Personal suggestions for folder or fixed under 2.5 in

ffemt91

ffemt91

Joined
Jul 7, 2014
Messages
365
Hey BF,

I'm going to be stationed in Kadena, Japan in a few months and I read that their knife law only allows knives with a blade length under 6cm ~ 2.4". If you've owned a knife with a similar blade length 2-3" which one was it and how did it fare for EDC? Fixed or folder. I'll be a Firefighter on duty and exploring with my family every chance we get off so it'll have to be up for a good amount of tasks.

Thanks in advance.


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I highly recommend the Fiddleback Forge production Runt. Great little fixed blade and you can drop it in your pocket or use paracord and put it on your belt. Small but very user friendly. It is definitely not your cheapest option but the materials, quality and feel of the knife make it worth every penny! If you really want a folder look at the DPX HEAT. Great small size folder. Lastly if budget is a concern then the Kershaw Scallion or Chive will work for you as well. Good luck on your journey and stay safe!
 
whitty said:
I highly recommend the Fiddleback Forge production Runt. Great little fixed blade and you can drop it in your pocket or use paracord and put it on your belt. Small but very user friendly. It is definitely not your cheapest option but the materials, quality and feel of the knife make it worth every penny! If you really want a folder look at the DPX HEAT. Great small size folder. Lastly if budget is a concern then the Kershaw Scallion or Chive will work for you as well. Good luck on your journey and stay safe!
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Replied to your msg on USN. Thanks for reaching out!
 
Budget? Ouch 6cm = 2.36 inches. My personal experience with those size knives are the Boker Subcom/Wharcom and Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. The Wharcom is a great money clip but the CS has the advantage of a bigger handle. Being a firefighter, I would guess a fixed blade might be more useful and stronger then a folder at that size.

The biggest problem you will face is handle size in relation to the blade. If you need to use it a lot, you will probably wish you had more handle to grip.

ESEE Candiru has a 2 inch blade. You can add scales for under $20. Boker Plus Cop Tool or Gnome maybe. TOPS has a few Sparrow Hawke, Ferret, Baghdad box cutter.

If you have some time, check out the Knife makers For Sale area or maybe try to contact a knife maker and get a small semi custom built to your specs. I might try for 1095 (starting at the lower end steel) classic drop/spear point design, max out blade length at 2.3" but get a 4" handle (depending on the size of your hand of course) of wood or G10. If you have big hands, you can get a longer and fatter handle.
 
I think Izula is 2.5? it rules so just buy it anyways. Also love th Spyderco Dragonfly
XcUZA0K.jpg
 
gazz98 said:
Budget? Ouch 6cm = 2.36 inches. My personal experience with those size knives are the Boker Subcom/Wharcom and Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. The Wharcom is a great money clip but the CS has the advantage of a bigger handle. Being a firefighter, I would guess a fixed blade might be more useful and stronger then a folder at that size.

The biggest problem you will face is handle size in relation to the blade. If you need to use it a lot, you will probably wish you had more handle to grip.

ESEE Candiru has a 2 inch blade. You can add scales for under $20. Boker Plus Cop Tool or Gnome maybe. TOPS has a few Sparrow Hawke, Ferret, Baghdad box cutter.

If you have some time, check out the Knife makers For Sale area or maybe try to contact a knife maker and get a small semi custom built to your specs. I might try for 1095 (starting at the lower end steel) classic drop/spear point design, max out blade length at 2.3" but get a 4" handle (depending on the size of your hand of course) of wood or G10. If you have big hands, you can get a longer and fatter handle.
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Budget $100-300. This'll be it on knife buying for the next few years and I want something to be used and last. Good point on wanting more handle.. I hadn't thought of it like that but makes perfect sense..especially when I used to own a few subcompact 9mm's with my pinky hanging off the grip. Thanks for your advice on checking the custom makers! Never commissioned a custom piece yet but that may be the answer.

lemonslush said:
I think Izula is 2.5? it rules so just buy it anyways. Also love th Spyderco Dragonfly
XcUZA0K.jpg
Click to expand...

I'll check it out, thanks man!
 
Yep, the biggest problem with the 2"ish type blades is the handles. You get two, maybe 3 fingers on the handle (depending on the size of your hand of course). At the size you are are looking for, many are neck knives.

I feel ya on the subcompacts. I own a S&W M&P9c, I love the 3.5" barrel and more importantly, the option of the 12 rd mag for shorter profile or the 17 rd mag with the grip extender.

