choosing a smaller folder

J

JCK

Joined
Nov 7, 2009
Messages
645
Hey everyone
I'm looking for a small folder, for purely EDC purposes, specifically whilst i'm at uni, as a small folder is all I need, and not to alarm the sheeple. to cut open stuff, slice this n that, etc.

So I had sort of a short list, and been looking at these ones

Spyderco Cat
Spyderco Chicago
Benchmade Mini grip


I want it to have no more than a 2 inch blade, or around 6 cm max, so that probably already takes out the mini grip.

I think the spyderco cat will be what I'm looking for, but what are your suggestions?

JCK
 
wow thanks for the fast reply, do you think there is much difference between the cat and persistance. The steel is obviously different, one being cpm s30v and the other 8Cr13MoV, and i'm not sure, but I'd think the cpm s30v would be better? also do you think the 8mm difference in blade length would be noticed in daily use? I know this sounds anal, i guess i just want the best bang for buck, so steel, materials, length etc
 
If you have the money for the cat,then grab it.Carbon fibre is a good handle material and it has good steel
 
I'd spring for a Spydie Kiwi or Kopa myself. I got to check out both and they're stunning.
 
If you want a knife to not scare sheeple, can't get any better than a SAK. Small traditional slipjoints also work well. What I've normally found is that anything with one-handed opening capabilities will scare people unless you're very discreet. Hell, even my SAK has scared people on occasion.
 
7rip13a said:
If you want a knife to not scare sheeple, can't get any better than a SAK. Small traditional slipjoints also work well. What I've normally found is that anything with one-handed opening capabilities will scare people unless you're very discreet. Hell, even my SAK has scared people on occasion.
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This. A Victorinox was the first thing in my mind when I read your post.
It has other tools as well which come in handy :thumbup:

Make sure to check out the ones with aluminium (allox) handles.

Also you might want to check out the Böker Plus Wharcom and Subcom.
I think they're ugly myself but people who own one have their own little fan club on these forums.
 
Why not a traditional style knife? Doesn't scare as much as the one-handed folders. (opening a knife with one hand always seems a bit scary to most sheeple,using two.....oh, he's got a pocketknife,...how sweet;))
 
I work at a university and have had plenty of people declare every Spyderco/ Benchmade/ CRKT/ Kershaw I've ever carried a "weapon". The humble SAK never raises an eyebrow. Nor does a stockman or trapper, especially with colorful scales.

Last week a box came in for a conference taped like nobody's business. I pulled out a stag Hen & Rosster stockman and said "They weren't kidding with the tape. I'd hate to have to try and cut this with a key" and proceeded to cut the tape with the knife. The 50ish, middle class lady said "Looks like I need a knife".

There is hope. I figure it's like baby steps. Show folks how useful a small knife is and the next time they see a mid sized knife they might not react so strongly. Carry a SAK with a nail file and you might just be some girl's hero.

Frank
 
Yeah, you can get much better than SAK, especially Alox soldier / Pioneer or good old (Texas?) Jack knife or Stockman. I do love my Texas Jack in amber bone. Very no-knife people friendly. A reason why I carry a slippie with my Spyderco Caly 3.
 
Of the three listed, I'd go with the Cat. Thumb-hole Mini-Grip is also good if you don't mind the cheap feeling handle.

The Chicago is too small for my tastes. The knife is comfortable to hold, but the blade is too short.

I wouldn't compare the Persistence with Cat though. I think they're in completely different class. The Cat is a lightweight small EDC blade and the Persistence is a shortened heavy-duty, hard use blade.

As for best bang for the buck, Cat has it in spades. Lightweight, S30V, deep carrying wire clip and CF in a $50 package? Wow.
 
Some other alternatives would be Al Mar and A G Russell. They both have knives that fit your size requirements.
 
If you want good AND cheap get a mini-dozier kabar lockback. 2in blade in good aus-8 with zytel. They weigh .9oz and are tough little knives and less than 20 bucks. The 3.25 in blade models are good too and small enough. Check em out
They also fit in an altoids tin BTW! so grab an extra for the price.
 
I have been on a similar quest for awhile now and analysed this up one side and down the other for too long. Sizes, weight, materials, build quality, round and round I went. Spreadsheets and all. In judging the feel of my slightly larger folders (3 oz, 3.5 oz, 4 oz.) I decided I really wanted 2.5 oz or less so the knife would virtually be completely un-noticible while carrying in Dockers and such. It finally was between the Cat and the G10 Dragonfly for me. (Molded clip on the regular Dragonfly prevented me from choosing that model.) I think either of these two choices would be about as close to ideal as one might get.

I just decided this morning to spend the bigger bucks and go with the G10 Dragonfly. Very good steel, great scales, excellent build quality, very small size with decent size blade, very nice weight (2 oz.!). I'll probably get a Cat at some point soon anyway as a smaller mate to my Sage 1, but I think the G10 Dragonfly is perhaps the perfect EDC for light to moderate duty needs and I expect the G10 Dragonfly will wind up being my #1 EDC blade.
 
