First Post and Recommendation Please

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ryan80

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Sep 15, 2014
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Have been a long time lurker, but this is my first post. I love knives and learning and talking about steel in general. I also love to cook, and have been collecting kitchen knives, mostly handmade Japanese Aogami blades, for many years. I take sharpening very seriously. My grandfather was an army colonel and all of my childhood I remember watching him sharpen his knives and that is when we hung out and I got to hear stories. His knives were wicked sharp and scared the hell out of my grandmother and mother. These days, I use Shapton glass stones (among other things) and sharpening my knives reminds me of the limited time I had with him. Anyway, I have moved into non-kitchen knives as well and in the last 6 months bought a BK-2, a Battle Horse bushcrafter and this weekend a ZT 0562 in addition to what I already had--so I definitely have the bug!

As for the recommendation, I wear a suit to work in a very non-knife-type environment on the 23rd story of an office building full of lawyers and financiers. But I don't wear my suit jacket in the office, so that makes it harder to cover up things. So no pocket clips can be showing, even though policies don't specifically forbid knives and I am in Georgia, so most anything under 5" is legal. My mini-griptillian is even a bit heavy and don't feel it is easily deployable floating in my pants pocket. And the ZT is certainly way too much. I just bought a tactical pen that isn't too intimidating looking which I should be able to carry around the office. I have been carrying a Spyderco Ladybug just floating in my pocket, but that makes it very hard to deploy, and it is very tiny. I would really like to find something very thin and light, but something that would be formidable and easy to deploy if I really had to defend myself. But I simply can't let anyone at work see me carrying a knife.

So I am considering a neck knife, which would be under my tie and shirt, but have never really worn a necklace, so not sure about that. I am also considering a Benchmade 530 as it is very thin and light, but obviously functional for defense if needed. But I think that it would just need to float in my pocket, or is there a better way to carry something like that? Any other suggestions? Am completely open to folders, fixed blades, whatever...just want something I can conceal wearing formal clothes without the normal luxury of shirttail out, baggier clothes, etc.

Thanks again!!!
 
Welcome to bladeforums, and I really think you should check out a Case peanut. Perfect for office carry, and doesn't scare the sheep.

Don't wear a neck knife. If you take it out and use it, you will be "the crazy guy who wears weapon necklaces". And why wear it if you can't use it?

If you need something for self defense, pepper spray and a cell phone.
 
Depending on your budget, I would suggest a Chris Reeve Mnandi. It has a clip but is small and thin enough to go inside the pocket. It's a very classy, gentlemanly design for the suit wearing knife fan. I believe it comes with a leather knife slip to protect the knife and for easy pocket carry.

chris-reeve-mnandi-gabon-ebony-inlay-large.jpg
 
traditional:
Northwoods Hawthorne

modern:
Spyderco Gayle Bradley Air

I carry a small knife in a pocket slip when at the office, and although it isn't in any way quick to "deploy", when I take it out it is a purposeful action where even my boss can see me squeeze the slip, and allow the little knife to fall into my hand. Very non-menacing. I think that, because it isn't a quick-draw-deep-carry-flick-open kind of action, most people are fine with it.
 
I will cast a second vote for the Spyderco Air. It doesn't have a clip and is small and light enough to be carried in the pocket. 2.5" Wharncliffe blade in CPM M4 steel. Can be deployed easily with one hand. It is dressy enough to carry with a suit and probably won't freak out the sheeple.
 
Your best bet is to carry a good one-hand opening knife down in the pocket. There are several knives that can fulfill this purpose, but each has its drawbacks.

For down-in-the-pocket carry, the attributes that make a knife excel at one-hand-opening can also be detrimental if you are carrying the knife next to your keys. You don't want keys getting caught in the holes, cavities, and crevices, or your knife might sneak out when you pull out your keys!
If you carry a knife next to your cell phone, be wary of sharp edges, studs, flippers, or jimping that could scratch up your expensive phone!

I have a one-hand opening (pocket clip removed) knife that I sometimes carry deep in the pocket, but I've found it is not ideal due to some of the issues above. I'm contemplating a Benchmade 707 which might be less aggressive. Another interesting option would be a Benchmade Megumi, but man those are pricey!
 
5E66E6BD-95E9-47BD-92C2-7ED735932FAC_zps06ewdmoy.jpg


I carry my Chaparral 2 as my dress knife. It's small, very concealable, and quite elegant. The deep carry wire clip is among the least obvious and can easily be removed for an in the pocket carry. Very lightweight also.
 
Go another vote for the Spyderco Gayle Bradley Air, handled one yesterday and it is definitely an "Office Carry" knife. It has a very un-menacing look to it, and weighs next to nothing. The only reason I didn't buy it was because it didn't have a pocket clip, and because I went there planning on buying a Spyderco Techno (which may also fill your needs but it's a bit heavier). Another suggestion if self-defence is important, as well as office carry, perhaps the Spyderco Gayle Bradley. The knife itself is a bit larger and heavier, but it's blade shape and handle material (Carbon Fibre) don't make it too scary looking.

