Less than 2" Blade Folder Recommendations?

T

tatfiend

Joined
Apr 24, 2013
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Any recommendations for a folding locking blade knife with a blade just under 2" length and a reasonable sized handle? The city of Reno has an ordinance forbidding the carrying of a knife in city parks with a blade over 2" length. Per Nevada court decisions blade length is the sharpened length, not the length from the tang or handle junction to the tip. I already have a Kershaw Chive which falls just inside the length rule but the handle is a bit small and it does not have any grip enhancing finish or scales.

Also per Nevada law a automatic knife with a blade under 2" length is legal. A under 2" sharpened length bladed knife is not considered a weapon apparently regardless of configuration.
 
Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. The handle/choil configuration make it feel bigger than it is. Awesome little blade.
 
Matador said:
Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. The handle/choil configuration make it feel bigger than it is. Awesome little blade.
Click to expand...

+1 to this. Nothing beats it, IMO, for your requirements. The Subcom and Nano are fun, but I find it hard to get a good grip on their tiny handles. The Mini Tuff Lite's finger choil means that even though it's a tiny knife, you can still get a real grip on it.

A bonus feature is that the thin-edged wharncliffe blade is great for whittling if you get bored.

Here's one of mine next to a ruler, to give you an idea of size:

TJF0We3.jpg


Checking on my ruler, the full size Tuff Lite is too big, as the sharpened edge looks to be exactly 2":

zgmosz1.jpg


Which is too bad, because that's the biggest tiny knife I've found.

If it really is just sharpened edge, then you have a bunch of Spyderco options that are comfy with a bit of a finger choil (though not nearly as comfy as the Tuff Lite line, IMO). I also sometimes carry a Spyderco Kopa or one of the Dragonfly models in restrictive locales for this reason. Compared to the Tuff Lite they're not nearly as comfortable or stout feeling, but they're also a lot dressier.
 
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I have ordered the Tuff Lite and will check the sharpened edge length with a digital caliper and modify as necessary to get it below 2" measured if necessary, like 1.998" long! Looking at it in the photos it looks like the best solution anyone has suggested to get around dumb laws and is quite reasonably priced too. Thanks for the recommendations.
 
Spyderco Manbug
Spyderco Bug
Spyderco Honeybee
Spyderco Ladybug
CRKT Eros 2
Benchmade 3150 Impel
 
evilgreg said:
+1 to this. Nothing beats it, IMO, for your requirements. The Subcom and Nano are fun, but I find it hard to get a good grip on their tiny handles. The Mini Tuff Lite's finger choil means that even though it's a tiny knife, you can still get a real grip on it.

A bonus feature is that the thin-edged wharncliffe blade is great for whittling if you get bored.

Here's one of mine next to a ruler, to give you an idea of size:

TJF0We3.jpg


Checking on my ruler, the full size Tuff Lite is too big, as the sharpened edge looks to be exactly 2":

zgmosz1.jpg


Which is too bad, because that's the biggest tiny knife I've found.

If it really is just sharpened edge, then you have a bunch of Spyderco options that are comfy with a bit of a finger choil (though not nearly as comfy as the Tuff Lite line, IMO). I also sometimes carry a Spyderco Kopa or one of the Dragonfly models in restrictive locales for this reason. Compared to the Tuff Lite they're not nearly as comfortable or stout feeling, but they're also a lot dressier.
Click to expand...

My full size Tuff Lite arrived today and a check with my digital caliper shows that the sharpened portion of the blade is just under 2", like 1.98" actual. So it should be Reno parks legal. Definitely the largest handle <2" mini knife by Nevada measurement I have seen and felt and very secure feeling in the hand with the double choil handle and blade design.

I also have a Protech Runt J4 on the way seeing as how there is no Nevada restriction on under 2" blade automatic knives and that one appears to also have a long handle for the blade size.
 
Spyderco kiwi is a 2" folder, no clip though. The old lockback has good ergos which fit the hand well despite it's small size. The newer slipjoint kiwi looks like it should retain similar ergos although I haven't held this one. They're might be worth checking out if it meets your criteria.
 
tatfiend said:
My full size Tuff Lite arrived today and a check with my digital caliper shows that the sharpened portion of the blade is just under 2", like 1.98" actual. So it should be Reno parks legal. Definitely the largest handle <2" mini knife by Nevada measurement I have seen and felt and very secure feeling in the hand with the double choil handle and blade design.

I also have a Protech Runt J4 on the way seeing as how there is no Nevada restriction on under 2" blade automatic knives and that one appears to also have a long handle for the blade size.
Click to expand...

I hope you end up liking it. I own way too many knives, and as far as I'm concerned there isn't anything better than the Tuff Lite for actual use at that size. I carve with mine all the time, and for a too-small, <$30 plastic pocket knife the Tuff Lite has blown me away with how sturdy, comfortable and great for actual hard use it is.
 
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