EDC Knife - Weight Question...

TripleB67

TripleB67

Joined
Jan 28, 2016
Messages
183
I'm looking for an EDC folding knife and have many that you've highly recommended and I love the looks of: Ontario Rat II, Kershaw Cryo, Kershaw RJ Tactical, and Kershaw OSO Sweet. (others look awesome and are highly recommended but I believe I need a 3" or less blade length, see below)

My favorite of the group, and the one that probably checks all the boxes (under $40, great looking, fantastic reviews, 4" max closed, flipper) I was looking for when I first started looking for something to replace my standard Case pocket knives I've carried for many years, is the Kershaw Cryo. What I worry about with the Cryo is the weight. I'll be carrying it with blue jeans, shorts, and khaki type pants. With it clipped to my pocket I'm afraid the extra weight (compared to some of the others anyway) will be a problem, especially with my khakis that I wear every day.

For those of you familiar with the Cryo...do you find the extra weight of this knife is a problem when carrying it?

*I'm not sure how it effects my knife choice, but I live in North Carolina and it seems some of the the knife laws are a little vague (such as whether assisted openers are switchblades or not); some things I've read say stay with manual opening knives with blades 3 inches or less and I should be OK; and being a teacher, I can't carry it to work

Thanks again for all the help you've been!!!

TripleB67
 
Last edited:
I have a. Lifter which is lower end and it's all steel. I have a delica and it weighs very little. I don't notice much of a difference even in gym shorts. Unless you have 50 other things in your pocket as long as your knife isn't made out of a full size Brick then weight won't be much of a problem. I can't recommend a sharpener cuz i need on too. 99cent store ones aren't the best is all I can say
 
Your sharpening question should be placed in the MTE section, that is where sharpening questions are basically discussed.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment

The Cryo is a small knife, for my own preference I would get the Link instead. Nothing against the Cryo, but I prefer the USA made Kershaw knives. Weight is a nonissue unless you work in one of the super policy riven work environments where everything is forbidden. Some people think anything over 4 ounces is unbearable, the rest of us don't really mind or care much. As long as the knife doesn't weight a pound and is as thick as a brick (literally) there is no real issue in my opinion.
 
The Cryo G10 is nearly an ounce lighter than the Thermite, but the the Thermite feels lighter because the weight is spread along a longer, thinner handle. My ZT 0562CF is another half ounce heavier than the Thermite, and I have no problems carrying it in khakis. I think you'll notice for the first few days and then you'll forget it's there.
 
RevDevil said:
Your sharpening question should be placed in the MTE section, that is where sharpening questions are basically discussed.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment

The Cryo is a small knife, for my own preference I would get the Link instead.
Click to expand...

I appreciate that information...I removed that part of my post and put it in that section of the forum.

The only reason I've sort of dismissed the Link is because the blade length is 3 1/4". Something I read about NC Knife Laws said to stay at 3" or less and you're in good shape as far as the restrictive laws are concerned.

Thanks again for your help.

TripleB67
 
I really like the design of the Link, that blade shape lends itself very sell to a host of tasks. The Cryo is also a stout and very tough little folder. In my opinion, you really have no wrong choice in these pieces. I know people in your area that carry large folders daily, no issues. It might be a good idea just to look up your state knife laws and see what the final word is, we can all speculate, but being sure is always better. This should not be a substitute for the law, but it gives you some framework which to go by:
http://www.knifeup.com/north-carolina-knife-laws/
By the looks of it, you are fine with either knife.
 
TripleB67 said:
I'm looking for an EDC folding knife and have many that you've highly recommended and I love the looks of: Ontario Rat II, Kershaw Cryo, Kershaw RJ Tactical, and Kershaw OSO Sweet. (others look awesome and are highly recommended but I believe I need a 3" or less blade length, see below)

My favorite of the group, and the one that probably checks all the boxes (under $40, great looking, fantastic reviews, 4" max closed, flipper) I was looking for when I first started looking for something to replace my standard Case pocket knives I've carried for many years, is the Kershaw Cryo. What I worry about with the Cryo is the weight. I'll be carrying it with blue jeans, shorts, and khaki type pants. With it clipped to my pocket I'm afraid the extra weight (compared to some of the others anyway) will be a problem, especially with my khakis that I wear every day.

For those of you familiar with the Cryo...do you find the extra weight of this knife is a problem when carrying it?

*I'm not sure how it effects my knife choice, but I live in North Carolina and it seems some of the the knife laws are a little vague (such as whether assisted openers are switchblades or not); some things I've read say stay with manual opening knives with blades 3 inches or less and I should be OK; and being a teacher, I can't carry it to work

Thanks again for all the help you've been!!!

TripleB67
Click to expand...

Click this link to your other thread and scroll down to my post. All of those I listed are good knives under $40 and some under $30, and are light in weight and have 3" or less blades. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1363308-Quality-Folding-EDC-Knife-under-40/page3
 
My strongest advice would be to buy a stainless steel Kershaw Zing instead of the Cryo. A lighter option with the features you want, same materials, same company, much less expensive, and superior cutting geometry.
 
