Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I like swiss army knives for there versatility but there are a few things that keep me away. The main issue I have is that the blade is short enough that I have to use the whole blade. Because there is so much handle thickness to one side at the base of the blade this makes it somewhat awkward for me. Also the ones I have don't lock and the stainless steel while rust free won't take an edge like the higher carbon stuff. Also for the amount of blade you get they are to bulky in the pocket.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Agree on the non-lock, sometimes that's a bit of a problem, and the SS won't take the edge that some other steels will. As far as thickness of the knife overall, that will depend on how many tools you get. The bottom one in the picture above is just shy of 1/2".

In the end it boils down to which features are most important to your use & personal preference.

Good thread with lots of info, I'm sure I'll be referring to it in the future!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I carry a Myerchin Sailor's tool everyday, feel naked without it. Whether at work on ship's, or on vacation on boats, it is always handy.

http://www.myerchin.com/P300BL.html

That is why I started this thread. What a cool knife tool. I would have never seen that in if you didn't point it out.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I carry this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spring-Assisted-Rescue-Pocket-Knife-FIRE-FIGHTER-DECAL-/270969324298?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1707c30a

Very slim, inexpensive, easy one hand opening, and sharp as all get out. Half serrated blade is great for thicker materials. Holds an edge very well and comes in many styles/colors. I also like it because I can't even tell it's in my pocket because of the clip and the slim design.

How does the spring assist work on that one. I'm not sure if it would be legal to carry in NY. Ironically, I think that since I work for a university any knife might be an issue at my job but there are plenty of guys that carry them. I think nobody cares much since we are not on the same campus as the school but I wouldn't want to have to test that boundary.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I've always carried an inexpensive Barlow, so when I lose it, break it, drop it overboard, etc., don't hurt my feelings$$$ so bad. Dad was a knife maker and collector, and I still have his fine collection...most of them way too nice for everyday use!...Wouldn't want to use a mint condition Red-Bone Case to cut bait with!

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Right now I am looking at the Spyderco Ambitious

Spyderco Persistence

And many, many Kershaws like this Leek

I guess I will have to go down to the local sporting goods stores and see what feels right in my hand and pocket.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Scipper, I like them small. The hunting buddies laugh at me cause that is what I use on big game for field dressing also. Right now in my pocket is the biggest knife I carry, a 2 3/4 inch bladed Frontier. Cheap and reliable. Needs sharpened right now. As said earlier I prefer the smaller blades, and I don't usually need the seratted edge and would rather have the full blade. Took a 2 1/4 inch EDC knife to Colorado and field dressed 2 elk with it (Next time I went I did take a bigger knife for that, too hard to cut out the esophagus). Some people cringe when they seem me cutting cheese or meat with my pocket knife. They ask where it has been ... shucks, I don't know, cutting boxes, opening mail, gutting animals, screwing in screws, pounding in nails, picking teeth and getting the dirt out from under finger nails, digging in the dirt, cutting carpet and drywall, cutting rope, you get the point.

There are a lot of things I will leave home without. My small pocket knife isn't one of them. Oh, and I don't care for the clips because I don't like the looks of it hanging out of my pocket and I don't like the extra room it takes up in my pocket.

Thanks for starting this thread. Some really neat knives.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I use a Gerber folding utility knife similar to this. Got a dull blade toss another one in. I also switched to the Irwin bi-metal blade. They stay sharper a lot longer than any others I have used.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I use a Gerber folding utility knife similar to this. Got a dull blade toss another one in. I also switched to the Irwin bi-metal blade. They stay sharper a lot longer than any others I have used.

Now that gerber is a contender. I have full sized folding utility knives like the Harbor Freight one posted earlier but they are way to big for an EDC. I really like the idea of being able to just swap out the blade instead of having to take the time to manually restore the blade through sharpening several times a year.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Gerber paraframe. Lightweight, stays sharp, non-clogging, non-rusting, inexspensive to replace if you lose it but NOT cheap, comes in multiple sizes.

 

[i386]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I carry a SOG Flash 2 (aluminum handle version)


I am left handed. Having the reversible clip means the blade is facing the right way when it comes out of my pocket. I prefer a drop point blade which mine has, but it's also 1/2 serrated. I don't have much use for the serrated half to be honest.

The aluminum handle version is a good bit more expensive than the Zytel version. It's also a bit heavier. A couple guys at work have the Zytel handle version and it seems fine to me.

