Small 3V fixed blade?

K

KC8QVO

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Apr 7, 2011
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Are there any small/thin 3V blades out there? Just for reference I carry a Bark River Bravo Necker I every day in a KSF holster (holster needs work = very loose and the knife can flop out if moving the right way or gets caught on something). I see Bark River's scalpel, but that isn't much smaller than what I have.

I'm looking for a smaller/lower profile pocket carry knife, with the option of belt carry too. I'd like to stay with a leather/softer sheath than kydex. I have the stock kydex sheath for my Necker I and don't like it.

I could entertain the folder idea too. Though, my mutlitool is a Leatherman with S30V blade. I just much prefer a fixed blade when I need a knife.
 
A Tom Krein Cicada would work, kydex sheath but very secure and can be fitted with a small Tek Loc for belt carry. 4 3/4" overall. This is a clip point version in 3V. They are very handy.

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Where can I browse Tom Krein's products online? Doesnt look like his webpage is rolling yet.
 
Look for his Facebook group, he's not taking orders but puts up knives pretty often there. The Cicadas are offered a few times a year. Boker makes a production version called the Grasshopper, but it's 440C.
 
Small CPM 3V fixed blades? Survive! GSO 3.5 and of course the good ol' Bark River Gunny. Further Bark River Little Carver, Bark River Little Creek, Bark River Mini Fox River and Fehrman Thru Hiker Companion Knife.
 
As others have stated, and you have eluded to, BRK has several smaller models in 3V. KSF also has pocket sheaths that work quite well for some of these smaller BRKs. I EDCed a Essentials in M4 for some time and a Northstar EDC in 3V for months now. The Lil Canadian is in 3V, and several other smaller models. Below is a Gunny and a Northstar EDC that I carried in pockets for months. Both are in 3V

 
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Jeru said:
Small CPM 3V fixed blades? Survive! GSO 3.5 and of course the good ol' Bark River Gunny. Further Bark River Little Carver, Bark River Little Creek, Bark River Mini Fox River and Fehrman Thru Hiker Companion Knife.
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AlexWitte said:
I have a Little Creek, and I love it.
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McVeyMac said:
As others have stated, and you have eluded to, BRK has several smaller models in 3V. KSF also has pocket sheaths that work quite well for some of these smaller BRKs. I EDCed a Essentials in M4 for some time and a Northstar EDC in 3V for months now. The Lil Canadian is in 3V, and several other smaller models. Below is a Gunny and a Northstar EDC that I carried in pockets for months. Both are in 3V

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All those knives are on par, or bigger, than my BRK Bravo Necker I (the small one, the II is the longer blade Necker). I bought a couple of the BRK Mini Fox River's as gifts and those are bigger than my Bravo Necker I (bigger/thicker profile). I also have a Gunny in 3V. My goal is to find something smaller than the Necker I, and smaller than the BRK Pro Scalpel also.
 
I have a pro scalpel as an EDC pocket carry and I'm quite pleased. I also have a micro-can but find I prefer the blade geometry of the PS more. My ps has replaced my Sebenza as my EDC.
 
I just scanned through Bark River's knife collection and see they added the "bravo micro" to their line up, in S35VN to boot. It is over an inch shorter than my Necker I. In fact, I might have bought one of those instead of the Necker if if was available then.

The only catch is what kind of sheath it comes with? It says "leather carry sheath" but what exactly is it? May not have a belt loop...
 
Have you seen the Busse Bear Cub? Not sure if it's what you want size-wise. It will probably be my next necker.

Infi steel; 59-61, 3" blade. Likely a good sheath too.
 
You should check out the Koster Scout: 3V steel, 5 1/2" overall, 2 1/2" blade, .13" thick (not my pic, taken from website)
ic0z.jpg
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I put a review up of the Bravo Micro, with pics of the sheath. I have the Bravo Necker 1 and 2 as well. I just used the Necker 1 as a neck knife, in factory kydex sheath for a year. I actually switched to the Necker 2, as I liked the length better.

The Bravo Micro might be a good option for you, although it is S35V instead of 3V.
 
Danketch said:
I put a review up of the Bravo Micro, with pics of the sheath.

The Bravo Micro might be a good option for you, although it is S35V instead of 3V.
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Thanks for the review and pictures. That is a really small knife based on the comparison picture with the 3 knives next to each other. That may be just what I want. Im not liking the sheath though. Some kind of leather sheath that covers just the blade and a little bit of the handle with a snap to secure and a belt loop on the back would be nice, rather than the flapped hot dog.

I would be curious how S35VN wears compared to 3V. I just got an S30V blade on my new leatherman, but dont use it hardly so i dont have a frame of reference yet. I always use my fixed blade when I need a knife.
 
I'm not sure I see the point in a Small 3V blade as the toughness will never really be used as it would in a large blade/chopper, as far as edge holding 3V is very similar to the stainless version (S30V) it may be a little better as it can resist edge deformation a little better. If I were going for a small fixed blade (unless of course I intended to use it for prying as much or more than for cutting) I'd go for something with better edge holding (10V, S110V, K390) or if you want something that still has quite a bit of toughness but still favors edge holding go for CPM-M4. Just a different perspective/YMMV
 
michaelm466 said:
I'm not sure I see the point in a Small 3V blade as the toughness will never really be used as it would in a large blade/chopper, as far as edge holding 3V is very similar to the stainless version (S30V) it may be a little better as it can resist edge deformation a little better. If I were going for a small fixed blade (unless of course I intended to use it for prying as much or more than for cutting) I'd go for something with better edge holding (10V, S110V, K390) or if you want something that still has quite a bit of toughness but still favors edge holding go for CPM-M4. Just a different perspective/YMMV
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i agree with this 100%. 3V makes more sense for a large blade.
 
bobo_the_gnu said:
You should check out the Koster Scout: 3V steel, 5 1/2" overall, 2 1/2" blade, .13" thick (not my pic, taken from website)
ic0z.jpg
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the most exquisite lil knife i have ever seen thanks mate, if i have to choose one from all in this thread it will be that.
 
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