I have been on the look out for a small knife that would fit inside my PSK originally I was going to get a cold steel bird and trout knife and attempt to modify the handle by heating and putting a hump in the middle of the handle to shorten the overall length. (Well unless I can fix it with a hammer I am SOL) so passing on that idea I was still looking for a small useful alternative. I recently ran across the BUCK Smidgen and think it fits my needs.


It is made of 420SS with a 1.8” blade and overall length of 4.25 total weight is 37 grams


The blades is very thin and keeps an edge I left the lanyard on so that I could slip my ring finger in it and avoid the knife slipping if I were to apply too much pressure cutting something. The two holes in the handle can be used as anchor points to secure it to a branch and use it as a spear tip.
It's priced at $15 so it is a low cost option

Northerner

It looks just like a Hartsok, the main difference being the different steel? I was fortunate to obtain a CRKT Stiff Kiss (4" blade) - same concept as the Smidgen, just a bit bigger.

Hikermor, I've got a Stiff K.I.S.S also and freakin love it. I don't know why they stopped making it, and looking around their website now I don't see a comparable replacement. It's a shame. Out of all my knives, I tend to carry that one for weekend backpacking and hiking. Even the fixed Ritter, which I also love, I only tend to bring on hunting trips.

It seems a tad big for a neck knife, but that Buck Smidgen seems to be awfully close to perfect for that, might have to check it out. Thanks Northerner for the heads up!
J

I'll put in a plug for the RSK Mk5 - designed by Doug Ritter, David White, and Andrew Osborne specifically as a high quality knife that will fit in a PSK.

http://www.dougritter.com/rsk_mk5.htm

Thanks for sharing, a good quality small knife is a must in a PSK in my opinion, as anything less could get one injured in an emergency situation.

I have both the Smidgen and its higher priced S30V brother the Hartsook. Both are great little knives to stash in a small kit.
I also miss the CRKT Stiff KISS. They show up on ebay from time to time. Its way bigger though.

Also just got the RSK5, haven't had a chance to use it just yet.

Have a look at the cold steel ready edge and super edge. Very useful small fixed blade knives.

There is now a third copy of the Hartsook/Smidgen being made by buck. Its the Jim Shockey Signature Series Fannin Knife (might be a Cabela's exclusive, can't remember and don't have the catalog here). This one is made from 12C27M Sandvik steel.
Personally I have (and would still get) the Hartsook because of the S30V, but not everybody is a fan of that steel.

In today's paper, Big 5 is advertising CRKT "stiff kiss" knives with the tanto point for $14.99.
I have no connection with Big 5.