shirt pocket carry?

It's not a popular knife, but the Benchmade 530 does for me exactly what you're asking. Full MSRP is only $90, (so about $60 in the real world) it is very thin, very light, and cuts well. It's an axis lock, so probably the best in the world today from that perspective.

Three downsides. It feels flimsy. I don't know anyone who has broken or bent one, but it's so light that it really feels like, well, a lightweight. This bugs a lot of people. But it carries like a dream.

It looks like a boot knife. For a 3.25" blade, it's not terribly sheeple friendly, visually. I think it's attractive, in an Old San Francisco goes Zytel sense, but it does look dagger-y.

The studs, both blade and lock, are the thinnest on any Benchmade I know of. They work fine, and for using, they're quite comfortable. But from a knife-as-toy perspective, after a half hour of constant playing with it, your finger/thumb tips will feel a little beat up.

I've tried to be brutally honest about the downside, because I really think the 530 meets your need to a T but it has features that have kept it from getting a rousing popular reception. I love it, but I'm definitely in a minority.
 
Mnandi is the ultimate gentlemans knife. Save up, you won't be sorry.
Roger
 
Thank you, everyone, for your advice. I followed every suggestion, and then found myself wandering a website labyrinth of other possibilities. I didn't see being able to rearrange or cut down significantly on my other EDC items, and I wasn't keen on the idea of wearing a scapular (so to speak), so I stuck with the original idea of wanting a knife I could clip to my shirt pocket without attracting attention around New York City.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Spyderco Calypso Jr. FRN (looks less aggressive to me when it's open than the Delica and Endura). I'm hesitating because the Calypso Jr. clip has a highly visible black logo on an otherwise subtle design, and I hate to be a walking advertisement -- but I've been reading good things about Spyderco as far as value and edge retention.

I liked the mechanics and the design at the higher end some of you mentioned, especially the Chris Reeve Mnandi and several William Henry knives. It's hard for me to imagine spending so much when the Calypso Jr. is 1/10th the price, and I'd constantly be worried about dropping and scratching the finish on an expensive knife, or losing it. I want to have some items, though, that I could pass on to the next generation. We don't have kids yet, but come to think of it, except for my writing and some cash I don't own much that I'd be able to give them -- something that grandchildren could treasure.

Later on I'll also be looking at a larger knife to carry as part of the emergency kit in my knapsack, but one step at a time.
 
What about the William Henry Evolution series? I got one for a little over $100 a year or two ago, it's well made even though it's the low-end, foreign-made William Henry and it has a very high blade length/handle size ratio. The cutting edge is just slightly longer than a Delica (I am comparing them as I type this), but it is significantly shorter and less wide when closed than the Delica, and it is very elegant-looking and sheeple friendly. One of my best knife purchases I think.
 
Alba said:
Right now I'm leaning towards the Spyderco Calypso Jr. FRN (looks less aggressive to me when it's open than the Delica and Endura). I'm hesitating because the Calypso Jr. clip has a highly visible black logo on an otherwise subtle design, and I hate to be a walking advertisement -- but I've been reading good things about Spyderco as far as value and edge retention.
Click to expand...
you can buff that logo out with some 1000 grit sandpaper, which comes out looking very professional. also, i believe Spyderco.com has them back in stock, for $34.95.

abe
 
A vote for the Microtech mini socom,

I bought one for my son, can be purchased for around $80-90.00 if you are patient.

Alot of knife for the money. Just a thought.
 
I,d go Benchmade 921 , very sheeple friendly , or the 960 . I use the shirt pocket carry a lot for duty and summer carry . A small Sebenza works great , so would a Munandi . The Benchmade 770 series were great shirt pocket piecies , they are regrettably D/Ced. , but are available .
 
The calypso Jr is a great stepping stone towards a future mnandi! Two of my favorite knives by the way!
 
Sometimes I carry a Ka-Bar Dozier folding hunter or a Benchmade Monochrome in my shirt pocket.

But other times, in my shirt pocket, I carry something as large as a Manix or an AlMar 2000 SERE. Depending upon local laws.

Generally I like a bigger folding knife that I can use for rescue operations if need be, prying and so forth, without it falling apart. I don't always clip it, again depending upon local laws.

Sometimes I just let the big folder float there in the pocket, next to a small Fox Labs pepper spray clipped to a Photon Freedom light. It all fits in my shirt pocket.
 
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