Small Knife Recommendation

The Dragonfly has already be mentioned. But is something nicer is wanted, you may also want to look at the Chaparral. Small, inconspicuous, manual open, locking, and also has deep riding wire clip.

Or for something assisted/flipper that has great utility, check out the Kershaw Scallion. Can be had in long wearing all stainless, or in colors.
 
SAKs are always good. My favorite small to middle sized one is the Bantam (no clip of course). But since I am not in school, I carry a large 111mm sized one which I prefer. Just about size for my hand if I have to do some real cutting. This is generally the size of folder that I prefer to carry. Fighting applications are not a consideration.

If it is legal for you to carry, I'd get something fairly nice, but not too nice. As I mentioned before, the Spyderco Kiwi 4 is a great little knife with a wharncliffe blade, hence not for stabbing. It's a cutter. I have been quite impressed with this knife. I know the Spydie Dragonfly is a good smallish knife too. I just never really needed anything that small.
 
killgar said:
....Here in California, it is illegal to carry ANY locking folder on school grounds k-12. It is however legal to carry a slipjoint with a blade no longer than 2.5" on school grounds k-12.

As far as college campuses are concerned, here in California it is legal to carry any size of folder, locking or not.

Such information can be found in statute 626.10 of the California penal code.

Of course, any school can impose their own rules that may be stricter than the law. And although you cannot be arrested for violating school rules, you can be expelled.
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When did they change this? It is my understanding that under state law, no knife is allowed a on school grounds K-12 in the State of California. On top of that, most school districts have adopted a zero weapons policy and consider any knife carried on campus by a visitor, student or teacher a weapon. Knives used in school kitchens, cooking classes and by district maintenance personnel are exempt.

And the comment about not being arrested for violating school rules? I would not take a chance on that being the case.

To the OP, LEAVE YOUR KNIFE AT HOME! But, if you feel that you must carry a knife on campus, make sure that you have written approval from the school and written approval from your parents. With that said, get a Victorinox Cadet or any other SAK that is the same size or smaller than the Cadet. Nothing else.
 
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It's not necessarily about what's legal, but what you can get away with without freaking out peers and faculty. For that reason I highly recommend a traditional-stye slipjoint knife.

If someone see's a clip in your pocket they might worry and at the very least foul up your day. If you keep it in your waistband, to me that seems like asking for trouble as you are clearly trying to conceal it. The fact that you think you'd need to hide it is very telling...

This GEC 22 is small but highly functional, and elegant enough that it shouldn't draw any stares should you actually have to use it.

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justsomedude said:
It's not necessarily about what's legal, but what you can get away with without freaking out peers and faculty. For that reason I highly recommend a traditional-stye slipjoint knife.

If someone see's a clip in your pocket they might worry and at the very least foul up your day. If you keep it in your waistband, to me that seems like asking for trouble as you are clearly trying to conceal it. The fact that you think you'd need to hide it is very telling...
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Exactly. No one here should be giving advice to someone who might even still be a minor about what kind of prohibited implement to carry on school grounds.

What do you need a knife for at school, anyways? It's cool that the OP likes knives enough to want to carry one as much as possible but there are limitations especially when you're talking about school property.

My suggestion? Get a knife that you like and leave it at home. It can be any size/shape/type you want, as long as you're of legal age to own it... and don't take it to places where it will get you in deep trouble.
 
sabre cat said:
When did they change this? It is my understanding that under state law, no knife is allowed a on school grounds K-12 in the State of California. On top of that, most school districts have adopted a zero weapons policy and consider any knife carried on campus by a visitor, student or teacher a weapon. Knives used in school kitchens, cooking classes and by district maintenance personnel are exempt.
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I don't know when section 626.10 was written, I'd have to ask my attorney, but it's been this way for as long as I can remember. Here is a link to that statute direct from the official California legislative website-
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=626.10.&lawCode=PEN

The statute is pretty clear about what is illegal. And what is not illegal, is legal.

