Best small cutter

K

KFU

Part Time Knifemaker, Moderator
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I need a recommendation. I usually carry two knives, one being a 4" or less folder and a pocket knife. I am looking for a smaller knife without a clip that I can use for everyday tasks like cutting boxes and things. I have an Opinel and numerous slip joints that I have used, but they aren't very good for cardboard. My current knife is a Queen sodbuster with a D2 blade. It works well, but is hard to sharpen. I was thinking of a Fallkniven U2, but have never handled one. Any suggestions? Budget is about $75.00.
 
If you are cutting up a lot of cardboard and such, why not just get a Superknife, then take your special someone out for dinner?

super_knife_silver_sk_edge.jpg
 
Case. Specifically the Peanut in Yellow handle w/ Chrome Vanadium steel. Any Case with CV will do you well.
 
Bowdenknxvll@comcast said:
I need a recommendation. I usually carry two knives, one being a 4" or less folder and a pocket knife. I am looking for a smaller knife without a clip that I can use for everyday tasks like cutting boxes and things. I have an Opinel and numerous slip joints that I have used, but they aren't very good for cardboard. My current knife is a Queen sodbuster with a D2 blade. It works well, but is hard to sharpen. I was thinking of a Fallkniven U2, but have never handled one. Any suggestions? Budget is about $75.00.
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I Use my Gerber LST and I keep a DMT stone handy so I can quickly resharpen it if it's a demanding day on the edge.

Here's the thing and there's really no way around it. Any really fine edge (that is, with lots of mini serrations that'll bust through cardboard like a runaway truck) aren't going to last. Steel that's hard enough to resist the wear won't take an edge that sharp, and really sharp edges are quickly knocked off by cutting cardboard.

So, It takes about 30 seconds to re-dress my LST a few times a day, and I keep cutting with a great edge that takes less time to resharpen than it would take to change the blade in a razor knife.
 
A Leek is a nice small knife that cuts well, and it's available with a wide variety of different blade steels so you can pick your own preferred spot on the 'wear resistence/ease of sharpening' curve.

But (IMO only, of course) if you want something for *just* cardboard, go with a $2 disposable box cutter. Cardboard is just murder on blades, would hate to see you use up something nice.
 
IF you go with a regular knife rather than a superknife/boxcutter, sharpen it to a toothy edge. That means use a coarse stone and do not polish it with a fine stone or strop.

Consider a Boker Subcom or Subclaw. They are extremely compact with thin blades of AUS-8 that sharpen up very nicely. You could carry a GATCO Tri-Seps to sharpen it on the go.

The Subclaw will even scare away zombies. :)
 
You say your D2 is hard to sharpen. What are you using? I recommend a Sharpmaker for that and most any other knife. Easy to learn and to use and quite effective.
 
Since you have a Queen Sodbuster but just find it hard to sharpen, I'll assume that you don't hate the shape.

I would suggest the Case Sodbuster in CV. Easy to sharpen but will keep a good edge.

I'm thinking that the Fallkniven U2 will be hard to sharpen.
 
When I read the title of the thread I thought Opinel or a U2 :). Why doesn't the Opinel do well in cardboard? I have a U2 and really like it for a small knife. The blade is pretty thick for being that small so it doesn't feel as fragile as an Opinel. I don't find the blade hard to sharpen at all even with a RC of around 63-64. I really like mine overall but I don't carry it very often. I just have too many other great knives to carry. It is a curse ;)
 
For cardboard, I would reccomend a box cutter. Either a $.60 disposable OTF, or a Gerber EAB or Superknife.
 
A medium Case stockman in CV. $30
The CV holds a razor sharp edge
The shape of the Sheepsfoot blade is great for carton.
And the straight edge of the sheepsfoot is very easy to sharpen.

A Queen half Congress in D2. $50
Has a much better edge retention, and the sheepsfoot blade is much larger.

The U2 is an excellent knife, but if you have a Queen Soddie I see that as a better and more solid work knife.
 
The Fallkniven U2 will do, it is a pocket scalpel.
I have used mine every day for the jobs you want it for.
A superb small knife,just search on the Forums and you will see that it has a reputation of being a excellent cutter.
No problem sharpening it,just a touch-up now and again.
If you can (in your budget) get a Fallkniven TK4 that would do as well(same blade steel /same handle material/a slightly larger folder)
 
i can say i am pleaed with my U2, but haven't had to sharpen it yet

and from the looks of it, that might take a while
 
I love the U2 and the Cricket but I actually just today discovered the best knife specifically for cutting cardboard. It is the ZDP/420J2 laminate caly3. I got one this week and I was very impressed with the fit and finish but it would not shave as good as the huge Rosarms bayonet. So when I used it to slice up some rather thick cardboard I was not expecting it to just sail through it like a lazer beam.

My theory is basically what Esav mentioned where the edge is suited more to a specific task. I have noticed all the Rosarms edges come super polished which is better for shaving but the Caly3 has a much toothier edge. I have actually used the coarse diamond stone from my Lansky to roughen up the Rosarm edges. The rough ZDP edge sure zips through cardboard much better than any exacto style blade. I was shocked that you did not need to slice or even use much force to push cut.
 
That's also the reason why D2 cuts so well, it takes a nice toothy edge. Trying too hard to sharpen D2 to a polished or finer edge is wrong on both levels: it's hard to do and it's not necessary.
 
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