Urban/City Life Folder Fixed Blade Combo

KBA · Nov 12, 2015

Having two kids under 3 has taken a toll on my outdoor hobbies. Even my yard work has slowed. Honestly, I would rather be with them right now than out in a deer stand, or hiking, camping, etc, anyways.

While I would not call my town a "city," I am curious as to what you all would consider a great folder & fixed blade combo for "city" life, or urban carry.

My main rotation at the moment is a CRK small 21, a Alox Farmer, a GEC 73, a 81 GEC Stockman, and a Lon Humphrey Whitetail. The Whitetail is great, but I wish it had another half an inch in the handle. I think Im going to start carrying my 7" oal GL Drew instead.

So, for those who live the urban life and hardly get in the woods, on the trails, or in the outdoors what folder/fixed combo do you like?

Sorry no pics. I'll try to get one tomorrow if this thread is still around. I apologize if this has been brought up and I missed the thread.

Not looking to buy. Just curious on what is out there.

EChoil · Nov 13, 2015

Your CRK is a good knife but do you really use it for the down and dirty gritty jobs?

Some very basic EDC's for in-town and those dark urban alleys:

Fixed- Tekna Ocean Edge or Gryphon M-10.

Folder- Cold Steel Ti-Lite, Emerson CQC-7, Emerson Micro-Commander.

Never understood the bias against stiletto or tanto blades for EDC. I have never run into anything they can't handle well.

zippin44 · Nov 13, 2015

Dude, you don't realize it yet, but you are clearly on the road to either a spyderco dragonfly, or possibly the man bug . just sayin'

_Wraith · Nov 13, 2015

zippin44 said:
Dude, you don't realize it yet, but you are clearly on the road to either a spyderco dragonfly, or possibly the man bug . just sayin'

I would also recommend a Spyderco Dragonfly, especially the foliage green g10 model with stainless steel liners.

thales2015 · Nov 13, 2015

Just so long as I have a blade with belly that is in the 3 - 4 inch range (preferably 3 - 3.5 actually) and a sheepfoot blade, I'm a happy camper (...or "city guy", as the case may be

). I rotate in fixed blades, modern folders, and slipjoints to cover both those blade shapes (though only a few fixed-blades and slipjoints have sheepfoot blades - none of my modern folders do). In terms of what dictates any particular day's choices (fixed vs. folder, folder vs. slipjoint etc. ) - it pretty much comes down to pure "whatever I feel like" that day...no particular rhyme or reason to it.

In term of specifics - I really like the Spyderco Slysz Bowie, Drew's knives (DCL knives), Bing Bingenheimer's flippers, Jim Dunlap's slipjoints, & the Northwoods line.

Kwon Kwang · Nov 13, 2015

The city I live in is knife-ignorant and not knife-friendly, so I go with a small fixed blade and larger folder. I always carry my particular fixed blade of choice, the CS Super Edge via keychain. Despite that it's so tiny, people here still express fear over the knife; absolutely pathetic. I'm still not going to not carry my knife, it's just too useful.

I always carry a folder with a 3.5-4" blade. Folders tend to scare people less than fixed blades for some bizzare reason. I have too many to pick just one, but the link is what I'm carrying today.

Urban redneck · Nov 13, 2015

In and around the city, I usually have either a Spyderco UK penknife, or a G10 dragonfly...... More often the dragonfly.... A fixed blade where I live would mean a SWAT team and a slot on the evening news..... Lol!

KBA · Nov 13, 2015

EChoil said:
Your CRK is a good knife but do you really use it for the down and dirty gritty jobs?

So far I have. Just used it to cut back some vines and roses bushes my wife is growing this morning before work. All I have are users in one way or another. I used to buy safe queens but it didn't make sense to me.

zippin44 said:
Dude, you don't realize it yet, but you are clearly on the road to either a spyderco dragonfly, or possibly the man bug . just sayin'

LOL, doubt it. Not there is anything wrong with those. The CRK is the only modern I have, I'm more of a traditional knife guy. Plus, I'm not looking to buy anymore. Just curious of what others carry.

David - I can always count on you having a great set of pics and knives. :thumbup: Well done my friend.

