Perfect Sub 3" folder for work. Light to Medium Use

Aidansdaddy17

Aidansdaddy17

Joined
Mar 30, 2012
Messages
1,413
Just for fun. Haven't had a thread in awhile. I sold most of my knives to afford some upcoming customs. You all know that if you have 3-4 being made. On a wait list of 3-4 months. You need to have a preemptive fund set aside so that you are not scrambling to find coins in your couch. Or using lots of credit. Tear

I'm looking at the obvious. Spyderco, Kershaw, Boker. Even maybe CRKT again. ;) They have an insane user lineup coming out. So does Kershaw. Even the $100-200 range they might take that title from Spyderco this year. Spyderco out did themselves in '12. Spyderco is also bringing it up the rear with some great folders later this year. How I love those two companies. It's so dangerous to bet the farm on customs. Then bam! Here comes the production big dogs.

I'm just a little bored, not a snob, with some of the "cookie cutter" items these days. I look at it though. I always like to pass on whatever I get to the next guy for a decent deal. I can't mark up a knife to where its insane or feels dishonest. Thanks for reading my nonsense. Lets throw out some ideas, thoughts and opinions. The sub 3" market is growing. We need more of it. The laws might soon take over. Thanks for a great community. Please. No drama! ;)
 
The new ZT 0566 has me interested. I'm waiting to see street prices, or maybe pick up a blem.

I'm glad you mentioned CRKT. The new version of the Ripple looks good, but I would have to be able to pick one up for well under the $125.00 MSRP that I'm seeing.

That's about it for me, right now. I hope I got the number of the ZT right: their system is even more confusing than Mercedes!

Edit: SolidOrange's first look says the 0566 is 3.25. I may still get one and ask Tom Krein to fix that for me.
 
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Spyderco Caly 3 or Sage (your pick). Small knife, but not small in the hand due to the finger choil. Same size as a Delica or BM 705/707, but fits the hand much better, unless you've got tiny hands.
 
Agree with below. I just got my first Spydie: a Caly 3 sprint run with CF scales and damascus blade. Fit and finish is excellent, and it fits perfectly in my hand. The corners of the jimping were a bit sharp, but a nail file took care of that. Caly 3 is a winner!

Planterz said:
Spyderco Caly 3 or Sage (your pick). Small knife, but not small in the hand due to the finger choil. Same size as a Delica or BM 705/707, but fits the hand much better, unless you've got tiny hands.
Click to expand...
 
Orion's Belt said:
The Spyderco Techno immediately comes to mind.
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I have one coming in the mail today...I hope. A gift for a young adult somewhat-macho male in Michigan, where the blade limit is 3". The laws in Michigan state that you can not carry a knife with a blade 3" or longer if you have the intent to do harm to someone. A bit illogical, in my book.
The TECHNO comes in CTS-XHP, a great blade-steel but the length of the blade is 2.55" long, 0.177" thick. A brute but only 3.6 oz.
So either the Techno or an Emerson MicroCommander, 3" blade of 154cm blade-steel; much more aggressive in appearance. Both knives just under $200.
 
I only carry blades <= 3" (yeah MI). A Delica gets 70% of my carry time. The Boker Trance 20% and BM MiniGrip 10% split the rest.

Trance $30ish. Great knife. I like the overall design (especially the blade shape) and I like framelocks. If you have a lot of $ tied up in customs and need something inexpensive for work, check out the Trance.

BM MiniGrip $50+ on forum here. Honestly, for the size, doesn't fit my hand as well as the other two but still a great knife.

Others to consider Emerson CQC-14 Snubby $200ish and Mini A100 $150ish. I haven't seen a ton of these on the forums here.
 
  • Mini ritter griptilian
  • Spyderco Chaparral
  • spyderco Delica
  • check out Fantoni hide;)
  • Lone Wolf Blackfoot
  • sanrenmu 763:D
  • Enlan M025
  • Bradley Alias II

Just to name a few:)
 
This is going to be wayyyy below the suggested price range, but, I've found the SanRenMu 710 and T11 to be excellent work/office knives. They're not threatening, hold up to abuse well, and have very useful blade shapes. The 763 (axis lock) is also good for a knife you can play with at work without terrifying people. In fact, my affinity for SRM knives (and my tendency to give them away) has inadvertently led to most everyone I work with carrying one.

In a higher price range, as mentioned by several thus far, the Caly 3 is a great choice. Also, the Spyderco Kiwi, Manbug, Dragonfly, Delica, and Chaparral are fantastic sub-3" choices. The Cold Steel Mini AK and their Tuff series are good for smaller beaters.

I'm glad to not be limited to 3" knives at work, though. I'd feel naked without my PM2/Endura Wave pair.
 
The smaller knives that get the most pocket time include the Chaparral (in my pocket right now, 2.8" blade), the Benchmade 707 Sequel (2.9"), and the Spyderco Michael Walker linerlock (2.6"). I tend to drop a mini-grip in my pocket for yard work.
You can still pick up a Spyderco Persian 75 for a steal right now at the Shoppe.
Any of these are good. For work, it depends on the work environment - so it is hard to make a good recommendation. For an office kind of environment, I'd go smaller.
 
Case Peanut CV is perfect for daily cutting tasks. The clip blade is thin and makes a great slicer, while the pen blade is more stout for tougher materials. The CV sharpens up quick and easy.
 
ColdSteel Tufflite , tough ,light weight and efficiency ,with a full hand grip for big hands !
 
The CRKT Drifter is an excellent little, stout folder...I have one.


Dimensions...

Open Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Closed Length: 3.625 inches

Blade...

Length: 2.875 inches
Thickness: 0.1 inches
Material: 8Cr14MoV
Blade hardness: HRC 58-59
Finish: Gray Titanium Nitride
Grind: High Hollow
Style: Drop Point
Edge: Plain

Handle...

Material: 2CR13
Lock type: Locking Liner
 
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Spyderco Techno. My personal folder of choice, this knife was selected because it combines a lot of seemingly opposite traits...

thick blade with tall blade grind and fine edge,
short but enough room for all four of my fingers,
no guard or choil but secures in hand due to handle shape,
hefty but small,
very tough but has a cool custom Euro look.

Also the price wasn't terrible. In all I use this knife all the time and it will do everything from peel an apple to break down a heavy corrugated cardboard box. I have a ton of control over the blade due to its size and design (no choil or guard! love it) and don't feel that I have compromised my ability to do delicate chores with a heavy framelock or tough chores with a small knife. It's the best of all worlds in my opinion.
 
If you want a super cheap but still remarkably good knife you could pick up a SRM 763. The Al handle one is pretty slick, but the G10 isn't bad. The F&F on mine was immaculate, especially considering the dirt cheap price. The AG Russell 3" Lockback is also a nice little knife, but it is pretty thin and likely won't hold up to heavier use.

The SOG Blink/Twitch is also a nice option, with the Twitch coming in varying sizes depending on the exacts you need. Best of all, everything I have said can be had together for under $100 if you look around a little.

I forgot to mention the Spyderco Urban and Dragonfly. Excellent little knives.
 
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