Considering EDCing a Small Fixed Blade. Recommendations Needed.

I'm curious to see how these small fixed blades carry on my belt. It'll be a change from carrying a folder in my back pocket.

I'm liking the Bradford selection a lot. The 3.5's look near perfect.

And the Ronin2 looks nice too. But I'd get a custom sheath for it. Not crazy about the stock one.
 
I feel like i'm too poor to post in this thread, lol, beer budget and all that, but I am carrying a small fixed blade today, so thought i'd share my cheap choice of the day: carrying a Buck 877 Maverik today, it's the coolest little blade and has proved very useful in just about every task, if it had a horizontal sheath and could be had in a little nicer steel it would be perfect I think, it came so sharp that it would push-cut paper, have been able to keep a nice edge just by running a few swipes across a ceramic rod after I use it.
 
My top 2 suggestions for your specs would be (as several others have said before me):
1) Bradford Guardian 3
2) Bradford Guardian 3

I've been doin' the small FB horizontal carry thing for several years and the best I've found so far is the G3. It's perfectly designed for horizontal carry and you can add an Artmatus kydex sheath for near invisibility as well as the convenience of not having to loosen or remove your belt to get it on / off.

If you're torn between the G3 and the G3.5, I believe the difference is in the handle length & shape, not the blade length. Both knives list 3.5" blades. Both are available in 2D or 3D handle scales. I prefer the 3D myself and I carry mine at 10:00 under a t-shirt with very little imprinting.
 
dalefuller said:
My top 2 suggestions for your specs would be (as several others have said before me):
1) Bradford Guardian 3
2) Bradford Guardian 3

I've been doin' the small FB horizontal carry thing for several years and the best I've found so far is the G3. It's perfectly designed for horizontal carry and you can add an Artmatus kydex sheath for near invisibility as well as the convenience of not having to loosen or remove your belt to get it on / off.

If you're torn between the G3 and the G3.5, I believe the difference is in the handle length & shape, not the blade length. Both knives list 3.5" blades. Both are available in 2D or 3D handle scales. I prefer the 3D myself and I carry mine at 10:00 under a t-shirt with very little imprinting.
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^^This entire post is awesome. Thank you sir , for the insight. And you wear your's on your 10 o'clock , huh? I was thinking of wearing it on my 6. I'll have to try out different positions.

So you prefer the 3 over the 3.5? My hands are on the larger side so I figured the 3.5 was better suited for my meaty paws. And I was thinking the 2D would carry better since it's flatter. But I'm just speculating at this point. You certainly know better than I do.
 
The 2D will be a bit "flatter" on the sides, but I don't think it'll be that much thinner overall, and I've found that gentle curves on a scale tend to hide it under clothing better than a transition to a straight edge like the flat sided scales.

The extra length on the 3.5 handle might come in handy for larger hands to get a 4-finger grip. I can do 4-fingers on my G3 handles and I wear a large men's glove with some room to spare. I could wear a medium but it'd be tight. So I guess I'm right on the edge of a M to L hand size.

I can say that the widest part of my palm, from the base of my thumb across to the outside of palm is 3.75". Measuring across the base of my four fingers that actually hold the knife handle, I get 3.2" Keep in mind that I use the choil when I hold my G3s. I could only get a 3-finger grip without the choil. If you want a 4-finger grip without the choil and you have a hand my size or larger, the 3.5 may be a necessity for you.

As far as 6:00 carry goes, I've tried that. The biggest problem I have with it is that it forces me to use just one specific hand to get to my knife. At 10:00, I can draw, use, and sheath the knife with either hand. I've been in situations before (work-related, not SD) that blocked my strong side hand from both my pocket and my belt. Having a FB available to either hand came in handy more than once. Besides, part of the 10:00 carry attraction to me is having the blade available when I'm sitting or driving. 6:00 doesn't work for me when I'm doing that.

Good luck with the search.
 
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Wolverine666 said:
Yes , I just looked at the 3.5. I like the size a bit better. I'm just wondering how the full rounded handle shape carries. I would think a flatter design would be better. But I absolutely love the horizontal sheath.
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Call up Bradford and tell him you want a knife with the flatter handle but want the horizontal leather sheath. He is a great guy and will hook you up if you ask. Or you could try emailing him.

