Recommendation? "Soft Use" Folding Knives for Slicing

My first thought for a folder was Opinel. Though a Rough Rider RR603 and RR1057 large Stockman and Rough Rider RR597 and RR1056 Trapper are pretty slicey, too.

Fixed blade would have to be a Mora Classic Number 1 or 2.
 
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The Spyderco Chokwe has a really thin blade but it's apparently 3mm thick. However, the upcoming Watu, which is an objectively improved and scaled-down Chokwe, is gonna have a 2.6mm blade.
 
Victorinox SAKs have never been disappointing slicers and they pack other useful tools.
I EDC a small bantam Alox every day as a second blade

the manly wasp was an impressive slicer but I ended keeping the UKPK over it. Good slicer too but one hand opening is a plus for me

from TRM, both the Atlas and the Atom are good slicers

spyderco Delica and Chaparral are good too

less thin but good slicers due to great hollow grinds: sebenza 21, umnumzaan (my tanto cuts very well), Gayle Bradley 2

that is what comes to mind first for me based on what I have experienced

however I am sure that looking more deeply in traditional European folders (like the opinel you mentioned) you may found even thinner options
 
My go to for slicer is a GEC #47 "Hayin Helper" I have two of them..

If you want modern the FFG Endura/Delica are pretty good.
 
Just a thought but you could choose any knife which appeals to you visually and mechanically and then approach someone for a regrind. That way you can get the specified thickness you’re after which is often difficult to find in production knives.
 
The regrind option is something I may try in the future for myself ;)
Would like to thinner a zt0470
 
I've actually purchased a cheap belt sander for this exact purpose, but so far I've only reground a single Ganzo FB7601 with it - went from a saber grind to a full height convex, which worked out pretty well. It's a lot of work even with power tools and takes a long time if you're paranoid about not overheating the steel. If I was actually thinning out the blade stock across the full face of the blade, it would take me even longer. Paying someone to do a regrind is within the realm of possibility - anyone know people who are proficient in regrinds in Germany or nearby (EU)?

Once again, thank you for all your suggestions. I've actually just seen Nick Shabazz's disassembly video of the Exskelibur I, and it turns out that "custom pivot screw" is just a TX8!?! So I went on Knives & Tools and bought one. Let's see if it's any good - if it scratches the slicey-ness itch while also finally giving me the nice slim front-flipper (usable in public without scaring people, but without needing a thumb-stud or spidey-hole), it may be a great all-around addition to the carry rotation, if not quite the Opinel-Killer I was thinking of when I started this thread :D

I'll be looking into traditionals next, starting with a few of the ones suggested here. After that I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for my ultimate modern folding dream slicer... after browsing through all your suggestions (which were all very helpful btw.!) I think I've narrowed down the feature list a little further:

1. 0.08"/2mm or thinner blade stock
2. At least ~3.5"/9cm cutting edge
3. Some type of lock that "activates" automatically when the blade is opened, ideally back-lock, liner lock or frame-lock - slip-joints are acceptable with a decent finger guard (like on the UKPK)
4. Preferably one-hand opening if possible, but no thumb-stud or flipper tab. Spydie-Holes or front flippers are great.
5. Deep carry right-hand tip-up clip
6. Tall blade all the way down to the tip - something like the Bugout's shape is perfect in regards to the tip taper and amount of pointiness
7. And this one may hurt: Doesn't look or feel like a UKPK, Delica or Endura in hand.

If anyone has a tip that ticks ALL the boxes I'd love to hear it, but I expect the knife I'm looking for doesn't quite exist in the stock thickness I'd like. Until then, you've given me a whole bunch of options to try out that may end up growing on me. Hell, I'm already thinking about getting a second Manly Peak one-hand with the full flat grind...



bikerector bikerector Thanks for the offer, i'd love to hear more about your fixed blade designs... I'll drop you an e-mail when I get a chance. For now I'm browsing your main Good Knife Co. thread :)
 
I think Spyderco has many options with their common leaf shaped blade and a full flat grind makes them wonderful slicers..I usually carry my Spyderco Autonomy 2 because it’s easily one of my favorite knives in my collection and it’s a perfect EDC for me..it was one of the very few autos I could find with G-10 scales for $200 or under.(most have aluminum) and it has made me a big fan of the LC200N blade steel,it has much better edge retention than I had originally expected...it’s easily one of the best slicers in my collection
 
To me, it sounds like you're looking for a folding fish fillet knife.
Buck, Kershaw, and CRKT all make one.
Probably other manufacturers as well.
 
Opinel in the 7/8 size range are great slicers. Available in stainless and carbon.

If you get into the larger models the blades are thicker (still great slicers, but be aware that the stock does get thicker).

Opinel 10 slim model sounds about perfect. Inox is what I'd choose. Seems to keep an edge a bit longer for me than my carbon models.
 
Did you end up getting something already? If not I have three suggestions...
1. Get a spyderco Stretch
2. Stretch
And
3. Stretch

I have a multitude of pocket knives from various brands as most of us do. By far, hands down, the slickest of them all!!!

If you have gotten something what did you go with??
 
Thanks for your continued suggestions! I don't think the Stretch is a good fit though - standard 3mm stock and really not my cup of tea aesthetically. I'm sticking to my guns on the list of must-haves I posted above:

1. 0.08"/2mm or thinner blade stock
2. At least ~3.5"/9cm cutting edge
3. Some type of lock that "activates" automatically when the blade is opened, ideally back-lock, liner lock or frame-lock - slip-joints are acceptable with a decent finger guard (like on the UKPK)
4. Preferably one-hand opening if possible, but no thumb-stud or flipper tab. Spydie-Holes or front flippers are great.
5. Deep carry right-hand tip-up clip
6. Tall blade all the way down to the tip - something like the Bugout's shape is perfect in regards to the tip taper and amount of pointiness
7. And this one may hurt: Doesn't look or feel like a UKPK, Delica or Endura in hand.



The Böker Exskelibur I ended up being a dud.

The blade stock was much thicker than suggested in the specs (2.5 to 2.7mm depending on the source - reality is closer to a full 3mm) and the knife wasn't up to par in terms of fit and finish. Janky screws peeking through the lock side scale/frame, unsafe early lockup (moderate slightly lateral pressure made it fail reliably), little to no cutout for lock bar access, bad centering - will be very careful buying Böker knives in the future. Also covered in G10 shavings from manufacturing...

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On the plus side, I bought another Opinel out of frustration - a No. 12 INOX. Measures up at an exact 2.3mm stock thickness and the convex is perfectly executed. Why don't more companies grind like Opinel?
 
Victorinox. The 111mm line, the Alpiner for example, has a blade that matches your criteria for thickness and length and has a lock as required. It's a great slicer. The Ranger Grip 52 would give you even more blade length.
 
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