The White River ATK, short for Always There Knife, is built to be exactly that. Designed by custom maker Owen Baker Jr. of BAKR-BILT Design and made in the USA by White River Knife & Tool in Fremont, Michigan, it is small enough to carry just about anywhere and big enough to actually be useful. At 1.7 ounces, about the weight of two AA batteries, you'll forget it's there until you need it.
Owen Baker Jr. designed the ATK to be worn around the neck, where it rides flat and out of the way under a shirt or jacket. It works as a primary EDC blade, or tuck it in a glovebox, pack, or tackle box as a backup. There are no bells and whistles here, just pure knife from end to end.
The ATK runs a 2.25 inch blade in CPM S35VN, hardened to 59 to 60 Rc and ground from .130 inch stock, on a 6 inch overall frame. S35VN gives it strong edge retention and toughness for a knife this size, and it comes back to sharp without much fuss. Our comparison of every major knife steel explains where S35VN fits.
The Kydex sheath accepts the knife in either direction, so it draws and re-sheaths easily with either hand. An included multi-position belt loop moves it from your neck to your belt when that suits the day better, and owners clip it just about anywhere else with aftermarket clips.
Like every White River, the ATK is covered by a lifetime guarantee with free sharpening for life. If you want a compact fixed blade with a bit more reach, compare the Axiom or the ultralight Shoal, or browse all fixed blade knives.