Small Fixed Blades 5-1/4" OAL or Less?

[natchezz]

My ESEE Candiru is the one to beat. I'm quite fond of carrying it on my belt left of center in a horizontal kydex sheath with a tight-fitting pull-the-dot strap. I can forget it's there. But, it's always instantly ready to cut a seat belt (in an emergency) or a banana , or most anything I would usually encounter.

If I had to improve it for me, I guess it would be made in some form of stainless and probably thinner, like 3/32". I really like the canvas micarta handle too.

What other small knives may give the Candiru a run for my money? I have a newly purchased LT Wright Patriot in A2, but it's a little bigger than my ideal. I'm still evaluating it. I used to have a Fiddleback prod Runt, but the Candiru works as well, for me, and is considerably cheaper to buy.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

 

[guy g]

Not cheap, but a good knife is the Bark River Mikro Canadian.. mine are older in 12c27. I believe the current offering is 154cm.Each is 5".
View attachment 1503968

 

[Alberta Ed]

Mora Eldris is another although I don't care for the odd blade grind.

 

[jackknife]

Boker gnome.

I've experimented with one as a 'unfolding pocket knife' and it was great. Good slicer, rugged construction that you can lean on in an emergency, odd handle is comfortable in a hard grip, and fit down in a pocket out of sight easy.

 

[lieferung]

Theyre kind of different but I like Spyderco's Swick line. Also happy that they revived them in LC200N these knives are great for fishing.

 

[Shorttime]

I like the size and shape of the TOPS Baghdad Boxcutter, but the 1/4" stock thickness is going in the opposite direction from what you want.

 

[evilgreg]

I've been buying small fixed blades and periodically pocket carrying them for the last few years, but most are a little bigger than 5.25", more like 5.5" - 6". That said, I do have a couple I really like and sometimes carry that are under 5.25", the Arno Bernard Meerkat and the A.G. Russell Hunter Scalpel:

The Arno Bernard is one of my favorites for pocket carry, it works great in practice and provides almost a full grip. It comes in different handle materials, mine is ebony IIRC, and a nice little leather sheath. I switched to a kydex sheath (an A.G. Russell Woodswalker sheath I cut down and heat formed to retain the Meerkat) because I can pop it out of the sheath one handed easily, something the lovely sheath that came with it does not make easy. The Hunter Scalpel is a different animal. A miniature hunting knife really, it gives you only a two and a half finger grip, maybe three if you have small hands. It's surprisingly usable for most everyday tasks, though and the push button sheath works amazingly well to retain it and pop it free.

 

[natchezz]

Not cheap, but a good knife is the Bark River Mikro Canadian.. mine are older in 12c27. I believe the current offering is 154cm.Each is 5".
View attachment 1503968

Nice knives for sure. I'll keep my eye out for a used one to try.

Mora Eldris is another although I don't care for the odd blade grind.

That makes two of us.

Boker gnome.

I've experimented with one as a 'unfolding pocket knife' and it was great. Good slicer, rugged construction that you can lean on in an emergency, odd handle is comfortable in a hard grip, and fit down in a pocket out of sight easy.

Now that you mention it, I have one in 440C and olive wood that was gifted me a few years ago. It is nice, but I definately like holding and using my Candiru better.

Theyre kind of different but I like Spyderco's Swick line. Also happy that they revived them in LC200N these knives are great for fishing.

The look doesn't float my boat. They make an ARK that is appealing to me. Don't like the price of it much, though.

I like the size and shape of the TOPS Baghdad Boxcutter, but the 1/4" stock thickness is going in the opposite direction from what you want.

You are right - the 1/4" kills it for me.

I've been buying small fixed blades and periodically pocket carrying them for the last few years, but most are a little bigger than 5.25", more like 5.5" - 6". That said, I do have a couple I really like and sometimes carry that are under 5.25", the Arno Bernard Meerkat and the A.G. Russell Hunter Scalpel:

The Arno Bernard is one of my favorites for pocket carry, it works great in practice and provides almost a full grip. It comes in different handle materials, mine is ebony IIRC, and a nice little leather sheath. I switched to a kydex sheath (an A.G. Russell Woodswalker sheath I cut down and heat formed to retain the Meerkat) because I can pop it out of the sheath one handed easily, something the lovely sheath that came with it does not make easy. The Hunter Scalpel is a different animal. A miniature hunting knife really, it gives you only a two and a half finger grip, maybe three if you have small hands. It's surprisingly usable for most everyday tasks, though and the push button sheath works amazingly well to retain it and pop it free.

