To fold or not to fold...

Fortunately in Maine carrying knives - mostly - attracts little attention. The tourists give me more evil eyes than the locals. I typically - every work day - carry both a small fixed in a sheath and a folder with a clip. Not working - I always have some folder, either in a belt sheath or clipped to my pocket (maybe a small one in my coin pocket too).

Surprisingly they all get used :) AND - my neighbors understand. :cool:

Ray


A big ayuh from Bridgton
 
Here's a pro tip - nobody worries what a 70+ year old man is carrying on their belt anywhere. You are not the threat they are afraid of.
Apart from the sharpest and quickest tongue that will take you a part
 
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I like small knives
TOPS 2.5 Mini Scandi, Enzo 70 necker
Both in kydex sheaths using cable ties thru the holes. make for a very snug high carry with no profile
Brusletto Hallingkarvet in a Finish dangling sheath makes a wonderful field knife
 
I'd forgotten just how handy it was to take out knife, cut, put knife back in sheath. No opening, no folding up, just use. Way easier for old stiff fumble fingers to deal with. The knife is way easier to clean up after a messy job, just wash and wipe off and sheath. No joints to oil or hidden areas to worry about. I just may have to pick up a small puuko for edc carry. Or hunt the great bay and get an old Case little finn. I think Matt Rankin and Bill Harding would approve.

This is very easy to agree with and a small sheathknife can often be a better choice than a folding knife.
The Bird & Trout from Hess Knives looks similiar to the Little Finn, but is even smaller.
My two favorite smaller knives are an inherited Sami knife and the Juni from Fällkniven.

Here's the Juni at work with a Rainbow Trout.
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And here is the Sami knife in preparing a late meal when carcamping at the polarcircle.
The meat is airdried & smoked Reindeer.
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Regards
Mikael
 
There's legal then there's legal. Too many cops thinking they are the guys on TV, who don't even know the law as well as they should, stopping you and grilling you why you have a 'Bowie knife' on your hip. D.C area police were a PITA if you gave them half a chance for them to exercise their ego's. Just because it was legal, didn't mean you were not going to get a hassle. Just wasn't worth it.

I had one young cop accost me while I was getting a cup of coffee at a 7-11. Just standing there putting a lid on my coffee and got a "Sir, why are you carrying a sheath knife on your belt?" Then I have to explain to him it's legal. He doesn't believe me and has to look it up on his computer in his car. Meanwhile I'm not free to go until he is ready to admit he's made a mistake. I had better things to do with what time I have on this earth than to explain to some young wannabe Joe Friday that I'm not going to make a good bust.

Texas has a whole different mentality.
Yep, people are funny about knives in other places. Knew a girl from Washington state that was horrified that my teenaged daughter carried knives. Anyway, welcome to Texas!
 
Being over in El Paso I see a lot of knives and even some fixed blades carried in cross draw leather sheaths much like that of what Horsewright makes. Lots of tree brand and case trappers, couple of stockmans here and there. Even some of the western stores have belt sheaths for sale and the Case knives display box. But being that my day job is in the Army I see a lot of pocket clips and multitools especially the ones made by Gerber with the sliding pliers. Here it’s some people don’t feel dressed if they ain’t got a knife on them. At work everyone has pen, paper, and a knife. A lot different than Illinois, and very very different from Chicago.
 
Being over in El Paso I see a lot of knives and even some fixed blades carried in cross draw leather sheaths much like that of what Horsewright makes. Lots of tree brand and case trappers, couple of stockmans here and there. Even some of the western stores have belt sheaths for sale and the Case knives display box. But being that my day job is in the Army I see a lot of pocket clips and multitools especially the ones made by Gerber with the sliding pliers. Here it’s some people don’t feel dressed if they ain’t got a knife on them. At work everyone has pen, paper, and a knife. A lot different than Illinois, and very very different from Chicago.
Welcome to Texas!
 
I too am an inmate here in the great republic of maryland. At least thats how they treat md residents. I cant wait to move! I love the state, but the laws here.....and the taxes.... ugh. The good news is that ANY folder is a "penknife" under md law.

I have also thought about open carrying a belt knife here, but its not worth the hassle. I do carry one occasionaly if I have a reason to. I carry one around my small town without worrying about it, I live in a farming town on the eastern shore. If I am going to a bigger place though, I am careful. People are really scared of things like that here, and I dont want the police called on me.
 
This thread prompted me to find a Case "Little Finn" M3F. Tiny little thing but pretty handy around the house. It is shown next to a case 6375 Large Stockman

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I saw that little Finn carried by a very large number of hunter, trappers, poachers and chicken thieves in my boyhood summers on the eastern shore. Used them for every thing from skinning muskrats, field dressing a poached deer, whittling a few spare tent stakes, cutting boat line, and slicing an apple. I don't think I ever saw Bill harding or Matt Rankin without a little Finn on their belt. Between the two of them, they processed more illegal game than any 10 hunters.

Very light versatile knife to carry. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
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I saw that little Finn carried by a very large number of hunter, trappers, poachers and chicken thieves in my boyhood summers on the eastern shore. Used them for every thing from skinning muskrats, field dressing a poached deer, whittling a few spare tent stakes, cutting boat line, and slicing an apple. I don't think I ever saw Bill harding or Matt Rankin without a little Finn on their belt. Between the two of them, they processed more illegal game than any 10 hunters.

Very light versatile knife to carry. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
Part of why I wanted one actually. My family has roots on the Eastern Shore since 1650 mainly Kent County
 
Part of why I wanted one actually. My family has roots on the Eastern Shore since 1650 mainly Kent County

We were down in Dorchester county, just west of Cambridge. Dad's family were all working watermen on th by, and I got to spend summers there when I was a kid. There was some real characters in that place back in the 50's. I learned a lot form them.
 
I saw that little Finn carried by a very large number of hunter, trappers, poachers and chicken thieves in my boyhood summers on the eastern shore. Used them for every thing from skinning muskrats, field dressing a poached deer, whittling a few spare tent stakes, cutting boat line, and slicing an apple. I don't think I ever saw Bill harding or Matt Rankin without a little Finn on their belt. Between the two of them, they processed more illegal game than any 10 hunters.

Very light versatile knife to carry. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

The Little Finn is indeed a cool little knife. The only problem with them is that there isn't enough real estate on the handle for guys with big paws. It's basically a three finger grip.
 
Ahh, central Texas.. A lovely place, in and around Georgetown in particular. I especially like the hill country too.. I recall a trip some years ago where we camped and fished Lake Georgetown, and later on the trip visited a very cool and beautiful place called Blue Hole Park.. Then, like today I had my Buck Woodsman strapped to my belt which always comes in handy. Where I live in Florida today my old worn Buck sits in my kitchen knife drawer as the Mrs's confiscated her years ago for all manner of food prep cutting chores.. Since then I've got a newer #102 with the style sheath with the exposed top of the handle, which I like pretty much as well. But I have a real nostalgic fondness for my older Buck!
 
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