2.5" blade EDC folders

M

Mr. Bright5ide

Joined
Jan 23, 2011
Messages
121
So I recently found out that the restriction blade limit for EDC knives in Boston, MA is a mere 1.5 inches -- pretty much falling into the keychain-knife category. As ridiculous as that may be in my opinion, I do try my best to remain a law-abiding citizen so I am therefore accordingly looking for new EDC options to replace my current set-up.

I already ordered an Mtech USA Mini Kerambit folder and also plan to get a Boker Keycom. So I was wondering what other options you guys might know of available in that size range?

***UPDATE***

It turns out I was actually mistaken as to the MA blade length size -- it's actually a much more manageable 2.5" (see my follow-up post below for details)

-Mr. Bright5ide
 
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I am not a lawyer, but AFAIK, the 1.5" limit in MA is on autos, and the limit in Boston for normal folders is 2.5".
 
***Follow-up post:

Glad I posted this as it turns out upon further reading that you guys are indeed correct. I had read this:

"Whoever, except as provided by law, carries on his
person, or carries on his person or under his control
in a vehicle, any stiletto, dagger or a device or case
which enables a knife with a locking blade to be drawn
at a locked position... [endless list of knife types] ...having a blade of over one and one-half inches..."

...and didn't bother to continue reading the rest. However, that paragraph is actually only referring to if you are arrested for any reason (in which case from the sounds of it you are pretty much screwed even if you only have a pair of tweezers in your pocket). Upon further reading though it clearly states the limit is indeed 2.5 inches:

"No person, except as provided by law, shall carry on his person, or carry under his control in a vehicle, any knife having any type of blade in excess of two and one-half (2½ ) inches..."

Thanks guys, that is certainly a relief.

btw this is the site where I'm getting this information:
http://pw1.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm#A-H
 
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Are you talking about folder, or fixed blade for you?
I carry my Bark River PSK, in 154CM. It's about the smallest fixed blade, that is still functional, I even carry a full handled 2.5" warncliffe blade as well. I'm not in MA, but out in public, I don't want to carry a large visable blade anyway.
Lots of folders out there of course.
 
kershaw scallion. just the right size. fun as heck. if it can't be assisted, then i'm not thinking of much
 
Yeah the Scallion is a great knife. Packs a lot of cutting power in a small shape.
 
The Boker Plus CLB Subcom Titan is a Titanium framelock 440C 1 7/8" bladed smallish pocket tool. MSRP is $50 - the PRC-made knife should be ~$30-$35 street price (Mine was. It was also dull!). I like the USA-made Kershaw Scallion - if 'assistance' is okay. WallyWorld even carried them - same street price. Mine is ~ 8 yr old - 440A, probably - still useful - resharpens on a Spydie Sharpmaker quite easily. The Buck 340 (420HC) and 342 (S30V) are flipper deployed, while the now gone Ti framelock/S30V 171 is thumb nick deployed and like a smaller poor-man's small Sebenza (I have the larger 172 - very nicely made!). Thy are all just over the length at 2 5/8", too.

Stainz
 
Thanks for the recommendations! I am talking folders Foxx. I am indeed a fan of assisted openers so I am definitely eyeing the Kershaw Scallion. I'm also comparing the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 or Spyderco Ambitious which, although not assisted openers or flippers, do seem like great EDC options -- primarily due to those great blade shapes. My previous EDC blade was a Buck Vantage Select Small flipper which was a really handy little knife. It just didn't quite have that "coolness factor" for me though so I recently traded it.

btw just in case anyone was wondering about that Mtech mini karambit 280 I mentioned, it arrived in the mail today. The construction feels very solid and the blade seems super strong. However, don't expect any quick deployment -- there will be no flicking it open with the thumb studs (although I imagine that perhaps if you loosen it some this may change). Now my biggest complaint: the finger hole. Being a karambit, it has that typical loop for either your index or pinkie finger depending on which way you're holding your blade -- the hole on this is just a tad bit way too small. I can get the pinkie on my left hand to fit through it w/o much trouble but that's about it. With effort and quite a bit of struggling I can get my right pinkie through, and once I have it through it does feel fantastic to grip -- nice and secure. But unfortunately it's just not not large enough to do so w/o a struggle. Oh and btw my hands are not big at all -- very "normal" sized. I am going to try see if I can find someone who might be able to shave away some of the metal in the hole to try widen it, if not, I will probably get rid of this knife.

-Mr. Bright5ide
 
Hey, I would also recommend the Kershaw Scallion. I have the larger Leek, and its just so much fun to open due to the Speedsafe assisted opening. Plus, at least with my Leek, it seems to cut really well for everyday stuff.

Don't want to rain on your parade, but I would be careful with any M Tech knife. I bought one of the liner lock models, and I'm honestly glad I only paid 5 dollars for it. The lock is kind of thin and scares me to use it, and the screws holding the liners and pivot point are so bad, the blade started to rub the liners after it was opened about 30 or so times. Also, after owning it for a week or so, I flipped it open and actually had one of the backspacers go flying out of the knife.
 
taeku4 said:
Hey, I would also recommend the Kershaw Scallion. I have the larger Leek, and its just so much fun to open due to the Speedsafe assisted opening. Plus, at least with my Leek, it seems to cut really well for everyday stuff.

Don't want to rain on your parade, but I would be careful with any M Tech knife. I bought one of the liner lock models, and I'm honestly glad I only paid 5 dollars for it. The lock is kind of thin and scares me to use it, and the screws holding the liners and pivot point are so bad, the blade started to rub the liners after it was opened about 30 or so times. Also, after owning it for a week or so, I flipped it open and actually had one of the backspacers go flying out of the knife.
Click to expand...

wow, that is actually pretty hilarious! I too only paid $5 (plus $2 for shipping so $7 altogether) for mine and I'm actually quite impressed by the solid feel it has. I was even surprised at how decent the liner lock seems. That said it's not really a practical knife -- since the handle is so short one-handed deployment is very awkward. Also, since you can't put your finger through the loop it just messes up the way it is supposed to be held so it turns out being pretty uncomfortable in the hand. The blade does have a pretty cool shape though which seems like it would be just perfect for slicing open boxes and such but by that same token it's uses are definitely limited due to it's shape. I personally would not recommend this knife for EDC purposes.

I'm looking forward to getting my new Kershaw Scallion though, thanks for the recommendation!
 
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Got my Scallion in the mail yesterday and so far I'm loving it. The only minor gripe I have is the tip-down only pocket-clip configuration which is going to take a little getting used to, but for this blade I can certainly live with that.
 
It's been three months since I began EDCing the Kershaw Scallion (I got the 1620H3 version) I still just love this neat little knife. I rotate it w/ my SOG Twitch II but the Scallion is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a folder under 3".
 
Have you look at the Lone Wolf Paul Executive and Presto? They are now under Benchmade but great small knives to EDC.
 
Honestly, cant go wrong with Kershaw.

I still regret giving away my leek!!!

Scallion is a great knife, love the blade recurve.

-Freq
 
My only gripe about the Kershaw Scallion is that the 420HC blade doesn't seem to hold its edge cutting anything beyond everyday packages. For example, I was whittling sticks for roasting marshmallows with my Chive (baby sister to the Scallion, very similar design), and by stick #3 the knife was dull.

However, for everyday light-duty use, the Kershaw Scallion should serve you well. But I'd also point you towards a Spyderco Dragonfly2 to augment your collection (VG-10 steel is far better than 420HC, it fits into your blade length limit, non-assisted-opening is less "scary" for use around non-knife people).
 
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