2" Folding Fighter

bquinlan

bquinlan

Joined
Jan 5, 2001
Messages
2,726
Yeah, I know, who am I kidding? :rolleyes: Still, can anyone recommend a knife with a blade at or under 2" that features a really positive grip and a quality blade steel. Spyderco's Navigator in VG-10 would be great if the blade were just .1" shorter! Am I missing an obvious prospect?

--Bob Q
 
The Al Mar S.L.B. has a 1.8 inch AUS-8 blade. I have no experience with this knife, but I sure like the way it looks. The handle is Micarta.
 
one of those Franklin Hawgs? I don't have one but I got to handle one a few years ago. I wish I had picked it up when I saw it. Now if I want one it looks like I'm going to have to get it online. It had a finger flipper on a little claw-like blade. No pocket clip (which was why I didn't get it). I think it was designed to be carried around your neck. Food for thought, at any rate. Good hunting.

Frank
 
Originally posted by DgrantD
Does your state have a 2 inch limit in certian zones also?
Click to expand...

Thankfully, no. However, I do occasionally have to travel into such areas. :mad:

--Bob Q
 
The little Spydie Cricket has a wicked-looking blade of 1&7/8 inches. There is also the Jester, or Ladybug, with a 1&15/16 inch blade.
 
Spyderco Toad would make a great slasher with the straight edge blade and after all with a knife blade under 2" slashing is going to be the most effective way to go!
 
Your problem will be handle length. I suggest taking a Delica and having someone shorten the blade.
 
I have two Navigators, one is 2 1/16" and the other is 2" dead, measured from where the blade meets the handle, both have an edge of 1 13/16". So you may get one that's just right.

If you don't, the blade is thin enough near the tip that it shouldn't take to long to reshape to to right size. I wouldn't bother though. You'd really have to piss the cops off to have them throw the book at you over 1/16".

The Nav has a good grip for such a small knife and still has a decent sized opening hole. You can always add a fob for extra grip.

If you want an out of the box solution, the Meerkat is listed with a 1 15/16" blade length, but I can't offer an opinion on the Phantom lock. IIRC the Co Pilot and Pegasus had shorter blades than the Nav, if you can find them.

I don't usuaully go for serrations, but if I were looking for a defensive weapon, I would go for the Spyderedge on a blade of this size.
 
At that blade length, for that particular use, I'd start to wonder if the knife would be so ineffective that it would actually detract from my ability to defend myself ... maybe I'd be better off with a decent sized flashlight or something. I'm not saying that because of the blade length, I'm saying it because many knives with blades in this size range are kind of hard to hold onto for hard hits. I personally would put my top criteria as finding a folder with a handle I could hold onto ... for this, I'd favor something with a hole in the handle (small folding kerambit or folding version of La Griffe or something), or something along the philosophy of Spyderco's "little big knives" with an oversized handle. Blade shape would come in as next priority, I'd probably favor a hawkbill but I feel other factors are probably more important.

Joe
 
I would suggest the Spyderco Meerkat. It may work well for your purpose, especially with the reverse-s blade. I find the Meerkat to be a very useful little knife, although I doubt it would ever qualify as a fighter.

It has a good sized handle (all four fingers have grip), and a useful bladeshape. Its fairly thick, as well.

Although unusual, the clip isn't bad, and it rides nicely in the pocket.

The phantom lock, IIRC, is basically a glorified lockback. But, it functions well. It is possible to close one handed, but I wouldn't rate it as easy.

The Meerkat spydie-drops nicely. Its also not difficult to open in a more normal fasion. It's tip down.

The steel is decent, the price is right.

Not too shaby, overall.

Also, Spyderco will soon be releasing a stainless steel bodied Cricket. According to Sal, it will have a frame-style lock which IMHO are pretty sweet. Might be something to look forward to.

Honestly, though, I don't think you're gonna find a super-tactical knife in the less than 2" category, unless you go custom.

Good luck!

-- Rob
 
You guys are gonna rag me for this one but I gotta let Bob know about it.
I have a Cold Steel Mini Pal push knife on my key chain. Carried it for alot of years now and use for many everyday tasks and while I would naturally prefer a S&W 29 in a fight, I wouldn't hesitate to put this little knife in my hand and make a fist and start swinging. Even a moron with no knife fighting experience could do some damage with this little 1 1/8" bladed knife. I always figured if I was in a highjacking or some other do or die situartion, I'm going to punch for their throat and eyes. Doesn't take much to puncture the big viens in the throat.
Thank God I've never been in any of those situations and pray I never am!!
Plus if it gets confiscated you're only out about $15 so it's no biggie. Never had a problem with mine, even the LEOs that have seen it think it's cute. :)
 
Who, besides God, knows what you are carrying unless you commit a crime? :confused: Are there agents who stop people, search them and arrest them for having a knife blade an inch too long? I don't know one LEO who would want to be bothered with the paperwork and the potential civil rights lawsuit.
 
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