Recommendation? Lightweight 4” EDC under $250

Not sure if you're open to a 4.5" blade, but Benchmade's SOCP Folder is an incredible knife. :) Most of my other faves aren't notably light (which you mentioned in your OP), but this one is 4 oz. of awesome and comes in under your budget.

Here's mine sandwiched between a Military and a Grip.

sbLec2i.jpg
 
Southern Grind Bad Monkey. I have the Spider Monkey and like it so I got the Bad Monkey. Had to send the Bad Monkey back though, just to big for my hand. Shop around though. Most places sell it for right around your budget but I found mine for $212...

Not my photo but this is it...
9od0Ers.jpg
 
I've got my eye on the Benchmade full size Adamas, once it hits retailers @ $238 I'm in. I picked up the mini version and love it so I'm more than willing to get the larger version that's U.S. made with quality materials under $250.
 
I really don't see much difference between a 3.5 and 4" folder. I edc a Spyderco Gayle Bradley and it would be my recommendation for those who want to edc a good folding knife.

Butt, if you want to go into some serious length (size matters) here is a BIG 5.5" knife that I like, but its hard for edc. It is a Cold Steel Voyager XL. I've added a link below if you want some info about it, and I like the Golden Retriever in the video. I guess because everyone in Australia, and every other British colony is afraid of firearms they have to tote something like this beauty.

The feel and balance are excellent, much better than I thought they would be by just looking at it. And, you can't beat the $100 price. Like they say on the Forged In Fire TV show, this knife will CUT.

(29) Huge Knife - Cold Steel Voyager XL review - YouTube
 
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Benchmade 710 all the way. Got my first one over 20 years ago and have spent thousands of dollars buying other knives, just to send them down the road as they all fall short of the 710 in M2.
 
$210 shipped from GP Knives, given the material and build quality this lb. for lb. one of the best 4" knife purchases I've made.

BM Adamas Full Size-1 4.10.21.jpg

BM Adamas Full Size-2 4.10.21.jpg

Size comparison to the Mini.
BM Adamas Full Size-3 4.10.21.jpg

Two more 4" bruiser size comparison.
BM Adamas Full Size-4 4.10.21.jpg
 
So.

I've taken my time, and gone through every single knife mentioned in this thread, whether or not they were addressed to me.

The knives suggested and mentioned were all awesome, though several certainly didn't meet my stated needs/ criteria.

I actually really enjoyed looking at all the knives.

At this point, I have a shortlist of three knives, with one front-runner.

Other knives were categorised and listed in alphabetical order, with some comments.


SHORTLIST
1) 4.4"/0.11"/4.2 oz Spyderco/ Knifecenter Police 4 Pakkawood: This is the clear front-runner. Long, thin, light, and gorgeous. I'd passed over the Police because I usually prefer locks other than lockbacks. But this is great!
2) 4.0"/0.12"/ 5.3 oz Benchmade Crooked River: It's a little heavy, but it's still a favourite.
3) 4.5"/0.12"/4.1 oz Benchmade 391BK SOCP: I'd never have looked at this without the recommendation — it's far too tactical-looking. But I absolutely love it! Svelte, light, nimble, with that sweet fidget-friendly Axis lock. How could I resist?


ALMOST!
- 4.4"/0.14"/4.4 oz Cheburkov Raven: I like! But out-of-budget.
- 4.0"/0.14"/3.1 oz Cold Steel Broken Skull: Utterly impressive, and it meets my needs nicely, but I just don't love it. I think I'm aesthetically biased against large clip points.
- 4.0"/0.16"/4.2 oz Spyderco Military: Quite nice — and I like liner locks — but the Police Pakkawood beats it cleanly.
- 4.1"/0.13"/3.9 oz Spyderco Native Chief: Nice, but I prefer the Police to the Native Chief.
- 4.1"/0.16"/4.4 oz Zero Tolerance 452CF One of my fave ZT knives… but it just doesn't beat the competition here.

REJECTED: TOO SHORT (less than 4") AND/ OR TOO HEAVY (5 oz or greater)
3.8"/6.5 oz Benchmade 275FE-2 Adamas
3.6"/0.12"/4.2 oz Benchmade 580 Barrage
3.8"/0.13"/3.6 oz Benchmade 710
4"/5.9 oz Benchmade 810 Contego
4"/10.2 oz Cold Steel 4-Max Scout: Pocket machete! More than twice the weight I'm looking for lol
3.5"/5.9 oz Cold Steel AD-10 Impressive knife that is totally not what I'm looking for here
4.0"/5.3 oz Cold Steel Recon 1
5.5"/7.9 oz Cold Steel Voyager XL Drop Point Tri-Ad Lockback
3.7"/0.16"/5.5 oz/ 6.5 oz Freeman 451 Button Lock Flipper Folder: Gorgeous knife, not what I'm looking for
4.0"/5.6 oz Hogue EX-01
4.0"/5.0 oz/7.6 oz RMJ Tactical UCAP Fixed Bowie Knife: Not generally acceptable as EDC in my community.
4.0"/0.13"/5 oz Southern Grind Bad Monkey Nice! I like it! If I were buying ten, this would be one! But not particularly light, and not preferable to the Crooked River.
3.8"/4.3 oz Spyderco Amalgam
3.9"/5.6 oz Spyderco Chinook 4: Upswept Persian blade! Gorgeous, but not for my EDC.
3.8"/0.13"/3.6 oz Spyderco Endura
3.6"/0.12"/4.4 oz Spyderco Gayle Bradley: I love it! But not what I'm looking for here
3.8"/5.2 oz Spyderco Manix XL
3.4"/0.15"/3.8 oz Spyderco Paramilitary 2: PURCHASED/ REFERENCE FOLDER

Thanks for the replies. Anything I buy will have to be shipped to Barbados, and I'll have to pay hefty import duties on it, so I'm considering my choices carefully. But right now, it looks like I'll be saving my pennies to buy at least two blades.
 
So

I’d planned the purchase of the Pakkawood Police and/ or the Crooked River to come up in a few weeks time.

But this morning, an online acquaintance put his Gayle Bradley 2 up for sale for $125… and I pulled the trigger.

It will take weeks to reach me here in Barbados. I can’t wait!
 
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