Tiny Fixed Blades That Could Fit in a Pocket? Boker?

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Murphenstein44

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Mar 15, 2014
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I've never liked fixed blades, but mostly because I've never before lived where "concealing" them is legal. Now I do!
I'm looking for a very small (2"-3.5" blade) neck knife for really light to medium use, opening packages, or food prep.
I've seen quite a few more traditional styled fixed blades on threads, but I'd love to see some of the more modern options.
From what I've found, I think I would like things like the Boker Base, Gnome, or maybe Bandit, on the larger side.
What are some of your favorite small EDC blade options?

My other question: I'd want one of these little blades to go in my front pocket and slip in right beside my cell phone.
For those who do pocket carry, what do you use? I'd like to avoid the knife sticking out of the pocket too far.
Are factory kydex/plastic sheaths comfortable, or is a custom leather pocket sheath a necessity for that kind of carry?
 
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Most factory sheaths aren't very good. To my knowledge, none are specifically designed for pocket carry, because those would have to be wide enough to keep the knife upright in the pocket. Most such knives in the class have sheaths meant for neck or belt carry, although you could bolt an extension piece to a quality plastic/kydex sheath to stabilize it. KnivesShipFree makes pocket holsters that seem popular although I've not tried one myself.

If you're looking for a light-duty fixed blade for pocket carry, the AG Russell Woodswalker with the leather pocket sheath is about as good as it gets for being ready to go out of the box. Lightweight, good quality blade, and nonthreatening in that it looks like a little kitchen knife. If I was in an area where fixed blade could be concealed, this would be my first choice although I'd file some round grooves in the handle first. Personally I'd prefer the sheath be rough side in as well, but that's me.

EDITED (again): You can also Google "pocket shield" for another answer with synthetic sheaths/holsters.
 
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In my personal opinion/exprerience, your best bet woukd be a "neck knife" style with a good kydex sheath. If you do in fact wish to carry it in your front pocket next to your cell phone (or wallet) "comfortably" being a key piece to the equation, for light to medium use, then something along the lines like a;
Kabar snody
Schrade 406
SOG instinct
ESEE candiru or even a larger ESEE izula

Because of their no handle design with kydex to keep the blade tightly and securely covered, they have a nice flat and straight profile to fit well next to other flat straight objects well (phone, wallet, etc). The kydex provides minimal risk of scratching a phone, rivets are rounded, and even the flat handle is little risk because it is flat, with no protrusions. Wrap with 550 cord and it further minimized that risk while adding extra grip without adding much extra bulk. (Most kydex sheaths I've come across fit pretty snug too, not really much risk of it coming undone in your pocket.

On the flip side, while most handles aren't a great deal thick, with actual handles you do still also have added bulk, which can be cumbersome in your front pocket with other things as well, keys, phobes, change, etc. Minimizing bulk in my front pocket at least is always a plus. Not to mention as oftentimes handles are made fomm hard surfaces, screws/rivets/bolsters need to be considered as well, as additional protruding hard surface from an otherwise flat surface, now raises risk of it scratching the screen on your phone as they won't be situated as flush with one another.

Just my two cents though, if it's going to be in your pocket, you should want as little profile as possible. My choice based on your description would be the ESEE candiru. Hard little worker, well built, up for any task. (and it comes in a bunch of different colors now).

A different style to consider would be something like the CRKT KISS; longer blade but its narrower profile would fit your pocket in a different way, rather the side by side with the phone it would ideally ride the front or back crease of your pocket, no more then 8" total length with the sheath, should all but fit in most pockets with minimal handle exposure at most, (just checked my own current pockets at 9" deep).

Happy hunting.
 
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Condor Tangara or Windfang are decent little flat style options as well.

A nice little case desk knife in 154cm wouldn't be a half bad option either for the long & narrow profile approach, with a bit more of a durable high end stsinless steel and a fancy handle too, compared to the the basic carbon no handle scales thatvmost of the others come in.

But while sturdy, still less threatening and more elegant style then survival-esque
 
I usually edc one of this small fixed knives in the front pocket of my jeans

Boker Rhino
Fällkniven WM1
Esee Izula
Bark River City Knife
Bark River Woodland Special
Buck Paklite Skinner
Fällkniven Kolt Knife

My personal favorites are the Fällkniven WM1, the Kolt Knife and the Bark River City Knife.

