Lightweight Folder Recommendations

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pinnah

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Jul 28, 2011
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Was hoping you all could generate some possibilities. Seeking modern alternatives to the Opinel 9 or 10.

Weight - under 3 oz
Blade Length - 3" to 3.5" (ish)
Grind - flat (or convex)
Blade Shape - drop point preferred
Steel - Aus8/420HC/12C27 or its equivalent is fine; preferred even
Price - under $100 (under $50 preferred)
 
Byrd Cara Cara 2 FRN

length overall 8.563 " (217 mm) blade length 3.75 " (95 mm) blade steel 8Cr13MoV
length closed 4.844 " (123 mm) cutting edge 3.188 " (81 mm) weight 3.4 oz. (97 g)
blade thickness .125 " (3 mm) handle material FRN


under $20.00 - DONE! :0) Love mine!
 
pinnah said:
Was hoping you all could generate some possibilities. Seeking modern alternatives to the Opinel 9 or 10.

Weight - under 3 oz
Blade Length - 3" to 3.5" (ish)
Grind - flat (or convex)
Blade Shape - drop point preferred
Steel - Aus8/420HC/12C27 or its equivalent is fine; preferred even
Price - under $100 (under $50 preferred)
Click to expand...
The Benchmade 531 is the consummation of your wishlist, but costs a bit over $100 unless you find a lucky used one.

It's beautiful and ultralight.
 
The Kershaw Chill is another to consider, but it's a hollow ground and a flipper. I'm not a flipper (or flicker for that matter) guy.



Overall Length:7.125"
Blade Length:3.125"
Blade Thickness:0.34"
Blade Material:8Cr13MoV
Blade Style:Drop Point
Blade Grind:Hollow
Finish:Bead Blast
Edge Type:Plain
Handle Length:3.875"
Handle Thickness:0.34"
Handle Material:G-10
Color:Black
Frame/Liner:Stainless Steel
Weight:2.20 oz.
User:Right Hand
Pocket Clip:Tip-Up, Tip-Down
Knife Type:Manual
Opener:Flipper
Lock Type:Liner Lock




Also under $20.00
 
Kinda tough requirements to put all together.....I came close Kershaw Leek( under $50)w/3" blade and 3.15 oz. 14c28n steel and of course Spyderco Delica FRN ($65)2.88" blade, 2.5oz neither have a drop point style blade.
 
Spyderco Manix 2 LW
3.00 oz
CTS-BD1 Steel

I have one, Great action with great egos, and weight. Whats not to like
 
How about a sog oso sweet. Nice little knife, carries well. On the opposite end of the spectrum, look at a Japanese Higonokami. Real slim & pocketable. Available with some real good steel too. Best made has a nice one or check on Japanese knife direct for the above average ones. Cheaper ones can be found at Blade HQ.
 
Boker Urban Trapper. It'll run you $60-$80, depending on your choice of handle (G10 and Cocobolo are cheaper, Ti framelock and Carbon fiber versions are more expensive.) Less than 2 ounces, 3.5" blade (carries like a smaller blade because it's so slim), drop point, VG-10 steel. It is a slight hollow grind, however.
 
Yup ^^
I just received one off the exchange....Ti......and am really impressed!! Excellent flipper, F&F are great, looks super cool and the VG10 takes a screaming edge!
Awesome EDC blade that's light as a feather!
 
Boker Exskelibur 2 fits all of the criteria except the grind. Blade length is a little shorter than you mentioned also.

Overall Length:6.50"
Blade Length:2.75"
Blade Material:VG-10
Blade Style:Spear Point
Blade Grind:Hollow
Finish:Satin
Edge Type:Plain
Handle Length:3.75"
Handle Material:Carbon Fiber
Frame/Liner:Titanium
Weight:2.10 oz.
 
Ontario RAT II
Checks off everything in your requirements and is fantastic knife giving the price point. :thumbup:
 
The Rat II is a great knife, meets your criteria and the price is right too. One of my favorites.
What about the Delica? Seems to fit too, except for maybe blade shape. There are a lot of options really.
 
10xwrc9.jpg

Overall Length: 5.25" (140 mm)
Blade Length: 2.25" (57 mm) Little under what you want,,
Cutting Edge: 1.875" (48 mm)
Closed Length: 3.1875" (81 mm)
Steel: VG-10
Weight: 2 oz. (56 g)
Clip: Left/Right; Tip-up Carry
Handle Material: Foliage Green G-10
Made in Japan
 
My favorites in this category and I've tried about a 70 sub $100 budgets folders (mostly moderns) in the past few years are the Spyderco UK Pen Knife, Canal Street Cutlery Pinch Air (440C) lockback this is a locking trapper pattern in a beautiful bone ivory micarta, Byrd Cara Cara 2. The Byrd Cara Cara is a flat handled Spyderco that is halfway between the Delica and Endura.(specifically this model vs other Byrd models which I didn't like and especially the combo edge chisel grind) and lastly the Kabar Dozier lockback. The latter is incredibly easy for pocket carry. None of the locks will be up to your standards in terms of lock strength relative to the Opinel 9, but they all pass the peanut butter test and garden knife test for me at least. The mini Presidio Ultra is also a great knife in 440C.

PS: I've been looking at the Boker Urban Trapper lately and the CRKT M16 in Ti (just because it has the better knife steel out of the series). It's poo-pooed often but it's the one budget knife series that I haven't tried yet. The other brand that I haven't tried is Cold Steel, they seem to be up and coming, I had a Cold Steel Lucky for a while and it was well built. The lock should pass your lock strength test as well.

Here's some photos:





 
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