Smallest folder for a PSK?

DaleW

DaleW

Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
2,194
I've been comparing small folders for use in a PSK. An SAK Classic comes to mind, as well as a Leatherman Micra. I have a Timberline Timberlite that is like a little razor-- very thin hollow-ground blade. A Boker Subcom appeals to me too.

Other than the SAK's, what small folders would you recommend for incuding in a PSK?
 
spyderco jester or ladybug, but I would rather have my buck hartsook in my psk, tough, very flat, and sharp as heck. I just have it in a thin cardboard sleeve for a sheath. I also have a bunch of those hobby/craft blades, like surgical scalpels in different shapes, easily mounted on a stick for lots of little chores around camp, and pack very small.
 
Liam Ryan said:
spyderco jester or ladybug, but I would rather have my buck hartsook in my psk, tough, very flat, and sharp as heck. I just have it in a thin cardboard sleeve for a sheath. I also have a bunch of those hobby/craft blades, like surgical scalpels in different shapes, easily mounted on a stick for lots of little chores around camp, and pack very small.
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I forgot about the little Spyderco's--- I have one! I always through that was the perfect knife for a survival neck chain. I do add a couple single edge razor blades and #7 Exacto blades to my kits-- cheap, easy, and light. I just tape them to other goodies in the kit.

I have lusted (in my heart of course) for a Hartsook. Hmmmm..... my birthday is in a couple weeks :D :D :D

What I'm up to is building a PSK that fits in an REI hard sunglass case I picked up at a thrift store. It really is a handy size and has a sliding lock that I will back up with an inner tube rubber band. Of course it looks like a sunglass case

This is my list of contents so far:

Bandaids
Neosporin
Duct tape
Nylon cord
Compass
Micropur tablets
Mini Bic
Firesteel
Tinder
Small knife
Razor blades
Scalpel blades
Sewing kit
Fishing gear
Snare wire
Wenger signal mirror
ACR whistle
LED micro light
Wire saw
 
Ill Second the spydies espacially the Jester its a real workhorse for its size.
Hell a delica, Cricket or Dragonfly, in FRN handle would do well you could even make them a mite more compact by taking away the pocket clip.

The Sac classic Is okay but the main blade seems a bit thin for a woods knife.

Some of the single blade SAKs are longer but really thin they would fit nicley in a PSK.
 
Take a look at the new Gerber 2.0 STL. I am not usually a fan of Gerber but this knife is a strong sturdy little knife.
It is one hand opening and closing; with a frame lock.
It has a flatter profile than a Spyderco.
 
SAK Rucksack or Fireman and some swear by the Farmer, although I've never seen one. These models usually have a saw/some basic tools/ a larger locking blade. Put one of these and a Swedish Firesteel on some para cord. Slip the rig over your neck and down under your shirt. Fall out of a boat or just lose your gear somehow, you still have the basics with you
 
b2.jpg

Spyderco Ladybug with Arc AAA.
 
EmsRescueGuy said:
Ill Second the spydies espacially the Jester its a real workhorse for its size.
Hell a delica, Cricket or Dragonfly, in FRN handle would do well you could even make them a mite more compact by taking away the pocket clip.

The Sac classic Is okay but the main blade seems a bit thin for a woods knife.

Some of the single blade SAKs are longer but really thin they would fit nicley in a PSK.
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You hit on my real questions--- what is too small, what is compact but still effective. I think a Classic is a geat little repair and grooming tool, but I wouldn't want it to be my only knife. It does pair well with fixed blades.

A Boker Trance is an interesting intermediate knife too.
 
I was able to fit a Vic. Farmer in my Altoids tin based PSK.

I also taped a couple of box knife blades to the bottom (inside).

Bruceter
 
DaleW said:
but I wouldn't want it to be my only knife.
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Why would you want a tiny knife as your only knife and pair it with a survival kit?
When most people talk about a PSK knife they are considering it as a backup to the knife in their pocket or on their belt.

If I was building a pocket sized PSK with it having my only knife I would choose a BM Mini Grip w/o any serrations and I would remove the clip.
This is a small knife that is reasonably useful in a survival situation and is still pretty small.

One could survive with only a SAK Classic or a Spyderco Ladybug but why would you choose to have only one tiny knife in a survival situation?
 
billym said:
...One could survive with only a SAK Classic or a Spyderco Ladybug but why would you choose to have only one tiny knife in a survival situation?
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I wouldn't. The idea was to have a very compact PSK with some sort of blade in it. I assumed that I would also be carrying a larger knife-- a mora, SAK Trekker, Cold Steel Bushman, SAS golok, folding saw, etc, etc.

As it is, you answered my question well-- I think a mini Grip would be a good choice too. Keep in mind that I also mentioned a Boker Trance, which is very close in size to the mini Grip. I was also interested to see what people had in mind for a minimal knife-- knowing full well that there are widely varying opinions on that subject in these fourms :rolleyes:
 
If your psk is a belt pouch size, I would go with a sak, great little knives, easy to keep up. Plus if you ever did loose your other knife and only had one, whynot have a sak with a saw, knife and other usful tools?
 
Here is what I carry in mine it is a swiss army huntsman with the other goodies.
101_0054.jpg

Here is a pic on how I carry it and where I carry it.
101_0067.jpg


Take care,
Bryan
 
It's not really small, but it is very thin - SAK Alox Cadet - just shy of 3/8" thick. Has a can opener/screwdrive, bottle opener/bigger screwdriver and nailfile - nailfile can be ground down on one side to make a good firesteel scraper. It is an 84mm while the Solider and Farmers are 91mm, but it is a lot thinner. The mainblade is a lot closer to the Farmer/Soldier in size than the Classic size. Maybe worth considering if the extra tools are of interest and the 84mm size fits your kit.
 
Spydeco Jester vs Gerber 2.0 STL

Both are great little knives. So last night I decided to see which one would create a bigger spark on a BSA Hot Spark using he back of the blade with the knife closed.

The Gerber wouold not spark until I scratched off some of the black blade coating along the spine. After exposing the steel the knife made an acceptable spark but nothing impressive.

The Sypdie kicked A**! The area at the tip that has the ridges for enhancing the grip threw sparks like the 4th of July.

Therefore as a PSK knife I would choose the Jester over the 2.0 STL.
 
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