts as a button.

- Arc lock. A proprietary development of the SOG Specialty Knives company, used in its knives; from a technical point of view, it is a slightly modified version of the axis lock described above. The control element is also a pin; and the key difference from the usual “axis” is that the pin is connected to a special rocker arm and moves not in a straight line, but in an arc. This provides additional reliability, however, such disadvantages of the original as high cost and sensitivity to dirt are also characteristic of such a lock.

- Double auto. The Double auto system is not so much a type of lock as a type of opening mechanism found in frontal knives (see “Design”). This mechanism is controlled by a sliding switch that can move in two directions - unfolding (forward) and folding (backward). The whole system works in this way: when the switch moves forward or backward, one of the springs is charged, and when the extreme point is reached, the blade is released and moves in the corresponding direction under the action of the charged spring. In general, this is a very convenient and practical, and therefore very popular type of lock among front-facing cameras.

- Safe lock. The full name is Ram Safe Lock. Developed by Cold Steel, a specific variation on the back lock theme (see above): it also uses a rocker arm to rigidly fix the blade, only in this case the rocker arm does not swing, but moves back and forth. The blade is fixed in the open and closed position; To open the lock, you need to pull the rocker by the back part protruding from the handle. This design is highly reliable and resistant to loads; Its main disadvantage is the inability to unfold and fold the knife with one hand.

— Cogwheel lock. “Gear lock”, also known as a ratchet lock. The rear part of the blade has the shape of a gear in such knives, and the locking occurs due to a plate with a cutout for one of the gear teeth. To open the lock, you need to lift the plate; For this purpose, a characteristic ring may be provided in the design. An interesting (although not very useful in practice) feature of ratchet locks is the ability to fix the blade not only in open and closed, but also in several intermediate positions. At the same time, the reliability of such devices is relatively low, so they are rarely used - in particular, in models that copy certain types of traditional knives (such as the Spanish Navaja).

- Slide lock. A relatively rare type of lock, found in certain models of Swiss knives - usually small, but advanced and multifunctional, where the additional mechanism does not particularly affect the dimensions. This lock is controlled by a slider on the side of the handle: the blade is fixed in the open position, and to fold it you need to pull the slider back, thus disabling the lock. The slider is spring-loaded, which does not allow it to “slide” back on its own (for example, under its own weight); In addition, the spring also plays the role of a closer for the blade that is not fully open. The reliability of “slide locks” is not particularly high, but this is not required given the specifics of the application.

— Tri-ad lock. An invention of the Cold Steel company, which is a variation on the Back Lock mechanism. It also uses a locking plate in the form of a characteristic spring-loaded “rocker arm”, but it is secured in the center by a floating pin (oval, not round). Next to the front end of the “rocker arm” there is another axial pin - together, these modifications have significantly improved the reliability of the locking mechanism. Thanks to such modifications, the blades of knives with Tri-ad lock are devoid of any backlash.

Main blade type

The shape of the cutting edge of the main blade of the knife.

- Smooth. Traditional cutting edge without serrations. This option is considered the most versatile, with the proper degree of sharpness, smooth blades are suitable for almost any work that uses knives. They lose their properties faster as they become blunt than serrated ones; on the other hand, the sharpening procedure is very simple, does not require specific equipment or skills, and is available to almost any knife owner.

- Serrated. Blade with characteristic teeth on the cutting edge. In addition to the formidable appearance, such knives have quite practical advantages. One of them is the ease of cutting - at this point, the serrated edge is much superior to the smooth one. In addition, it retains its cutting properties, even when thoroughly dulled, due to the way the teeth themselves interact with the material being cut. Also, these knives do a good work with some specific tasks - for example, cutting dense fibrous materials like ropes or cutting soft foods with a dense crust. At the same time, the teeth cut less smoothly and cleanly than a smooth blade (although they do not create sawdust, unlike a saw), and it is much more difficult to sharpen them again after dulling. Therefore, this type of sharpening in its pure form is rarely used for the main blade - more often it can be found in specialized tools like sling cutters(see "Functions and Capabilities").

- Combined. Blades that combine both types of cutting edge described above. As a rule, smooth sharpening in such models is used in the front, closer to the tip, and serrated sharpening is closer to the handle. This provides a certain versatility: depending on the specifics of a particular task, the owner can choose the optimal type of cutting edge. On the other hand, working with such a knife may require some skill; and the main drawback of serrated blades - the difficulty in sharpening - has not disappeared here either (although the smooth part is sharpened without problems).

Steel grade

The grade of steel from which the main blade of the knife is made. Knowing this name, you can find detailed data on the steel used and evaluate how high quality the knife is, whether it is suitable for the intended application and whether it is worth the money. Here are some of the most popular brands today:

— 440A, 440B, 440C. Category "above average". Relatively inexpensive varieties with excellent value for money. The carbon content is 0.75%, 0.9% and 1.2%, respectively; 440C steel is considered the most advanced, however, all varieties are resistant to corrosion, keep sharpening well and at the same time are quite easy to sharpen.

— AUS-8. The Japanese analogue of the "440th" line — more precisely, steel 440B (analogues 440 A and 440C are marked AUS-6 and AUS-10). It is distinguished by the presence of vanadium in the composition, which has a positive effect on wear resistance.

