Favorite locking Sub 3" EDC Folders

[Cow51]

number one for me is the DF2.

I also really like the Mini Grip, but currently don't have one.

 

[Barman1]

Nice — which BM, please?

That's the 556-1 Mini Griptilian with Applied Weapons Tech aftermarket scales.

 

[Pilot1]

The Mini Grip is tough to beat in this class, but lots of other good choices here as well.

 

[number9]

3" is the sweet spot for me, too. Several of my favorites have been mentioned already.
But in my pocket for the last few days: HK Mini-Axis. 3 inches of D2 and G10 goodness. Sadly out of production.

 

[Wowbagger]

Sub three inch.
?
My first reaction was do people really still carry little knives like that. But I don't work in an office.
Oh have some fun carry a Holdout I.

All kidding aside (for the moment . . . lets see how long I can go).

I have never owned a Mini Grip but the one I held not too long ago surprised me in how friendly it was in the hand. I didn't think I would like it.

Here is one that fits your bill and is light, elegant and inexpensive. Being dark colored it is subtle and disappears on a suit trouser pocket. Black clip and ebony wood handle. Not "real" damascus but it is truly beautiful to behold / some of the blade has nickel silver like appearance which can be had from the right stainless steel. It is called a
BOKER PLUS Damascus Gent 2 ~$60
The Gent 1 is longer. I believe they are made with carbon fiber handles now. You many be able to still find an ebony if you like that; I do.




Next up, another Boker. Ti handle and a black Zirconium ceramic blade. Once sharpened (and it came pretty sharp) it should go a long time in an office. Probably have to send it out to be sharpened. It can be done on wet or dry sand paper glued on a flat surface but not quick or easy. If you have super fine diamond plates on a sharpening jig that would be preferable.
HOWEVER if part of the reason you are carrying this is to fight off THE BALROG a blade that can snap off if you flail it around may not be the first choice.
Different and highly elegant in a very "modern" make up.
It is called :
Boker Plus 01BO035 Anti-MC Folding Knife with 3-1/4 in. Straight Edge Blade, Titanium
Not that expensive $70


Now we come to my first choices for your use.
First my Grail (highly modded).
The smaller knife (handle wise in this photo) the Boker / Brad Zinker Urban Trapper. Comes with all sorts of thin handle options.
I rehandled it just a little bit. See photo of the drill press drum sander further down.
And it is still so danged light I can carry it in the bottom of my pocket without a clip. I sure as heck can't say that for the Case Trapper shown. I will say the Trapper is a better letter opener. YMMV.


Sure is thin with no handle scales ! That is a titanium frame / liner with liner lock and ball bearing pivot.
No kidding.


And in it's new handle. Aaaaaahhhhhhh there we go !
I admit to having trouble fitting these into the length limit but what's a quarter of an inch right ?


And lastly, realistically, do you really need a locking knife in an office ?
These SAKs are just built for the task and so thin and light you will never feel it in your pocket until you reach for it. Stellar letter opener / slicer and the little second blade is great for trimming that hang nail or other delicate trimming task. Top to bottom the Wenger Patriot, the SAK Secretary, the SAK Bantom

I actually carry the bottom one daily in a mechanic's environment and use it quite frequently. Slices brilliantly.

 

[mr2blue]

Fantoni Hide by a large margin

 

[22-rimfire]

I like the Bantam. It is about as little as I go in a SAK.

 

[Wowbagger]

I like the Bantam. It is about as little as I go in a SAK.

I bought one because one of my fine woodworking heroes (Ian Kirby) carried one and recommended it for knife marking layout lines for precision joinery.
I ended up not using it for that but continue to EDC the knife for years and years now on my work belt.

 

[ricechrispy]

 

[Wowbagger]

Fantoni Hide by a large margin

Oh . . . I looked that up. I had an obviously well todo customer a year or so ago who had a knife clipped to his pocket with two screws on top just like that. I was asking here what knife that might be and got no clues. Looks like that may have been what he was carrying.

 

[Wowbagger]

Well yah if you want to get serious about this.
Those are lovely aren't they ? !

 

[ricechrispy]

Well yah if you want to get serious about this.
Those are lovely aren't they ? !

Yeah I love it. I wanted the Fluted Ti Native for a long time and couldn’t say no when I found it at a closeout price after it was discontinued.

 

[twinboysdad]

Spyderco KILLS it in this genre...Delica, Caly 3, Native 5, Para 3, Pingo (RIP), Salt, Chaparral. I am forgetting good ones like the Centofane

 

[cut it out]

Small insingo for the win!!

 

[ucfgrad93]

I'd say the mini-grip.

 

[`br4dz-]

Small sebenza, Delica, kizer envoy, and kershaw fraxion are the only sub-3" knives worth a damn to carry. I used to carry a mini Recon 1 all of the time until it developed lock rock and I found out how thinner ground blades perform better.

 

[Man with no name]

Cold Steel Tuff Lite.

 

[archieblue]

Sm Sebenza 21 and Native 5 Lightweight are the two that came along with me on vacation to the Dominican Republic. Each for what they are, I’ve not known two better small knives!

 

[Colorodo]

Dividend M390

 

[Bluearcflash]

I have a small Sebenza 21 and a DPX heat when I’m looking to carry a shorter blade. I’m going to pick up the Spyderco lil native soon also, it checks in around 2.5 inches.