As I said in the post you quoted, schools can make their own rules that are more restrictive than state law (like "zero tolerance" policies). A student who violates such a policy can be expelled. But as a parent, I have no fear of expulsion.

And the comment about not being arrested for violating school rules? I would not take a chance on that being the case.
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Well, my attorney is very knowledgeable about such things. And he has assured me that a person can only be arrested for violating A LAW. A person cannot be arrested for violating a school policy.

My attorney has also assured me that as long as the knife I carry onto school property is not illegal under California state law (we have no city or county knife laws in San Diego), then I cannot be arrested and charged with any crime for carrying such a knife.

Furthermore, I have used my knife countless times at school functions. Both for personal reasons and to help set up for events. And no one, staff member or parent, has ever said a word to me about it, except to ask me to cut something for them, and thank me for cutting something for them. And that includes one of the other fathers who happens to be a police officer.

So no, being arrested for carrying a legal knife onto school grounds is not a concern that I have. But unlike the OP, I'm not a high school student in Colorado. I don't know what that's like, and I haven't had my attorney research that subject as I am not likely to find myself in that situation.

The OP is correct about it being legal under Colorado state law to carry a knife onto school property as long as the blade is no longer than 3.5". But it's entirely possible that his school might have rules of their own. And it's certainly his responsibility to check on that with a reliable source (as in, school administrators).
 
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orezona said:
You're either going to get grounded by your parents or expelled from your school.

No weapons on campus generally is pretty strictly enforced. Why roll the dice and jeopardize your education? Bad idea.

In 1991 I got suspended for bringing a knife to my middle school... Things were WAY different back then.

Remember that just because your STATE laws say it's okay, public school districts have different rules and regulations and you are not exempt from those. Good luck and stay out of trouble.
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It states in the school rulebook that I can and I also asked one of the administration staff to be sure.
 
You seem to be doing your homework. If carrying a knife is allowed, go for it. I would choose something for cutting things, not people. Keep the knife discreet. Nobody will notice. Wave it around bragging about having a knife on school grounds just brings you to school administration attention. If they want you gone, they will find a way. So, be discreet and conservative in your knife carry and use.
 
Of course you can't go wrong with a Spyderco Dragonfly, but perhaps a Spyderco Lava in blue G10?
 
I would go with the Spyderco Squeak, small open with one hand, remains me of my Co-pilot had years ago. The handle alittle thick which I find it easy to grip & doesn't lock but has the finger choil were it won't close on your fingers, nice small slipit made in Italy. The UPK lightweight is another made in Italy but I find it more stiffer to open. Both are excellent from Spyderco. Gary
 
killgar said:
I don't know when section 626.10 was written, I'd have to ask my attorney, but it's been this way for as long as I can remember. Here is a link to that statute direct from the official California legislative website-
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=626.10.&lawCode=PEN

The statute is pretty clear about what is illegal. And what is not illegal, is legal.

As I said in the post you quoted, schools can make their own rules that are more restrictive than state law (like "zero tolerance" policies). A student who violates such a policy can be expelled. But as a parent, I have no fear of expulsion.

Well, my attorney is very knowledgeable about such things. And he has assured me that a person can only be arrested for violating A LAW. A person cannot be arrested for violating a school policy.

My attorney has also assured me that as long as the knife I carry onto school property is not illegal under California state law (we have no city or county knife laws in San Diego), then I cannot be arrested and charged with any crime for carrying such a knife.

Furthermore, I have used my knife countless times at school functions. Both for personal reasons and to help set up for events. And no one, staff member or parent, has ever said a word to me about it, except to ask me to cut something for them, and thank me for cutting something for them. And that includes one of the other fathers who happens to be a police officer.

So no, being arrested for carrying a legal knife onto school grounds is not a concern that I have. But unlike the OP, I'm not a high school student in Colorado. I don't know what that's like, and I haven't had my attorney research that subject as I am not likely to find myself in that situation.

