Small Traditional Penknife

T

Toddwalla

Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
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I haven't been posting much recently, but I still check in regularly and I have a question that only the porch can answer. A couple of weeks ago I packed up all of my belongings and made a 3,000 mile move from Portland, OR to Charlotte, NC to start a new adventure. I feel that the only way to truly start out this new adventure is with a new knife (obviously). I am taking a break from teaching and will be working in an office for the first time in years, so I though that this would be a good opportunity to pick up a nice slim penknife to break in this new chapter of my life.

Here is what I am looking for:

-A single spring 2 blade penknife (or similar pattern)
-3" in length or there about
-Natural materials like wood or bone
-And because it is much hotter/humid than I'm used to here, stainless (though I'm flexible here)
-Readily available for around $75 or less (I did just move cross country...)

I have a solid stable of peanuts and other small knives, but I don't have a traditional penknife and seems like a pattern that I need and will disappear in my dress pants. So, what recommendations do you have for me? And of course the more pics the better. Thanks!
 
If D2 works for you, check out the #03 pattern by Queen.

The knife described below is under $75. Pm or email me and I'll send you to the BF dealers that have them available.

QUEEN CUTLERY - SMALL SLEEVEBOARD

Fresh for 2015, the Queen Cutlery #03 Small Sleeveboard is meticulously finished featuring Feathered Buffalo Horn handle scales with two tough D2 Tool Steel blade. The walk & talk on this profile is superb, especially for those who seek out a strong pull. With an easily pocketable size and thin profile, this knife is a great everyday carry item.

Specifications:

Overall Lenght: 6 3/4"Closed Length: 3 3/8"Main Blade Length: 2 1/8"Weight: 2.2ozSteel: D2 Tool Steel
 
I believe that GEC made the #33 Conductor in 440C in Elk if you are fortunate enough to track one down. It's a great gent knife at 3-3/8".
 
How about a Case Eisenhower?
 
Definitely interested to hear more suggestions here. I like my Northwoods Norfolk so I'd also like to pick up another smaller gents knife for my suit and tie rotation...which is everyday at work...

I like that Queen small sleeveboard
 
Northwoods Mini Moose. Comes in rosewood and ATS-34 and were convex ground by bark river.

They are still floating out there on the secondary market.
 
Take a look at the Queen #46 half-whittler pattern. I adore mine, though at 3 1/8" it's smaller than I prefer, so I set it aside for my daughter. D2 steel, wharncliffe main with a pen secondary, and available in different handle materials. I like the pearl myself.

- Christian
 
GEC Esquire is my go to office knife, although they are typically 1095 Carbon Steel.
 
Well, you could always do Case's penknife, but the GEC calf roper slim #66 or the white owl # 68 take up very slim space in the pocket.
 
Case's mini-copperhead is a nice little knife, comes in stainless, and with either a Wharncliffe or clip master blade, in a variety of handle covers.
 
If I were you, knowing what you have already, I'd go for a SAK Cadet or Soldier, or something like that. Nice and slim with a coloured alox handle and wont break the bank neither. That does it, I'm gonna get one myself!
 
A Buck 309 Companion would come close to what you're looking for. I carried one in slacks in an office environment for years. Very reasonably priced and made in USA. Tough little guy as well.
 
Toddwalla, First - welcome to NC! I live in work in eastern NC ("downeast") for a company headquartered in Charlotte - I get there a few times per year (in fact I'm going to see the Knights play next Thursday night). For your knife, take a look at the Case 62109X and variations (aka the Mini-Copperhead). I see them with a Warnecliffe main blade as well. This one pictured is my Sunday knife. OH

Case_62109X_SS_Mini_Copperhead_1998_opt.jpg
 
Old Hunter said:
Toddwalla, First - welcome to NC! I live in work in eastern NC ("downeast") for a company headquartered in Charlotte - I get there a few times per year (in fact I'm going to see the Knights play next Thursday night). For your knife, take a look at the Case 62109X and variations (aka the Mini-Copperhead). I see them with a Warnecliffe main blade as well. This one pictured is my Sunday knife. OH

Case_62109X_SS_Mini_Copperhead_1998_opt.jpg
Click to expand...

As Ernest Truex said in the famous Twilight Zone episode... it's "what you need".
 
GEC's 66 calf roper slim is an excellent choice! Great size and comfy in hand!


e8331bd6d75fa266acd09995b2aae897.jpg
 
So many good suggestions so far! I like that Queen, and I totally forgot about that conductor! Man I wish I could find one of those guys! And the 66 slim(I remember loving that purple color bone they did)...

Old Hunter said:
Toddwalla, First - welcome to NC! I live in work in eastern NC ("downeast") for a company headquartered in Charlotte - I get there a few times per year (in fact I'm going to see the Knights play next Thursday night). For your knife, take a look at the Case 62109X and variations (aka the Mini-Copperhead). I see them with a Warnecliffe main blade as well. This one pictured is my Sunday knife. OH

Case_62109X_SS_Mini_Copperhead_1998_opt.jpg
Click to expand...

OH, Thanks for the welcome! I am actually headed to my first Knights game this weekend. Also, the mini-copperhead was my inspiration for this thread. I almost pulled the trigger on a wharncliffe version, but held off because I was a little concerned about the angle of the pen blade when deployed...what are your thoughts?

Thanks for all the responses so far, I have more options than I had anticipated...have to come up with some metric to aid my decision.
 
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I'll put in a vote for a Case Half-Whittler. It is (as the names suggests) a half whittler, but it has penknife-like dimensions, and isn't too wide.
 
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