What are the smallest, most useful models for EDC?

I was going through my various Spydies today and lubing everybody. I ended up marveling _once again_ at how the Calypso Jr. Lightweight really is the perfect EDC knife. It utterly baffles me that they discontinued it. It wasn't expensive but it was VG-10. It has the reversed fish scale pattern on it so that it isn't slippery. The lock includes that little scoop on the back so you don't depress it accidentally. The blade itself is quite slim and it has that beautiful bevel on the top edge that makes it seem even slimmer. I love my Caly 3 but open both knives and look at the blades side by side from the top. The Caly 3 is just flat and square. The Cal Jr, Ltwt simply looks elegant. And _of course_ very lightweight.

I haven't carried mine in a while because I get caught up in the fun of the new and exotic. If you buy a new $150 knife, you carry that one. But I could go back to that little Cal Jr, Ltwt and cover 95% of the things I use a knife for.

Gregg
 
The Deacon said:
I've had a Jester on my keyring, and a Kiwi in my watch pocket, for nearly ten years. Both are great little knives, but I always have something larger with me as well. The smallest knife I'd carry as my "only knife" would be the one below, a CF Chaparral.

chaparral_09a.jpg
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Yep, gotta agree. If I could only keep one 'small' Spydie it would be the Chappy! Great little knife. Awesome ergos, deep carry wire clip, great slicer, smooooth action.

The Ladybug3 & Dragonfly2 are also great small knives.
 
I appreciate the replies.

In this instance I'm leaning more and more toward a keychain solution. I have plenty of bigger knives that I can and do carry separately - but I think I want something to ride alongside a 1xAAA Flashlight with the car keys and not dwarf either.

The Jester seems about right, but is of course discontinued. And the Bugs don't have locking blades.

Anyone have a Jester and a 1xAAA flashlight? A size comparison photo would be great.
 
If you're lucky, you might still find a dealer with one of the grey G-10 Sprint Run Jesters in stock. Jesters also show up occasionally on the Exchange here, and on eBay. Otherwise, all the current Ladybugs use the same handle as the Jester, so one of them would be another option.

As for size, don't have an AAA flashlight, but here's a shot I took about seven years ago of a Jester with what was either a 3x or 4x button cell light and a few other objects.

dump2.jpg
 
kiwi3 is super small, causes no tears when lost but very useful for edc tasks.
Here's mine (the CF is custom) on an AAA sized light

UF%2520Spyderco.JPG
 
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Spyderco's- smallest to largest dragonfly 2 frn vg10. Great ergos, fits anywhere and a great cutter. If price is an issue the ambitious... Great value, full flat grind makes it a great All around cutter, dead easy to sharpen.... Finally my favorite small edc is the native 5, 3 inch blade. Super steel with great edge retention and just feels "right" in my hand. Also the most expensive small knife I own
 
46and2 said:
Anyone have a Jester and a 1xAAA flashlight?
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This is a Photon, but you get the idea:

jester.jpg


b2.jpg

Old style Ladybug (notice small Spydie hole) with Arc AAA.

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Dragonfly 1 (pinned, not screwed, etc.) with Arc AAA.

In this small Spydie genre, I like the Dragonfly 2 and Caly 3. Would like to get my hands on a Cat and a Junior.

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Caly 3.
 
The Dragonfly and Delica should be high on the list. If you want something absolutely tiny, the manbug or ladybug would be great for box opening, tape cutting, letter opening, EDC knives. You could probably do 95% of your EDC tasks with a manbug, and probably 99.999% with a Dragonfly.
 
I think Kiwi's are fantastic little knives, but I'm going to have to try some of these other recommendations.
 
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