Kwon Kwang - Yea, people used to be scared of some of the knives I had, but mostly carry traditional knives now. The CRK doesn't get to many looks. I also think people just live in fear more than they used to. They stereo type for the most part. That is another non-knife conversation though.

Urban - I didn't think about the laws to much when I posted this. TN is pretty relaxed. No swat here.

jackknife · Nov 13, 2015

Having raised three kids in a semi urban setting, I can tell you that a small multitool is a must have. A nice sharp knife is good, but a scissors os better for trimming the drinking straws that are always too long and cause spills. Then theres the toys that need "some assembly required" or battery compartment that needs a small screw driver. Then there's the sticker or splinter in a little finger that needs a little tweezers to cure the problem. Those little guys depend on daddy to fix everything in their world, and we can't let them down.

I found I really didn't need as much knife as I needed some small basic tools for everything that comes along. And with little kids comes a whole new adventure in unexpected calamities. Children cause chaos. Take this from an experience father and grandfather. You'll need sue tools, hand sanitizer, pocket size tissue pack, a few clean dry paper towels folded up in a pocket, a small flashlight, two clean dry bandanas, Chapstick, and a roll of some Life Savors or other candy that is pocket safe, before you'll need much of a knife.

If I were doing my fatherhood all over again, I'd be carrying a Leatherman micra or squirt. Plus all of the afor mentioned.

Spyder59 · Nov 13, 2015

I'm retired so I do a lot of puttering around the house and yard. This is my edc today. Sometimes I leave the neck knife at home, depending on where I might be going later in the day. But most of the time I have some sort of neck knife, a folder, and my Leatherman.

Spyder59 · Nov 13, 2015

jackknife said:
Having raised three kids in a semi urban setting, I can tell you that a small multitool is a must have. A nice sharp knife is good, but a scissors os better for trimming the drinking straws that are always too long and cause spills. Then theres the toys that need "some assembly required" or battery compartment that needs a small screw driver. Then there's the sticker or splinter in a little finger that needs a little tweezers to cure the problem. Those little guys depend on daddy to fix everything in their world, and we can't let them down.

I found I really didn't need as much knife as I needed some small basic tools for everything that comes along. And with little kids comes a whole new adventure in unexpected calamities. Children cause chaos. Take this from an experience father and grandfather. You'll need sue tools, hand sanitizer, pocket size tissue pack, a few clean dry paper towels folded up in a pocket, a small flashlight, two clean dry bandanas, Chapstick, and a roll of some Life Savors or other candy that is pocket safe, before you'll need much of a knife.

If I were doing my fatherhood all over again, I'd be carrying a Leatherman micra or squirt. Plus all of the afor mentioned.

Ha ha, ain't that the truth!

neal70 · Nov 13, 2015

my new griffin,a pro-tac,or a km-6 fixed (generally). seems like i always have my #99 farm and field od green linen micarta,developing a patina as we speak. i usually carry my little onion/centofante kershaw for splinters or what might need a point. then i usually rotate something else that i'm theoretically going to sharpen , but really just want to carry. the multi-tool argument above is so compelling i might have to buy a leatherman. or something.

(multi-tasker?)

jackknife · Nov 13, 2015

neal70 said:
my new griffin,a pro-tac,or a km-6 fixed (generally). seems like i always have my #99 farm and field od green linen micarta,developing a patina as we speak. i usually carry my little onion/centofante kershaw for splinters or what might need a point. then i usually rotate something else that i'm theoretically going to sharpen , but really just want to carry. the multi-tool argument above is so compelling i might have to buy a leatherman. or something. (multi-tasker?)

The multitool argument gets better when you fully realize what havoc a three year old can wreck if you take your eyes off of them for two New York seconds. All three of my kids and two out of three of my grandkids created afor mentioned havoc in just a few minutes. When they discover they can take out or dismantle things, it's amazing how much you'll need a screw driver or pliers. A mulitool and clean up stuff is mandatory. Especially when your kid realizes if he squeezes his cardboard sip up juice container right in the middle, it shoots a stream of liquid straight up. This is amazingly funny to them. Paper towels/wipes needed. Knife, maybe not so much. But when they knock over that end table and the lamp hits the floor but doesn't break, you'll need that little multitool to reassemble the lamp head to the main body where it stripped out. The small screw driver to loosen up the set screw, and the pliers to shove the base of the lamp head back down into the lamp body, the tighten up the set screw good and tight.

