Thin, light one handed opening knife under 8cm/3.14"

[Drop bear]

Thanks for your answers. I have nice Spyderco under Pi size, but it's wide and thick. I usually just open boxes with the knife. I have 7 keys and a wallet in my pocket so it must be small. I was thinking on a mini knife but the handle is also small so it's not very ergonomic.

Some sort of cold steel two finger grip thing?

Having a look.,a mini tough lite might also fit.

 

[chempe]

Congrats!
Based on personal experience, I’d try to avoid most CRKTs and Bokers.

Thanks. Why do you avoid CRKTs and Bokers? Finally I've found a shop where I can try them. I'll visit next week just in case.. I can still send back th CIVIVI if I find a better one.

 

[OrangeBlueOrangeBlue]

Thanks. Why do you avoid CRKTs and Bokers? Finally I've found a shop where I can try them. I'll visit next week just in case.. I can still send back th CIVIVI if I find a better one.

CRKT and Boker have spotty reputations for build quality and materials. That said, I've purchased 2 CRKTs in the last few years, and both have been great; the Pilar is a solid knife for $20, and a good place to start with modding, and the D2 Pilar 3 might be the best knife they've ever made. All of the Bokers I've purchased recently have been automatics (Strike, Kalashnikov, Kihon), and they've been perfectly fine. Not CIVIVI quality or value, but not junk.

 

[Chronovore]

Civivi Chronic/Exarch, Buck Decatur (kind of crappy steel, but its cheap), Boker urban trapper, kwaikan air, Civivi Imperium, Civivi Appalachian Drifter 2, Rustic Gent, kershaw launches if you can own autos, CJRB Ria, small feldspar, Kizer Swayback, kershaw leek...I'm sure I'm missing lots.

My personal pick would be the Imperium, it's a great knife that can also do work because of a more comfortable handle for me.

I really want to like the Imperium but that weird line cut across the handle bugs me. It's like they wanted to evoke the idea of a bolster but just carved a line into the scale instead.

I'm glad to see that the OP found something in the Lumi. I haven't tried that one but it looks interesting. How is the action on the Lumi?

Another couple of smaller knives that I like are the Mini Domin and Mini Begleiter from Kizer. I think both of them have now been upgraded to bearings. I've enjoyed the older versions on washers. I may pick up one of the new ones with Micarta scales...

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

Imperium is IMO simple and appealing design but little bit on the non suitable site for what I do with knives.
ltll make nice gentleman folder with its excellent action, but the handle isn’t what I like much and I agree about the groove that looks like a bolster line - Chinese way to make it appeal to the target market… Don’t make sense to me at all.
Mine has Nitro V steel and I think they got it right, holds decent edge and I’m happy. Don’t like the clip much, looks cheap to me but for the money, it’s a good knife.

 

[cchu518]

The boker kwaiken has a thick blade. The urban trapper feels cheap, I suggest the Zinker Dogtooth by WE

 

[Chronovore]

The boker kwaiken has a thick blade. The urban trapper feels cheap, I suggest the Zinker Dogtooth by WE

A while back, I was interested in the Urban Trapper. Then I got one in my hand. It did feel cheap, almost unfinished.

I haven't handled the Dogtooth but the Bo is a nifty little knife. I have the carbon fiber version but it seems a little fancy for EDC. I've been considering a scale swap to get the Micarta scales with a non-coated blade.

 

[chempe]

I got the Civivi and tomorrow I'll send it back. It's absolutely useless.It's so hard to open that it is impossible to open it with index finger as I saw on youtube. I put some oil on it but still doesn''t move.

 

[Chronovore]

I got the Civivi and tomorrow I'll send it back. It's absolutely useless.It's so hard to open that it is impossible to open it with index finger as I saw on youtube. I put some oil on it but still doesn''t move.

Is this the Lumi? It appears to be a top/front flipper. That's not my favorite type of opening method and part of that is having longer fingers. These kinds of flippers tends to require more technique than other methods. Sometimes, it takes a very particular motion. I've found that using my thumb in a manner similar to operating a Bic lighter works with various models.

Coincidentally, I have another Civivi Front Flipper: the Exarch. I had significant trouble with it when it was new and I almost sent it back. Then I sort of forgot and just used it occasionally as a beater around the house. Now that it has broken in, it's actually quite nice. I can open it easily with my pointer finger or thumb.

If you don't feel like messing with it or waiting for a break-in, you could always check out the Civivi Bo or the Mini Begleiter. Here is a picture of the Mini Begleiter in N690 with Micarta scales, next to a bottle cap for size reference:

 

[Zulus]

Thanks. Why do you avoid CRKTs and Bokers? Finally I've found a shop where I can try them. I'll visit next week just in case.. I can still send back th CIVIVI if I find a better one.

Wrong country made

 

[chempe]

Böker Urban Trapper Petite is a joke for the money. I understand everything now. It is worth only 20$, not 90$. I'm sending back as well. Please recommend me a good quality folder under 100$ and 3.14".

 

[chempe]

Böker Urban Trapper Petite is a joke for the money. I understand everything now. It is worth only 20$, not 90$. I'm sending back as well. Please recommend me a good quality folder under 100$ and 3.14"

 

[NG VI]

The Lumi and Bo from Civivi would be pretty perfect I think, very compact and cutty.

Oop you already figured it out

 

[NG VI]

Kizer Tomcat?

The Splinter by Tomcat? They also had a River Cat but that was a very big beautiful chunky thing

 

[NG VI]

A while back, I was interested in the Urban Trapper. Then I got one in my hand. It did feel cheap, almost unfinished.

I haven't handled the Dogtooth but the Bo is a nifty little knife. I have the carbon fiber version but it seems a little fancy for EDC. I've been considering a scale swap to get the Micarta scales with a non-coated blade.

The Dogtooth rocks, I've got it in framelock, cf liner lock, and a lefty rosewood liner lock for good measure. So light and slicey

 

[DocT]

Spyderco Chaparral. Thin and under a 3.14" blade limit.

 

[Chronovore]

The Dogtooth rocks, I've got it in framelock, cf liner lock, and a lefty rosewood liner lock for good measure. So light and slicey

That's good to know.

So I was going to do a swap with the Bo and put the non-coated hardware with the Micarta scales. Given the hassle, I figured I would check out the regular G10 version and now I'm glad I did. While I still prefer a non-coated clip, the G10 version works. Now I have a fancy Bo and a regular Bo.