Recommendations for <= 2.5" blade knives?

S

spikeymikey

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Nov 28, 2002
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I occasionally go to Chicago and from what I've read here and elsewhere on the web, concealed carry of knives is limited to blades less than or equal to 2.5 inches.

What are my options for knives? I was hoping someone could give maker and model numbers to look at.

Are there any knives with "full-sized" grips...but just with 2.5" blades? Most of my techniques use "stabbing" rather than "slicing" techniques. I would still like the feel of full-sized grips...but just with the limited blade length.

I'm thinking of going with a non-folder...but would welcome options/opinions of both.

Thanks!
 
Change your technique if you are using less than a 6" blade concentrate on slashing. With a 2.5" blade forget about stabbing. I would look at a Cold Steel Trail Guide Medium. The blade length is specified as 2-5/8 inches. I would reprofile the point to reduce it to 2.5". These are made from a carbon steel which will make them tougher for their size than stainless blades. The handles are a bit on the long side for the size of the knife.

http://www.coldsteel.com/trailguides.html
 
If you are looking for the best utility fixed blade with a blade under 2.5" the Bark River Knife & Tool Mini-Canadian and Mikro Canadian are two great choices. The Mini is 6" overall and the Mikro is only 5" overall. Both have large handles with small blades. Like I said those, these are utility/outdoors knives, not really defense weapons, so I'm not sure this is what you are looking for.
-Kevin
 
I have really been impressed with the spot run of the Spyderco Spur. Pick one up if you can. The prices lately have been quite reasonable.
 
ColdSteel offers a push dagger that has a 2.5" blade. It's the safekeeper iii and it would be ideal for stabbing.
 
I just noticed that you want a knife for self-defense. In that case, the Spur probably isn't too good. It is a utility knife with a skinner style blade.
 
The Illinois state limit is 3", though I would not be surprised if Chicago had tighter limits. Many places have specific laws against daggers or push daggers. I would want to check local laws for sure before I carried a push dagger. Here is a link to the state laws:

http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/il.txt
 
my crkt bear claw has a blade of 2.25 inches it is very useful hide in your pocket in it sheath and can be draw as fast as you can pull your hand from your pocket if the need for te draw passes without incident you can easily resnap it in its kydex sheath. as for defense it can be used as a push knife, or in slaching attacks, either way with its finger hole it is very hard to disarm. all in all a nice small knife
 
I used to live in Chicago, & also happened to enforce the city's municipal ordinances, so I can tell you that the bladse limit in the city is 2.5", 2" if you are 18 or under. But I would NOT carry a push-dagger since as I recall those are outlawed by state statute, you'd have to check the Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) statute to be sure, I didn't enforce that so I don't recall the details. The definintion of weapon can be pretty broad.

As it happened, I relied on a knife w/a 2.75" blade and never had any trouble (Spydie micarta Goddard Jr.). But you might check out the Spydie Dragonfly, very sharp and the choil extends to permit a finger there, like the Calypso Jr., giving extra grip.
 
Jurisdictions that severely restrict blade length are doing so because they don't like knives. Fixed blades or covert blades will just raise their hackles even more. The more innocuous looking, the better.

On the other hand, the Spyderco Yojimbo is a folder that was designed for self-defense -- I'm sorry, I mean, for specialized uses such as box opening or tape cutting! -- and the blade is only 2+5/8" but the handle is a full 5" for an excellent grip.
 
I'd go with a Spyderco Titanium Salsa. Ergonomics are great, with a relatively "tall" handle and finger cut-outs that work well in forward or reverse grip. Titanium scales, a stout blade of ATS-34, and a very dependable compression/frame lock. I like the Dodo as well, but I really think of it more as a utility knife. I certainly don't think it'd work well as a stabber.
 
Jeff Clark said:
The Illinois state limit is 3", though I would not be surprised if Chicago had tighter limits. Many places have specific laws against daggers or push daggers. I would want to check local laws for sure before I carried a push dagger. Here is a link to the state laws:

http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/il.txt
Click to expand...

The 3 in. limit only applies to blades used in commision of a crime. The Levine link does not show the whole context. State law has no length limit. See my post in this thread http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307446

Chicago: May not conceal a blade longer than 2.5 inches or 2 in. if less than 18 years of age http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/ordinances.html.
 
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