Again, I don't know what your time frame is but I have emailed a few knife makers and ask them to alter their designs a tad to fit my hand and what I want and most are very willing to work with you. I'd max out that length of blade of 2.3" but get a 5" handle (standard for most fixed blades). If you have a big hand, you can always beef up the size of the slabs (wood, g10, etc) to fill it out. I have a big hand and asked for Jonny Mac to add G10 spacers to his normal G10 handles to make em fatter. Good luck.
 
ffemt91 said:
Budget $100-300. This'll be it on knife buying for the next few years and I want something to be used and last. Good point on wanting more handle.. I hadn't thought of it like that but makes perfect sense..especially when I used to own a few subcompact 9mm's with my pinky hanging off the grip. Thanks for your advice on checking the custom makers! Never commissioned a custom piece yet but that may be the answer.



I'll check it out, thanks man!
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+1 to this way of thinking. Though I love the Spyderco Dragonfly - and the one in G-10 is often available on the exchange for less than $ 100.00 - I think it is a small handled knife even for my medium size hands. I really think you would be happiest with a short blade with a longer handle.

Custom is a great option - OR - you might check out a Kahr Arms Delica - https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=941
It has a 2.5" blade but the extra tiny bit could be ground off the blade to make it comply. That would be a very useful EDC. The Delica is an near perfect "little" folder.
 
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gazz98 said:
Yep, the biggest problem with the 2"ish type blades is the handles. You get two, maybe 3 fingers on the handle (depending on the size of your hand of course). At the size you are are looking for, many are neck knives.

I feel ya on the subcompacts. I own a S&W M&P9c, I love the 3.5" barrel and more importantly, the option of the 12 rd mag for shorter profile or the 17 rd mag with the grip extender.

Again, I don't know what your time frame is but I have emailed a few knife makers and ask them to alter their designs a tad to fit my hand and what I want and most are very willing to work with you. I'd max out that length of blade of 2.3" but get a 5" handle (standard for most fixed blades). If you have a big hand, you can always beef up the size of the slabs (wood, g10, etc) to fill it out. I have a big hand and asked for Jonny Mac to add G10 spacers to his normal G10 handles to make em fatter. Good luck.
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Very true, I think a 4" handle would be good to go and resemble the size of my Strider SNG that fits perfectly. I plan on learning to scuba dive too so hopefully this is something I can bring with me.. G10 or another synthetic handle to handle the salt and humidity. Regarding subcompacts.. I conceal carried an XDs 3.3" 9mm for a few months but eventually went with the G19. Could conceal just as easily but have that full grip. Haven't tried an S&W yet but their VTAC 9mm has always seemed to call my name haha.

Thanks again for the advice!

RayseM said:
+1 to this way of thinking. Though I love the Spyderco Dragonfly - and the one in G-10 is often available on the exchange for less than $ 100.00 - I think it is a small handled knife even for my medium size hands. I really think you would be happiest with a short blade with a longer handle.

Custom is a great option - OR - you might check out a Kahr Arms Delica - https://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=941
It has a 2.5" blade but the extra tiny bit could be ground off the blade to make it comply. That would be a very useful EDC. The Delica is an near perfect "little" folder.
Click to expand...

I do like that Dragonfly in foliage green on Amazon for $85. Looks like it may be a good folder for the Japan-compliant lineup.
 
Dragonfly comes in many flavors. I own more than in the pic but my favorite is the Salt SerratedI got a few as you can see. I would suggest staying away from the stainless handle ones as they have no jimping and a different clip. Fun for collections but not so great for EDC. THe g10 or zdp ones are also great. For a blade so small it lets you tackle stuff like zip ties, hard corrugated plastics and tough rope. Its super light weight, has a great clip and you really do get a full grip on the knife. I read many a review about his its the most EDC you actually need for real world cutting tasks. I use mine for everything including construction and electrical work (around the house). Also that h1 is magic steel, i have never sharpen it just an occasional run on a straightening rod and its back to sharing sharp. The tip is also excellent for getting into small places that lost of my knives cant fit and razor blades are to weak to handle.

IF autos are allowed you could also go with a Microtech utx-70 blade is under 2.5". 2.4" I think actually??
http://www.bladeops.com/Microtech-Purple-UTX70-OTF-Knife-Black-Tanto-Blad-p/mt149-1pu.htm
MT149-1PU-2T.jpg
 
Thank you everyone for your suggestions and recommendations. I ended up going with 2 production Fiddleback Runt fixed blades (one for me and wife) and a Strider PT.
 
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