Recommendation? "Soft Use" Folding Knives for Slicing

[bemymonkey]

Hey guys, lately I've been lusting after a certain type of knife - super-thin blade stock with unparalleled cutting performance. Not necessarily super strong do-everything blades that you can use pry open paint cans or baton through bricks, but ones that are optimized for cutting material that's traditionally cut with a knife - food, wood and other generally somewhat soft and malleable material.

This means a thin blade stock and a grind that slices well - very acute edge angle, no sharp shoulders to get caught on the thing you're cutting through. Should be able to take perfect slices off a nice crisp apple without a single crack. That pretty much means a blade thickness in the realm of ~2mm thick, maybe just barely 2.5mm. Anything above that will wedge apart the medium being cut...

Examples of folders that fit the bill:

Opinel folders - with their 2mm and thinner blade stocks, the slight flex of the blade (especially on the larger models) lets you know early how much lateral force you can apply to the blade without causing damage. The shallow convex grinds are epic slicers and they go through things like tough cardboard like butter. If I'm slicing up the box a new appliance came in and my 3-4mm thick EDC gets stuck, an Opinel always gets the job done.

The Benchmade Bugout: With some of the thinnest blade stock I've seen in a modern production folder and the tall, relatively thin grind (I'll admit I thinned it out even further until I was happy with it), it seems to be made to be a modern slicer. The slightly flexible scales let you know when you're reaching the limits of what the knife can comfortably take in terms of force, which I see as useful feedback to the user.



And that's pretty much where my list ends and where I need some input - what other knives (preferably modern axis/liner/frame locks, but I'm assuming there are a few options in the traditionals camp as well) do you guys like that lean towards "slicing optimized" non-hard-use instead of tactical sharpened prybar? Blade stock no thicker than 2.5mm, preferably 2mm or under...

 

[marchone]

Here are a few nice ones in the $200 range. All about 85-90mm/3.5-inch blade length.

Boker Plus Ekskelibur I Framelock Titan - 2,5mm blade stock. Front flipper.

Perceval Le Francais Linerlock - 2,5mm blade stock. Nail nick opener.

North Arms Skaha II Linerlock - 2,5mm blade stock. Top flipper.

TRM Atom Linerlock - 2,2mm blade stock. Thumb stud opener.

 

[jmgruber]

Spyderco Chaparral

 

[Eli Chaps]

Case Mini Copperlock and Mini Trapper.

You'll likely need to do some of your own work on most factory knives to get the edge geometry where you want it but the knives I mentioned have thin blade geometry that is very nice.

 

[bemymonkey]

Here are a few nice ones in the $200 range. All about 85-90mm/3.5-inch blade length.

Boker Plus Ekskelibur I Framelock Titan - 2,5mm blade stock. Front flipper.

Perceval Le Francais Linerlock - 2,5mm blade stock. Nail nick opener.

North Arms Skaha II Linerlock - 2,5mm blade stock. Top flipper.

TRM Atom Linerlock - 2,2mm blade stock. Thumb stud opener.

Oh wow, both the Boker really looks like it should be on my wish list. I need a front flipper to round out the collection anyway. The Perceval also looks AMAZING - if only it had a clip. Hell, maybe I"ll make a pouch...

Spyderco Chaparral

Bit short and stubby for my taste but fits the criteria quite well. I expect the tall flat Spyderco grind would slice quite well with that 2mm thick blade!

Case Mini Copperlock and Mini Trapper.

I like 'em. Thanks!

You'll likely need to do some of your own work on most factory knives to get the edge geometry where you want it but the knives I mentioned have thin blade geometry that is very nice.

That's usually the case, but ~2mm blade stock is always a step in the right direction.

 

[bikerector]

spyderco UKPK

I have a pair of queen trappers that are really thin and they even got the edge right on them, but not the springs fit and finish.

GEC possum skinner (#82) was nearly fillet knife thin. Probably should've kept that one as a lightweight camp and hiking knife, but the opportunity to surprise someone with it as a gift got the better of me. I should just get another.

I think the bugout would be a lot more enjoyable for me and my tastes if it were more aimed as a hunting knife than an EDC or hiking knife; basically if the handle was bigger and more ergonomic. Maybe custom scales on a bugout would get that preference fixed, but I don't need another folder at the moment.

I really like thin blades and have been working them into my fixed blade designs.