Kids cause chaos, you need tools!

KBA · Nov 13, 2015

Agreed the multi-tool is a worthy carry. I have a micra on my key ring. I forgot to mention that. I had a ps2 but my daughter did something with it (keys and all) a few months ago and have yet to find it. I need to get one of those tracking things for this one.

It cost $200 to re-key my car and get a new set.

I suppose the question has become: What fixed blade and folder do you pair with your multi-tool for urban living.

I like David's philosophy of one straight edge and one with a belly. Anyone have any pics of what they carry? Im still at work so I cant upload at the moment.

The new(ish) Bark River Bravo EDC looks nice, the Bradford 3G as well, and JK has produced some nice sized edc blades.

MaximIsayev · Nov 13, 2015

I like the Izula and Elmax Leek combo, both are fairly lightweight knives, don't really get in the way. I can keep the Izula with the original sheath in my pants pocket and it doesn't fall over or stick out. My Izula is in venom green and I've had several people comment on how cute it is.

My other favourite fixed blade for the city is the Marttiini Condor Timberjack with a home-made kydex sheath, usually paired up with slicer like a Delica or a PM2. It's a bit bigger than the Izula, may not be the best option for most people, but I'm a big guy. I took off the Bic lighter sheath since taking this photo, it made it a bit too bulky. Pretty convenient for neck carry or belt carry, though.

craytab · Nov 13, 2015

I would say I hardly get to the woods but I do spend most of my time in a city.

A small MT is a must I always have one on me, usually a Juice CS4.

The knives change constantly. I will always have a 3.5"-5" folder on me where legal. I usual have a small Fixed blade. Sometimes a larger one. If water or working out is involved it will be a Spyderco Salt of some type.

Some examples:

neal70 · Nov 13, 2015

Jackknife-my little boy just turned one on Nov. 1st, but i'm already appreciating his bent for destruction. i go nowhere without a bandana and a burp cloth, plus all the other necessary stuff. clean is hard when he eats an avocado-i'm color blind,red-green

i'm sure it's just a foretaste of things to come. Craytab-you always have great pic's-they always make me envious! how do you like that bedlam? and i love the fixed blade wharnies, didn't you say they were polish made, in a different post?

blade dude · Nov 13, 2015

when i do carry mine (cant at school) i normally have my leatherman wave and either a kershaw lifter or on occasion a benchmade 910 stryker but the stryker blade is so beat to hell with chips because well my dad was throwing it out so he dont know i have it over at my moms house and it used to be his work knife. if im hiking i will carry my fixed blade but otherwise i havent had a need for something that a leatherman wave and a tanto knife cant do.

RevDevil · Nov 13, 2015

KBA said:
Having two kids under 3 has taken a toll on my outdoor hobbies. Even my yard work has slowed. Honestly, I would rather be with them right now than out in a deer stand, or hiking, camping, etc, anyways.

While I would not call my town a "city," I am curious as to what you all would consider a great folder & fixed blade combo for "city" life, or urban carry.

My main rotation at the moment is a CRK small 21, a Alox Farmer, a GEC 73, a 81 GEC Stockman, and a Lon Humphrey Whitetail. The Whitetail is great, but I wish it had another half an inch in the handle. I think Im going to start carrying my 7" oal GL Drew instead.

So, for those who live the urban life and hardly get in the woods, on the trails, or in the outdoors what folder/fixed combo do you like?

Sorry no pics. I'll try to get one tomorrow if this thread is still around. I apologize if this has been brought up and I missed the thread.

Not looking to buy. Just curious on what is out there.

I'm in the same boat as you, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I usually carry an Emerson folder, and have a Bradford Guardian 3 in M390 (for a smaller fixed blade) or a BRKT Bravo Necker 2 in CPM-3V.

M1GarandGuy · Nov 13, 2015

Folders-
1st Pick: Boker Plus Urban Trapper, Runner Up: Opinel No. 12
Fixed-
1st Pick: Big Chris Pocket Fighter, Runner Up: Marfione Custom Combat Wakizashi