Difficult choice for edc knife

I think a chaparral is going to be hard to beat then.

Fun knife? You mean like fidgety?

- The S35VN elementums are back in stock and is a killer deal.
- the CPM154 CF kershaw leek is also a great urban carry and is very slim with decent blade steel. Speedsafe is fun to fidget with.
- spyderco Ikuchi?
- I find front flippers fun to fidget with, try the Civivi exarch.

If you can carry autos, I'd point you to a shorter Protech or an UTX70.

Have fun shopping!
 
AlohaPapa said:
Hi guys! Its my first post here.

I’m looking to buy a new pocket knife. I was thinking about a small knife with a blade length under 3 inches. My first choice are:

1- We Banter

2- Spyderco Para3

3- Spyderco Chaparal Raffir Noble

4- Benchmade Mini Bugout

5- Civivi Pintail

It‘s all good knives with nice blade steel. My first criteria is an under 3 inches blade. My second is a good Steel blade and my third is a fun knives. Despite reading reviews and looking Youtube videos I’m really torn between those knives. I REALLY don‘t care where they are built. They are all good knives and well built. The knife will be use in a urban area and i don’t want a knife that will look like a killer knife.

I’m so torn about the Benchmade bugout with G10 handles and 20CV blade but its over 3 inches blades.

Can you help me? I’m actually have only one knife that is a WESN Allman titanium.

Other suggestion are welcome.

Thanks in advance for your time.
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My vote is para 3 or bugout. Mini bugout is too small IMO. The full size carries very small for its blade length.
 
i gifted #3 to my back surgeon. he loves it.
i have gifted other cheaper chaparrals also; just as nice; not as pretty.
i love this knife but don't own one...too short blade for me.
 
Banter: S35VN is a good steel (also available as an exclusive in 20CV, which is top-tier); meets length requirement; not particularly fun, thumbstuds and limited lock access make it less enjoyable to open/close; very non-threatening (except maybe all-black versions)
Para3: S30V is a good steel (also available in an array of other steels); right at 3"; compression lock and Spydie hole make for a fun knife; kinda "stabby" but not overly tactical (depends on color)
Chapparal: XHP is a good steel; meets length requirement; Spyderco back locks are not "fun" (Raffir is nice to look at, though); non-threatening
MiniBugout: S30V is a good steel; meets length requirement; Axis Lock knives are very fun; non-threatening design (again, depends on color - orange/satin plays with non-knife-people very differently from black/DLC)
Pintail: S35VN is a good steel; right at 3"; WE makes great flippers; kinda "stabby" but not overly tactical (depends on color)

Of the options, the Banter and the Pintail are the most likely to be well-made (WE does a much better job than Spyderco's Golden and Seki factories or Benchmade). As you'll hear a lot, the Bugout (including Mini) doesn't "feel" like a $120ish knife.

Lastly, the S35VN/Micarta Elementum is back in stock at BHQ, and has all the good things about the Pintail, in a definitively sub-3" package with a more lunchroom-friendly design. And it costs less than any of the options listed.
 
Mdwst said:
Another +1 for the para 3…. Can’t really go wrong.

let’s be honest if you really are interested in all of the knives mentioned… chances are you’re probably going to buy them all eventually 🤷🏻‍♂️

especially if you are already on the forum 👍
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It is unusual in Canada to get an edc knife in your pocket. I don’t know anyone who does. But it’s pretty useful. I started wearing one when I’m in vacation because it’s so useful to get that tool with you all the time.
my wife would kill me if i buy all these knives. In fact she doesn’t know I will by another one year after my WESN.
 
Another vote for the Para3. I stayed away from it the first couple of years because I thought it would be too small for my XXL hands but I was way wrong and prefer it over the PM2s now.

*Also - Besides all the exclusives and sprint steels, all the standard models are being released in S45VN now. They have been hitting dealers the last few months with plenty in stock now and more to come.
 
Dergyll said:
I think a chaparral is going to be hard to beat then.

Fun knife? You mean like fidgety?

- The S35VN elementums are back in stock and is a killer deal.
- the CPM154 CF kershaw leek is also a great urban carry and is very slim with decent blade steel. Speedsafe is fun to fidget with.
- spyderco Ikuchi?
- I find front flippers fun to fidget with, try the Civivi exarch.

If you can carry autos, I'd point you to a shorter Protech or an UTX70.

Have fun shopping!
Click to expand...
I really love the exarch. Automatic knives are prohibited in Canada.
i have to admit I like fidgeting my knife. My wife is tired to ear the chlic sounds during the day Even when I’m driving car. 😂
 
Sonnydaze said:
i gifted #3 to my back surgeon. he loves it.
i have gifted other cheaper chaparrals also; just as nice; not as pretty.
i love this knife but don't own one...too short blade for me.
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Wow! What a gift for a surgeon. He should have done a good job on your back. :)
 
Dergyll said:
I think a chaparral is going to be hard to beat then.