I have the Cryo in Blackwash and I have never had issues with it dragging down my pants. The weight factor is not a very big one imo. I also own a ZT0562CF and the same applies to it.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
My strongest advice would be to buy a stainless steel Kershaw Zing instead of the Cryo. A lighter option with the features you want, same materials, same company, much less expensive, and superior cutting geometry.
Click to expand...

I appreciate that option...like the looks of the knife, just wish it had a black clip...would really like for it to blend in with my pants I wear a lot.

Thanks for everyone's input so far!

TripleB67
 
The legal issue; you can own and OPEN CARRY a switch blade if you choose, and so spring assist isn't a problem either (for open carry). You can also open carry a 4" Spyderco Military or Benchmade 810 Contego if you choose.

But it appears the ONLY type of knife you can concealed carry is a "pocket knife". That's where it gets a but vague.

"North Carolina statute defines a pocket knife as a small knife, made to carry in a pocket or purse, which has its cutting edge and point entirely enclosed by the handle, and that may not be opened by a throwing, explosive, or spring action."

That being said, "small" isn't defined, so that's likely where the 3" rule of thumb probably comes into play, as once you start getting above 3", you leave it more and more up to an officers discretion as to determine it to be too large to be considered a "small" knife, and small "pocket" knife is the only thing allowed to be carried concealed.

Also, a flipper, or even a thumbstud/thumb hole knife could in essence be determined by a LEO to be illegal, if you can open it with a THROWING (or flicking) motion, it is written in such a vague way, discretion of an officer could come highly into play.
Spring assisted would definitely be deemed illegal to conceal carry though, as it is essentially opened via a "spring action"...

So if you plan on a spring assisted, or even a flipper regardless of size, be warned in that carrying it IN your pocket could be deemed illegal concealed carry. (Even pocket clips is another very vague undefined area of the law which can be left open to interpretation of whether an exposed clip alone is considered open carry or not).

So either get whatever you want, even above 3", the link if you like it, and plan to open carrying it (maybe even buy a belt sheath), or buy something manual in the "3 range to (conealed) carry in your pocket, or just take your chances...
 
Last edited:
TripleB67 said:
I appreciate that option...like the looks of the knife, just wish it had a black clip...would really like for it to blend in with my pants I wear a lot.

Thanks for everyone's input so far!

TripleB67
Click to expand...

Well, if you like black they used to make a black clip black blade version with FRN handles. I think it's now discontinued, but I literally found one lying on the sidewalk about a week ago. It's beat up and dull, but perfectly functional so I figured I'd touch it up and see if I could get the blade centered. If you don't mind covering the shipping I'll happily send it to you free of charge. I'll never carry it and it doesn't have any real resale value, but if nothing else it might help you decide what you like.
 
In regards to your weight question, idk, it's going to come down to you... Personally I don't have a problem carrying knives in the 5 - 6+ oz. range.

Coming off of small traditionals, you'll probably want something a bit lighter, but anything under 4 oz. You shouldn't have much of an issue.
(For reference, a full size case Trapper weighs just over 4 oz.)

A knife to consider that won't be an issue,
Kershaw Emerson CQC - 1k
Around $30
Manual
3"
And the wave feature deploys quick once you master it.
Also <3 oz. (About the weight of a mini Trapper)
 
strategy9 said:
Also, a flipper, or even a thumbstud/thumb hole knife could in essence be determined by a LEO to be illegal, if you can open it with a THROWING (or flicking) motion, it is written in such a vague way, discretion of an officer could come highly into play.
Spring assisted would definitely be deemed illegal to conceal carry though, as it is essentially opened via a "spring action"...

So either get whatever you want, even above 3", the link if you like it, and plan to open carrying it (maybe even buy a belt sheath), or buy something manual in the "3 range to (conealed) carry in your pocket, or just take your chances...
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for all the information regarding legal carry in NC!

I definitely want to carry it concealed ( I don't guess the pocket clip hanging out would make it open carry :D ) so I guess that means I need to stay 3" or under...really liked the look and feel of the Cryo but I guess the flipper would make that questionable...then thought the Rat II since it doesn't have a flipper but I guess if a thumbstud may be considered illegal I run into a problem with the Rat II! I really don't want to go with just a plain ol' pocket knife so I may have to just take my chances!

Wow, who knew carrying a knife legally was going to be more of a hassle than carrying my Ruger LCP legally?

Thanks to everyone for all the help so far!

TripleB67
 
Last edited:
I live in North Carolina and carry everything from a 10 inch Bowie knife to a small Sak! And I've been told as long as the clip shows its not concealed! I've never had any problems! Also if a 9 ounce knife wears you out, you should maybe go to a gym or something!
 
I generally wear relatively tight jeans but sometimes Dockers, and clip my knives to the right front pocket. I have not found weight to be a problem with my normal carry until I got to something the weight of the ZT 0200. OTOH if I dropped a knife into my pocket then even a fairly light weight knife was noticeable to me. The Cryo strikes me as a pretty dense little knife. I don't think the weight would bother me while using the clip but when using the knife I would notice that it is heavy. The type knives I carry the most these days are the Para 2 and Manix 2. Today I am carrying a Manix 2 XL, clipped to my jeans, and I don't even feel that it is there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top