That AB looks awesome. I'll keep an eye out for a user to try. I think the little Russell would be on the "too small" side. Watched some video reviews and I kept thinking I'd cut myself using it in an emergency. I may be wrong, IDK. Price and steel are great, though!

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I really dig my Spyderco ARK. It's a purpose driven knife that I use when I plan on being around water or when I'm on vacation or in my pool where I don't feel the need to carry anything more than a super lightweight cutting tool.

It's defensive design isn't lot on me either. It's a hard biting little monster if need be, but mine mostly is used to open packages or cut tags off beach towels.

I totally forget I have it on me.

 

[natchezz]

I really dig my Spyderco ARK. It's a purpose driven knife that I use when I plan on being around water or when I'm on vacation or in my pool where I don't feel the need to carry anything more than a super lightweight cutting tool.

It's defensive design isn't lot on me either. It's a hard biting little monster if need be, but mine mostly is used to open packages or cut tags off beach towels.

I totally forget I have it on me.

You might be enabling me on buying one of these. I’d have to make myself a low profile kydex sheath, but I’ve done the same for my Candiru. I must say, all of its attributes appeal to me except cost, but the others may outweigh that.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

You might be enabling me on buying one of these. I’d have to make myself a low profile kydex sheath, but I’ve done the same for my Candiru. I must say, all of its attributes appeal to me except cost, but the others may outweigh that.

I will say that they are pricey for a 2 finger knife, but the H1 steel is worth a premium for being rust proof.

I opted to get the serrated version because I think H1 behaves better with serrations. I know John, one of the co-designers, and he feels the knife is really meant to be a serrated blade. Then again, it was initially designed for service members to fend off sexual assault in the shower rooms, and those Spyderco teeth would bite REALLY deep if you were slashing at an attacker. However, keep in mind that Spyderco has discontinued the serrated version.

I dabble in leather work, but so far I have been fine just carrying it as a neck knife. I hardly weighs a thing, and it is not a knife I carry to use for lots of cutting. I did EDC it as my primary for 2 weeks just to see if I could make due, and it totally passed the mundane tasks it was pressed into doing.

I prefer slightly larger fixed blades. Mostly 4" or so blades that measure about the same OAL as my folders do. However, if you made me pick a small fixed blade for edc carry that wasn't the ARK, it would be a Fiddleback Forge Hiking Buddy. Andy Roy spun one up for me several years ago (maybe 8?...man, where does the time go). Heavier than you are looking for and certainly pricey compared to others, but Andy's work is top notch and I'm just super proud to carry something by a good guy and someone I call a friend.

I digress I think for the money if you are looking for a lightweight knife that can cut straps and rope around any environment and has a pedigree as a self defense knife, the ARK is fantastic little blade.

 

[natchezz]

Steely_Gunz How do you think the ARK would handle cutting an 8” (flat) nylon zip tie? Not a problem for the Candiru.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

Steely_Gunz How do you think the ARK would handle cutting an 8” (flat) nylon zip tie? Not a problem for the Candiru.

I think it would go through it like butter. Maybe not as good as something with a hawkbill, but I used mine to cut the banding off boxes we received at the office. They are a tough nylon material that is thin but at least half an inch across. I just slid the blade under the band on its flat and rotated it up. The teeth grabbed and a quick pull toward myself snapped them with ease.

 

[Pilsner]

This one breaks your length limit at 6.3” OAL, but it’s a cracker. The Rainier Fastpak in Elmax:

 

[natchezz]

This one breaks your length limit at 6.3” OAL, but it’s a cracker. The Rainier Fastpak in Elmax:

That is a great looking knife! I use a strap exactly like that on my sheath.

 

[natchezz]

Steely_Gunz I finally broke down and ordered an ARK. The PE because the SE isn’t available. I don’t like to wear anything around my neck, so I’ll be making a kydex belt sheath for it. One reviewer said the factory sheath dulled his knife, so I will make sure the edge doesn’t scrape plastic.