smaller pocket knife recommendation

I have a couple Spyderco Native 5's and I often go with this one here.It's blade is just under 3 inches and closed it is 4 inches but has 110v steel. It's not so small as to be a whimp and not to big to be a show-off. It's about $130.
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If edge retention is the primary requirement, and sharpening is no problem, it sounds like you'd be interested in Rex121. Perhaps watch Spyderco sprint runs? They do Rex 45 already, so perhaps a 121 run is on the horizon.

ToddM said:
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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ToddM said:
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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I agree. I tend to look at the relationship of price to steel quality in almost every knife I own. The exception being Emerson since they are so easy to make custom scales for and custom pieces are easily found on the net, clips, screws, thumb discs, etc.
Other than that, I just can't justify a knife costing $150-$200 with VG-10 or 154CM, etc. when there are much better steels out there at that price.
My go to hunting knife is a Lionsteel M4. Beautiful Olive wood, M390 steel, well executed, rounded spine, softened in all the right areas, excellent leather sheath, and brand new around the $150.00 mark. Hard to beat.
 
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Hale Storm said:
I agree. I tend to look at the relationship of price to steel quality in almost every knife I own. The exception being Emerson since they are so easy to make custom scales for and custom pieces are easily found on the net, clips, screws, thumb discs, etc.
Other than that, I just can't justify a knife costing $150-$200 with VG-10 or 154CM, etc. when there are much better steels out there at that price.
My go to hunting knife is a Lionsteel M4. Beautiful Olive wood, M390 steel, well executed, rounded spine, softened in all the right areas, excellent leather sheath, and brand new around the $150.00 mark. Hard to beat.
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Add on comment here.
I love the Chris Reeve Mnandi and have wanted one for many years for my edc as an office knife. My Benchmade 485 Valet is VERY similar, beautifully executed G10, Bohler M390 steel, and HALF the price of a CRK Mnandi.
 
Bladehq is a good place to look , l got into the Hogue line of knives , my want to give them a look . Hope I Helped in some way .

Chris
 
A Buck 501 through their custom shop has available s30v blade at 2 3/4 inch, with several handle material to choose from around $111. It’s a sleek, classy looking knife with a traditional flare but still tough hard working with a lock back. Fits nicely in my watch pocket. I highly recommend it. Also SK blades has a 501 with cpm 154 blade, burlap micarta handle that is a superb knife and they are on sale.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Spyderco Native 5 or Manly Wasp.
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Whoa, that Manly is a genius recommendation! I was completely unaware you could even get your hands on S90V for under 100. A slippy isn't for everyone, but very nice indeed.
 
ToddM said:
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
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Just a curious question; how much money have you given to “Reeve” for his knives?

Do you prefer steel specs over fit, finish, performance and a lifetime of support? I’ve played with knives for a lot of years and honestly can’t tell the difference between S35VN that’s properly HT’d and adamantium. I can, however, tell a well made knife from a poorly made knife. There are incredible customs and mid-techs made in S30V, RWL-34 and D2. By your standards, you’d be missing them.

If you have 2 Bens to spend and your first qualifier is molecular steel chemistry, I’m afraid you may be setting up for disappointment. I’m not trying to be contrarian; only trying to point out a flaw in your selection process.

Good luck.
 
For small blades I started to consider slipjoints and the TRM Atlas is really worth some attention even if it doesn’t fit you “locking blade” criteria

at the moment I have a Dragonfly in my list , the one with ZDP which looks cool
 
There are some good choices here, and some total BS mixed in for flavor.
Read, research, then choose wisely...
Russ
 
I just realized some of the""BS"" came from OP.
Dude, you have been on here a long time, I guess this is just another fluffy "which one?" thread.
At least you arent asking us to validate a purchase you already bought...
With your guided sharpening device you can handle any steel, but your take on S35vn and s30v as being passe has never flown with me.
We are talking about a "smaller" knife... pretty rare occasion my "small" folder has any edge retention issues, and I sure dont spend my day in an office.
I have a walter wells lightweight cf scaled knife that will out cut and slice many if not all knives listed, all day usage for a small pocket knife.
I must confess though it has a wild and crazy steel blade, ever hear of A2? Not babied, not rusty, and it cuts stuff.
If I come off as an Corn hole, I am a tiny bit sorry, but this crap about a certain steel being too "common" for a particular knife is not right.
I am not a huge CRK guy, but I have a full size and a small sebenza and they see pocket time.
Done rant, carry on.....

Russ
 
The IQ quiet carry is pretty awesome. The more I see the more I think I may just have to try a slip joint.

