Favorite locking Sub 3" EDC Folders

mbkryan

mbkryan

Joined
Aug 24, 2012
Messages
522
Please post some pics of/comments about the locking sub 3" knives you like to EDC.

About two years ago I moved from working in the outdoors in MT to working in an office in town. On work days I find smaller knives more useful and appropriate. Although I do enjoy a few slip joints, I mostly carry locking blades. Here are a few of my favorites. Longest blade is 2.75" on the Shamwari. The Protech Strider PT just came today, but I can tell it will be a favorite (BIG smile).

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The Buck 55 has totally hijacked my rotation. I tried to carry a different knife a few days ago and grabbed the 55 after about 6 minutes. It has the shortest cutting edge and is not great at slicing, but the ergos and blade shape are perfect for me. And, it was the least expensive, so I don't hesitate to use it for all tasks. I can easily open it and close it with one hand too.
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On these smaller knives I prefer a deep carry clip or no clip.
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I recently got a Chris Reeve small Inkosi I really like it and it has been seeing a lot of pocket time. I also like the Mini Griptillian, I like it so much I had a set of custom scales made for it.
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I enjoy a smaller knife, but the window isn't large. I like knives in the 2.75" to 3" range. Most my life I have carried smaller knives. I briefly went a bit larger, but I am back to small again.
PT-though I don't have one at the moment
3" Hinderer non flippers
and small Sebenza's are a few
also have a Fellhoelter "No One" that is pretty neat
 
I also like my small Inkosi.

Another sub-3" bladed knife I like is the Delica 4. Its blade is a hair below 3".

I also have two David Boye dendritic cobalt folders: one pointed tip and one sheepsfoot version. I often carry one or the other, along with whatever else I'm carrying. Their blades are right at 3". They both have a marlin spike that comes in handy undoing especially tight knots.

Jim
 
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I like the Delica and the Kizer Feist. They're my most common office/warehouse carry, along with a Kershaw Link I use for boxes.
 
lieferung said:
I like the Delica and the Kizer Feist. They're my most common office/warehouse carry, along with a Kershaw Link I use for boxes.
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If I could only have one knife, it would probably be a Delica. IMO it is perfect.
 
3" is what I prefer to carry and what I find the most useful.

Ones I carry:
Small Sebenza 21 Insingo Micarta - my favorite overall CRK
Small Sebenza 21 plain Jane
Small Inkosi - one of the most stout knives made under 3"
Ritter Mini Grip - possibly my favorite Benchmade
707 Sequel - don't carry much but a nice knife, probably my least favorite handle in use
Delica - no explanation needed
Soon to be Para 3 - thinking it'll be hard to kick out of my pocket and will be a home run

Don't have one anymore, but used to really like the 3" XM-18 when I had one. If only the thing would cut...

Have some others not mentioned that don't get carried at all such as a William Henry, SAKs, and traditionals.
 
Flat ground Delica is my number one choice at that size. Mini Ritter Griptilian is also very good. This size knife I usually remove the clip and carry loose in pocket. Bigger knives I clip.
 
3" blades are what I carry most often, rarely do I find myself wishing I had a bigger knife on me.
Some of my most carried are:
CRK Small Sebenza 21
BM Mini Griptilian
Spyderco Para 3
Hinderer XM-18 3"
Emerson Mini CQC-7AW
 
My sub 3" favs include:

FFG Delica
BRK Zancudo
Spyderco Chicago

Looking to buy:
Houge X1 Micro Flipper
FRN Lightweight Chapparral in XHP
Ontario Rat 2 in D2
 
I honestly rarely carry a "sub-3 inch" bladed knife. Of the ones I own, I sometimes carry a small SAK, or a couple ~3" long (closed length) traditionals. Most of my folding knives have blades between 3" and 3.25", but not sub 3". Essentially I like the Delica sized folders and I believe the Delica is not a Sub-3" bladed knife.
 
I don't know what it's listed at but my measurement suggests a 3" blade (tip to handle). Assuming 2.88" is correct, I would guess that it is intended for carry in states that have a 3" blade limit. It is my favorite size and includes the Native 5 and a few other Spyderco's that I own.
 
I don't carry a sub 3" folder much, preferring slightly larger folders, but I do find these in my pocket once in a while:

Opinel N°8 at 3.15" (8cm): It locks as well as I need most of the time. It's easily made razor sharp. It's light. Traditional. French. Cocorico!

Buck 112 at 3": Classic, traditional, robust, locks up tight. A gift from an old friend. When the original feels too heavy I swap it out for the Ecolite 112 which sits more easily in the pocket. Neither has a clip but both fit in the watch pocket of my jeans.

Zieg
 
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