Just to quote everyone... why not

ZDHart said:
I have been on a similar quest for awhile now and analysed this up one side and down the other for too long. Sizes, weight, materials, build quality, round and round I went. Spreadsheets and all. In judging the feel of my slightly larger folders (3 oz, 3.5 oz, 4 oz.) I decided I really wanted 2.5 oz or less so the knife would virtually be completely un-noticible while carrying in Dockers and such. It finally was between the Cat and the G10 Dragonfly for me. (Molded clip on the regular Dragonfly prevented me from choosing that model.) I think either of these two choices would be about as close to ideal as one might get.

I just decided this morning to spend the bigger bucks and go with the G10 Dragonfly. Very good steel, great scales, excellent build quality, very small size with decent size blade, very nice weight (2 oz.!). I'll probably get a Cat at some point soon anyway as a smaller mate to my Sage 1, but I think the G10 Dragonfly is perhaps the perfect EDC for light to moderate duty needs and I expect the G10 Dragonfly will wind up being my #1 EDC blade.
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sweet_hitch-hiker said:
spyderco poliwog! i looove mine!
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this looks like a decent knife, however I dont really like the large swedge like thing on the top, but thanks for the suggestion.

Brad "the butcher";7940845 said:
If you want good AND cheap get a mini-dozier kabar lockback. 2in blade in good aus-8 with zytel. They weigh .9oz and are tough little knives and less than 20 bucks. The 3.25 in blade models are good too and small enough. Check em out
They also fit in an altoids tin BTW! so grab an extra for the price.
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Hmm, I'll definately look into this, and maybe, if I have soem cash left over just get it coz it looks pretty good for a 30 dollar knife, and blaze orange :thumbup:
Odds said:
G10 Dragonfly or the Fallkniven U2 are worth looking at.
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I don't really like the Fallkniven U2, idk, it just doesn't appeal to me
dalefuller said:
Some other alternatives would be Al Mar and A G Russell. They both have knives that fit your size requirements.
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They do have some nice knives, such as the A.G Russel 3.0 and the mini sere, although the AG knives did appeal to me slightly more.

dsmegst said:
Of the three listed, I'd go with the Cat. Thumb-hole Mini-Grip is also good if you don't mind the cheap feeling handle.

The Chicago is too small for my tastes. The knife is comfortable to hold, but the blade is too short.

I wouldn't compare the Persistence with Cat though. I think they're in completely different class. The Cat is a lightweight small EDC blade and the Persistence is a shortened heavy-duty, hard use blade.

As for best bang for the buck, Cat has it in spades. Lightweight, S30V, deep carrying wire clip and CF in a $50 package? Wow.
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The mini grip's blade is slightly too big for my tastes

And when you say the persistance is the hard work knife, do you still think it would be any good fro small edc carry? It is a bit bigger though than the Cat, but i'm not too sure aboutt the steel.

SilverFoxKnows said:
I work at a university and have had plenty of people declare every Spyderco/ Benchmade/ CRKT/ Kershaw I've ever carried a "weapon". The humble SAK never raises an eyebrow. Nor does a stockman or trapper, especially with colorful scales.

Last week a box came in for a conference taped like nobody's business. I pulled out a stag Hen & Rosster stockman and said "They weren't kidding with the tape. I'd hate to have to try and cut this with a key" and proceeded to cut the tape with the knife. The 50ish, middle class lady said "Looks like I need a knife".

There is hope. I figure it's like baby steps. Show folks how useful a small knife is and the next time they see a mid sized knife they might not react so strongly. Carry a SAK with a nail file and you might just be some girl's hero.

Frank
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I am looking into getting a alox soldier or something similair, just as they are handy, and the part about the nail file is a bonus :cool:

wongKI said:
I'd spring for a Spydie Kiwi or Kopa myself. I got to check out both and they're stunning.
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yeah, the kiwi doesn't appeal to me, nor dose the kopa, I guess I dont like the natural materials that much, some woods I like, but not really pearl and stag n such.

So at the end of all this I am considering the:

Spyderco Perisitance
Spyderco Dragonfly
Spyderco Cat


They all have similar lengths, and are a decent price.

sorry for the MASSIVE post

JCK
 
I must give my highest recommendation to the spyderco dragonfly in G-10. It provides amazing blade control for its diminutive size. It is a bit more expensive than some of the other blades you are considering, but its features over the standard dragonfly are definitely worth the extra money IMO.

The reversible wire clip, screwed construction, steel lining, VG-10 steel, jimping, and G-10 handles are features that will give this knife lasting appeal over the standard model.

If you are on a tight budget, I would say the SOG flash I (around $35) is worth serious consideration. It is excellent for the cost and super lightweight.

If you are on a budget and don't want to scare sheeple, get a leatherman squirt s4 or p4. They are very versatile tools despite their size and have a very functional knife.

If you can wait a while, there is a buzz going that spyderco is going to release a VG-10, wire clipped, FRN dragonfly later this year. It should be very affordable and an excellent small blade.
 
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