Under $100 and under 2.5 inches...your pick

rexromic said:
Spyderco Dragonfly 2 in G-10 is terrific EDC!
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Yeah, it's a great choice.

If you wanted better steel, you could get the Dragonfly in ZDP-189. Better steel and G-10 you could grab the Spyderco Cat.

I carry a Kershaw Scallion that I like a lot. The little recurve blade is surprisingly capable, and I don't mind the assisted opener.

You could get pretty small with the Cold Steel Micro Recon 1. It's only about 25 bucks. Spyderco ManBug is cool as well.
 
Velitrius said:
Yeah, it's a great choice.

If you wanted better steel, you could get the Dragonfly in ZDP-189. Better steel and G-10 you could grab the Spyderco Cat.

I carry a Kershaw Scallion that I like a lot. The little recurve blade is surprisingly capable, and I don't mind the assisted opener.

You could get pretty small with the Cold Steel Micro Recon 1. It's only about 25 bucks. Spyderco ManBug is cool as well.
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Only problem I have with ZDP steel is that takes forever to sharpen and has to be maintained properly.VG-10 is much more user friendly IMO.
 
rexromic said:
Only problem I have with ZDP steel is that takes forever to sharpen and has to be maintained properly.VG-10 is much more user friendly IMO.
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Indeed it takes a bit of sharpening. But with a knife this size, it's a relatively small task. And it also stays sharp forever!

I am a HUGE fan of VG-10, and recommend it wholeheartedly. Just wanted to offer an "upgrade" for folks who lean that-a-way.
 
Velitrius said:
Indeed it takes a bit of sharpening. But with a knife this size, it's a relatively small task. And it also stays sharp forever!

I am a HUGE fan of VG-10, and recommend it wholeheartedly. Just wanted to offer an "upgrade" for folks who lean that-a-way.
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Agree with you 100%!
 
I don't know if 2.6" is a deal breaker, but my favorite "handy" knife (meaning easy opening, works well for tasks, and pocket clip) for traveling is the LM Crater 33T. For me, the downsides are related to my personal travel needs: no can-opener, scissors, or pliers... also, the flathead is a little thick. They have a knife only version too, but I don't own that one. Be aware, I think the Crater line is or will be discontinued soon. Personally, my go-to travel knife (including for overseas travel) is a LM Juice S2, kept in my toiletries bag in checked luggage and kept in the hotel (recent overseas travel is to a country that has metal detectors and security searches for going into many malls).

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Pair this with a LM Squirt PS4 on your keychain and you have a lot of bases covered for travel.
 
I decided im going to preorder the pakkawood dragonfly and also bought a Cat from the exchange. Thanks for all the information!
 
kingston73 said:
I decided im going to preorder the pakkawood dragonfly and also bought a Cat from the exchange. Thanks for all the information!
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Great choice! I'm admitted not a wood handle fan but the Dragonfly is a great knife.
 
If you don't want to worry about losing a knife the Gerber
Mini-Paraframe might be an option.
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I think the suggestion @Bob6794 gave you is a good one.
If you lose that one you can get another one easily,
and if the blade gets dull you can replace it instead of having
to sharpen it.
 
Bestech makes a bunch in that size. Most cost just a little more than $100, but they are excellent knives!
 
I was going to recommend the CRKT Pilar, but the Dragonfly is a safe bet too. The Pakkawood version is a knifecenter exclusive (it isn't showing up on BladeHQ) so you may have purchased a knife with some resale value to it, should you ever feel the need to part with it at a later date. Pakkawood also looks great, just be careful with it around water. And oil the wood up if you're ever going to travel from dry to wet places or vice-versa. I have a Filipino blade with a wooden handle that formed some minor cracks on me when I stored it away for a few months. Oiling it up is supposed to prevent the wood from expanding and contrasting too much.
 
Right now the Bastion Braza Mini Cleaver S35VN is less than $50. Good luck finding a better deal than that... but with the internet and crazy flash sales nowadays, there a decent chance you will find a better deal than that, hahaha. I have one in S35VN and one in D2 and they are excellent little knives. I've had the non-cleaver D2 for more than a year now and it's been great. It's been my travel knife for the past year, except I brought my ZT0022 to Brazil this time (I've been here more than 2 months and I come here frequently so I knew it wouldn't be confiscated or get me in any trouble). Here's a picture from when I was in Brazil last year of my Bastion regular D2 mini and one of my Massdrop Gents (I added Macassar Ebony scales, but the cheap Philips head pivot screw stripped when I was tightening it up while changing the scales, which is extremely unfortunate. The pivot screw arrived from Massdrop loose, I quickly tightened it. I never cut a thing with it. It's still factory sharp and looks brand new, but it's been out of service since December. I've been trying to get a replacement screw but it's been a failure. Massdrop provided me with absolutely no help or assistance. WE Knives told me to contact Ferrum Forge, so at least WE helped me out a little. Ferrum Forge has been quick to reply and answer questions, but unfortunately they still haven't been able to get me an extra pivot screw. I have 3 Gents, so I said I'll happily pay for several replacement pivot screws and would happily pay extra money if they just tell me the right size so I can buy titanium pivot screws instead (they're Philips screws so none of this should be difficult, but, somehow, it's been very difficult). Anyways, the lesson I learned was that when I first received the Gent well over a year ago and the blade was loose, I should've sent it back instead of simply tightening the pivot screw. I didn't unscrew it to see if Loc-tite or any other adhesive was used because it was against the warranty to unscrew the pivot screw. Anyway, if it was still $80, not $100, and even with my pivot screw problem (which is simply alleviated by carefully adding some Loctite as soon as you receive it if there is blade play), I'd recommend you buy one. It's bigger than 2.5" (if you look at my posts I'm a devout lover of small knives, particularly under 2.5". I'd say that I have more than 70 folding knives and at least 60 of those are under 2.5". I haven't met or seen another collector that has as many small folders as I do (I'm not including slipjoints like Case, and 80%+ of the ones I have are flippers), but, a year ago, and for $80, it was an incredible deal. Since then, a lot has changed and now there are significantly more blades under 2.5" and there are more really good deals (which the Gent definitely was a very good deal a year ago for $80) around the internet. And, don't forget there are plenty of 2.5" blades that have large handles, big choils, a lot of non sharpened edge, etc, etc that are bigger, more robust & heavier than many 3" blades. Like many recommend, I have several Spyderco Dragonfly's and Chaparrals (and I love them but not as much as I love my several different Spyderco Spins, which further shows how strange I am) but they are a decent amount bigger than pretty much any other knife with the same sized sharpened edge.
Otherwise, good luck finding the right knife for you and I would love to hear what you decide to get.



Edit: Menny misspelled werds
 

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Tuff Lite. Doesn’t look like much a first maybe but very handy. It’s a rare day that I don’t have one nearby, one is in my pocket right now. People friendly as well.
 
4 or 5 Rough Rider traditionals and a large Pizza Hut (thin crust) 'Meat Lover's' Pizza (with added mushrooms) and a pitcher of beer for supper.
 
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