I gotta give another vote for the StreetBeat. That is my all time favourite fixed blade edc knife. The Satin Micarta ones are discontinued but can still he found. The Liteweight frn handle ones with the dlc blade are still being made but come with a terrible sheath that dulls the edge.

I am pretty sure the Satin/Micarta ones come with a good sheath. Perrin is a master at designing small fixed blade knives.

dalefuller dalefuller another issue with 6 oclock aka scout carry is if you slip on ice or whatever and land on your back it is going to hurt like a beyootch. Also you better like standing alot. Once you sit down you’ll realize your knife doesn’t make a good cushion.
 
I carried this Pease Custom a lot. I really like it; small, feels good in the hand, and cuts well.
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I probably would have carried this little knife by Sheehan more if the sheath had been less bulky.
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Dan Cowles whipped this up for me, but it's too nice for every day.
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I'd go with a S!K 2.7 or 3.5 and check out Carothers Performance Knives EDC2 in D3v. All three are great knives. Only downside is getting them.
 
Oh snap! I forgot about the Landi!

Search this forum you can find Landi edc fixed blades for sale for a rediculously low price by their maker. That way you can get a custom edc fixed for way less than it should be.

The guy making those Landi knives is a genuine saint to the knife community. We are so lucky to have someone like that on the board.

Before you make a decision check out the Landis.
 
It may be slightly too big, but for a small but very capable fixed blade with an amazing sheath I always recommend the Gryphon M10.
 
Wow, I completely forgot I have one of those, it was a gift almost 10 years ago, I don't even know what kind of steel they were using then, but it's a very sturdy little blade, i'll have to dig it out tonight, thanks for goosing my old guy memory. ;)

Minnesota Man said:
That being said I frequently EDC the 32$ version of the Cold Steel mini Pendleton Hunter but here is the 3V version http://www.coldsteel.com/3v-pendleton-mini-hunter.html
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I've pretty much decided on the Guardian 3.5. Just choosing the blade finish and handle.

I may also pick up the Ronin2. But I'd have to get a leather horizontal carry sheath somewhere. The stock sheath isn't my speed.
 
I've been offline for a few days..... so I am late to the party, but I think you will be pleased with your choice of the Bradford Guardian.
I have the Guardian3 on my belt right now (worn at 2:00 to 3:00, depending), and am very happy with it. Here's an old pic I like to share:
View media item 1124I don't know your preferences on leather vs. kydex. If you are not sure, get both sheaths and see which you like after wearing both for at least a week. And that way you have a backup... just in case. Here are the two side by side:
View media item 2140
Enjoy.
 
Joe Watson small EDC.

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Spidey Street Beat and a F.F. Bradford... Bradford is IMO one of the best and often underrated with SUPERIOR customer service.

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Survive! Knives GSO 3.5 1st gen.

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Survive! Knives GSO 3.5 next to a 4.1 1st gen's.

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Recycled G3 pic from when it was new. I bought it right after Brad came out with the 3D handles. I have the index sheath too, but I'm still not sure which sheath I like better.
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I agree SO strongly with dalefuller and others on the G3 Bradford. I've had eight of these, or so, in M390 and 3V and Vanadis 4E.
I sold one yesterday, and I still have three. I love these things. The stock leather sheath is excellent, and I've carried a G3 for about the last year...which has nearly eliminated my use for the large CRK clipped in my rh pocket.
CRK lovers...do not fear. I do love my CRK's.
I have some pics. Of course, the new 3D grips are much wider than the rather square-cut G10 grips, but I much prefer the "old" G10 for a secure gripping surface. I have dimensions of the grips on the pics. As another poster has said, both the G3 and the new G3.5 have the same listed bladelength and sharp edge length, but the newer model does not have the finger choil. I much Bradford 3G's...M390, Vanadis 4E(qty 2).jpg Bradford 3G's...M390, Vanadis 4E(qty 2)a.jpg Bradford 3G's...M390, Vanadis 4E(qty 2)b.jpg prefer the G3.
 
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