Modern "Christy Knife?"

[Dionysusigma]

With all the recent hubbub about Christy knives, made worse by them not being made anymore, I was wondering what a modern replacement/ version would be.

Necessary features:
Blade no longer than 2.5"
Non-fixed blade
Blade locks and unlocks one-handed
Can be opened in a pocket (meaning, no "swing-out" knives), preferably OTF (out the front)
Good quality, but no costlier than $70
Cannot be misconstrued as a "switchblade"
Decent blade steel

Anything fit the bill?

 

[ErikS]

I carry a Spyderco Ladybug.
It is a "swing-out" opening knife, but it's so small that I have no problem opening it one handed in my pocket. (I dont wear tight fitting pants, and I kind of hold out my hand to give it room to open, but I dont find it at all difficult to do it.)
I carry it to be able to open boxes, letters, cut strings etc, so size was the important thing when choosing it. But since I have it, I actually thought of the possibility of using it as a last option self-defense weapon. Not sure how much use it would be though.

I feel the steel and quality is pretty good, but I'm sure someone with more knowledge will set me straight if I'm wrong.

 

[HiWayMan]

Saw one just the other day in a SMKW catalog. I'll look and see who makes it. It looked servicable, but not of too high quality though.

 

[Sharpdogs]

Cold Steel used to carry a knife where the blade slid out of the front manually. It came in double edge, tanto and I think a rescue blade. I had mine stolen years ago. I believe they were made in the early 90's. The model name escapes me, but I would love to get another one. Occassionally they are on ebay. I wish another company would make a modern day Christy Knife.

 

[ErikS]

Cold Steel used to carry a knife where the blade slid out of the front manually. It came in double edge, tanto and I think a rescue blade.

Cold Steel Triple Action? Looks nice.
It's a 4" blade, and cost around $150. Otherwise it fits the OP specifications.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

Kershaw makes one called the Ripcord that I think is OTF.

Schrade also now makes and OTF assisted-opener.

 

[hso]

OAL 5.75"

 

[Pax Jordana]

that ripcord looks neat.. but useless without the sheath.. great idea though.

CZ or someone else, how does schrade justify that knife as an OTF AO and not a switchblade?

EDIT: The above pic is from innerpointcutlery.com, for those among us like myself with smaller monitors

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

CZ or someone else, how does schrade justify that knife as an OTF AO and not a switchblade?

You have to press the blade, not just a button. Same deal as using the flipper/thumb stud on an AO side-out folder- since some manual manipulation is required, it's legally not a switchblade.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I'm not sure there is a modern version of the Christy knife. One thing that made the Christy special was the era it was born in. Back in the 1930's, there was not alot of "different" pocket knives on the market. Almost all knives of the period were near identical in design, the usual one or two blade slip joint pocket knife. The Christy was an invention from a personal request of a friend of the company owner, for a small pocket knife he did not need to break a thumbnail to open. Untill then, the company just made kitchen knives.

In the 1940's and 50's, the Christy knife was a low cost keychain type of penknife. A novalty knife if you please. These days there are no shortage of one hand opening knives, AO knives, even automatics, all available in very small sizes.

Like one poster said, a Spyderco ladybug would most likely do in a pinch. In fact the ladybug is a stronger built knife, and would stand up to some punishment better that a light Christy.

I think it would be like the original VW bug. It was a great car, and in the 1960's was one of the most popular cars in the U.S. because it was low cost but very reliable. But now we have better cars that will run alot longer with less maintanence. Or, the M1 Garand was a great rifle, but if you were shipping out for Iraq today, would you want one?

The Christy was unique for its time, but that was a long time ago.

 

[seeker_two]

Maybe a CRKT K.I.S.S or P.E.C.K.?......

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

http://christycompany.net/

You know, I'm not so sure they're discontinued. I think they might have shut down for a little bit after Earl B. Christy died, but they're releasing a commerotative knife in his name for 2008.

 

[Coyote3855]

CZ.22 Thanks for the link. I had a Christy when I was a kid, like maybe in the mid-1950s. Don't remember how I got it or where it went. Sticker shock on the Commemorative knife, but I might need to get one of the basic models for nostalgia.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

I might have to get one as well. I'm guessing they're carbon steel?

 

[Dionysusigma]

I stand gladly corrected. Their .pdf brochure says that they restarted production in 2007.

I think they're stainless, actually...

 

[Joe Demko]

I owned a Christy knife, once. Lost it somewhere along the way. It is strictly a light duty item. If they actually are back in production, and not insanely priced, I may pick one up for nostalgia's sake.

 

[p35]

Here's an example of the Cold Steel FWIW. I never really got enamored with it. Sorry for my poor photo skills.

 

[TimboKhan]

I have this goofy little Gerber knife made of AUS-6 that I have owned for a few years, and while I don't carry it every day, it is my small knife of choice. I have become a big fan of the Boker Subcoms and Subclaws as well, but if I want a ultra-light little knife that fulfills all of your requirements, that Gerber fills the bill every time. I think it cost me $14.95 at Walmart, and they don't sell it anymore. If they did, I would buy a spare or three.