Fun knife? You mean like fidgety?

- The S35VN elementums are back in stock and is a killer deal.
- the CPM154 CF kershaw leek is also a great urban carry and is very slim with decent blade steel. Speedsafe is fun to fidget with.
- spyderco Ikuchi?
- I find front flippers fun to fidget with, try the Civivi exarch.

If you can carry autos, I'd point you to a shorter Protech or an UTX70.

Have fun shopping!
Click to expand...
Fun knife for me is fidgety yes. My wife hate when I fidget my knife but it is so satisfying.

Thanks for comment.
 
AlohaPapa said:
Fun knife for me is fidgety yes. My wife hate when I fidget my knife but it is so satisfying.

Thanks for comment.
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I'm leaning towards the Pintail for you in that case, micarta is sweet and it's got an awesome hollow grind and between the flipper and the studs you'll have a lot of fun making it click and pop. In my experience Civivi detents are quite strong, and you'll probably like learning to use both studs at the same time with your index finger and thumb, you can sort of pop it open and it feels entertaining to do.
 
OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
Banter: S35VN is a good steel (also available as an exclusive in 20CV, which is top-tier); meets length requirement; not particularly fun, thumbstuds and limited lock access make it less enjoyable to open/close; very non-threatening (except maybe all-black versions)
Para3: S30V is a good steel (also available in an array of other steels); right at 3"; compression lock and Spydie hole make for a fun knife; kinda "stabby" but not overly tactical (depends on color)
Chapparal: XHP is a good steel; meets length requirement; Spyderco back locks are not "fun" (Raffir is nice to look at, though); non-threatening
MiniBugout: S30V is a good steel; meets length requirement; Axis Lock knives are very fun; non-threatening design (again, depends on color - orange/satin plays with non-knife-people very differently from black/DLC)
Pintail: S35VN is a good steel; right at 3"; WE makes great flippers; kinda "stabby" but not overly tactical (depends on color)

Of the options, the Banter and the Pintail are the most likely to be well-made (WE does a much better job than Spyderco's Golden and Seki factories or Benchmade). As you'll hear a lot, the Bugout (including Mini) doesn't "feel" like a $120ish knife.

Lastly, the S35VN/Micarta Elementum is back in stock at BHQ, and has all the good things about the Pintail, in a definitively sub-3" package with a more lunchroom-friendly design. And it costs less than any of the options listed.
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I read just good things about We and Civivi (Same company). The action on their knives seams outstanding.

The blade of the Spyderco is maybe the more boring of those knives but reviews are very good and like other people commenting my post, most of them seams to propose the PR3.
 
AlohaPapa said:
I read just good things about We and Civivi (Same company). The action on their knives seams outstanding.

The blade of the Spyderco is maybe the more boring of those knives but reviews are very good and like other people commenting my post, most of them seams to propose the PR3.
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The Para 3 could be a fidgety knife, I dunno mine tends to have a little lateral play when the pivot is free swinging, it's more temperamental to tune than the four PM2s I have owned. That doesn't matter at all for cutting but it leads me to believe you may like the Pintail or Bugout more, though you may also get a perfectly slick and secure Para 3. All of my Paras, all five across the two sizes, have had a unique feel to their action. One had a beautiful free swinging pivot with no play, however it had so much lock stick that it felt intentional, like a passive safety or something. Another two, including my 3, had more hydraulic feeling pivots than I was expecting from any Para. It might be the best knife on your list but it is definitely the most erratic as well.
 
I’m so lucky that they almost all goes back ordered during this post. Wow! Incredible and frustrating. I still have time to think. The PM 3 seams to get the advantage. It’s not the sexiest knife but it seams effective.
if this is my choice I will definitely modify It a bit to had some colour.
 
NG VI said:
The Para 3 could be a fidgety knife, I dunno mine tends to have a little lateral play when the pivot is free swinging, it's more temperamental to tune than the four PM2s I have owned. That doesn't matter at all for cutting but it leads me to believe you may like the Pintail or Bugout more, though you may also get a perfectly slick and secure Para 3. All of my Paras, all five across the two sizes, have had a unique feel to their action. One had a beautiful free swinging pivot with no play, however it had so much lock stick that it felt intentional, like a passive safety or something. Another two, including my 3, had more hydraulic feeling pivots than I was expecting from any Para. It might be the best knife on your list but it is definitely the most erratic as well.
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The pivot bushing on the Para3 means that snugging down the pivot should not affect the tension on the blade too much. The blade rotates around the shouldered bushing, which limits how close the two sides of the handle can get.
 
OrangeBlueOrangeBlue said:
The pivot bushing on the Para3 means that snugging down the pivot should not affect the tension on the blade too much. The blade rotates around the shouldered bushing, which limits how close the two sides of the handle can get.
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But the blade isn't that heavy and for whatever reason my 2s all have better swinginess than the 3
 
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