Greatest sub-3” Folders - Elusive!

I’ve been on a personal search for the best sub-3” folder for 45 years. After graduating college, my work required suit & tie. I quickly found my Puma Earl folding hunter ( like a Buck 110 but better materials) was too heavy & printed in the front pants pocket. So the search began for a folder that was - strong , lightweight, thin , small so as not to print in dress pants’ pocket AND dependable.

Through the years I carried

Gerber LST

Spyderco Delica

AG Russell One-hand Opener, with a 3” blade. I carried both Micarta & plastic handles.In fact AG sold me the prototype at a NYC knife show. Carried it for years until I found custom knives. Still fond of the AG folders but the Benchmade 530 with axis lock pushed it out of my EDC rotation which was dominated by Terzuola’s Microstar 3.25” blade which traveled in a secret pocket in the pants of my custom suits. That was before

(1) 9/11 which changed what you can carry on a plane &

(2) governments regulations on blade size & how a folder opens.

With both business travel & vacations I kept running into Max 3” blade limitations in many cities.

I’d rather a small knife as an EDC then no knife. I also split my sub-3” search into (1) lightweight backup or for suits or gym wear & (2) heavy duty no concern with weight or size of handle.

As to the heavyweights I used both Emerson mini- CQC7 & Emerson’s CQC7 Krambit. I just bought a mini Freek with S90v & CF handle, with axis lock it may replace the CQC7.

Hardest group to find is the sub3” lightweight backup. So after 45 years of searching here are my favorite 4 in order of find. ( note pic also has a 940bk-2004 for comparison purposes)

1) CRTK M16-00F: a Kit Carson design 2.8” blade of ACUTO 440, CF handle with a nested liner lock. Weight 1.6 oz. Nick name “Little Bulldog”. Kit’s design is definitely tactical, lots of file work & hole in handle for grip. Always hoped I’d find a custom with upgraded steel blade & a Ti liner rather then steel. Price was under $100, out of production many years now.

2) Bob Terzuola’s custom TTF3b. I carried Bob’s TTF3a for many years on weekends with a 3.5” blade & the Microstar with a 3.25” blade for work. So when Bob came out with a sub-3” it was love at first site. The TTF3b has a spearpoint 2.9” blade of S30v. Mine all have CF handles with one Ti liner for the lock. With the CF weight at 2.18oz. As these were customized to my liking the Ti is anodized blue, the blue lightening strike CF has been sand blasted for orange peel grip ( not as pretty as the high gloss on the inside of the handles but better grip & mine have thong holes. Mine also have thumb discs, Bob made a lot with thumbstuds. Love this little knife & it’s been my favorite sub3” for 15+ years. Down side price & replacement if lost. Today even if I could talk Bob into making me a replacement it would be about $1,500. Bob no longer is taking custom orders.

3) Chris Reeves’ Mnandi has a 2.75” blade of S35vin. They are all liner locks of Ti with inserts of wood or CF. Best feature it doesn’t look tactical but Ti mades it strong & weighs in at 1.58oz. It doesn’t have same sure grip as Kit’s & Bob’s sub3” but once open it is comfortable in hand. One down side is the new nail nick is shallower than when the Mnandi’s first came out & is much harder to open one-handed. Price $450 & I’ve seen “old nail nick” selling for a premium on eBay. On plus side unlike first two these are easy to find.

4) Benchmade 945bk-1 ( aka mini-940) design Warren Osborne. It has a 2.9” blade of S30v & the axis lock. With this first configuration of G10 the weight is 2.19oz. I like the grip. This will become my primary sub3” lightweight backup folder. Better materials & lock then the M16-00F. Easier & cheaper at under $200 to replace then the TTF3b. While blade stock on the 945 is thinner than either the M16-00F or TTF3b I believe for it’s intended purpose it’ll be strong enough.

I hope this saves some of you some money & 45 years of searching for the most elusive of knives.🦄

loonybin

March 10, 2021 07:32

You might take a look at the SOG Terminus XR LTE, which has CF liners as well as scales. 2.2oz with a 2.9" S35VN blade.

Also, I'm suprised you didn't include that special edition mini-Freek in your lineup.

billhammer

March 10, 2021 14:44

/|\ LB, I have & mentioned the mini- Freek. It looks promising, but heavy sub-3” that are good aren’t as hard to find as lightweight sub-3” blades. I only posted a photo of small lightweight weight knives. When it comes heavyweight sub-3”I am partial to Emerson’s CQC7 Krambite. I like the retention ring & if legally I can only carry sub-3” it’s a good one. For the handle size & weight of that krambite if there isn’t a 3” limit I’d rather an 801-1401 or Emerson CQC8.

I’ve not handled the SOG Terminus XR Lite. Will look to do so.

halflife78

March 10, 2021 20:31

My current favorite in the sub 3 category is the spyderco chaparral, I have one in birdseye maple and Raffir Noble Brass/Acrylic.

holo07

May 10, 2021 09:39

I also looked for a sub 3" knife, when i couldn't find one I liked. I took my Bugouts to the sanding belt and made my own. I have done this on 2 Bugouts and I really enjoy the finished product.

May 10, 2021 18:33

[@mention:589599268366001024] posted:

I also looked for a sub 3" knife, when i couldn't find one I liked. I took my Bugouts to the sanding belt and made my own. I have done this on 2 Bugouts and I really enjoy the finished product.

/|\ can you post a pic? Thanks!

May 10, 2021 20:47

here you go

May 10, 2021 22:41

/|\ Thanks!👍🏻

ekwan

May 12, 2021 03:27

The 770s were awesome.
I’m pretty sure the Emissary is in the 3 n under group

May 12, 2021 03:42

Shoki was cool too. I dig the spine.
Didn’t get too much pocket time, especially the Gold/Versace class.
lol

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Greatest sub-3” Folders - Elusive!

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