Looking for a small one layer knife, could use some help.

[ocnLogan]

So here is the deal. About 9 months ago someone gifted me with a spyderco bug (the tiny, tiny one), and it was my first real experience with carrying around a small slippie. Because the bugs made out of pretty cheapo steel, and is actually a bit small i started looking for a well regarded small traditional knife to try out. As luck would have it, a few months ago I won a giveaway here in the traditional forum for a case peanut SS in yellow.

After carrying the peanut around for a while, I've discovered two things. 1) I like small folders like that for work (business casual) and for handing to people that might not be very comfortable around knives, and 2) the peanut is too thick for me. I really prefer something much thinner in my pockets. I have always been sensitive to things bunched up at the bottom of my pockets, and the peanut is much more noticeable than the spyderco bug in this respect.

So at this point this is an "academic" question, because I don't plan on purchasing the knife anytime soon. I'm just looking for good options for small and thin folders, and I figured you guys would know better than anyone what might be best in this situation . Also, I'm poor, so these "hypothetical" knives shouldn't be more than say... $40-50?

So far the only other knives that I'm aware of that might work well for this are some sort of a small SAK in alox (because the alox is thinner right?), or I recall some AG Russel thin knives, but I think they're fairly larger if I recall correctly.

Thanks for the help .

 

[Humppa]

Well - you could check out th Case Yeller Delrin penknife. Penknife usually means two blades on one spring at each end of the handle. The one-layer construction makes it more comfortable. Also check out GEC #33 Conductor.
Here in Germany those penknives are pretty often made by the traditional cutleries - check out Hartkopf, C. Schlieper etc etc....

There are many of those knives out there

 

[jackknife]

You could try the typical 'pen knife'. This is a two blade pocket knife with a blade at each end, but with only one single back spring. This makes for a knife that is thinner than a typical jack, where both of the two blades each have thier own back spring. Knives like this are the Wenger Patriot and Victorinox secretary. Both have the thin 'alox' scales and are hardly thicket than a stick of chewing gum.

There's the Boker 240 pen, and the Buck 309 companion. More conventional construction and looks, yet still a very pocketable knife in the peanut size range, but thinner.

Then there's the A.G. Russell ultimate penknife, a very thin little pocket knife with a blade made form a higher quality steel. VG10 I think.

Carl.

 

[ocnLogan]

Thank you guys, this is just the kind of information that I'm looking for. I knew about maybe one or two of the knives mentioned so far, but none of the others. I knew others were out there, I just didn't know exactly how to search for them without knowing all of the correct terms (like I know know that "pen knife" meant one single backspring, so I'll be able to search better).

Thanks again for your help .

 

[22-rimfire]

Take a look at the GEC Ben Hogan pattern from one of the Great Eastern dealers. I love this knife. I have it in burnt stag. It is long, but thin. So you can use it. I really like this knife for those times when you don't want a more conspicuous knife in your pocket.

Here's a link to the knife I own, but mine is regular production not serialed (about $100). (Non BF member dealer link removed)

 

[PaulBosley]

Case made a knife called tadpole about the same length as a peanut but with one blade and thin scales. You can google it or check on that big auction site someone usually has one listed in the 40-50$ range I just got a conductor and I love it,costs a little more but it really is worth it here's a pict

I gave 75 for mine

 

[AKC]

You might also look at a Vic Moneyclip - quite thin, nice long pen, nail tool and scissors.

 

[Humppa]

Because Vic was just named - there comes the Excelsior in mind. Super thin with plain alox scales. A nice knife. Mine is still resting in its box, unused. But this will change in future

 

[ocnLogan]

Once again, thanks for the suggestions guys.

As a side note, there are SOOO many different SAKs out there, its a bit ridiculous. Its like a whole separate area of knives.

I've done some looking, and I like the general look of the case pen (also affordable, which I like). The conductor looks nice, but is pretty pricey. I'm in grad school right now, and every dollar counts .

I'll keep looking into things .

 

[PaulBosley]

Thinking about it some more Camillus makes the yello-jaket same size as a peanut with one blade very thin and light about 20 bucks

Here it is next to a peanut to compare...

 

[mnblade]

Check out the (I believe discontinued. but surely available on that big auction site) Buck 526 and 527 models. They're small, thin lockbacks. I carried a 526 for a few years when I worked in an office and had to dress up. Great little knives.

-- Mark

 

[PaulBosley]

If you are on a really tight budget a Buck 425 won't cost much more than a trip to mc donalds is very light and thin made in USA has ss blade that will hold a decent edge

Peanut on top buck 425 middle and my personal favorite office knife case tiny trapper w/ single wharncliffe blade

 

[Rsmith_77]

what no buck 309 recommendations?
for shame, for shame

 

[PaulBosley]

You beat me I was getting there... didn't have a pic of a 309 was digging for mine and the camera

 

[Gevonovich]

I don't see a half congress mentioned yet. Many makers out there, one spring, small with two blades, and unassuming.

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

Kershaw Leek? Maybe not too traditional, but a great knife for the money. And many material options available - search on Amazon to get an idea of what's out there with this knife.

 

[TLARbb]

What no mini copperhead recommendations? I guess I'll have to suggest it.

Much like the Case pen knife in thickness. A tiny bit longer than a peanut, but thinner. I'll try to take and post a comparison picture on that for you.

A couple of shots of the MCH in deep canyon bone next to a Case 2-blade peanut in burnt white bone. The amber bone version is just a bit thinner, but I was unable to put my hands on it this afternoon. Probably in some pants pocket in the clothes hamper...

Ed J

 

[Will Power]

Ed, that Deep Canyon Bone Mini Copperhead has re-ignited my interest in CASE!

The only Mini Copperhead I've got is a Rough Rider in brown bone with Clip blade, not a bad knife either and inexpensive.

 

[TLARbb]

They are great little knives; I don't really understand why I only have 3 of them. Well, there is that GEC business of late.

That particular specimen has a fairly thick cover on one side, but it has deep jigging on it too. I have got to find that amber bone before I have a fit.

Ed J

 

[ocnLogan]

Wow, lots of great suggestions guys, I really appreciate it. I'm pretty much positive that I wouldn't have found all of these by myself.

I'll have to take a closer work at all of these after I get off of work today.

Also, this makes me sound really new, but while now I understand what exactly a "pen" knife is, what are the main traits of the "trapper" and "stockman" patterns (two of the main ones I hear talked about).

Thanks again .