Need advice on new knife to carry in dress pants!

R

robert33usa

Joined
Mar 11, 2002
Messages
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Hello all, here is my problem. I wear dress pants to work everyday and am having trouble finding the perfect knife. I have a spydeco native, great knife, but its too thick for dresspants. I have an endura, but its too long. I have a ken onion vapor from wally world that I carry daily to work just because it fits the pocket better than the two spydies. I'm looking for a one handed folder that has a blade no smaller than the vapors (the smaller one) which is somewhat thin so as not to be too noticable in the pocket. Looking to upgrade from the vapor. Maybe a benchmade or thin spydeco? It really wouldn't even need a clip because it will only be carried at work in a pocket. No pen knives please. Looking for a strong onehander in a small package. Please give recomendations, pics and aprox prices. Not wanting to spend more than $75 or so. Maybe higher for the perfect knife. Thanks in advance for your help.
 
robert33usa

Welcome to the forums. I heartily recommend two knives as great for dress pants wear.

My first choice would any knife in the Benchmade 94X series.

The second would be a Spyderco Lum Chinese.

Both are high quality but can be had on line for less than $ 110 new. I would recommend you look for one for sale in Blade Forums. I've several in excellent or better condition for less than $ 100 shipped.

Good luck.
 
I've battled with the same question for a long time. At least it gives me the opportunity to try a new knife now and then.

The Gerber SL carbon fiber series or Air Ti Series are nice thin knives in your price range. Also the Emerson Hard Wear Traveler works fine as does the Benchmade 770 although it is a bit more expensive.

Just add a Victorinox Executive in one pocket with one of these knives in the other and you will be ready to roll.

Take Care!
SK
 
I already have the left pocket covered with a leatherman Squirt P4. The one with the pliers. Great pocket tool with only one problem. when I bought it, I thought it was greyish silver. But in the right light, it is purple. No big deal... cool little tool. But as I said earlier, looking for a thin knife for the other pocket. Any other suggestions? Pics help alot... I'm looking for pics on the net of the knives you guys have already suggested.
 
OK, this is a subject near and dear to my heart due to the fact that I work for a state agency and can't be too bold as to what I carry because I am in many diverse settings during the course of a week's time. I try to keep my blade around 2.5" but I'll suggest some knives that go up to 2.9 or so. Here goes:

2": Spyderco Mouse (built like a tank and wicked sharp out of the box)
Spyderco Dragonfly (classy SS model, ergonomics are awesome)
Spyderco Meerkat (again great ergos, neat locking system)
Spyderco Navigator (built similar to Meerkat but thinner)

2.5": Benchmade 330 (very classy looks and great ergos)
Benchmade Park Avenue ( great design, picking on up tomorrow)


3" : Spyderco Delica (can't be beat for the money excellent knife)
Spyderco Rookie (discontinued but available, the best ergos)
Spyderco Centofante (thin, elegant spear point blade)
Spyderco Jess Horn (discontinued but available, many variations)
Kershaw Leek (if you want a quick opener this is it)
Spyderco Herbst (a little pricey but classy and tough)


robert33usa there are certainly more out there but these are ones with which I have experience. Hope this helps.
 
If you like Spydies, I'd recommend the discontinued C-25 Centofante Jr.; very slim, particularly if you take the clip off. Not a hard use knife, more of a gents folder, but IMHO one of the most solid production liner-locks around. You can still find them on the web (John F. Jensen comes to mind) for well under $100. For a bit more, check out the carbon fiber series from William Henry.
 
I'll second the suggestion to look at William Henry. I haven't gotten one yet myself, but I've heard nothing but good. Camillus's EDC is also pretty slim, but a little heavy for dress pants. The price is right though, and it's a great knife.
 
I'd go for the Camillus EDC...Especially the 125th Anniversary model, as it looks really nice.
 
For myself I like to carry a BM 350. Small, slim and light weight.
 
I'd third the recommendation on the William Henry. At 1 oz, the T9 lancet in either the carbon fiber version or the black and tan version are great knives.

I have the T12 Black and Tan and the Icon with abalone inlays, and they are outstanding.

All of the William Henry knives I've seen are superior to the median custom folders I've purchased.

T-09 2.125" 1 oz
T-10 2.626" 1 oz
T-12 3.25" 1.6 oz

T12-CF-lg.jpg


Knifeworks has the T-09 available for $139.99.

I have the Camillus EDC with a talonite blade. I like it a lot, but because it is thinner and lighter, the William Henry's are probably more dress slack friendly. I've removed the clip from the T-12, and it is hard for me to tell it's in my pocket.
 
I know its out of your price range,...but its the perfect knife:D .....CRK mnandi.....:p ,...just my two cents...good luck
 
I agree with LenJ, the Spyderco Viele is very functional and very classy. It also opens velvet smooth.
 
I dont know how much you are looking to spend, but the recently released Buck/Mayo sounds like one you might want to look into.

Can me found for around $170 or so, but that is still the preorders for most, there are a few here and there(ebay).


Open:
BuckM1.jpg


Closed:
BuckMayo.jpg



BM1.jpg

BM2.jpg

BM3.jpg

BM4.jpg
 
A William Henry or the Buck/Mayo would be great, however they are not in your price range. Since you mentioned that you really don't need a clip, I would recomend one of two knives.

The Benchmade Benchmite
bm-310.jpg


or the Spyderco Kiwi
sc-75p.jpg


The pictures are borrowed from 1 Stop Knife Shop. A great place to find both. All orders help support the forum and word is they will price match :)
 
I just got a Mini X Ray Vision from SOG-Has a deep carry clip , 3 inch .5 serrated ATS 34 blade and is a realy smooth opener-with a little practice can flick your wrist to open with the new lock --It carries realy well on dress pants on the waist band with a little shirt fold--
 
The Spyderco Kiwi is the perfect dress knife for me. It may seem small but it's very sturdy. If you really want a 3" or so blade, Try the new carbon fiber Delica from Spyderco. They are around $90, they look great and are very lightweight. If you want the Delica though you will have to order quickly, they're a limited run.......
 
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