When I want something smaller, I carry my trusty old USA made Schrade SP2.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Well it would seem that my quest for an EDC knife has nearly turned me into a knife hobbyist. I started out carrying one of these


Then I ended up buying a Kershaw OD2


The buck in the first picture is a REALLY cool little knife. It's tiny, sharp, dissapears in your pocket, and the bottle opener is nice. For me that knife is the perfect knife for home use. Mostly grilling which tends to include opening a beer or two. The drawback is that with a blade slightly over an inch long you could barely cut a carrot. Great for opening hot dog packages but not much else.

That little kershaw is also a very handy knife. It is ridiculously sharp and weighs almost nothing at 1.4 oz. The flipper system is nothing short of amazing. There is a little gear so that moving the flipper 90 degrees moves the blade 180 degrees. The flipper disappears into the handle when open. The longer thin blade is quite useful. The pocket clip on this knife makes this knife super awkward to handle. I removed the clip and find it a pretty comfortable light duty knife now. There are other knives in this size range that are much more comfortable in the hand. These options tend to weigh twice as much and have bulkier designs. I think doubling the weight and adding some bulk however would not be a problem for me as the weight of the OD2 is so minimal. It's underkill.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I use the plain edge version of this knife on a daily basis. I'd be lost without it. They are legal in Oregon (also made there) but probably not much of anywhere else. Even in Oregon, you cannot carry it concealed so I wear it on my belt. I got arrested for having it a few years back but the DA threw it out of court even before it came to trial. You can walk into the factory and buy it over the counter.

http://www.benchmade.com/products/2550

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Great knife, too pricey for me, and definitely no auto's in NY.

On a side note I have read that you can have an auto in NY if you are hunting, trapping, or fishing with a valid liscense. I wouldn't want to test that one out however.

 

[colding]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I have owned hundreds of pocketknives over the years. This is the only one I will ever carry now. If I lost it today, I would rush out and replace it with the exact same thing! They can be found online for a little over $30 shipped...

http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=41&brand=kershaw

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I have owned hundreds of pocketknives over the years. This is the only one I will ever carry now. If I lost it today, I would rush out and replace it with the exact same thing! They can be found online for a little over $30 shipped...

http://www.kershawknives.com/productdetails.php?id=41&brand=kershaw

If you like the chive, have you tried the scallion? My brother in law has one and it is really well proportioned for it's size. Very natural feeling in the hand.

 

[colding]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

Isn't the Scallion just a larger version of the Chive? The smallish size of the Chive is what's so appealing to me, along with the removable clip.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I think you may be right, they do look the same. My brother in law had a chive, broke the tip (prying) and replaced it with a scallion. He likes the scallion better (I think). Believe me the scallion is still pretty small. The blade length is advertized at 2 1/4". My OD-2 is also 2 1/4" and side by side the scallion is at least 1/4" longer blade.

As a matter of fact, when I said

"There are other knives in this size range that are much more comfortable in the hand. These options tend to weigh twice as much and have bulkier designs."

I was thinking about the scallion.

In any event, if I buy another knife it will most likely be a Spyderco persistence or tenacious. The tenacious is larger than I think I want to carry but since I have a small EDC now and the tenacious is there bread and butter it would diversify my options. Who knows I might end up preferring it's size but I will never carry a knife using the clip at work since I am employed at a university. If one person tells HR that I am carrying a "weapon" I could see it becoming a nightmare situation.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I have a couple razor blade knives similar to what was posted earlier but this is what I always go back to

50 year old design with a few little refinements along the way this is a Buck 110FG based on the 110 only with finger grooves, I probably have a half dozen of these, 2 that I know of and I am certain my kids have the other four...

This knife is nearly 5"s long so check your local laws for those in .....oh never mind

 

[scipper77]

Re: Every Day Carry (EDC) Knife

I have a couple razor blade knives similar to what was posted earlier but this is what I always go back to

50 year old design with a few little refinements along the way this is a Buck 110FG based on the 110 only with finger grooves, I probably have a half dozen of these, 2 that I know of and I am certain my kids have the other four...

This knife is nearly 5"s long so check your local laws for those in .....oh never mind

The buck 110 is the definition of classic. Drop point, lock back. It's all you really need. This is a knife that any and every knife collector should be aware of.

I'm glad you put it in this thread as it really is the perfect general use and abuse pocket knife.