Sub 2.5" options?

[Spyderwebs]

I'm looking for a Chicago legal knife, which limits me to 2.5" blade.

Microjimbo is my top choice but I want to wait for the 15v jimbo.

What else is a top contender for you? Maybe something with a larger handle relative to the short blade? Anything have a PM3 or larger handle with a sub 2.5" blade?

Thanks!

[Flash]

Spyderco Chicago might be the obvious choice.

If not then Spyderco Lil Native would be my first recommendation, but also worth considering but not limited to: (in descending order of recommended-ness)

Cat
Ambitious
Dragonfly
Urban
Squeak

[p_atrick]

I have a Delica that Mr. Janich ground down to 2.5 inches. I love this approach because I get a full handle that is much more comfortable. And I feel more confident should I have to do more aggressive cutting. Yeah, it can look wonky, but I love it.

[Vamais]

I got a Lil' Native to have a small knife, and I am routinely amazed at how not-small it feels and performs. With the choil it feels like it has a normal sized handle. It's also nice and stout without being too obtuse, and the short blade gives a lot of tip control.

[Notsurewhy]

My go-to recs on this type of knife are usually dragonfly, lil native or cat, but I decided to take a look at the catalog and I saw something interesting that I didn't even remember existed: the insistent.

I've never handled one, but on paper it has a lot going for it. Blade just under 2.5in, G10, wire clip, liners, 3.7 inch handle plus a finger choil means decent room to grip and it's a good bit less expensive than any of my typical recommendations. It might be a good option, particularly if you're only looking for a stop-gap knife until you can get the microjimbo you're waiting for.

Possible downsides: 8cr steel, it's a liner lock, and it's made in china. These may or may not matter to you. No judgement from me either way.

[zhyla]

Chaparral LW is the best knife Spyderco makes. Fight me.

[R100]

Chaparral LW is the best knife Spyderco makes. Fight me.

Don't be silly. It's obviously the Tatanka. On the plus side you could do some stupid prying with the Chap and break off 0.3" and it would be legal in Chicago but you'd have to break a full 2" off the Tatanka and that would probably be really hard.

Dan

[navin johnson]

Handle is far more important than the blade

As mentioned above a delica cut to 2.5 inches would be my go to

Seems like a rock jumper would work well also

If it was for critical use, I would probably cut down an Endela. Way more leverage and control

[zhyla]

Chap and break off 0.3" and it would be legal in Chicago

I don’t know Chicago knife laws but the Chap edge length is 2.35”.

[Tristan_david2001]

I wish we were back in the late 90s/early 2000s, I’d recommend either a kopa or a navigator

[R100]

Chap and break off 0.3" and it would be legal in Chicago

I don’t know Chicago knife laws but the Chap edge length is 2.35”.

My understanding is 2.5" from the handle to the tip but hey I'm an Aussie so what would I know. If it was 2.5" sharpened edge that would open up lots of options, including the Chap and Native 5.

I just loved the way you said "fight me"! Some people on the forum have been taking things far too seriously lately and I appreciated the levity.

Dan

[Manifestgtr]

Even though people have already recommended both, it’s worth reiterating.

The Lil Native and Dragonfly are the two obvious choices to me. The Dragonfly is the better slicer. The Lil Native is the “small knife with big knife attitude” choice.

[Mat_ski]

Chap and break off 0.3" and it would be legal in Chicago

I don’t know Chicago knife laws but the Chap edge length is 2.35”.

My understanding is 2.5" from the handle to the tip but hey I'm an Aussie so what would I know. If it was 2.5" sharpened edge that would open up lots of options, including the Chap and Native 5.

I just loved the way you said "fight me"! Some people on the forum have been taking things far too seriously lately and I appreciated the levity.

Dan

The Chicago ordinance does not define how the blade is measured.

[Doc Dan]

The Dragonfly is an obvious choice. The Lil Native is a consideration. In slip joints there are the Lil Native and Squeak.

[Spyderwebs]

I think the Insistent might be the winner here. I dont have a lot of need for a short knife like this, so the Lil Native may be more knife than I am looking for here.

The Insistent hits all the points im looking for with the exception of Liner lock, but Ill overlook that for the price.

I never have considered or even looked at their chinese models, but for a limited use knife the price is right.

[carrot]

I think the Insistent might be the winner here. I dont have a lot of need for a short knife like this, so the Lil Native may be more knife than I am looking for here.

The Insistent hits all the points im looking for with the exception of Liner lock, but Ill overlook that for the price.

I never have considered or even looked at their chinese models, but for a limited use knife the price is right.

I had the Insistent for a week, but I bounced right off of it. On specs it sounds fine, but in reality it is a big thick knife that mostly just feels like a shortened Tenacious.

I would pick it easily if I needed a Chicago-legal small tough BEATER. But the roundness of it and the design makes it seem like it really should be Cricket/Dragonfly-class and it is a lot thicker/heavier than that. It is even thicker/heavier than the Lil'N.

If you are looking for a shorts/dress pants EDC, go Dragonfly. If you use a knife a ton but it still needs to carry easily, Lil'N. If you want to feel like you're carrying a full size heavy duty folder (Tenacious, Manix, PM2, etc) but meet the 2.5 limit, choose Insistent. I haven't gotten a Microjimbo yet, but I would guess it sits around the same area as the Lil'N.

[RamZar]

Spyderco Kahr Arms Delica4 VG-10 Gray Stonewash FRN Handles. It’s no longer available but perhaps you can track one down. It gives you the full Delica handle but shortened blade length to 2.5”.

[p_atrick]

Regarding the Spyderco Kahr Arms Delica4, this is the next best thing. I really like mine.

https://5x5combatsolutions.com/shop/ols ... -jandelica

[270ultimate]

See also:

https://www.knivesplus.com/modified-spy ... grind.html

[Doc Dan]

I think the Insistent might be the winner here. I dont have a lot of need for a short knife like this, so the Lil Native may be more knife than I am looking for here.

The Insistent hits all the points im looking for with the exception of Liner lock, but Ill overlook that for the price.

I never have considered or even looked at their chinese models, but for a limited use knife the price is right.

The Insistent might be a really good choice. I have a Cat (Taiwan) and like many I am a big fan, even though it is a liner lock. It has a 2.5" blade, which might be too much for Chicago, I don't know. I can say it is a really good knife.