Dress up knife carry - what's yours?

[gra_farmer]

When I got my U2 I was surprised at its size also (despite reading its dimensions and having a good grasp on the metric system) and I'd put its blade as being about the same size as a Swiss Army knife.
The knives that have had a grinder run across the lockbar and smoothing onto the back of the blade look better finished but its got a placky frame so the plastic frame/handle would look worse if they did that.
So the transition between the back of the blade and lockbar isnt ground totally smooth.
That blade is one hell of a good slicer though, the lightweight slim plastic handle fits into my back pocket is unobtrusive.

None of that "Reassuring weight" rubbish, I really don't notice it unless I feel for it.
It's pretty much the same opened length as my Spyderco Ambitious which isn't known for its massive size.

Thing is, I've kind of reapraised what I need in a pocket knife and I'm not cutting trees down, I'm sharpening a carpenters flat pencil to a chisel point, opening the packaging on kitchen units for fitting, slicing the plastic banding on timber stacks.
All of which I can do with the Stanley knife I often carry but I also score cut plasterboard and damp proof membrane against concrete with that and it's often kind of blunt, Id have to swap the blade for a sharp one, sharpen my pencil then I'm back to plasterboard and DPM. One wasted blade each time.
Someone may well chime in telling me to use a pencil sharpener... those people haven't used a flat carpenters pencil properly.
I like small knives for my day to day use but bear in mind that when I'm at work I have a vanload of full size tools a hundred or so yards away. I've got choices.

Nice to hear that a good blade is used to its fullist, so often the these pretty blades are left unused, I am guilty of this myself and plan on using this knife as my EDC for everything from pencil sharpening, lunch prep and the add hoc whittling.

I have already tried it on bit of very hard old pine, and no problem carving, with great control of blade due to size.

In hind sight, I should have gotten the U2, but liked sort of in between size between the Ladybug and the dragonfly, for office carry.

 

[gra_farmer]

these are the gentleman folders I use
both lockers
Both Benchmade
Top one is a limited edition bone collector.
I can't remember the name of the bottom one. Something 'River'?
DSCF9800 by Mark Aspell, on Flickr

DSCF9806 by Mark Aspell, on Flickr

I like the wooden handles, did you make these, or are these the originals

 

[Magentus]

these are the gentleman folders I use
both lockers
Both Benchmade
Top one is a limited edition bone collector.
I can't remember the name of the bottom one. Something 'River'?
DSCF9800 by Mark Aspell, on Flickr

DSCF9806 by Mark Aspell, on Flickr

Crooked River?

Lovely knives!

 

[Buckshot]

I like the wooden handles, did you make these, or are these the originals

Both are out of the box.
that's what i like about them. they don't have the blackticool look about them

 

[Billy-o]

Thank you everyone. Have anyone had experience with the fallkniven u4?

Buy it. It is a lovely little knife the U4 is. It locks though, if that matters.

Spyderco Dragonfly is nice too, and the Manbug with fol. green G10 scales. Barlows are tasty, but a bit heavy for the line of your suit. A Peanut might be better.

GEC have lots and lots of options. Maybe go to DLT Trading or AAPK for alook at whats around at the moment. They change a lot.

Moore Maker produce a nice small single blade trapper ... but that particular one might be a locker

Swiss Bianco makes a lot of nice SAKs in unusual anodizations. The Pruner is a single layer piece that'll sit nice in your slacks.

The other thing might be to get a small laguiole. A few o fthe higher end makers produce 9cm models and smaller. Fontenille Pataud is one, Forge de Laguiole, Laguiole en Aubrac ... there's a bunch. Other lighter options include some of the nice Nontron models in ebony.

A Higonakami has some style. For the real thing, as it were, have a look at Chris Reeve Mnandi or a Klotzli.

(For what it is worth, re the Boker Slack, I bought a second one in case I lost the first. Use that knife a lot)

 

[Billy-o]

Ha ha ... just realized I missed the whole page of posts where you said you bought a U4. Hope you get on with it OK. Still, no reason to see the thread wither there, as it's an interesting area.

One other thing to look at (while you in a mood to spend) is a Manly Wasp which, whilst it attracts some flak, I find to be an enormously useful, thin slicing thing and friendlier looking than the Urban.

My actual favourite tiny knife (apart from the Opinel 5) is this Northwoods Mini Moose ... long discontinued, and one which I lost for quite a while before it showed up again prodigally, much missed. It is in ebony and CPM154

 

[gra_farmer]

Ha ha ... just realized I missed the whole page of posts where you said you bought a U4. Hope you get on with it OK. Still, no reason to see the thread wither there, as it's an interesting area.

One other thing to look at (while you in a mood to spend) is a Manly Wasp which, whilst it attracts some flak, I find to be an enormously useful, thin slicing thing and friendlier looking than the Urban.

My actual favourite tiny knife (apart from the Opinel 5) is this Northwoods Mini Moose ... long discontinued, and one which I lost for quite a while before it showed up again prodigally, much missed. It is in ebony and CPM154

That northwoods knife is a thing of beauty.

As for the U4, I am still on the fence it is lovely and fits wonderfully in my zip up credit card pouch. It is a slightly easier to hold version of the Ladybug, and with the little finger loop handles well for a small folding knife.