— 8Cr13MoV, 8Cr14MoV, 5Cr15MoV, etc. Chinese grades of steel with the addition of chromium, molybdenum and vanadium. The most popular and advanced option is deservedly considered "eight-chrome-thirteen". It is similar in properties to AUS-8, but has a higher carbon content; such steel is relatively inexpensive, but it has very good performance characteristics, due to which it is found both in relatively inexpensive knives and in premium models.

— 420. The material of the low-cost category, which, however, is distinguished by excellent corrosion resist...ance. Such steel wears out quickly, but it is also very easy to sharpen; it is well suited for low-cost knives designed for daily use.

— 420HC. A slightly more advanced version of the 420 steel described above, having a higher carbon content. As a result, the 420HC is noticeably harder and holds an edge longer; in terms of resistance to corrosion, it is practically not inferior to the original, but costs only slightly more. It is also considered an excellent option for mass-produced low-cost knives.

— D2. Category "significantly above average". A distinctive feature of this steel is its high chromium content, due to which, in terms of corrosion resistance, it approaches full-fledged “stainless steels” (although it still falls short of them). In addition, D2 is noticeably harder than most materials of a similar price category, due to which it is quite difficult to sharpen, but retains its working properties for a long time.

— CPM. A family of steels from Crucible that includes premium and super premium grades. Manufactured using the Crucible Particle Metallurgy proprietary technology, which, according to the manufacturer, provides higher quality than traditional production methods; however, such materials cost accordingly. The specific characteristics of different grades, of course, vary somewhat, but they are all characterized by good hardness and corrosion resistance. However it is worth considering that certain types of CPM (especially the most expensive ones) can be very difficult to sharpen; on the other hand, such sharpening is maintained noticeably longer than in cheaper materials.

— 65X13. Perhaps the most popular brand of Russian-made steel. It has a high chromium content, which contributes to corrosion resistance, while it is quite easy to sharpen, but does not differ in hardness. It is inexpensive and is used mainly in the mass production of inexpensive knives.

Hardness

The hardness of the material used for the knife blade. This parameter is one of the key characteristics of the blade. On the one hand, high hardness means that the cutting edge will not deform, wrinkle and dull prematurely, and the blade itself will bend under transverse loads; on the other hand, hard material is difficult to sharpen and is often rather brittle.

For knife blades, Rockwell hardness measurement and designation according to the appropriate scale (HRC) are used. Most good quality steel knives have a hardness of around 52 - 58 HRC - this range is considered to correspond to the optimal ratio of characteristics. For other materials, the numbers can be noticeably lower without any noticeable loss of reliability; see "Blade material" for details. And hardness above 60 HRC is extremely rare - mainly in premium grade steels and higher. In such steels, the brittleness characteristic of hard materials is eliminated through the use of various high-grade additives, and the difficulty in sharpening is compensated by the blade's long service life.

It is worth remembering that hardness is not the only characteristic that determines the quality of the blade: a lot depends on the composition of the alloy, manufacturing technology, etc. However, this is a fairly clear indicator that characterizes the features of a particular material; this is especially true for steel.

Blade length

The total length of the knife blade. This characteristic is one of the most important, with several practical points associated with it.

Firstly, the length of the blade is directly determined by the purpose of the product, and even within the same type (see above) there may be different options. For example, hunting knives for skinning (skinners) are usually quite short, up to 10 cm - in contrast to general-purpose options. Therefore, it is worth choosing a model according to this parameter, taking into account the work for which you plan to use the knife.

Secondly, the dimensions of the blade determine the overall dimensions of the knife itself. This is especially important for outdoor models (see "Type"): although the knife is usually worn folded, it is customary to indicate its dimensions in the specifications for the unfolded position. And by the length of the blade, you can quite clearly estimate the length of the knife when folded: usually it is 1.5 - 1.7 times longer than that of the blade itself, and in any case, the knife cannot be shorter than its own blade.

Thirdly, the length of the blade can be (and in many CIS countries is) one of the criteria for determining whether a knife belongs to a cold weapon. Usually, regulatory documents indicate a certain minimum length value: shorter blades do not fall into the category of edged weapons, regardless of their design, and for longer blades, specific evaluation criteria come into force...(hardness of the material, shape of the point, blade thickness, etc.).

At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the length of the blade can be measured in different ways: from the point to the beginning of the handle, from the point to the peg used in opening, etc. In practical application, this moment does not play a decisive role, however, it can create legal problems: for example, state examination methods may not take into account the peg. So, if you have doubts about this, it is best to purchase a knife that has an official certificate that this model is not a melee weapon.

Blade thickness

The thickness of the knife blade at its thickest point (usually at the butt). According to this parameter, one can to some extent evaluate the strength of the blade for transverse loads: a large thickness gives an appropriate margin of safety. At the same time, one should not forget that the “endurance” of a knife as a whole depends on many other features of its design, and only blades made of materials similar in properties can be compared in thickness. But what this indicator directly affects is the weight of the product.

Also, legal issues can be associated with the thickness of the blade, which determine whether a particular knife belongs to a cold weapon and the corresponding rules for buying, wearing and storing. The relevant rules may state, for example, that blades with a thickness of more than a certain value cannot be classified as melee weapons, regardless of other features.

Weight

The total weight of the knife. It is worth evaluating this indicator depending on the type (see above) and purpose: for example, for a compact hiking model, light weight is usually a virtue, among hunting and fishing it all depends on specialization, and a machete, by definition, must be weighty — otherwise, cut with such a blade it will just be uncomfortable.
Ganzo G8012 often compared
Gerber Folding Sheath Knife often compared