What would you think of a smaller Perrin bowie?

shootist16

shootist16

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I love the design, but am limited by law to a blade of 4" or less. I know that many are in the same boat I'm in. I love the Spyderco Perrin, but wonder how well a smaller version with say a 3.5" - 4" blade would do. Any thoughts?
 
Funny you should ask. I've been giving serious thought to acquiring a Perrin to use as a kitchen knife, as the design looks almost perfect for this. Think a smaller version be handy too.
 
I'm a HUGE fan of the Spydie Perrin. I think a smaller version would definitely have it's uses. I'm pretty comfortable with the 5" version though. Here, I can't legally conceal any fixed blade, but I can carry nearly any fixed blade unconcealed. If it folds however, I'm OK. Strange laws. I pretty much just go ahead and carry what I feel I need, and is appropriate for whatever job I'll be doing. I can, however, see a smaller Perrin being very helpful for people who can carry a fixed blade, concealed or not, with length restrictions. It's a really useful blade that cuts very well.
 
I don't think you can call it a Bowie if it comes in under 4"...too short :). But then I've spent too much time in the American Mid and South West.
 
4 in or less.Isn't that only in a folder.I was thinking that a fixed was ok as long as it is not concelled.
 
Originally posted by brownshoe
I don't think you can call it a Bowie if it comes in under 4"...too short :). But then I've spent too much time in the American Mid and South West.
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Well, seeing as how Spyderco refers to the FB04 simply as the Fred Perrin, with no mention of the word "Bowie" in connection with this knife in either the consumer or dealer catalogs, think this is a total non-issue, as, given that, I severely doubt they'd use that term for a smaller one either, if it ever came to market.
 
Originally posted by u812
4 in or less.Isn't that only in a folder.I was thinking that a fixed was ok as long as it is not concelled.
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Unfortunately not.


39-17-1307. Unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon.

(a) (1) A person commits an offense who carries with the intent to go armed a firearm, a knife with a blade length exceeding four inches (4"), or a club.

(2) An offense under subdivision (a)(1) is a Class C misdemeanor, except it is a Class A misdemeanor if the person's carrying of a handgun occurred at a place open to the public where one (1) or more persons were present.
 
Originally posted by brownshoe
I don't think you can call it a Bowie if it comes in under 4"...too short :)
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I don't care what you call it, just make it. ;)

I did see the custom version from Sabo Inc. I would much prefer one from Spyderco though.
 
carries with the intent to go armed
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What if you are not intending to go armed but carrying it as a tool.
The law I saw also states no hawk bills witch would make the Cricket illegal.
Really I don't think most police officers would give you any trouble as long as you did not look like,well you know the type person I am talking about.
Do you know anything about the Knife club exception.A Police officer in Kingston had told me that if you are a member of any knife collector club with proof of such you can carry anything includeing an auto.He said he jioned a knife club just for that reason.
 
Originally posted by u812
What if you are not intending to go armed but carrying it as a tool.
The law I saw also states no hawk bills witch would make the Cricket illegal.
Really I don't think most police officers would give you any trouble as long as you did not look like,well you know the type person I am talking about.
Do you know anything about the Knife club exception.A Police officer in Kingston had told me that if you are a member of any knife collector club with proof of such you can carry anything includeing an auto.He said he jioned a knife club just for that reason.
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You can carry a blade over 4" if you are hunting or such, but I'm afraid that carrying it every day and saying "It is a tool" probably wont cut it. Of course I'm sure that depends on the local customs. Here in Knoxville anything over 4" will likely get you charged and you can proove to the judge that it is a tool.

I have been in law enforcement for over 11 years here in tennessee and never heard of the knife club exemption. I know you can collect autos but you can't carry them.
 
Originally posted by The Deacon
Well, seeing as how Spyderco refers to the FB04 simply as the Fred Perrin, with no mention of the word "Bowie" in connection with this knife in either the consumer or dealer catalogs, think this is a total non-issue, as, given that, I severely doubt they'd use that term for a smaller one either, if it ever came to market.
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Wasn't it originally referred to with "Bowie"? Maybe it's just my imagination. :confused: Bowies are specifically named as an illegal knife in the state of TX. I think that other 'Southern' states might have similar laws. I wonder if that was consideration of leaving "Bowie" out of the name?
 
I love the design, but am limited by law to a blade of 4" or less. I know that many are in the same boat I'm in. I love the Spyderco Perrin, but wonder how well a smaller version with say a 3.5" - 4" blade would do. Any thoughts?
:yawn:
 
Originally posted by fudo
I love the design, but am limited by law to a blade of 4" or less. I know that many are in the same boat I'm in. I love the Spyderco Perrin, but wonder how well a smaller version with say a 3.5" - 4" blade would do. Any thoughts?
:yawn:
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Believe me, I wish I could carry something with a blade over 5". Sad, but true.
 
Originally posted by Suerte
Wasn't it originally referred to with "Bowie"? Maybe it's just my imagination. :confused: Bowies are specifically named as an illegal knife in the state of TX. I think that other 'Southern' states might have similar laws. I wonder if that was consideration of leaving "Bowie" out of the name?
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Well, I did a bit more checking and yes, in the 2002 dealer catalog (where it is listed as "New", so am assuming that is the first catalog it appeared in), the "spec sheet" portion of the description does refer to it as a "clipped point bowie". Aside from that, the model name and text description of the knife never use that word, and it was dropped from the spec sheet description as well in the newer catalogs. As for why, only Sal can answer that one authoritatively, but my guess would be that it was to distinguish it more clearly from Fred Perrin's own "Street Bowie" version of the knife, although you do have a valid point there regarding the possible legal consequences of identifying a knife as a "Bowie". On the other hand the text descriptions in the catalogs do refer to both the orgininal Chinook and the new Chinook II as having "Bowie-style" blades.

While my state, New York, does not "ban the Bowie" per se, can virtually guarantee that anyone caught with any fixed blade over 4", unless hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, or doing a job where a knife of that sort would be considered a tool, would be charged with carrying a "dangerous weapon". Beyond that anyone found with any knife, regardless of length, with a sharp edge (other than a gut-hook) on part of the spine, a feature some consider necessary to define a knife as a Bowie, would stand a very great chance of be similarly charged.
 
I love the original and I'd definately be in for a smaller version. I love the idea of a full tang with G-10 though. That'd be sweeeeet.
 
I'm with Chambers on a shorter, full-tang version. G-10 would be ideal but I'd take a solid Zytel handle w/o the rubber in it as a second choice.

If worse came to worse, I'd take it even WITH the rubber in the handle, and send it out for a new handle, but shorter blade and full tang would be musts!
 
shootist16, I really can't believe that you just posted this thread. Would you believe that the past few days I've been thinking to myself how great a smaller version of the sptderco Perrin would be. I was just about to start a thread on this very same topic when I found your post. In West Virginia the law states that it is illegal to carry a knife with a blade larger that 4" cocealed. I think the perrin with smaller dimensions would be just about the perfect fixed blade edc. I know I would certainly buy one. I also like the idea of G10 handle material and a full tang. Make the scales fairly easily removeable (I like to customize my knives) and it would be that much better in my opinion.

Take care, Heath
 
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