 

[Eli Chaps]

B bemymonkey coming from a modern knife world (largely Spydercos) back into the traditional world, I now carry a Mini Copperlock pretty much everyday. It suits my current needs very well.

Usually it's the blue one with corn cob jigging:

Here's a comparison shot with a SPyderco Manix 2, Case Tribal Lock, and Spyderco Dragonfly 2:

Thickest part of the Mini Copperlock blade is a touch under 2mm. The bottom two knives in this shot are the Mini Copperlock and my Mini Trapper with clip and Wharncliffe blades:

That long skinny clip on the Mini Trapper is pretty danged slicey.

Have fun on your hunt and let us know what you decide!

 

[Velitrius]

This gets me thinking you need an Italian job...

The Viper Key is available in a variety of handle materials. Micarta, carbon fiber, titanium, G-10 IIRC.

The Maserin EDC might get you where you want to go.

The CRKT Crossbones might be worth a look. Real expensive, but it's a real limited edition made in Italy.

Not made in Italy, but the Spyderco Ikuchi probably nails your specs.

 

[Fire Beard]

The Real Steel G Slip is among the sliciest I’ve ever handled. .09” blade stock. Also: the Manly Wasp will blow your mind. These are both slippies.

ETA: Manly’s USA store is having a closeout sale (they’re a Bulgarian company) and are apparently stopping US sales through their site. Great prices and quality.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Hey guys, lately I've been lusting after a certain type of knife - super-thin blade stock with unparalleled cutting performance. Not necessarily super strong do-everything blades that you can use pry open paint cans or baton through bricks, but ones that are optimized for cutting material that's traditionally cut with a knife - food, wood and other generally somewhat soft and malleable material.

This means a thin blade stock and a grind that slices well - very acute edge angle, no sharp shoulders to get caught on the thing you're cutting through. Should be able to take perfect slices off a nice crisp apple without a single crack. That pretty much means a blade thickness in the realm of ~2mm thick, maybe just barely 2.5mm. Anything above that will wedge apart the medium being cut...

Examples of folders that fit the bill:

Opinel folders - with their 2mm and thinner blade stocks, the slight flex of the blade (especially on the larger models) lets you know early how much lateral force you can apply to the blade without causing damage. The shallow convex grinds are epic slicers and they go through things like tough cardboard like butter. If I'm slicing up the box a new appliance came in and my 3-4mm thick EDC gets stuck, an Opinel always gets the job done.

The Benchmade Bugout: With some of the thinnest blade stock I've seen in a modern production folder and the tall, relatively thin grind (I'll admit I thinned it out even further until I was happy with it), it seems to be made to be a modern slicer. The slightly flexible scales let you know when you're reaching the limits of what the knife can comfortably take in terms of force, which I see as useful feedback to the user.



And that's pretty much where my list ends and where I need some input - what other knives (preferably modern axis/liner/frame locks, but I'm assuming there are a few options in the traditionals camp as well) do you guys like that lean towards "slicing optimized" non-hard-use instead of tactical sharpened prybar? Blade stock no thicker than 2.5mm, preferably 2mm or under...

That's the Sandrin TCK 2.0, a slipjoint with a tungsten carbide blade less than 1mm thick. I don't own one, but that certainly has to take the crown for thin and slicey. Don't drop it!

 

[A.L.]

Otter mercator for classic touch. You might want to regrind depending on how screaming sharp you want it to be but it’s thin nevertheless and comes with various handle materials and even pocket clips.

 

[Danke42]

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/spydiechef-thread.1415996/

 

[jux t]

The cold steel broken skull is such a great slicer with great attributes, despite its name.

 

[James Y]

Swiss Army knives.

Spyderco Delica FFG.

Spyderco Caribbean leaf blade.

Jim

 

[Murdamook]

TRM makes incredibly slicey knives.

 

[Sergeua]

Manly knives are ground pretty thin.
.4 mm bte on this one

 

[bemymonkey]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I'm taking a look at all of them

I'm already so close to getting myself an Exskelibur I - the only thing holding me back is that proprietary pivot

spyderco UKPK

Not too thick, true, but I hated the grind so it's long gone. Maybe if I'd known to convex the shoulders off V grinds back then I might have kept it.

I have a pair of queen trappers that are really thin and they even got the edge right on them, but not the springs fit and finish.

