Office/Light Weekend Carry Recommendation

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Peruna1998

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Sep 8, 2009
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First, thanks for taking the time to click and read. I am looking for some recommendations on a new knife purchase. I am looking for a knife to carry in an office environment and on the weekend. Let me give you some background. I am an attorney, and on the weekend a Cub Scout leader and girl's soccer coach. So, I tend to stay away from larger knives and the weight of knife is an issue to me. Clipping a ZT to a suit is not an option for me (no matter how well made the ZT might be). Typically, I carry more traditional knives made by Great Eastern Cutlery. I recently purchased a Spyderco Bradley Air and rediscovered my interest in more modern knives (the Air is an excellent knife, by the way).

So, here are the parameters of what I am looking for: weight needs to be less than 3 ounces, closed length needs to be less than 4 inches (I have medium sized hands), blade steel...meh (remember, I am used to 1095), and price less than $400.

I have been looking at: the CF Small Sebenza, the Mnandi, the William Henry E6 and E10, the Benchmade 940, and the Sacha Thiel Officer (though I cannot seem to find a weight on it). Is there anything else I am missing or should be considering?

Thanks, again for your time.
 
In your price range you can't go wrong with the basic small Sebenza. I was fixing to answer "Delica" which is 1/10 the cost of the small Sebenza...or nearly so.
 
Kershaw Leek, standard stainless framelock. It's well below your price point, but it is a very light, stylish and functional knife. Best of all, it is not scary looking at all. I carried one daily for over 2 years in an office and no one ever reacted to it. In fact, I have received 2 complements on it and one guy wanted to know where to buy one :).
 
CRK Manandi is also a great choice. In a suit the clip tends to look more like a pen.
 
I drank the Kershaw "Kool-Aid" not long ago, and now consider some of their folders among my favorites. I think the Groove (USA) is a very unique and classy looking knife and carry one from time to time, although I lean more toward their imports such as the RJI or Cryo for more frequent EDC.
 
Check out the fantoni rumici hide folder. I have one. Its a 3 in. Sheepie friendly lock back knife that looks great and is extremely well made. You will have to install a thumbstud but that is a 5 min job anyone can do. Heres a pic.

Fantoni4.jpgFantoni 1.jpg
 
I recently took delivery of a LionSteel TiSpine. Hell of a nice little knife and within your budget. The handle is a solid piece of titanium.

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There is a lengthy thread going on about this knife here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1016742-TiSpine-LionSteel-new-knife-2013
 
The Gareth Bull Warlock fits your requirement !
I'm pretty much in the same situation as OP and have been exchanging a few emails with Mr.Bull to purchase a Warlock in the near future!
 
Did you have a chance to check Spyderco Caly3 CF or Damascus? Probably 75 mm original bolstered Persian would fit your needs as well. It is discontinued, but can be found on secondary market.
 
Unsurprisingly, the 9 responses preceding mine have yielded at least 9 different knife recommendations. I'll address a couple of the ones you've been looking at that I own: the cf small Sebenza and the BM 940. Either of those would be a great choice. (I started writing an actual analysis, then I deleted it because it's been a long day. Sorry and good luck.) :)
 
bh49 said:
Did you have a chance to check Spyderco Caly3 CF or Damascus? Probably 75 mm original bolstered Persian would fit your needs as well. It is discontinued, but can be found on secondary market.
Click to expand...

Actually, I kick myself repeatedly for selling my Caly 3 and Calypso Jr., both stupid decisions. It looks like I may have missed the Super Blue Caly 3 Sprint.
 
I have a BM 940 and a William Henry EDC 10 with carbon fiber. Between the two, I would pick the WH to carry when wearing a suit. It's a classy knife and a great slicer. Also, I think the deep carry clip is good for a suit.
 
Peruna1998 said:
I have been looking at: the CF Small Sebenza, the Mnandi
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The first two you mentioned would be my choice. I like both, but prefer the Sebenza. You won't find a better knife in the price range, and size that you mention. CRK also has the best warranty of any IMO.

I have a 1999 small that developed a very slightly sticky lock two years ago. Sent it in, and it came back perfect, and looked like a brand new knife. They even put a new thumbstud on it, and I didn't even ask. I had to look at the 99 date in the handle to make sure they didn't send me a brand new knife by mistake.
 
sans clip, perhaps an Al Mar bird series falcon, eagle, osprey etc. with nickel and micarta, bone, pearl, etc. modernish overall and perhaps below your price threshold, but I've used one for my office carry for years.
 
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The CRK Mnandi will sport stellar F&F as well as a ton of class given the choices in regards to handle material. It'll most likely garner compliments from all sorts of people. I think it'd look great paired with classier dress. It isn't a an overly ornate knife either and can walk the walk and handle a wide array of task. Still very utilitarian.
 
Don't forget to check out Mcusta!

yoroi02.jpg

Mcusta Yoroi

Or perhaps a nice traditional pattern like this French Chambriard...

compact02.jpg

Chambriard Le Thiers Compact in juniper wood

Good luck, OP! :)
 
I am surprised the Kershaw Skyline didn't get mentioned. Made in USA, sandvik, super light and very sheeple friendly. The closed length might be a tiny bit over 4", but close, and it certainly isn't "large" but it still has a 3 1/8" blade. It's only $50 or less most places.
 
Peruna1998 said:
I recently purchased a Spyderco Bradley Air and rediscovered my interest in more modern knives (the Air is an excellent knife, by the way).
Click to expand...


I logical question might be where you want to go beyond the Bradley Air. Do you want something larger, or maybe a different brand for variety? I'm sure there are easily dozens of knives that could work for you. In your situation the knives that I think of are the Spyderco Sage 1 and 2, and the Benchmade 470, 482 and 483. I read recommendations for the WilliamHenry knives but I don't know much about them. You might also look at the Kershaw Leek or Cryo. It seems to me that the Benchmade 940 might be a bit bigger than these others.
 
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