Recommendations for a Light weight 3'' EDC

T

TrueBlade1

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Mar 22, 2014
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Ok here I go again asking for recommendations.

(By the way to all of you guys who posted on my thread a few months ago, thanks much for your advice. Especially to those who suggested the RAT 1. I thought WHAT?? a liner lock seriously?? But I started looking at the reviews on youtube and they were all glowing, so I got one and really love it!! My RAT 1 now takes it's place among my Favorite EDC knifes.

OK now to the point of this post.
I generally carry 2 EDC knives most of the time, a 3 1/2'' blade for heavy duty cutting, and a 3'' for more delicate work. For a while my 3'' EDC has been the Kershaw Black Colt II. I like the blade shape for tip control and it can get in crevices where my bigger knife can't. I also like the polymer handles because they give me grip and control, and the lockup is solid. However for a small knife it weighs a ton in my pocket.

So here are my needs:
1. small enough and light enough to go in my pocket all day.
2. ergos that give me some grip on the knife - no metal handles.
3. a decent steel, preferably not 420 or 440, AUS8 or 8CR13MOV work fine.
4. long narrow tip such as a clip blade, invaluable for getting into small spaces.
5. preferably a lock back, a strong liner lock might work
6. I don't need to brake my bank, preferably under $40.00

Thanks for you're suggestions.
 
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Kershaw Chill
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You might also check out the medium Cold Steel Voyager.
 
ESEE Zancudo - Light and slim but kind of boring
Buck Vantage Select small - Pretty light but 420HC steel
Cold Steel Mini AK-47 - This one is a sleeper, nobody has it but it's pretty awesome. Light, strong, waveable
Cold Steel Code 4 - My absolute favorite blade right now. I got one for $41 shipped on eBay. Incredibly light for the size.
 
edit: I missed the part of your post that said no metal handles...sorry!

Teaches me to skim read....
 
Kershaw Skyline. It's a tad over 3" (about 3.1"). It's compact and lightweight. Sandvik 14C28N steel. Liner lock. G10 handles. Made in USA. Around $35-40.

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Spyderco Tenacious is a great value

I also agree with Tempusfugit77 on the Cold Steel Voyager. The mini Recon 1 by Cold Steel is another great knife but a bit more expensive. Tri-Ad lock can't be beat.
 
A little over your price point, but the Spyderco Delica can be had online for $55 or so and is worth every penny. Blade is right about 2.8", can be had in sabre or FFG and uses (mostly) VG-10.
 
Cold Steel Medium Voyager or, for a few bucks over your budget, the Delica4. Both are lockbacks and meet all of your requirements.
 
Boker Thorn rocks. Ti slabs, 154CM blade. Light but fills the hand nicely. Blade is a little wide but has a nice point on it for finger work. Made in Germany. Really like mine. I know you mentioned no metal handles but I think it may be worth a look for you. The Ti isn't smooth like a stainless Spydie for instance.

Maybe look at the Benchmade Small Summit. Nice blade, quality steel in the blade. Nice in the pocket. Large enough handle for a good grip. Cocobolo scales, blade jimping. Solid lockback. Good stuff.
 
Hey Guys,
Thanks so much for all your suggestions, I have looked at the Spyderco Delica 4 and Tenacious, C.S. medium Voyager, Byrd Meadowlark, Kershaw Skyline and the Kershaw Emerson CQC 5k, I looked at the Buck Vantage earlier but I don't know how that 420 steel will preform. Out of all of these I have to say that the Voyager is the one I like the best, which should be no surprise since I absolutely love my other Cold Steel knives. I also really like the Kershaw/Emerson CQC 5k looks awesome!

And Mk Ultra, I already have a Code 4 and love it. It makes a great knife for traveling because it's so thin.

Thanks again for all your input :)
 
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TrueBlade1 said:
Hey Guys,
Thanks so much for all your suggestions, I have looked at the Spyderco Delica 4 and Tenacious, C.S. medium Voyager, Byrd Meadowlark, Kershaw Skyline and the Kershaw Emerson CQC 5k, I looked at the Buck Vantage earlier but I don't know how that 420 steel will preform. Out of all of these I have to say that the Voyager is the one I like the best, which should be no surprise since I absolutely love my other Cold Steel knives. I also really like the Kershaw/Emerson CQC 5k looks awesome!

And Mk Ultra, I already have a Code 4 and love it. It makes a great knife for traveling because it's so thin.

Thanks again for all your input :)
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I wouldn't bother with Byrd, sure they are a little cheaper than the budget Spydercos, but not that much. May as well spend the extra $15 more and get a Spyderco. The Kershaw/Emersons sure do look cool, but reactions have been mixed on quality so far, things like the screw issue (they don't fit, so the clips aren't really movable) and sloppy grinds on the blades have been pretty common (my 8K has a number of issues that are all examples of simply poor quality control).
 
TrueBlade1 said:
Out of all of these I have to say that the Voyager is the one I like the best, which should be no surprise since I absolutely love my other Cold Steel knives.
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I carry a large Voyager clip point PE when “clearing brush” (Lol) on my property. Unless I try to put something else in the same pocket, I hardly know it’s there. I’m sure the medium Voyager (clip point, right?) will be an excellent replacement for your Kershaw Black Colt II.
 
John_0917 said:
A little over your price point, but the Spyderco Delica can be had online for $55 or so and is worth every penny. Blade is right about 2.8", can be had in sabre or FFG and uses (mostly) VG-10.
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The delica is a fine edc worth every penny. Flat grind is the way to go in a small knife. Vg 10 is good steel.
 
Ignoring the steel part you can take a look at the Ka-Bar Dozier's they have a 2.5 and 3in versions and they are quite lightweight. If you want lightweight for more delicate work I think the smaller version would work good as the 3in one is definitely a middle ground between my Black Horse II (bigger version of your Colt) and some of my SAK's.
 
Another vote for the Delica; very ergonomic, a great slicer and extremely light! It's really worth the extra!
 
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