OK, now I need (erm...want) a < 2.5" EDC folder

B

Bigbluefish

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Aug 19, 2009
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D#@$ you, politicians of Boston & Chicago. You are forcing me to buy yet another EDC blade, to comply with your misguided attempts to ensure public safety by nibbling away at the length of the humble folding knife, fraction-of-inch by fraction-of-an-inch...

Not that I've ever been stopped once in 38 years of carrying a folding knife, but the laws the law (well, actually...) and as I understand it, Boston (my former home, no less) and Chicago kindly suggest that we carry knives with blades no longer than 2.5".

All my knives, save for a couple SAKS, are 3" or over.

OK, so what are my options? Liner lock or framelock preferred, lockback OK. I'd also consider a sweet slipjoint. I had a Spyderco Persistence and Ambitious that I never really bonded with, so I'm not so keen on the Chicago or the CAT.

The DPX HEAT/F, despite the black blade (well, at least it won't glint when I try to slice a sausage or something) looks appealing, but it is about $50 more than I'd like to spend. The Fallkiniven U2 looks promising. I had a U4 but it was too small. I'm also a little put off by the convex edge, which I don't seem to be able to come to terms with, and seem to have defiled my little fixed blade on my Sharpmaker. Perhaps the Enzo PK70, though the blade is stated as 2 5/8" ... maybe the edge is less than 2.5". Now seriously though, is it going to get measured?

Looking to spend up to $100, maybe a bit more.
 
If you like Lockbacks, these are excellent choices:
Spydero Kahr Delica
Spyderco Dragonfly

Or you can look at:
Spyderco CAT
Spyderco Squeak
Boker Nano
 
My approach in dealing with Boston is to carry an Opinel #9, which is much bigger than the limit.

<shrug>

The big issue is to a) avoid pocket clips that say "look at my knife!" and b) just keep it in your pocket unless it's needed and c) just make sure the constables aren't around.

I figure if I every get called out they can have the $15 thing. What do I care? Disposable.

If I really wanted to worry about it, a small lockback like the Buck 501, 503, 505 or 55, or Schrade 5OT (the old ones) or an Opinel N6.

Plenty of traditional slip joint alternatives too. Go to the Traditional sub forum for many more suggestions.

Don't worry about convex blades. Just put a micro bevel on it and move on. Life's too short to sweat it.
 
I happen to be selling a DPX Heat/F OD green (see my sig) for a reasonable price. I live in Chicagoland as well, and I carry a Spyderco Dragonfly ZDP-189 when I'm coerced into going in the Chi. I like the Heat, but for me its got too much handle for its blade length.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'll take a look at some of the Spydies, though I really disliike FRN, practical as it is, perhaps a non-FRM model will appeal to me.

And K.O.D., I'll take a look at your HEAT post. The one thing I didn't like about the little Spydie and the Fallkniven U2 was the size of the handle, not the blade length. I have pretty large hands; their handles were too small.
 
I got a kershaw chive with a 1.94" blade for the times where that was needed.

Edit: probably not your thing if you have larger hands
 
Many of the "Mini" versions of Benchmade models will be sub 3".
Sad the more I look the more I see ordinances keeping blades sub 3" in more and more towns, cities etc.
 
Yes here in the Soviet Socialist State of Illinois we can conceal carry guns but we have to keep our blades under 2.5". Makes a hell of a lot of sense.
 
Yeah, I've tried the Chive, and yep it's too small. Always afraid I'm going to slice myself open with the assist. The Leek is the smallest one of those KAI knives that I can work with. But it's a 3" blade...
 
K.O.D. said:
Yes here in the Soviet Socialist State of Illinois we can conceal carry guns but we have to keep our blades under 2.5". Makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Click to expand...

In NC I can carry any size of folding knife concealed, I can carry my gun concealed (with permit), but in no case can I carry a fixed blade concealed.
 
You know I'm (eventually) going to start designing and manufacturing my folding halberd with quad Tri-Ad locks. Maybe I'll make a mini model with a 2.5" blade with the pole folded down enough to fit in ones pocket.
 
Bigbluefish said:
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I'll take a look at some of the Spydies, though I really disliike FRN, practical as it is, perhaps a non-FRM model will appeal to me.

And K.O.D., I'll take a look at your HEAT post. The one thing I didn't like about the little Spydie and the Fallkniven U2 was the size of the handle, not the blade length. I have pretty large hands; their handles were too small.
Click to expand...

I have a U2. Although it has passed every challenge I gave it, the short handle never feels right. The TK4 & FH9 feel perfect in hand, though. These folders don't come with a convexed edge. Convex grind, with a normal very sharp sharpening grind. I con vexed mine, but you wouldn't have to.

Here are the three


I can't explain why he handles feel so different.
 
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DAVE_M said:
If you like Lockbacks, these are excellent choices:
Spydero Kahr Delica
Spyderco Dragonfly

Or you can look at:
Spyderco CAT
Spyderco Squeak
Boker Nano
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was gunna say dragonfly or kahr arms delica especially for big hands. Has all the handle w a little less blade. And I think it looks good too.
 
Been carrying a Buck Vantage Small for over a year. Love it. I just now measured the blade, and it looks like I am 1/32" over the legal length. :p

I think they were available in 420HC, 13C26, and S30V.
 
I think the smaller Ka-Bar Dozier are 2.5in though you have to double check. Several slip joints fit in the 2.5in limit a post in the tradition sub forum will probably get you a lot of answers.

Check to see how blades are measured where you live, in Ca they are measured from tip of the blade to tip of the handle. They don't care about cutting edge here, that is how it's measured. Now whether or not it gets measured is based more on whether or not the cop you encounter is really going to go out of their way to slap a fine on your for that extra 1/8th of an inch or so. Most cops won't but every department has at least one of those cops who has the "I am the law!" kind of mentality and will try to get you for anything.
 
If 2.5" is the limit and lockbacks are OK, I would get a G10 model of the Spyderco Dragonfly. I would probably be tempted to carry a multitool instead, something with a legal limit blade. I like my Skeletool but off the top of my head I don't remember if its blade is less than 2.5" or not.
 
Check out the Spyderco Squeak, Cat, Chicago, Cricket (I believe), or upcoming Dog Tag.

For a nice slipjoint, try Great Eastern Cutlery. I like the #25 and #22.
 
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