Small Stainless Steel Folders. Spyderco and others....whats your favorite

[Chopping Broccoli]

In addition to my Spyderco collection, I also have a soft spot for good quality small stainless steel handle folders. I'm talking about folders the size of the Spyderco Ladybug. The kind that fits in the tiny pocket of a pair of jeans. Currently I have a Stainless Steel ladybug, a Benchmade 10610 McHenry and Williams Benchmite, a Kershaw Ken Onion Chive 1600 Spring Assist, and a production gentleman's folder from custom knife maker P. Tomes.

I was admiring my small collection of small stainless steel folders and starting thinking I'd like to add another 1-2 knives into this collection. Anyone have any suggestions for knives to check out. I might add Stainless Spyderco Dragonfly. That would be the biggest I'd go. I'm aware of the bug, honeybee, and grasshopper. I've actually owned all three but gifted them away. Great knives but not quite up to the same standards as the four I currently own. I know all about the Spyderco knives so I am mostly interested in hearing some suggestions for some other brands/models I might not be aware of.

I tried to post some pictures of my collection but it looks like the file size is too big.

[gbelleh]

You might check out the SS Balance or Equilibrium. I've been carrying the Equilibrium in my jeans watch pocket for the last week or so, and it's been great. It's about the size of a Cricket. SS is not one of my favorite handle materials, so the only SS Spydies I currently have are the Equilibrium, Dragonfly Tattoo, Spin, Cricket, Lava, ATR, Bug, and an original Worker. I also have a SS CRKT Drifter, and SS Kershaw Volt, but I won that one in a contest.

Equilibrium...

[dbcad]

Crazy, but I've gifted in the past 2 SS handled D'fly's, then an etched Spin as a wedding present :eek:

Current only and favorite stainless handled folder is the SE Cricket :eek: The blade has that kind of shape

I can resize your photo easily if you could email it to me. Quality would be dependent on original pixel size. PM if you like Chopping :)

[The Deacon]

Know they're not easy to find anymore, but I'm kind of partial to the Kiwi 2. They're nice as is...



...and even nicer when dolled up.



The one above is the work of Sr. Antonio Montejano of Spain, the one below the work of Marcus Hunt of the UK.

[BadFish]

Those are beautiful knives! I've been wanting to add a SS knife.

[Holland]

the bug is a very useful knife on the key chain. The balance and the ss dlfy are also interesting knives. May have to pickup a ss dfly in the future

[xceptnl]

Know they're not easy to find anymore, but I'm kind of partial to the Kiwi 2. They're nice as is...

What Paul said!



It almost goes in an out of the watch pocket tooooo easily.

[Chopping Broccoli]

Some great ideas. I'd love to find a Kiwi 2 to add to the collection.

[Chopping Broccoli]

Anyone have any thoughts on these:

http://www.gpknives.com/al-mar-osprey-s ... steel.html

http://www.knifeworks.com/fredperrinfrd ... titri.aspx

These are both completely new designs for me. These might be a bit bigger than I want to go. I like when the knife is close for the total length to be less than 3 inches.

[gbelleh]

I just checked out some YouTube videos of those Perrin Trifolders. Those look downright dangerous to use! :eek:

[remnar]

I'd like to find a Kiwi. They look like great little knives.

Here's a nice Dfly that I picked up last week.

[LC Kid]

Hi Folks!


Mine isn't as good looking as Deacon's, but that beautiful engraving was the primary reason for me to buy it: :rolleyes:

[xceptnl]

Anyone have any thoughts on these:

http://www.gpknives.com/al-mar-osprey-s ... steel.html

http://www.knifeworks.com/fredperrinfrd ... titri.aspx

These are both completely new designs for me. These might be a bit bigger than I want to go. I like when the knife is close for the total length to be less than 3 inches.

Although I had (and sold) a cold steel triple action folder I wouldn't really be interested in something like that. The brass liners on the Al Mar seem way classier to my taste, though for that amount of money you could find a nice second hand Kiwi or Kopa.

If unique, small, metallic handled knives interest you then perhaps take a look at one of these:

http://www.agrussell.com/a-g-russell-fu ... ShhhFF3TI/

http://www.agrussell.com/ag-russell-ult ... ShhhP3TIB/

[Freman]

Sanrenmu H03.

[Chopping Broccoli]

I just ordered the Al Mar Osprey and the Fred Perrin Tri folder. I've got my eyes out for a Kiwi 2 if I can find one. The AG Russell funny folder looks interesting. Those are the kinds of small knives I like. Solid, clever, different folders to showcase different knife makers. It seems like every knife maker makes, at least at some point, a small stainless knife like the ones we are discussing. I'm not normally a Benchmade fan, but I really like the small McHenry and Williams knife. Its the only Benchmade knife I kept when I sold off all my other knives and decided to focus on Spyderco.

[xceptnl]

I just ordered the Al Mar Osprey and the Fred Perrin Tri folder. I've got my eyes out for a Kiwi 2 if I can find one. The AG Russell funny folder looks interesting. Those are the kinds of small knives I like. Solid, clever, different folders to showcase different knife makers. It seems like every knife maker makes, at least at some point, a small stainless knife like the ones we are discussing. I'm not normally a Benchmade fan, but I really like the small McHenry and Williams knife. Its the only Benchmade knife I kept when I sold off all my other knives and decided to focus on Spyderco.

The small McHenry & Williams? You mean the 705 (G-10) or the current 707 Sequel (Aluminum with inserts)? I have sold almost all of my BM knives off, but the 710, 705 and 707 will always be in my collection. I have backups for each as well. The 707 is a sweet gents knife and should fit the small, smooth handled role (shame they can't put a lanyard hole in that one).

[Chopping Broccoli]

Looks like its Benchmade #10610

http://www.benchmade.com/products/produ ... ?sku=pd549

[xceptnl]

Looks like its Benchmade #10610

http://www.benchmade.com/products/produ ... ?sku=pd549

Ahhhh, I have one of those. I used to have the higher-end cousin to that one the #3100 auto. I actually like the HD version of that #10610 better

#13300 (disc.)


#13310 (disc.)

[w3tnz]

What Paul said!

I wish they would bring back a variant of the old locking kiwi's, these are perfect, I nearly cried when I saw the new g10 model.

I know the inlaid versions are supposedly too expensive to reproduce, but how about a stainless sprint?!

[shu]

The Kiwi is a great little knife, as are the Cricket and Lava. I have always had an affinity for the Jester though....