Actually the post was originally made simply because i have been out of the knife game awhile and though people might have some good more recent recommendations, especially with all the new manufacturers that have come on the scene lately. Call it what you want, but I stand by my statement. I have no issue at all with S30/S35 steel, but if I'm going to buy a knife costing over $200, I want better edge performance than I can get in a $80 knife. A knife isn't about social status for me, it's about cutting performance, and if I'm going to dump $450, it needs to cut better than an $80 option, period. It's no different than cars, if I spend $150,000 on a Corvette, it better be faster and handle better than a $40,000 Camero. If it only looks faster, and the doors fit nicer, and the seats are stitched better but it's performance is the same or worse, it's a waste of $ as far as I'm concerned. Some people care about how plush the ride is or how much it shows off their bank account and for those people they don't care how fast the car goes. I fall into the performance camp, if I drop 2x the money on a knife, it's cutting performance needs perform better, if that's a "flaw in my selection process" then I'm ecstatic it's there.

Sure I will happily spend some extra money on a knife due to fit/finish etc. and Reeve's is exceptional, but I also want cutting performance for that extra $. When I can go twice as long between sharpenings with my S90V Para 2 compared to my Reeve 25 or Umnumzaan I don't consider that a good use of $450. I can sum up my Reeve feelings this simple, everytime I open the lockup and smoothness put a smile on my face, everytime they lose their edge faster than a host of sub $200 knives I own, that smile quickly turns to a frown. Luckily for most of these "mid-tech" makers most people don't mind paying $500 for the same blade steel you can get in a $100 knife.

Again I'm not picking on Reeve, I'd say the same of ANY knife at that price point or higher with S30/S35 blade steel. Reeve offers replacement blades for $150, if they offered something like M390/204P/20CV/Elmax as an upgrade for $250 I'd be first in line for a couple. I'm not battoning my pocket knife into a car door and I have no problem sharpening harder steels so I'd rather maximise edge holding.
 
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ToddM said:
The IQ quiet carry is pretty awesome. The more I see the more I think I may just have to try a slip joint.

Actually the post was originally made simply because i have been out of the knife game awhile and though people might have some good more recent recommendations, especially with all the new manufacturers that have come on the scene lately. Call it what you want, but I stand by my statement. I have no issue at all with S30/S35 steel, but if I'm going to buy a knife costing over $200, I want better edge performance than I can get in a $80 knife. A knife isn't about social status for me, it's about cutting performance, and if I'm going to dump $450, it needs to cut better than an $80 option, period. It's no different than cars, if I spend $150,000 on a Corvette, it better be faster and handle better than a $40,000 Camero. If it only looks faster, and the doors fit nicer, and the seats are stitched better but it's performance is the same or worse, it's a waste of $ as far as I'm concerned. Some people care about how plush the ride is or how much it shows off their bank account and for those people they don't care how fast the car goes. I fall into the performance camp, if I drop 2x the money on a knife, it's cutting performance needs perform better, if that's a "flaw in my selection process" then I'm ecstatic it's there.

Sure I will happily spend some extra money on a knife due to fit/finish etc. and Reeve's is exceptional, but I also want cutting performance for that extra $. When I can go twice as long between sharpenings with my S90V Para 2 compared to my Reeve 25 or Umnumzaan I don't consider that a good use of $450. I can sum up my Reeve feelings this simple, everytime I open the lockup and smoothness put a smile on my face, everytime they lose their edge faster than a host of sub $200 knives I own, that smile quickly turns to a frown. Luckily for most of these "mid-tech" makers most people don't mind paying $500 for the same blade steel you can get in a $100 knife.

Again I'm not picking on Reeve, I'd say the same of ANY knife at that price point or higher with S30/S35 blade steel. Reeve offers replacement blades for $150, if they offered something like M390/204P/20CV/Elmax as an upgrade for $250 I'd be first in line for a couple. I'm not battoning my pocket knife into a car door and I have no problem sharpening harder steels so I'd rather maximise edge holding.
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Are there a lot of S30 folding knives for $80.00? I’ve not been active recently but don’t remember this being the case. Also, with a CRK you well know that you paying for a lot more than the blade steel. There is something special about holding and using a knife that’s well designed and built.
 
I'm sure you know that geometry is as important as heat treat when it comes to the intended use. Perhaps your intended purpose of the knife would help if none of the suggestions thus far have solved the issue? Spyderco offers a vast array of steels aimed at edge retention given that's their forte: slicing. That includes 90v, 110v, maxamet, M4, and Elmax (my personal favorite); and several folks recommended them. No good?
 
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