Mini-knife suggestion?

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picklepie159

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Feb 2, 2010
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Hi Bladeforums! I've been a lurker here for a while. Recently, after being randomly checked by a police officer and having suspicious glances thrown at me due to the SAK I was carrying, I decided that I would have to get a seriously small knife. As in less than 2" opened. As far as I know, there's A) the Spyderco Bug/ honey bee, b) the SOG micron, and c) one of those mini-Higonokami on ebay. Right now, since I know that the SOG micron is 420 steel, that sort of puts me off.
So that leaves me with the Spydie bug and the Higonokami. The Spydie is made from 3cr13 steel. I was unable to find any info on it. Does anyone know if the heat treat is harder or softer than the 8cr13 that I'm familiar with?
Next, there's the mini-higonokami. It's slightly larger than the spydie, has no lock of any type (not a slipjoint) but the storefront claims its made from from sk steel. It would be great if it was made of sk-5. Does anyone have any experience with this one?

PS: I'm also itching to get one of those $20 Miyamato high carbon Higonokamis after I learned that they're made from triple laminated steel. How are the Nagao models?

thanks for answering!
 
I'd suggest a Boker Subcom. But if the blade length (etc) is legal in your state, I'd get the biggest, baddest thing you could run around with. Consider it civil disobedience, except that it's not really illegal.
 
picklepie159 said:
Hi Bladeforums! I've been a lurker here for a while. Recently, after being randomly checked by a police officer and having suspicious glances thrown at me due to the SAK I was carrying, I decided that I would have to get a seriously small knife. As in less than 2" opened...
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Hate to drag it off topic with the first response, but after one of our grown sons was paroled he could not possess a knife longer than 2" until his parole was up.

At that time I lent him my Ducks Unlimited "Dwight Eisenhower" penknife (Case XX seems to take an edge well).

Presently I have a recent Case peanut that's sharper than heck!
 
Artfully Martial said:
I'd suggest a Boker Subcom. But if the blade length (etc) is legal in your state, I'd get the biggest, baddest thing you could run around with. Consider it civil disobedience, except that it's not really illegal.
Click to expand...

That is what I dream about at night. Very regretfully, I'm in New York City.
 
look at the kershaw chive. that is one tiny knife. i have handled many of it's older brothers, and they are all excellent knives. cheap too. the steel is halfway decent.
 
There are small SAKs too. The Victorinox Classic and its variants (Rambler, Midnight Manager, etc.) for example. The steel is okay, not the hardest, but very easy to sharpen.
 
I'd suggest a Vic Rambler or Midnight Manager, or a small Case (e.g., peanut).

If you're going for a tiny blade, might as well make it versatile.
 
I have Sog micron tanto on my keys. I have done some holes for my leather belt with it, opened some letters and done some paper cutting test. For a small knife it performs nicely.

However I think any keychain knife you take they perform mostly in the same way so it's up to you what do you prefer.
 
a couple others for you to consider that haven't been mentioned yet, just in case you didn't know they were out there:

Al Mar SLB - good stout little knife
Kershaw Baby Boa - love this knife. in the sub 2" group, it's my personal fave.

the kershaws (baby boa, and the above mentioned chive) are both assisted openers, just in case that's a deal breaker in NYC. couple autos by protech are also sub 2", i assume that's right out the window in NYC, so i won't waste your time there.

sorry i can't help on your OP knife ?s, haven't handled any of those knives.
 
IMO, if a SAK is getting you "looks", pretty much anything will get you "looks".

p.s. NYC administrative law states 4" or lager blade = illegal. also, if you're carrying a knife on you, keep it in your pocket (out of sight).
 
Opinel-knives-No-2-carbon-steel-folding-knife-folding-knife-1.jpg


it's a nifty little knife,
with it's sedate wooden furnishings and awfully traditional appearence
it's almost certain that the crafty little knife itself won't be the cause of any immediately flurry of red flags.
besides, it doesn't even have any lock to speak off...
 
Also consider buying any knife at all that you like, and shortening the blade to the length you require. Either do it yourself or many of the great guys here can do it for you.
 
What about the Spyderco Cricket? Awesome blade steel (VG-10), blade length is only 1-7/8", and the blade shape gives the knife way more cutting power than you'd expect in that size (especially if you get the serrated edge).
 
When we're beaten down into submission to "suspicious glances" by coppos, all I can say is that it's past time to move to a machete.

:grumpy:
 
Where do you live, picklepie?
Where you can be ..RANDOMLY CHECKED... by police "officers?"

SICK!

Take the country back NOW or just hang yourself.
:thumbdn:
 
midnightreport said:
What about the Spyderco Cricket? Awesome blade steel (VG-10), blade length is only 1-7/8", and the blade shape gives the knife way more cutting power than you'd expect in that size (especially if you get the serrated edge).
Click to expand...

If he was anywhere else I would agree with you, but he is in NYC and said an SAK got him in trouble sort of. I think a blade shape as mean looking as the cricket would get him in more trouble.

I would suggest going with a spydie ladybug or dragonfly they have better steel than the bug and lock and have less menacing blade shapes than the cricket, even though the bug is a very highly rated knife. The AG Russell ultimate penknife has caught my attention, however I have not been able to one of them. But if there is anything that wouldnt attract attention I think that would be it.
 
AG Russell has some small folding knives. The Ultimate Pen Knife has a titanium handle and 1.5" VG10 blade. I have one. Good little blade to have around, but I'm always afraid that I will loose it. This is a good low profile knife that shouldn't draw much attention.

AGR also had it in a Gents version.

I have a Spyderco Bug. It is in their line of slippies. It is tethered to my cell phone. Also very handy to have around. It gets the "Is that a real knife?" or "that's so cute!"

The Al Mar SLB is a well built knife. Excellent fit and finish, good ergonomics for a little knife.

Ric
 
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