The OP is correct about it being legal under Colorado state law to carry a knife onto school property as long as the blade is no longer than 3.5". But it's entirely possible that his school might have rules of their own. And it's certainly his responsibility to check on that with a reliable source (as in, school administrators).
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Interesting read. I have not taken the time to read California law on knives for a while and what I just read is not what I remember. I did notice that there were recent revisions in 2013 and the law was effective last year.

I find it of interest that according to Cal. PC 626.10.a., LEOs can do what ever they want but a normal law abiding guy that is not a cop can end up in a county jail for up to one year just for having a pocket knife on any California K-12 campus IF the knife has a locking blade. Or a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches. So, unless I misread stuff, you and I are breaking state law any time we step onto a K-12 campus with almost every knife we will ever own. Because PC 626 is state law and not just some school policy, I don't see why you or I could not be arrested for just having a knife on a school campus.

Like you, I have carried a knife on school grounds in the past but, considering how PC everything is becoming now days, it might not be the best idea. I hate having my hands tied just because of PC paranoia. I also hate the fact that laws are written so that cops are exempt but every other law abiding citizen is not. Why do lawmakers feel that cops are better than everyone else?

Sorry, I kinda got off track there at the end. My recommendation to the OP stands. Leave the knife at home if possible. If not get a Vic cadet.
 
sabre cat said:
Interesting read. I have not taken the time to read California law on knives for a while and what I just read is not what I remember. I did notice that there were recent revisions in 2013 and the law was effective last year.

I find it of interest that according to Cal. PC 626.10.a., LEOs can do what ever they want but a normal law abiding guy that is not a cop can end up in a county jail for up to one year just for having a pocket knife on any California K-12 campus IF the knife has a locking blade. Or a blade longer than 2 1/2 inches. So, unless I misread stuff, you and I are breaking state law any time we step onto a K-12 campus with almost every knife we will ever own. Because PC 626 is state law and not just some school policy, I don't see why you or I could not be arrested for just having a knife on a school campus.

Like you, I have carried a knife on school grounds in the past but, considering how PC everything is becoming now days, it might not be the best idea. I hate having my hands tied just because of PC paranoia. I also hate the fact that laws are written so that cops are exempt but every other law abiding citizen is not. Why do lawmakers feel that cops are better than everyone else?

Sorry, I kinda got off track there at the end. My recommendation to the OP stands. Leave the knife at home if possible. If not get a Vic cadet.
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If I recall correctly, the "revisions" to the California penal code back in 2013 were little more than clerical changes. Specifically, changing the statute numbers. I don't think any laws were actually changed. I know that no knife laws were changed because I've been reading the CA knife laws for several years, and my attorney would have informed me of any changes. Changing the content of laws is a very big deal, but changing statute numbers isn't.

As far as what knives are legal to carry on school property k-12 in California, a slip joint with a blade no longer than 2.5" is perfectly legal, and quite capable of doing a lot of cutting.
 
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I used to carry (as many others did as well) a buck lockback folder in a black leather sheath when I was in junior & senior high school. No one cared back then and most guys always carried a knife in their pocket or on their belt. Man, this PC nanny state BS is killing this country. It's pretty sad that a question like the one from the OP even has to be asked....
 
Leave the knife at home. It's not worth the risk. I should not have been rude about it.
 
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TheGearGuy said:
Are you (OP) completely unaware of the current political climate? Do you not realize that with the violence that has occurred in recent years and months on school campuses (including in Colorado) that you are asking for trouble? I think the fact that you are considering concealing a knife at a High School is either supremely ignorant or highly dubious to say the least. Someone should notify your school about your intentions to bring a concealed weapon on campus. There's no good reason for any student to "NEED" a knife on campus. Scissors will do just fine for anything you need to cut at school, leave the knife at home.
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Are you serious?
 
Sounds like a teacher. :D

My take is simple. If you want to and it's legal, go for it. I didn't carry a knife in high school as I recall, but I did in grade school. Basically, I never used it and it became just more stuff to carry around. It never really came up frankly. As a grown up, I like to carry a knife and have no problem with younger people carrying a reasonable knife. And "reasonable" does not have to be a SAK or slippie even though I carry a SAK all the time. Keep it simple.
 
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