List of 2.5" One-Hand Opener Knives

[Sep]

I visit Chicago often. Since I find it advantageous to stay on the right side of their law, I looked for one-hand opener knives with blade length not more than 2.5". In the process I made a list of all the knives meeting that criteria. Since I got what I wanted, I might as well share the list with you all, in case you're looking for the same thing.

Blade length exactly 2.5":
- Boker Plus Elegance Titanium Blues
- Buck Alpha Dorado
- Buck Impulse
- Buck Lux
- Buck Rush
- Byrd Flatbyrd
- Byrd Robin
- Cold Steel Mini Lawman
- CRKT Hitchcock Hole In One
- CRKT Koji Hara Ichi
- CRKT Lake 111 2
- Gerber SB
- Kershaw Half Ton
- Outdoor Edge Nimbus
- Smith & Wesson S.O.R.T.
- SOG Flash I
- Spyderco Leafstorm
- Timberline Signature Medium
- TOPS CQT Gent-X

It also occurred to me that I can only carry a knife LESS than 2.5" in federal facilities. I put anything slightly less than 2.5" in a separate list.

Blade length under 2.5" and over 2.2":
- Benchmade Aphid
- CRKT Rollock
- CRKT Van Hoy On-Fire
- CRKT Van Hoy Snap Fire
- Gerber Ripstop Series 1
- Ka-Bar Mini Dozier
- Kershaw Mini Mojo
- Kershaw OD-2
- Kershaw Scallion
- Outdoor Edge Caper Lite
- SOG Blink
- SOG Bluto
- SOG Micron 2.0
- Spyderco Ambitious
- Spyderco Cat
- Spyderco Dragonfly
- Spyderco Kiwi
- Spyderco Kopa
- Spyderco Poliwog

These lists are probably not exhaustive, but they're good enough for my purpose. Feel free to add.

 

[Fpooner]

I think its discontinued but a Spyderco CHICAGO might fit the bill.

 

[singularity35]

does the persistence make it?

 

[Sep]

I think its discontinued but a Spyderco CHICAGO might fit the bill.

Spyderco Chicago is 2" because if you're 18 years old and younger that's the maximum length. If you're older, the limit is 2.5".

does the persistence make it?

Persistence is 2 3/4, so it's a quarter inch above the limit.

 

[singularity35]

I see. thanks.

 

[Chewy1]

Buck Alpha Dorado is another 2.5.
It isn't one hand, but Fallkniven U2 is a 2.5 that is worth a look.

 

[Sep]

Buck Alpha Dorado is another 2.5.
It isn't one hand, but Fallkniven U2 is a 2.5 that is worth a look.

Yes, Buck Alpha Dorado is good. Added to list.

Fallkniven U2 is a fine knife indeed, and it was actually one of the first 2.5" knives I considered. Too bad I couldn't get over the fact that it's a strictly two-hand opener.

 

[reaper11]

Kershaw mini mojo, chive, and mini boa. Spyderco lady bug, navigator, kopa, and kiwi

 

[Sep]

It bothers me a bit that many knife manufacturers seem to be unaware or unconcerned of many different laws governing knife carry. If they make the knives a hair under 2.5" in length instead of an exact 2.5", they're sacrificing negligible amount of performance yet making the knives legal in federal buildings.

In the same token they should never make a 3" knife. Always make it slightly under 3" so it's legal in cases where the law language specifies "less than".

Just think of it like those silly pricing. $29.95 instead of $30.00, $49.95 instead of $50, and so on.

 

[Sep]

Kershaw mini mojo, chive, and mini boa. Spyderco lady bug, navigator, kopa, and kiwi

Nice. Mini Mojo, Kopa, and Kiwi have been added to the list (under 2.5"). The rest are two inchers, a bit too short to my liking. Then again people under 19 in Chicago is limited to 2", maybe I should start a list on that too.

 

[cave dave]

It bothers me a bit that many knife manufacturers seem to be unaware or unconcerned of many different laws governing knife carry. If they make the knives a hair under 2.5" in length instead of an exact 2.5", they're sacrificing negligible amount of performance yet making the knives legal in federal buildings.

In the same token they should never make a 3" knife. Always make it slightly under 3" so it's legal in cases where the law language specifies "less than".

Just think of it like those silly pricing. $29.95 instead of $30.00, $49.95 instead of $50, and so on.

5 seconds on a grinder will take care of that 1/20" for you. My Spyderco Urban is about 1mm more than 2.5", but I haven't ground it down because I don't have any restrictions.

 

[Sep]

5 seconds on a grinder will take care of that 1/20" for you. My Spyderco Urban is about 1mm more than 2.5", but I haven't ground it down because I don't have any restrictions.

Sure, but I got to find a grinder first. If I don't know what I'm doing, it could end up looking like crap. It's much, much easier for the manufacturer to do.

I live in Indiana where there's no blade length limit to speak of, it's the trip to Chicago I'm concerned about. Frankly, I don't think any cop or judge would make a big deal out of 1/8" under normal circumstances, but if you got drunk and got into trouble, that 1/8" suddenly matters.

 

[c.joe]

Thanks for the list. Much appreciated!

 

[grayman19]

Add the Spyderco Cat to the list of under 2.5 in (2 3/8 in blade). Nice knife

 

[Sep]

Thanks for the list. Much appreciated!

You're welcome

Add the Spyderco Cat to the list of under 2.5 in (2 3/8 in blade). Nice knife

Definitely.

 

[Chewy1]

Aw, c'mon, add some pics.

 

[flash900]

5 seconds on a grinder will take care of that 1/20" for you.

Well, sure. But then you need to be stopped by a LEO who is finicky enough to measure to the 1/20th of an inch!

 

[gggazg]

I know this thread is kinda old but does anybody know which of these knives are under $20?