help! looking for a small folder for daily carry

S

Skytorn

Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
110
Hey guys,

New to the forums, and I'm looking for a small, light folding knife to bring with me everywhere I go. It's not like I've got a daily need for a knife, I'm no hunter I'm a bloody university student--but there have been one too many times where I wished I had something sharp on hand to cut with. I have a list of rather stringent criteria from most important to least, and if you guys could help me out that would be GREATLY appreciated.

1. Affordable. We're talking less than $30US. I know quality increases with price, but since the knife isn't going to be bandied about for heavy use anyway, quality takes a back seat.
2. small and lightweight. Blade length no more than 3.5" or 9cm, open length no more than 7" or 18cm.
3. Good looking, but still conventional. No Spydercos, for example. Preferably a drop point.
4. Have a lanyard hole. :P

Thanks all!
 
Skytorn,Case makes these small linerless lockback knives,with a lanyard hole & pretty much a drop poit blade in the size yur after.Super ligtweit & the action is surprisingly good.
Since the blade is of thin stock steel,its easy to keep sharp.
Welcome aboard
-Vince

PS This is the one I recommend (cheap & good,rides in pocket nice) :

http://www.knivesplus.com/case-knife-blackhorn-ca-253.html
 
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maybe a kershaw skyline or possibly an kershaw OD1. i think those are around your price point. and what is wrong with a spydie? those are very ergonomic and function great. but to each their won i suppose. happy hunting!
 
lots of good knives in this size case slipjoint case lockback kershaw ace buck mini buck cheap slipjoints rough rider frost cuterly then gerber para frame
 
A Buck 303 or a Victorinox Cadet. Both pack a lot of use into a small package and neither look very threatening to non-knife people.

BTW, welcome to BF.

Here's the Cadet
Victorinox_Cadet3.jpg


Sorry don't have a pic of the 303 by itself. In this pic the 303 is on bottom and the top knife is the discontinued 703.

Buck703_303_2.jpg
 
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Swiss Army Knife and they are probably the most people friendly knives and since your going to school that may be something to thing about also
 
Victorinox makes an equal end pen knife called the Secretary that you might like. Spear point blade (2 1/2" in length) and pen blade; closed length 3 1/4" and extremely light. I think you can get them for under $20. Don't let the weight fool you, these little critters are very, very durable. With brushed Alox handles you'd be hard pressed to find a more classy, traditional pen knife. Enjoy the search.
 
knowtracks said:
Victorinox + 1:thumbup:
Click to expand...

You want small, you're a student so low profile is needed, and you want a lanyard hole/attachment, and you want low cost.

Sounds to me like for now you just may need a Victorinox classic on your keychain. About 2 1/4 inches closed, has a split ring for attachment to said keyring, costs about 9 dollars at Target, has lifetime warentee, also has a small sissors that really work, ( I know because my better half Karen used them to trim some ear hair I had and she nicked that little divot thing in the middle of the ear opening and I bled like a stuck pig for 10 miniutes) nailfile with screwdriver tip, tweezers that really work, ( I've pulled a tick or two off of Pearl the wonder corgi with them), and a plastic toothpick that will open most police handcuffs. (Please don't ask me how I know!)
'
Add in the universal red handles with the Cross Of Heliveta and you have as innocent looking keychain cutter you'lll run into.

At 8.99, everyone ought to have one.
 
Can't go wrong with a Vic. However, if you just want a small, handy, comfortable, classy knife that is inexpensive and loses NO price points in quality, check this one out:

381617626.jpg
 
Spend a little more and get a Case mini Copperlock. Thin and small enough as to not be too small.
ca133j.jpg
 
I guess it might've helped if I told you guys some of the knives I was looking at...the Gerber STL 2.0 and the Buck 284 Bantam BBW are my top choices right now.

I don't like Swiss Army knives because of a pretty dumb reason, I guess. Despite knowing that they are of very high quality, I just find them so...plain. Being thoroughly recognizable has made them throughly uninteresting. Although I might pick up a Victorinox Secretary for my girlfriend, haha.

Spyderco knives on the other hand, are too unconventional for me. I feel that they sacrificed aesthetics for ergonomics and the blades just look uncomfortable (particularly how they all jut out over the handle once extended), if not actually uncomfortable to handle.

In short, I want a pocket knife that would be pretty threatening if it was two inches longer.

Sorry, reading above again I sound like a picky eater. All for a $10 to $20 knife too! Well, that's what I get for being an aficionado. Maybe I'll pick up the Blackhorn, Bantam, AND the STL, and just use the one I like best. It'd still be within budget, more or less.
 
Maybe a KaBar Dozier. They go for around $20 online. Very good AUS-8 blade steel keeps a good edge. All in all an amazing knife for the money.

KaBar_Dozier_3.jpg


KaBar_Dozier_1.jpg


KaBar_Dozier_2.jpg
 
The new small version of the Kabar Dozier could be an option as well.
-Vince
 
How about an Opinel? They're cheap, lightweight, can be had in almost any size you want, and have a classic look. They have either carbon or stainless steel. If you really need a lanyard hole it's easy enough to drill through the wood handle. I've done it on one I have.

Another option would be an EKA compact. It has sandvik 12C27 steel and comes in a few different colors. It has a lanyard hole also.
 
If you're looking for a traditional knife that locks, then a small Mercator K55K would fit that bill. It's a classic design that's tested through a few wars, inexpensive, and takes a beating.

Actually, adding to that, a small Douk-Douk would also work well. It doesn't lock, but man, is that spring strong.
 
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