Lightweight EDC Report from Blade 2014

bld522

bld522

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Feb 3, 2004
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Conspicuous by its absence is any indication of new lightweight EDC announcements from the major manufacturers. I didn't really expect anything from ZT at this year's show as the 0770CF was just recently released. And I'm familiar with the Urban Trapper from Boker. But it seems as if all of the attention was taken up this year by folders that weigh north of 5 ounces and have blade lengths of 3.25" or more. My sweet spot consists of folders that have blade lengths of 3.0", overall lengths of 7.0", and weigh 4 ounces or less.

Does anyone have anything new to report from Blade 2014 in the lightweight category? :confused:

Thanks. :)
 
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Sadly, the trend in "new" knives is toward big heavy duty knives. I too prefer smaller, lighter weight knives as well. I sold off all but two of my "overbuilt" style knives. I only have the ZT0801 and the Cold Steel Recon 1. 3.5" is pretty much my max blade length. Despite the trend, most of us aren't attempting to fell a sequoia with a folder. Its just another penis envy type thing IMHO.
 
That's my take on it as well, at least for a lot of folks. Arguably, however, there are some people who need a heavy-duty folder . . . though few they may be. In my experience, people who require a knife for ongoing heavy-duty use normally rely on fixed-blades.
 
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K.O.D. said:
Sadly, the trend in "new" knives is toward big heavy duty knives. I too prefer smaller, lighter weight knives as well. I sold off all but two of my "overbuilt" style knives. I only have the ZT0801 and the Cold Steel Recon 1. 3.5" is pretty much my max blade length. Despite the trend, most of us aren't attempting to fell a sequoia with a folder. Its just another penis envy type thing IMHO.
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bld522 said:
That's my take on it as well, at least for a lot of folks. Arguably, however, there are some people who need a heavy-duty folder . . . though few they may be. In my experience, people who require a knife for ongoing heavy-duty use normally rely on fixed-blades.
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I prefer large folders in theory. Part of it for me is that I am a large man with large hands and they feel good in my hand and I don't look like I'm holding a toy. :) With that being said; I have come to the realization that I do not like to carry a lot of weight in my pockets and large folders are heavy. I've started looking at medium size knives that are slim and around 4 inches. I have a BM 940 in my pocket right now and it does all I need it to do (for a folder).

I do agree that if I needed something hard use or my life depended on it I would have a fixed blade with me.
 
I also think that people carry these heavy use knives for a SHTF situation. I'm just not willing to pack a 6 oz plus knife day to day.
 
I'm not at blade, but the spyderco native 5 lightweight should be out sometime soon.
 
I wish I could have gone to blade but alas it was too far away and I've had many, many other more important things going on in my life. But from everything I've read, there wouldn't be much I'm interested in anyway. I only own a few heavier duty knives, and only one over 3.5", the CS Recon 1. If I need more than that, I'll use my Benchmade 162. The manix 2 lw S110V is something I'm definitely considering though...
 
I am 100% with you on wanting more knives that actually cut. I went to Blade. Definitely more makers hyping their tactical offerings...I guess that is what sells and the manufacturers have responded. Sad that the Case booth or the Queen Cutlery booth weren't packed like some others.

Fact is, in today's society, we don't really need knives as much as in the past. Face it, a desk jockey doesn't need a knife nearly as often as a farmer. Not as many people hunt, even my friends that still deer hunt rarely clean their own deer, to the processor it goes. Instead of using a knife, and realizing that a nice thin blade cuts better than a folding hatchet, people want something that they envision will survive the apocalypse or be able to dismember alien hordes.

Thankfully some makers still make decent slicing knives that don't weigh a ton. Spyderco Slyz Bowie seemed extremely light in my hand, while still feeling sturdy. That one should be coming out within the next six months or so. The lightweight Manix 2 with a S110V blade should be worth a look too. 2.9 ounces, just over a three inch blade and just north of $100, It's gotta be the best deal around right now. Spyderco is also doing a sprint run of the worker, and while not a locking folder, the Spyderco PITS folder seems like it would fit your requirements too. (Ti handles, 3.94 inch blade, 3.4 ounces, 7.16 overall length.) Both of those are coming soon.

I'm kind of a Spyderco fan, so I didn't do alot of hard looking at other company's offerings. I mostly just glanced and was like, "Yup, more tactical crap. Next booth."
 
Thanks. I'm also a Spyderco fan, so I'll keep an eye out for the offerings you mentioned. And I agree with you that we don't really need knives as much as we did in the past. I work in an office and even though I carry a lightweight EDC, I rarely use it. What I do use quite a bit are the scissors on my Leatherman Micra. In fact, I could get by very nicely with just my Micra and pair of ordinary office shears. If truth be told, the only reason I carry an EDC is because I like knives.
 
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I too am sadden that the trend is moving towards super heavy duty folders. Ones with super thick blades and obtuse cutting geometries. A knives primary function is to cut, I don't need a folder thats 3/16" thick.
 
Yep. I think K.O.D. has it right. For a lot of guys, size matters whether they need it or not.
 
I have generally preferred mid size knives in the past, 3-4 oz and 3-3.5 in blades. Have always preferred screw construction. But after picking up the Manix 2 LW s110v, I finding that I really like the weight and pinned construction and I m carrying it a lot. Time will tell how durable it will be, but the blade remains very sharp with moderate cutting. I like this knife.
 
My feelings exactly. I think Spyderco is probably the best bet for upcoming knives (unless you count traditionals). I simply do not have a use for a large folding knife. If I'm at work, I use my alox Cadet. If I'm hiking or camping, it's my ESEE 4. Never have I needed a folder that was overbuilt. That said, I still buy and carry locking folders, but not nearly as much as some folks, and even then generally only cheaper ones, since they don't get a lot of use.
 
Ahh I see you guys have problems with those big heavy sharpened prybars come over to the traditional side we have knives that cut :D. Take a look at the humble Opinel it will cut with the best of them and you won't even have to break your piggy bank to buy one :thumbup:

But on a slightly less sarcastic note I prefer knives that are 2.5-3in with 1/16th in blade or less that is designed to cut and not be used as a prybar and thats pretty much impossible to find outside of traditionals for a knife style I like. Unfortunately everyone wants a knife that survive WWIII plus the resulting zombie invasion afterwards and they forget that they don't need that as some of our grandpa's probably carried the same knife they got as a kid and carried it every day of their life and used and abused it and it held up fine.
 
I bought a LionSteel M2 at Blade. It is proof that small, lightweight, and built like a tank are not necessarily mutually exclusive.
 
Check out LT wright's Coyote knife, fixed blade, small. Do not know if it was at Blade show, but he is running a special for this month.
 
dogstar said:
There are plenty of lightweight, reasonably sized traditional knives, suitable for EDC.
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Indeed there are. I actually own a few. But in this case, I'm talking about modern lightweight folders, the quintessential manufacturer of which is William Henry. I own a few of those as well. But as I'm sure you're aware, they're a bit pricey and I'm always on the lookout for well-made alternatives. (The Small Sebenza is a superb example as are less expensive knives such as the ZT 0770CF, the Benchmade Sequel and the Spyderco Southard.) With the notable exception of the Boker Plus Urban Trapper, modern lightweight folders seem to have been roundly ignored this year in favor of a category of folders I refer to affectionately (if not just a wee bit sarcastically) as pocket bricks. :(
 
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