GEC possum skinner (#82) was nearly fillet knife thin. Probably should've kept that one as a lightweight camp and hiking knife, but the opportunity to surprise someone with it as a gift got the better of me. I should just get another.

That sounds pretty good. Feeding my Googly-Foo nicely thanks!

I think the bugout would be a lot more enjoyable for me and my tastes if it were more aimed as a hunting knife than an EDC or hiking knife; basically if the handle was bigger and more ergonomic. Maybe custom scales on a bugout would get that preference fixed, but I don't need another folder at the moment.

Yeah the Bugout definitely screams EDC with its slim carry and the slight flimsiness. I like it nonetheless

I really like thin blades and have been working them into my fixed blade designs.

That sounds interesting. I'm thinking I might like a 4" fixed blade with 2mm stock... with an Opinel style full-height convex to zero grind... Pictures? More info?

B bemymonkey coming from a modern knife world (largely Spydercos) back into the traditional world, I now carry a Mini Copperlock pretty much everyday. It suits my current needs very well.
...

Thickest part of the Mini Copperlock blade is a touch under 2mm. The bottom two knives in this shot are the Mini Copperlock and my Mini Trapper with clip and Wharncliffe blades:

That long skinny clip on the Mini Trapper is pretty danged slicey.

Have fun on your hunt and let us know what you decide!

Those look pretty damned sexy. Thanks so much, especially for the top-down comparison pick showing stock thicknesses. The Mini Copperlock especially looks like it'd get incredibly slicey with my preferred type of grind

...

The Maserin EDC might get you where you want to go.

...

Not made in Italy, but the Spyderco Ikuchi probably nails your specs.

Those two look pretty promising in terms of specs and looking like they'd take a real nice slicey edge. Thanks!

The Real Steel G Slip is among the sliciest I’ve ever handled. .09” blade stock. Also: the Manly Wasp will blow your mind. These are both slippies.

Wow, that G Slip really does look pretty insanely slicey. Will definitely be adding that one to the list. The Wasp has been on my radar for a while, but I didn't know it was so thin.

ETA: Manly’s USA store is having a closeout sale (they’re a Bulgarian company) and are apparently stopping US sales through their site. Great prices and quality.

Thank God I live in Germany . I usually buy Manly (I own a Peak two-hand and a Patriot) products through their German distributors though

That's the Sandrin TCK 2.0, a slipjoint with a tungsten carbide blade less than 1mm thick. I don't own one, but that certainly has to take the crown for thin and slicey. Don't drop it!

Oof... watching the Cedric & Ada video right now. It looks really interesting but I can't fathom having a completely straight edge on a pocket knife - I need mah BELLY!

Otter mercator for classic touch. You might want to regrind depending on how screaming sharp you want it to be but it’s thin nevertheless and comes with various handle materials and even pocket clips.

Interesting, something local. I'll take a look, thanks!

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/spydiechef-thread.1415996/

While I like the chef and it does have a nice tall grind, I'm looking for something even thinner.

The cold steel broken skull is such a great slicer with great attributes, despite its name.

Yeah I can't deal with that name... and designed by Steve Austin... wohaaaa.

Spyderco Delica FFG.

The Delica might fit the bill, reminds me a lot of the UKPK though. Listed as the same stock thickness too... Is the grind on the Delica really better, i.e. thinner behind the edge?

Carribean is too thick, and I already have a few Victorinox SAKs - wouldn't exactly characterize any of them as particularly slicey for their size.

TRM makes incredibly slicey knives.

Yeh the Atom does look pretty decent

Manly knives are ground pretty thin.
.4 mm bte on this one

I actually already own the two-handed version of the Peak which is, unfortunately, saber-ground instead of the full-height flat grind on your version. Maybe I need to give the one-hander a shot...

 

[bikerector]

B bemymonkey I left a message on your profile requesting contact info to discuss a current design I am working on that may suit what you're looking foe. The prototype for testing is being made next month with a planned launch before summer to ensure ample time for a passaround with some bladeforums members (signup to come soon on the jk knives sub-forum).

 

[onekerf]

I think a Daado (Dalibor) folding rendition of one of his thin fixed blades would be interesting. That is, if he would make one.

 

[115Italian]

My best apple slicer is my Spyderco endura. A close second is my esee Avispa.