smaller pocket knife recommendation

T

ToddM

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Oct 2, 1998
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Been looking for a smaller non-tactical pocket knife, something under 3", at least S30V steel and with a lock and clip, G10 or textured CF, no assisted opening/autos. Just haven't found anything that's seemed to fit the bill. Price no more than $200 unless it has premium blade steel (For example Reeve won't get anymore of my $ until they use something better than S35 or they drop the price to that of knives with mid-level steel). Just looking for some suggestions of models I might have missed.

Some of the ones I've looked at for style/size that I liked, but may not meet parameters above:

Cold Steel Lucky
Lionsteel Barlow
Benchmade Proper/318
Spyderco mini Dyad
ZT 0022 (admittedly a little tactical)
Spyderco Baby Horn
Spyderco Brouwer
Spyderco Chaparral
 
Small Buck vantage pro. I would not consider it tactical, but very well built and a great size.
 
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The Lionsteel’s are pretty good, especially for the price and materials. I’d take a chance on one if I were you.
 
A couple on your list are some of my favorite little guys. The ZT 0022 and Spyder Chaparral. Also add to that, the Massdrop Falcon and Gent.

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And while not "tactical" in any way, there are a number of Isham Bladeworks that I like. Maybe leaning towards pocket art. I think some of them fall inside your price range, though most won't. I believe the Abstruse is under $200.

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Spyderco Sage series? Different ones are available from dealers or check the Exchange.

Agree with McFeeli that LionSteel Barlows are excellent (while not meeting your parameters) great for anyone wanting a Barlow knife.
 
Buck Pro is a nice, so is the Valet. I may just have to break down and try a slip joint.
 
MCusta makes some very nice pieces, easily under 200. I have two, and they fly open, as well as arrive with excellent fit and finish. Unfortunately, no CPM there, just lowly VG10...;)

The lockback Kanetsune is also nice, but could break that 200 barrier.

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Digging the Isham/Bestech model. Can be had for 200 in Ti. Damn it, I don't need another folder.... ;)

bflying said:
A couple on your list are some of my favorite little guys. The ZT 0022 and Spyder Chaparral. Also add to that, the Massdrop Falcon and Gent.

And while not "tactical" in any way, there are a number of Isham Bladeworks that I like. Maybe leaning towards pocket art. I think some of them fall inside your price range, though most won't. I believe the Abstruse is under $200.

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ToddM said:
.... Price no more than $200 unless it has premium blade steel (For example Reeve won't get anymore of my $ until they use something better than S35 or they drop the price to that of knives with mid-level steel). Just looking for some suggestions of models I might have missed.
...
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I'm curious how or why you think s35vn is a mid-level steel?? I've always found it really excellent, it's tougher and more chip resistant than m390 class steels, yet holds an edge better than d2 (and most other steels)

I know some companies tend to run s35vn rather soft, which is too bad... it's excellent at 60 hrc imho

anyway, check out the - kershaw dividend in m390 and it's under $100 (sorry I know it's assisted, but fairly simple to de-assist it and it's still great)
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dirc said:
I'm curious how or why you think s35vn is a mid-level steel?? I've always found it really excellent, it's tougher and more chip resistant than m390 class steels, yet holds an edge better than d2 (and most other steels)
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It's not that I don't like S35VN, it's a good steel. I also like Reeve knives, their fit/finish is amazing. However at the end of the day a knife is for cutting things, and for my use 20CV/M390/S90V/110V etc. are not that much harder to sharpen (I'm not in the bush trying to sharpen with a rock) and for the things I cut hold their edge longer without damage compared to S35VN. It's not the year 2000 anymore and S30/35 is just mid-level steel available on hundreds of knives costing under $150. Which is why none of my Reeve knives find their way into my pocket anymore, not when for under $200 I can put a knife with S90V in my pocket whose edge lasts much longer and only takes a couple minutes more to sharpen.

The biggest benefit of S30/35 steel is it's easy to grind, which means it's cheap for manufacturers to use compared to tougher steels. That offers some great steel at a lower price point and I'll happily own a knife in S35VN, but not on a $450 knife, go on knife-center and there's hundreds of knives with S35VN steel under $150, many more if you go to S30, which S35 is only very marginally better than.

It may sound like I'm picking on Reeve, and I'm not, there are lots of these semi-custom/fancy production knives that cost $300+ but are still using steel you can get on a $100 knife. If i'm going to spend $450 for a knife I want steel that holds and edge longer than what comes on a $100 knife. I'm function over form so at the end of the day a knife sure I want good build quality, a comfy handle etc. but mostly a knife is made to cut, and a $450 knife's steel should perform better than a $100 knife.
 
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