Asking for a knife that is both Sheeple friendly, and can also be used for self-defence is near impossible. Most knives which focus on self-defence are larger with more purpose built blades (That is to say more aggressive looking), they also have a more grippy handle material and faster means of deployment (Flipper, assisted, auto). Whereas an office suitable EDC, is the opposite. They focus on aesthetics and being people friendly. Having high traction handles and a fast deployment are almost the exact opposite of what you want in an office friendly knife.

My suggestion, get something absolutely office friendly for inside your suit pocket (Gayle Bradley Air or the likes). Then keep the ZT in the car glove box, and swap them when your are leaving and entering your work. I mean, what are your chances of being attacked while on the 23rd story of an office building surrounded by lawyers and financiers (and I'm assuming security guards as well). But if you must have a self-defence knife in your pocket in the office, it's going to be larger, heavier, and most likely going to be very intimidating and NOT sheeple friendly. You said yourself you wanted it to be formidable.
 
ryan80 said:
So no pocket clips can be showing
Click to expand...

Don't go neck-knife, it'll be even harder to deploy, more "weapon" associated, and more obvious than a pocket-clip on your pants.

Do you folk not wear belts? Clip the knife of your choosing in-waist-band with the pocket-clip beneathe your belt. If too much clip shows for your liking, wear a wider belt. I wear dress/suit-pants to work most days, ~2" belt hides most clips esp. if set at an angle. I find it most comfortable to clip slightly to the side of my belt-buckle. Comfort will depend on the shape of the knife handle and pommel, but the options are wide open.
 
My office carries:
Spydercos:
Dragonfly ZDP-189
Caly 3 CF/ZDP-189

Brous Bionic
Benchmade 530
Benchmade 585 Orange Mini Barrage
LionSteel Opera Cocobolo
ZT0770CF
 
I also work in an office where I do not see any knifes being used. So I carry a CRKT Drifter without the clip. It is small enough that it does not take up a lot of room in my pocket and the blade is just a little over 2 3/4 inch long. Just enough for cutting up a piece of fruit such as an apple.
 
The Gayle Bradley Air is a great suggestion...several times above. Possibly a Chaparral and leave the clip at home.
Don't wear the neck knife. It might seem okay, but the first time some "female" sees you take that blade out of your shirt, she's gonna figure you're a terrorist...
I have a neck-knife, and if I were a hiker on the trails, I might carry it along with other fixed blades. I would really feel self-conscious if I ever pulled out a neck-knife when I'm at McDonald's having brekkie.
 
Get an aftermarket, short, silver, polished, deep carry clip and give it a try on a spyderco, benchmade, or maybe your ZT if you can find one. It looks like a pen clip as the knife will be completely hidden. Bunch of them on ebay. Note, if you wear black slacks then black may be better.

Here are examples. Make sure the one you get goes well beyond the scales, making it ultra deep carry. Also check the length as there are short and long versions. No one should bother you but if they do then you'll figure out another solution.

The Camo PM2 is mine that I took a pic of for you.


 
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I have this same problem with my med school classes. At this point, I have forgone a "tactical" knife from my school carry system and just stick with a Victorinox Tinker and my tactical pen. I'm only in class during daylight hours so the need for a tactical knife is really low. The Tinker has the smaller blade (in addition to the larger one) on it and is very discrete, and I have used it a few times without attracting any attention. In the extremely rare case I would ever need a bigger knife, I keep an Endura concealed in my backpack. If you want something with one-handed opening, take a clip off of a Dragonfly and put it in your pocket. It's a very thin, light, and discrete knife.
 
Welcome to BladeFourms!!!!!
Look at a Spyderco Centofante. It's thin, light and you'll find it's good in the kitchen also. As others have said, you can remove the pocket clip. Good luck.
 
I would definitely look for a Spyderco with a wire pocket clip, it would look like a pen if that route intrests you I would go manix 2 lightweight or for a little more money the sage 2 best of luck
 
If I were in your shoes I'd carry something like a small SAK (a Victorinox Cadet), a nice slipjoint (like a Case Swayback Jack) or something like that for regular use around the office. Those won't raise any eyebrows.

In addition to that, if you feel you need something larger which could be used for SD, just carry a larger knife which you can clip to your pocket when you leave the office (I'm assuming you don't need a large tactical folder inside the building where you work). Another option would be to keep it clipped inside your waistband, the clip would be hidden behind your belt. Anything flat and with a discreet clip would work. Perhaps an Endura (or a Pacific Salt, which is even lighter since it doesn't have liners).
 
Scoop a 940-1 and lose the clip, drop it in your pocket. Ultra fast Axis deployment and lookin' classy if somebody sees it.
 
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