New job, new knife

amg137

amg137

Joined
Sep 21, 2013
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So I just started a new job last week, and unfortunately I'm quickly realizing that I don't have the right knife for the environment. They have a very vaguely worded ban on "weapons and other dangerous objects," and I need a suitably non-threatening knife to carry on the job (wearing slacks and/or khakis). Right now I'm carrying a Protech Half-Breed which is suitably small and light, but it's an auto and has a black blade which could easily be seen as a weapon. I also own small and large Sebbies, but they are too obviously knives to be carried in this environment, and SAKs just don't do it for me on their own. So, I need some advice for a style of knife I don't know much about.

Here's what I'm looking for:
Small blade, 3.25" or less. 2.25-3" is probably ideal. No serrations or coatings. I like wharnies.
Non-aggressive stylings.
One handed operation would be ideal, but I could go with a slipjoint if the design and price are right. Ability to open the knife slowly preferred.
Thin handle that won't print much on tight-fitting slacks and khakis.
Inconspicuous, deep carry pocket clip. Could potentially go clipless, but there absolutely must be zero knife visible in the pocket.
Quality construction and materials.
Price limit: $500 or a bit higher for the right knife, though I would prefer to keep it much less.

Thanks for your suggestions guys, I hope you can help me out!
 
What about a small Case slip joint?

They have tons of nice ones, small and thin.
 
Mnandi or a Davison slip joint.

Three davisons. G10, mammoth and ebony wood. All are 3 3/4" about closed. He can make one, say, g10 shadow style and linerless. It would be thin and light and inconspicuous.

 
Case swayback jack.
small, single blade wharncliffe available.
well under your budget.
 
Richard Rogers Sharpie / Chubby Sharpie. These things are amazing. They are the shape and size of a pen and look exactly like a pen when clipped to your pocket. It's a friction folder with a strong ball detent to keep the blade in the closed and open position. You get lightning strike carbon fiber, Ti liners, CPM 154 blade in either wharncliffe or clip point. Easy one handed opening and non aggressive styling as you specified.

The long version is 3.5 inches if I remember correctly and the short version is 3 inches. It's exactly in your price range at secondary market price ($500-600).

richard-rogers-sharpy-warncliffe-38.jpg
 
How about a spyderco caly carbon fiber. Very nice useful knife but classy at the same time.
 
amg137 said:
So I just started a new job last week, and unfortunately I'm quickly realizing that I don't have the right knife for the environment. They have a very vaguely worded ban on "weapons and other dangerous objects," and I need a suitably non-threatening knife to carry on the job. . . .
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I work in an environment similar to yours in terms of its restrictiveness and I carry my Small CF Sebenza all the time. Take the clip off, stick it in your pocket, use it discretely and you should be good to go.
 
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asdf12345 said:
Richard Rogers Sharpie / Chubby Sharpie. These things are amazing. They are the shape and size of a pen and look exactly like a pen when clipped to your pocket. It's a friction folder with a strong ball detent to keep the blade in the closed and open position. You get lightning strike carbon fiber, Ti liners, CPM 154 blade in either wharncliffe or clip point. Easy one handed opening and non aggressive styling as you specified.

The long version is 3.5 inches if I remember correctly and the short version is 3 inches. It's exactly in your price range at secondary market price ($500-600).

richard-rogers-sharpy-warncliffe-38.jpg
Click to expand...
Wow, that's a pretty nifty design that I was not familiar with. I'll definitely look into these.
 
bld522 said:
I work in an environment similar to yours in terms of its restrictiveness and I carry my Small CF Sebenza all the time. Take the clip off, stick it in your pocket, use it discretely and you should be good to go.
Click to expand...
I had considered this, but being the obsessive collector that I am I was hoping to pick up something new to fill this new niche. In reality though, whatever I pick up will probably end up in a rotation with a couple of my classier knives carried unclipped.
 
My slacks/suit knife is a LionSteel Opera Cocobolo.

When I go into the city I carry a Spydie Dragonfly 2 ZDP-189. Nice little knife. There is also the Gayle Bradley Air.
 
well under budget but what about a gerber lst? they are American made great utility knife and you want mind lending it out to someone.
 
amg137 said:
I had considered this, but being the obsessive collector that I am I was hoping to pick up something new to fill this new niche. In reality though, whatever I pick up will probably end up in a rotation with a couple of my classier knives carried unclipped.
Click to expand...
I hear you. Probably the least threatening and classiest modern folders you can carry is a William Henry. I'd suggest you check out something like a B12 Atlas. It's in your price range and William Henry's F&F are second to none. Here's a borrowed pic:

3031080.jpg


Plaza Cutlery is right around the corner from you in South Coast Plaza and they're a William Henry dealer. They don't appear to have a B12 Atlas in stock at the moment, but they may be able to order one for you.
 
bld522 said:
I hear you. Probably the least threatening and classiest modern folders you can carry is a William Henry. I'd suggest you check out something like a B12 Atlas. It's in your price range and William Henry's F&F are second to none. Here's a borrowed pic:

3031080.jpg


Plaza Cutlery is right around the corner from you in South Coast Plaza and they're a William Henry dealer. They don't appear to have a B12 Atlas in stock at the moment, but they may be able to order one for you.
Click to expand...
Oh man, Plaza cutlery is easily my favorite place to look at knives around here. I've handled a few of their WH knives before and really liked them, but always decided against buying one since I didn't really have a need for a proper gentleman's folder. Next time I'm there I'll be sure to give them some careful consideration. They always seem to fall off my radar when I'm not actively looking at them, not sure why.
 
AMG137

I'm a fan of Gayle Bradley and he made a gent's knife from M4 steel callled the Spyderco Gayle Bradley Air. Here is a good video of him explaining his knife. I think it might fit you needs perfectly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i2p2YHQzn8

Published on May 16, 2013
In this installment of Spyderco's Designer's Insight Series, custom knifemaker and former competitive cutting champion Gayle Bradley provides the inside story of his Air folder--one of the most refined gentleman's pocketknives ever made.
 
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Buck Nobleman, cheap, effective, and Buck does a 440C that can compete with higher end steel from other companies.

0327SSS-B.jpg
 
amg137 said:
Oh man, Plaza cutlery is easily my favorite place to look at knives around here. I've handled a few of their WH knives before and really liked them, but always decided against buying one since I didn't really have a need for a proper gentleman's folder.
Click to expand...

You do now. ;)

amg137 said:
They always seem to fall off my radar when I'm not actively looking at them, not sure why.
Click to expand...

Could be because they're not spoken of much around here. But take my word for it. Once you own one, they won't fall off your radar again. :)
 
Have you looked at a ZT 770 in carbon fiber? Small and in the blade shape you like. And it looks very much like a gentleman's knife jewelry instead of a weapon.
 
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