Thin Blade Folder

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Feb 6, 2001
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I'd found that I often use my EDC for food perparation like peeling fruit or apples, as such, almost all of my knives are too thick for that purpose. So, the question is:

Who make the thinnest blade folder out there? What I have in mind is something like a high quality ktchen knife in a sleek one-hand package. So, what do you guys recommend?
 
How about the Spyderco Calypso Jr. lightweight? Its blade is 1/8" thick (3 mm). The flat ground blade is great for food prep. 2 7/8" long blade of excellent VG-10 steel. It's a fantastic knife.

The only problem is that it's discontinued. One Stop Knife Shop (www.1sks.com) has the stainless steel handle version for $59.99. If you want the lightweight FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) version, which has a grippier handle, www.discountknives.com has it for $44.34. You can also get the serrated version from www.eknifeworks.com for $24.99, which is a steal, but not as useful in my opinion as the plain edge.

Note that I've never tried peeling fruit with my Calypso Jr. I just cut it into sections. It's possible that you might prefer a knife with a more slender blade, i.e. shorter top-to-bottom, such as the blade on a Swiss Army Knife. The SAK blade will get under the skin of the fruit better for peeling as you curve around the fruit.

Regards,

Johnny
 
I'd recommend the Al Mar Ultralight series. Depending on the blade length you want it's either the Hawk, Falcon, or Eagle. These blades are very thin, but not as wide as the Calypso Jr. More like the folding kitchen knife you're seeking. - Lee
 
Spyderco Military? Flat grind with a nice belly. The blade is also long enough to handle large fruit and double decker sandwiches. I personally like the Spyderco Ayoob for on the road culinary chores; however, that's just me.

A.G. Russell makes a folding chef knife (looks like a santoku) that is probably more utility than EDC but is worth looking into.

You may need to clarify what you mean by ..."one hand" package... Do you mean "one-hand opener"? If the answer is "not necessarily," then you may want to also consider an Opinel or a slipjoint trapper.

Hope this helps.
 
Johnny beat me to it, but the Spyderco Calypso Jr. PE is one that can fill your needs. EXCELLENT thin, but STRONG and RAZOR-SHARP, VG-10 steel blade.

As a matter of fact, I was visiting my uncle in the hospital today and he needed his lunch cut up(fried chicken breast) and my Calypso Jr. PlainEdge sliced it up better than a regular kitchen knife!!:D

IMHO, the Spydie Military is a great choice, too. Plenty of belly in that blade. ;)
 
Try a SAK, Opinel or Old Timer slipjoint and compare it with say a Calypso Jr or Military for fine work like peeling an apple. There is just no comparison, the thin blade of the SAK just glides through whereas the wider, thicker blade makes the job much more difficult.
 
I think Spydercos are too thick, and the Hocho is hardly a pocket knife, though great for the food prep role. I'd have to suggest something like the Schrade Clipit having a nice wide flat ground blade only 1/16" wide (I do believe). A very useful knife in the kitchen - mainly for paring. A little weak in the lock, but hey were only cutting tomatos and such, not chopping wood. Another plus is its low price...
 
The AlMar ultralights are perfect for that purpose if you're looking for a kitchen knife like blade profile. Solid build quality at relatively affordable prices.

The William Henry would also work extremely well (at least my CF Lancet does).

That being said, if you really are going to use it for food prep a lot and especially fruit, I would consider one of the Boker Ceramic blades. The ceramic blade has the unique quality of nor reacting to the fruit or vegetables being cut, thereby not causing them to brown (like lettuce and apples are so apt to do when cut with steel). I think the Delta model is the one I would choose, but it's not truly a one hander.

Just an idea,

jmx
 
Excellent suggestions so far from the other posters. CRKT has just brought out a Russ Kommer collaberation model called the "Alaska Bwana". Satin finished 3 5/8" blade, LAWKS device and an extremely comfy grip. It has a full height hollow grind and the blade is quite thin at the edge as a result. Mine screams thru stock pot veggies with a vengeance.
 
The Al Mar Falcon (the only Al Mar I've got) is virtually equivelent to a razor blade, super sharp, super thin, would be perfect for handling food.
 
Forget the one hand opening tactical food prep ... look hard at the awesome Opinel lineup from fellow forumite pizzini.at . The stainless bladed "luxe" and "effile" models are among the best food prep knives out there. The factory edge isn't the greatest, but in a few minutes time, those edges can be made to the steel equivalent of Darth Vader's light sabre. An added plus, those two models come in very, very nice bubinga wood handles. Less than $20 US each, too.

Mike
 
The Benchmade Osborne 940 with the reverse tanto blade style is a an elegant knife with a thin flat ground blade. The 3 1/2 inch blade has enough length for food prep. The blade shape is even suitable for spreading butter. The axis lock is also a plus. The knife is small considering its blade length. With a green, blue, red, or purple anodized handle it is definitely "sheeple" friendly.
 
If you can find one the full size Calypso should be just the ticket! The longer blade makes it more practical for food prep than the jr.

phantom4
 
The Spyderco Calypso or Calypso jr. are excellent choices. Very wide, fully-flat-ground blades lead to whisper-thin edges and outrageous performance. A few years ago I was able to easily sharpen my 8A Calypso jr (newer versions are VG-10) to slice a hair lengthwise. It is relatively easy to get Calypso Jr's that sharp.

Joe
 
Try to find a Benchmade leopard cub, it is the best folding food knife I own.
Kyle Fuglesten
 
Opinel and SAK are classic, for one-hand opening in addition to suggestions above I would add (in place of Calypso Jr FRN- discontinued :( ) is Spyderco's new SALSA- wide flat ground blade, excellent for slicing and paring.
Martin
 
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