45rpmspinner
Super Member
Now that I'm retired and doing my best to become a semi-respectable old gent, I've been thinking it's time to quit carrying a 9+ inch long [when open] folding hunter.
So, I've been looking for something smaller that might actually fit in a pocket......and won't necessarily frighten small children.
Problem being that after carrying large knives for almost 40 years, most smaller knives make me feel like a schoolboy playing around with a cheap pen knife.
So, there's a limit to how small I will go.
I'm also hopelessly old fashioned and most modern knives don't interest me at all.
At the moment I pretty happy with a couple I've picked up.
A Western 521, about 6 inches when open, and a Schrade 5OT at about 6 and a half inches.
Both have sheaths for belt-carry, but aren't bad in the pocket either.
The Western 521 is a bit jewel-like for my taste, but it's very well made and has a nice heft to it. Feels like a "real" knife.
Actually, I like it enough that I picked up it's bigger brother, a 532, which is about 7 inches when open, and imo, a serious knife.
However, the 532 is too big for pocket carry and, for its size, one of the heaviest knives I've handled.
I like the utilitarian look of the Schrade, but it's right on the edge of feeling like a toy.
It is however growing on me.
Pluses are it's light in the pocket and for whatever reason I can always get Schrade blades scary sharp.
These are also fairly inexpensive, so if I lose one I won't fret much.
So far, the Schrade is what stays in my pocket....even when I'm carrying the little Western on my belt.
So, I've been looking for something smaller that might actually fit in a pocket......and won't necessarily frighten small children.
Problem being that after carrying large knives for almost 40 years, most smaller knives make me feel like a schoolboy playing around with a cheap pen knife.
So, there's a limit to how small I will go.
I'm also hopelessly old fashioned and most modern knives don't interest me at all.
At the moment I pretty happy with a couple I've picked up.
A Western 521, about 6 inches when open, and a Schrade 5OT at about 6 and a half inches.
Both have sheaths for belt-carry, but aren't bad in the pocket either.
The Western 521 is a bit jewel-like for my taste, but it's very well made and has a nice heft to it. Feels like a "real" knife.
Actually, I like it enough that I picked up it's bigger brother, a 532, which is about 7 inches when open, and imo, a serious knife.
However, the 532 is too big for pocket carry and, for its size, one of the heaviest knives I've handled.
I like the utilitarian look of the Schrade, but it's right on the edge of feeling like a toy.
It is however growing on me.
Pluses are it's light in the pocket and for whatever reason I can always get Schrade blades scary sharp.
These are also fairly inexpensive, so if I lose one I won't fret much.
So far, the Schrade is what stays in my pocket....even when I'm carrying the little Western on my belt.
