Recommendation for pocket carry

[jel]

Okay, let me start by saying hi to everyone. I've been lurking and reading on this forum for awhile now (don't really remember when I joined), but am really a newbie when it comes to Spyderco's. I have a Native (III), and a Cricket both of which I love. But the Cricket does have one issue that bugs me, and that is the "S" shaped blade. I'm just not that big a fan is that blade shape, and is the major reason for the question below.

So here's the question: I'm looking for a small knife (Spyderco of course) that can be carried in the watch pocket of my jeans (which is usually where the Cricket is). As this particular pocket varies in size from one jean manufacturer to the next, I'm looking for something around 3 inches in length (closed). The main reason I like to carry in this pocket is that it is out of the way, and the knife is hidden from sight. I work on a college campus, and letting everyone know that you carry a knife is generally not a good idea. I think of a knife as a tool rather than a weapon, but not everyone is that way (especially these days).

I'm not all that fond of clips on these small knives (though my Cricket still has it's clip) so I was kind of leaning towards a Kiwi as a small carry knife. What do you guys (and gals) think about this as a choice? Any thoughts on the Carbon Fiber vs the Red Bone handle materials?

I was also looking at the Lava, but it is both longer and much heavier than the Kiwi. Although I'd like to have one someday, especially in g-10.

Any suggestions or comments are welcome.

Thanks,

Evan

[LowTEC]

have you ever consider a white dragonfly, it's light, full flat ground yet it has a choil and you might able to wrap around the handle with your full hand

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=357

[kbuzbee]

Hi Evan, and welcome!

You picked two of the three I'd suggest and, of the two, I'd lean toward the Lava. The ergos on that knife are not to be believed for one so small. The Kiwi is good to, of course but the Lava is a more serious cutter. The third rec would be a Dragonfly. In FRN it's certainly lighter than the Lava but I still like the Lava better. I doubt you'll find the weight to be a problem and you may even prefer it as you'll be able to tell the knife is still there more easily?!?

Good luck!

Ken

[ghostrider]

As far as :spyder: 's go, you might consider the D'Fly, Spin, Jester, or any one of the Ladybugs. There is also the byrd Finch.

Another suggestion would be the Boker Subcom F, which is ideal for watch pocket carry.

[cobrajoe]

The kiwi is a great little knife. It fits in the hand just like a skinny native (But not shorter). The only problems could be that it has no clip (Personally, I find it hard to retrieve from my watch pocket, so I just deep pocket my SS kiwi), and the blade and lock are more for light duty--the pivot is right at the skinniest part in the tang.

The lava is a beauty of a knife. The egros are awesome, it fills your hand even though it's a small knife. The blade is slightly short, but it will accomplish jobs that make you wonder why you need a bigger blade. The flat grind is a great slicer, and the lava has a much thinner edge than my kiwi. The lava is definately close to the top of my small knife reccomendations, right behind the cricket :D

Other knives to consider:
Dragonfly (Slim and very light)
Navigator (Solid grip, stout blade and lock)
Copilot (Almite version easily availiable, small and fairly universal)
Ladybug (With a fob, it would be easily retrivable and cuts much bigger than it's size)
MicroDyad (Looks like Grandpa's old slipjoint, has Plain and Serrated blades! I use mine often)
Meerkat (Navigator style handle with a nifty lock)
Spin (It's Tiny!)*
Kopa (Fancy but pricy)*
Poliwog (Gagety but kinda chunky)*
Spyfox (AG Russel only -- Like a little Volpe)*

* means I haven't had first hand experience with this knife.

I still recommend the Lava, but if you would like a good home for that cricket, you can send it to me :D

[RIOT]

i agree, the dragonfly if i remeber right was perfect for that little pocket, the clip wasnt trusted on my regular pocket, so like i said it went perfect in that little pocket

[LowSpeedHighDrag]

Id go with the lava, but if too large maybe a dragonfly would suit you better or even a Delica.

