Best 6 inch or under total open legth knife

[johnny6220]

So the title is a mouth full, but I've been looking around for a good knife that is 6 inches or under in it's totally opened state. I'm going to college in a little under a month and they won't allow any thing bigger in their dorms. Being a student I also don't have the biggest budget, so no more than $50. I don't care if the knife is assisted or not. I would like the biggest possible blade while staying within my size restraints. Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[Invective]

Here's a list of all the Spyderco folders that meet your requirements.

I would recommend for your budget, the Pingo (non-locking too which should good for college), Ambitious, Cat, Chicago, Dragonfly2 (might be a bit above if NIB) and the Clipitool with bottle opener because of college reasons

If you can stretch your budget to $150 then the Techno and Air are both just under 6 inches (5.98 and 5.96) and great steels with good sized blades too.

Techno
Air by Gayle Bradley
Cat G-10
"S" Black
Cat CF
MeerKat Blue FRN
Swick 2
Salsa Aluminum
Kopa Black Quince
Kopa Black Micarta
Salsa Titanium
Ambitious
Pingo
Orange Pingo
Swick3
Spur SS
Pride
Dyad Jr. Blue Sprint
Kiwi3 Stag
Poliwog G-10
Poliwog SS
Karambit
Kiwi3 SS
Dragonfly2 FRN
Dragonfly2 ZDP-189
Swick
Dragonfly Etched
Dragonfly SS Tattoo
Dragonfly G-10
Mini Paring Knife Black Sermollan
Kiwi Jigged Bone
Kiwi SS
Kiwi CF
Kiwi Mother of Pearl
Dragonfly FRN
Dragonfly SS
Dragonfly White FRN
Navigator II
Bi-Fold
Dragonfly2 Orange
MeerKat Black Reverse S
Lava SS
MeerKat Burgundy
MeerKat Black Drop Point
Lava Blue G-10
GrassHopper
Chicago CF
Chicago G-10
Squeak
Co-Pilot
Spot Black Blade
Spot Black Micarta
Cricket Nishijin
Cricket Etched
Cricket SS
Equilibrium
Cricket SS Tattoo
Baby Goddard Burgundy Micarta
Cricket FRN
Clipitool Scissors
Clipitool Bottle Opener
Clipitool SE
ManBug ZDP-189
ManBug Lightweight
Manbug G-10
MicroDyad Jigged Bone
MicroDyad Black Pearl
Balance CF
Balance SS
Jester Black FRN
Jester Forest Green FRN
Jester Photon Combo
Jester SS
LadyBug3
Ladybug3 White FRN
Jester G-10
Ladybug3 Hawkbill Black FRN
Ladybug Black FRN
Ladybug Forest Green FRN
Ladybug II Black FRN
Ladybug Photon Combo
LadyBug3 HawkBill
Spin
Spin Etched 1.625
Spin Nishijin
HoneyBee
Bug

 

[SpydrMan]

If you want the most blade possible staying under an OAL of 6" and under $50 the Spyderco Cat meets those criteria. Personally I would opt for a Spyderco Dragon Fly 2 LW. Better steel, lighter, and only about $5 more.

 

[DocT]

You could also get a Kershaw Scallion in your choice of colors (fun and useful); a Cold Steel Tuff Lite (Cool knife and strong); Spyderco Cat (great knife). For a fixed blade with excellent steel you can get a Kershaw 1080 Skinner (6 inches exactly); Boker Plus Tom Krein Bowie; and a Boker Plus Fitz neck knife.

 

[Ernie1980]

Another vote for the dragonfly. Good steel and great fit and finish, and I personally like the way you can "choke up" on the blade. You can get a frn version or g10, both have a backlock.

 

[Spiggles]

I would go for a Victorinox alox pioneer or a multi tool- you will most likely do more screwing than cutting