I have noticed a little up and down blade play, which was not expected as used to spyderco folders that are rock solid.

Anyway, for suit or office carry it is small and light, with the trust that it can feather a stick and hold its own with light wood work. It does not frighten people and a few people in the office like it. So ticks a lot of boxes, that only a small folder can do.

Will update with some testing pictures soon

 

[gra_farmer]

So thought I would trial the U4. First of all food prep, although it is a small blade making sandwiches and cutting oranges, not an issue.

Next task, whittling a new spoon for my youngest, the unknown nontoxic exotic hard, again not an issue. Now removing a lot of wood is not suitable with this type of knife, but detailed controlled carving is good.

This knife is very much growing on me....

Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[Billy-o]

I have noticed a little up and down blade play, which was not expected as used to spyderco folders that are rock solid.

Yes, for all the songs of praise we bleat to the tune of Oh Fallkniven, blade play like that is a thing with them. And, kind of inexplicable too. Spydercos are rocksolid and cheaper (and, like Fallknivens, made in Japan ... whatever it says stamped on the blade of a Fallkie). So what is the blade play about? I returned three TK3s. Thought I'd keep going til I found a good one. Didn't.

... and, into the bargain, had some pretty abrupt and rude exchanges not just with Fallkniven owner/managers, but also the fanboys visiting the US sites who seemed to believe it a poisonous slur on their nationhood to at all criticize Boden's finest.

Shame, as I still have a bunch of their knives.

 

[swotty]

I'm liking this little Swiss Army Bantam as my pocket knife for dress up stuff at the moment.......

 

[Nice65]

I was on the verge of buying either a LionSteel Bestman or a clip point Barlow the other day. Luckily the mood has passed and my wallet is intact.

https://www.heinnie.com/lion-steel-bestman-micarta-single-blade

https://www.collectorknives.net/sho...ral-canvas-micarta-handles-m390-steel-ck0112/

 

[gra_farmer]

I was on the verge of buying either a LionSteel Bestman or a clip point Barlow the other day. Luckily the mood has passed and my wallet is intact.

https://www.heinnie.com/lion-steel-bestman-micarta-single-blade

https://www.collectorknives.net/sho...ral-canvas-micarta-handles-m390-steel-ck0112/

I like the look of the lionsteel bestman, has a modern gentleman or gentlelady, feel to it. But agree, far too many nice knives and never an enough money or time to enjoy all

 

[gra_farmer]

I'm liking this little Swiss Army Bantam as my pocket knife for dress up stuff at the moment.......


View attachment 57172

I am really liking the alox versions, i have seen the bushcrafter SAK on the sales page here, very steep price for what looks like to be a alox farmer with less use....?

 

[gra_farmer]

Right thought I would update on the fallkniven u4 wolf tooth. It is a great small pocket carry and currently lives in my zip pouch wallet, fits nicely alongside my credit card and many useless store cards.

Thought I would give it a run on some French Saucisson, it didn't have the length needed for clean single cuts, but works....just.

Compared it to my Mark Hill custom version of his Ray / Bark River bushcraft knife, and there is no comparison.

Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk

 

[Step2]

Had my Boker Plus Tech Tool 1 with black G10 for couple months now. Easy to get shaving sharp and holds a good edge so far with a little strop here and there. Lovely little EDC too.

Apologies for the photo. It's the only one I have atm and is probably only the second picture I had taken at the time with my first full frame.

https://flic.kr/p/2isPrx5

 

[C_Claycomb]

I was on the verge of buying either a LionSteel Bestman or a clip point Barlow the other day. Luckily the mood has passed and my wallet is intact.

https://www.heinnie.com/lion-steel-bestman-micarta-single-blade

https://www.collectorknives.net/sho...ral-canvas-micarta-handles-m390-steel-ck0112/

Don't put it off too long. Right now they are fantastic value. Post Brexit Transition they could cost a lot more.

I really do like mine. Between that and the Thrill my Techtool, S110V UKPK and Dan2 are getting very little pocket time!

 

[Nice65]

Don't put it off too long. Right now they are fantastic value. Post Brexit Transition they could cost a lot more.

I really do like mine. Between that and the Thrill my Techtool, S110V UKPK and Dan2 are getting very little pocket time!

It’s too tempting Chris, Molletta has put 4 knives up on RealOutdoors Forum, he’s only asking £104 for the Barlow and £120 for a Bestman in Ebony, shipped prices.

 

[swotty]

I am really liking the alox versions, i have seen the bushcrafter SAK on the sales page here, very steep price for what looks like to be a alox farmer with less use....?

This one was only £16 and super slim!

 

[gra_farmer]

It’s too tempting Chris, Molletta has put 4 knives up on RealOutdoors Forum, he’s only asking £104 for the Barlow and £120 for a Bestman in Ebony, shipped prices.

Go for it Rich, I have often regretted not getting something I wanted, only for it to be out of reach later on

 

[Nice65]

Go for it Rich, I have often regretted not getting something I wanted, only for it to be out of reach later on

I reckon I’m ok for knives mate, occasionally I get another bite from the bug, it itches a bit and is then forgotten. I’ve bought a lot of knives on a whim, only to find me selling them on later. I do really like both of those LionSteels, I’ve had the Rasul (4 of them, kept one), and a KUR flipper (again sold on).