[Lev]

LAVA...you won't be disappointed. and you won't notice the weight once you've carried it a few times. Of knives with blades less than 3 inches, it is my favorite :D

[nomaded]

My preference for that pocket is the Kiwi (the jigged bone one). I had tried the Lava in that pocket for a little while, but it's just big enough that it would sometime jab me in the stomach if I bent over. But then I lost the Lava, so I went back to the Kiwi.

Another suggestion is to get a Ladybug/Jester for the keychain. Carrying 2 knives is better than carrying just one.

[Billy]

Another vote here for the Lava. :) I find mine fits perfectly in my watch/change pocket, even with another, bigger knife clipped next to it in the main pocket. Another option to consider might be the Boker Wharcom which is another small knife with big cutting ability. Even though it's a Boker, it shares the same designer (Chad Los Banos) as the Lava.

[Spygineer]

I also carry my cricket(s) on my keychain or in the small pocket of my jeans.

Next to the cricket, I would go with the Navigator II all the way. I prefer this over the d'fly.

[The Deacon]

I'm something of a Kiwi fanatic. It's a great little knife, regardless of the version. It fits very nicely in a watch pocket, that's where I carry mine. Both the Red Bone and the new Carbon Fiber look quite nice, it really comes down to a question of whether you prefer the more traditional look of the bone, or the more "high tech" look of the CF. My personal favorite among the "production" versions, is the original Amber Jigged Bone. But they're getting somewhat hard to find.

[feeny]

Lava in the change pocket - add a short lanyard and use that for access, leaving it unclipped or even remove the clip altogether.

The lanyard hole on the lava is positioned in such a way that you can yank it out and access the knife very very easily - this is much harder on the cricket.

...and all that has been said on the ergos, shape and style of the lava is absolutely true.

[wescobts]

I carry my Native everyday and find slim enough, and **** useful. :D

[whitefeather]

I like the Kiwi for the small pocket but I can't comment on the CF Kiwi because I do not have one yet. The red bone is certainly a very classy little knife.

You may also want to check out the Acid Etched Spin with the clip removed.

I also would recommend the Acid Etched Dragonfly with the clip removed.

I would vote against the Native or the Delica for the type of carry you described.

[LeeCQC]

Well, I love the Lava, so I'll have to say that. But! Having said that, I've been throwing the idea around in my mind of trying to pick up one of the Kiwi's, as a more 'dressy' type of knife. So, we'll see which I prefer once I have the Kiwi in-hand. :spyder:

[ozspyder]

I can recommend the Kopa, Lava, and Dragonfly highly for your purposes... oh yeah Ladybug too :) I carry those in my pockets just about every day in an office environment. I would also very highly recommend the Kiwi, even though sadly I do not yet have one (Kopa addictions takes cash away etc..)

The Kiwi and Ladybugs are clipless folders and made especially for small pockets and are great for EDC carry. Kopa is my personal favourite if you want to spend that much. However the Jigged Bone, and Black Quince versions you should be able to snare for around the $100 mark, sometimes under.

[Agent Starling]

But the Cricket does have one issue that bugs me, and that is the "S" shaped blade. I'm just not that big a fan is that blade shape, and is the major reason for the question below.

Oh, dear, please tell me I didn't read this right...this knife is a great user, and if it's SD you're looking for, it's like a Civilian in miniature...

I'll second, third, and fourth the Lava suggestion...the diminutive size of this innocent-looking knife can fool you...great knife... :D

Agent Starling

[ozspyder]

**** right Agent Starling ! :p

[The Mad Mule]

I'd say Lava too, but in my opinion, the weight you must take in mind, since it's pretty much a solid chunk of steel making up the main bulk of the knife. Jeans are fine, but those thin sport pants? Heh, I had to tie my pants tight in fear if I jumped around too much, my pants would start falling on one side. :p

Another funny thing is that now that I bought a brushed chrome Zippo lighter, I realized that the two (knife and lighter) match design, so that was a sweet surprise.