Knives that put the hand closest to the blade

Durham68

Durham68

Joined
Jun 23, 2015
Messages
187
I am looking for EDC folding knives that are designed in a way that places the grip as close as possible to the sharpened portion of the blade without a choil. The Tenacious and Polestar come to mind as decent examples, but I'm not in love with the steels or blade shape on either. The Spyderco Gayle Bradley is close but the handle is pretty huge compared with the blade and 5.5oz is more than I am willing to pocket daily. The Mantra I saw on the exchange with the flipper removed looked pretty good, but I missed it.

Any ideas?

ETA: Looking for a 3"- 3.75" locking folder
 
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This may be above your price range, but take a look at the Jarosz M75. The choil recesses into the handle so it does not eat blade.
Can't hurt to look
 
Spyderco Techno might be abit smaller than what you are looking for but fits the bill.
 
Durham68 said:
I am looking for EDC folding knives that are designed in a way that places the grip as close as possible to the sharpened portion of the blade without a choil. The Tenacious and Polestar come to mind as decent examples, but I'm not in love with the steels or blade shape on either. The Spyderco Gayle Bradley is close but the handle is pretty huge compared with the blade and 5.5oz is more than I am willing to pocket daily. The Mantra I saw on the exchange with the flipper removed looked pretty good, but I missed it.

Any ideas?
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No choil of any kind or just not a full choil? I think the 50/50 choil is my favorite in folders because it puts you front finger near the blade while still getting a little guard. The millie and native 5 are 2 of my faves. I went through a handful of my non-choil folders and they all pretty much have some space between the sweep at the front of the handle and where the edge actually starts. The cold steel american lawman and mini lawman do a decent job of keeping the 50/50 choil from eating up too much real estate.

I do feel your pain though, I could never get along with the delica as it seemed like there was a lot of space between the edge and the grip.
 
The little Blackjack Model 155 neck knife has the sharpened edge very close to the handle and your hand. I know, it's a fixed blade.
 
Peter Hartwig said:
This may be above your price range, but take a look at the Jarosz M75. The choil recesses into the handle so it does not eat blade.
Can't hurt to look
Click to expand...

Awesome looking knife. That's the idea I'm looking for on the blade, but even there the handle geometry would push the hand farther away from the blade than I'd like.

marcinek said:
Most any slipjoint. Vic SAK, for instance.
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I knew I was going to leave out something important when posting. I am looking for a 3"-3.75" locking folder.

Lapedog said:
Spyderco Techno might be abit smaller than what you are looking for but fits the bill.
Click to expand...
It's got what I asked for, but it's just too stubby for my taste.

bikerector said:
No choil of any kind or just not a full choil? I think the 50/50 choil is my favorite in folders because it puts you front finger near the blade while still getting a little guard. The millie and native 5 are 2 of my faves. I went through a handful of my non-choil folders and they all pretty much have some space between the sweep at the front of the handle and where the edge actually starts. The cold steel american lawman and mini lawman do a decent job of keeping the 50/50 choil from eating up too much real estate.

I do feel your pain though, I could never get along with the delica as it seemed like there was a lot of space between the edge and the grip.
Click to expand...

Really looking for no choil. I hate how much usable edge the 50/50 choils eat up.
 
The Fox Terzuola looks pretty close. Even there I would love to see the peak at the top of the scales taken down and more of the blade sharpened.
 
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Durham68 said:
The Fox Terzuola looks pretty close. Even there I would love to see the peak at the top of the scales taken down and more of the blade sharpened.
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Spyderco Nilakka.

It has a super thin ground blade that is only really good for slicing though.

I will look at my knives when I get home and see if any match what you are looking for.
 
Rich S said:
Check out the Enzo Birk 75. I think it fits your specs.
Rich
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I was thinking of the same knife.
Excellent grind, f&f, and you can choke up as far as your comfort level will allow.
Only photo I have, no action pics on this one yet.
Fyl1acl.jpg
 
Lapedog said:
Spyderco Nilakka.

It has a super thin ground blade that is only really good for slicing though.

I will look at my knives when I get home and see if any match what you are looking for.
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I’m glad you posted that. It reminded me of the Centofante Memory. Just wish it came in a better steel.
 
Durham68 said:
I’m glad you posted that. It reminded me of the Centofante Memory. Just wish it came in a better steel.
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Honestly I think your best bet is the Gayle Bradley 1. Reconsider it. It is not overly big or heavy in pocket and has exactly the ergos you describe.

Comes in M4 steel which is a very good steel.

Here I took some measurement pics for you.

8 inch open length, 3.5 inch blade, .5 inch width.
xbQaqa0.jpg

L3waXJV.jpg

lFaYJ3F.jpg
 
Mantra is very good at edc. Its easy to carry, the blade is thinly ground m4 and with the flipper you still feel very close to the blade. The flipper is a plus as it makes it so cardboard or other material doesn't touch your index finger as you cut.
The knife has great ergos like delica, but with thicker blade so that jimping feels even better. The blade length is like pm2 but smaller package. Its great, don't miss it cuz i think it will just get discontinued.
br5drA2h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/br5drA2.jpg HD
Spine is moded a bit
 
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Fifty fifty choil
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I didn't know what that is / was called until today. That's where part of the choil is in the blade and part in the handle ?
Is the Ouroboros not what you like then ?
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How about the Cold Steel Holdout ? Bottom knife in this photo.
IMG_3247_2.jpg
 
Lil native, native and shaman get you right up on the edge.

Any choiled spyderco to be honest.
 
Durham68 said:
I am looking for EDC folding knives that are designed in a way that places the grip as close as possible to the sharpened portion of the blade without a choil. The Tenacious and Polestar come to mind as decent examples, but I'm not in love with the steels or blade shape on either. The Spyderco Gayle Bradley is close but the handle is pretty huge compared with the blade and 5.5oz is more than I am willing to pocket daily. The Mantra I saw on the exchange with the flipper removed looked pretty good, but I missed it.

Any ideas?

ETA: Looking for a 3"- 3.75" locking folder
Click to expand...

That GB1 sure does describe what you’re looking for, minus the weight. 5-6 years ago, I used to think 4-5 oz knives were too heavy. I’m well over that now (Hellllo Demko’s).

The Cold Steel Recon 1 might do well too.

Low profile flippers, similar to the Liong Mah GSD and WE Slipstream (forgot to include the WE in the photo) might work for you too.
AA6A4DF9-3E2B-4B28-9EDF-9255B2F27E38.jpeg
 
Looks like I have some trading and some exchange hunting to do. I’m going to pick up a GB1 and a Mantra, and see what sticks.

Anyone looking to offload either of these, feel free to PM me.
 
Ka-Bar makes a $40.00 version of the Jarosz knife, and it looks pretty decent, too.

Böker, meanwhile, makes the Exskelibur, which may fit your bill, and it's offered in a bunch of varieties.
 
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