I can really recommend all of the Knifes above, but as average Gimp said "Most factory sheaths aren't very good."
So i had to modify the sheaths or use custom made kydex or leather sheats with the most of them.
 
ESEE Izula, IzulaII, and Candiru, all have excellent plastic factory sheaths and are well made. They fit your description but are a tad heavy for neck carry.
Take a look at YouTube comparisons of these knives.
 
I like the original Blind Horse Knives "Bushbaby" model. 3" blades in O1 steel. That company has now split into two separate companies, Battle Horse Knives and LTWright Knives. You can find good products at either of those.

There are various carry options available. I've shown a couple. These are NOT designed as neck knives, although I see no reason to go that "small." Spyderco makes a nice ARK neck knife that is new on the market, and priced pretty cheaply.






 
My preferred pocket carry method is a pocket clip sheath. I struggled so much before finding this which works so well for me now. You can make one yourself like i did once, simply epoxy-ing a clip to a sheath. You can also custom order one, like i did once. I've happily carried a fixed blade in my pocket for 6 months now!

11149382_10152983575908311_3808382531936659354_n.jpg


11072239_10153064436103311_5043086574291754621_n.jpg
 
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At least two sheath makers have promised they'll be making custom sheaths.

Here's one of blade man's:
7111E10C-CAD6-44EA-B393-F7AE67B5CFA3_zpsbjwlixnp.jpg
 
I have this small neck knife made by Dean Oliver, they are sold on various black powder reenactor websites.
It's small enough to carry in front pocket without noticing it, if you just pop the cord off the sheath.
knife2.jpg
 
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. So far, I'm liking the ARK, right proportions and the grip I'm looking for.
I'm trying to find a place where I can hold all of these little knives in person, since I want to make sure I don't go too small.
The ARK's sheath also looks like it's wide enough to be stable in a pocket, but all this thinking has gotten me thinking about making my own kydex sheaths.
I know that's a whole other question and there are plenty of resources available for that, so I'll just keep thinking about that one.
 
I wouldn't recommend the SOG instinct. It is way over priced for the Chinese pot metal it is made out of. Also, the CRKT KISS is a folder.

A budget would really help us out. I regularly EDC a Bradford Guardian3 or a BRKT Bravo Necker II (on me today). Also the Esee izula finds its way into my pocket from time to time. I use a Leather pocket sheath from KSF. Love it. I don't try to fit other things in that pocket except for a clipped folder as well.
 
Bark river has, or used to have, a small one called the EDC that has a little kydex sheath that's pretty nice. I'll post pic later.
 
craytab said:
I wouldn't recommend the SOG instinct. It is way over priced for the Chinese pot metal it is made out of. Also, the CRKT KISS is a folder.

A budget would really help us out. I regularly EDC a Bradford Guardian3 or a BRKT Bravo Necker II (on me today). Also the Esee izula finds its way into my pocket from time to time. I use a Leather pocket sheath from KSF. Love it. I don't try to fit other things in that pocket except for a clipped folder as well.
Click to expand...

The SOG Instinct is pretty much what I'm looking for (small, thin, handle scales), aside from its steel.
I think I'm going to get a Cold Steel Secret Edge, because it's cheap and I can do a little reshaping to the blade and handle if I want to.
That will allow me to see if I even like carrying a fixed blade.

Once I determine I actually like it, my budget for another one (if I want another one) would be around $60.
So far, my maybe list is: ARK, Izula, Candiru, or Tangara. I would want to put handle scales on the ESEE's, since I've never liked those flat skeletonized handles.
BUT, I still enjoy suggestions not to my guidelines, just because different carry methods and knives can give me ideas.
 
The best neck knives I've seen are the CRKT Folts Minimalist and the new ARK. The ARK gets the nod between the two for superior steel, versatility, and Spyderco quality.

The Bravo Necker II is a neat knife, but too big for pocket carry, IMO. I do plan on getting one for belt carry eventually.

John
 
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