An everyday carry knife should be

STR

STR

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strong but light weight on the pocket, easy to open and close one handed if need be, capable of being used for survival in a pinch, for food prep, field dressing, and other outdoors chores in a pinch, used for some whittling and minor carving work if I ask it to, able to hold an edge well, and take one well also, relatively stainless and care free, capable of being deployed fast for defense or rescue if need be, easily replaced in the event of loss or breakage, and easily taken down to be cleaned.


Thats my criteria. Whats yours?
STR
 
It should be a folder :)
If it is a folder then it has to be stainless and have a pocket clip.
It should be light (this doesn't need to be taken very seriously) and slim (this does).

Otherwise I agree with you mostly (apart from survival, defense, rescue, and ease of replacement (which narrows the choices too much IMHO) - I never did such things).
 
Whew... Thats a tall order for any EDC knife to fill! I suggest the Alox Soldier or Alox Bantam by Victorinox. These are tough yet pocket freindly knives to EDC.
 
I think it should usually be a folder too. small enough to be comfy and large enough to do some good. Since mostly only I will ever see it, it should be something I like. I like both G10 and wood. I have several EDC knives and like to rotate them. Some days its the nice ones Some days the mean one!

My carry reflects my moods and personality. I like that too!
 
It must be fairly light in weight, and thin. My EDC is usually economically priced, so if it's lost or confiscated, then I can easily replace it. Also, it has to be a folder with a blade no longer than 3" (I work in an office type setting, so if I use it in front of these people, they're not freaked out too much). I also prefer a plain edge blade that locks, and one that is easily deployed with one hand.
 
I EDC folders with a blade between 3" - 4". Must be strong, fast, reliable, sharp and pointy. The preferred blade has a ingrained hatred for all things cardboard and paper, and should slice through anything made of either with great enthusiasm. I prefer G10 over everything else, but some aluminum or titanium handled knives suit my needs. It should be very pleasing to the eye and to the hand that uses it. When I'm at work it sits on top of my desk so I can look at it, pick it up and play with it while I work.

In terms of usage, my EDC spends 99% of its time opening packages, slicing through packaging etc. So it needs to hold an edge. I have many knives that fit these requirements perfectly, so I rotate them in and out of my pocket according to my mood. Usually it's the most recent knife I have bought. Today it's a black blade, plain edge Spyderco Military, and it is a beauty.
 
For me it should be a folder, for you it might be a fixed blade............some factors have to go into that decision. I need a knife, preferably with two blades, that I can use to cut a variety of things with. Paper products, boxes, and that sort of thing is what I use one for. A two or three bladed slipjoint knife is what I generally carry. Now, not that I need it, more because I can carry it and like to carry something "different" from the ordinary, I also pack along a large single bladed folder that is locking and carried via a pocket clip. I rarely use it but I enjoy having it!:D :thumbup:
 
It can't be a fixed blade, it has to bee a non-one handed opener, less then 7mm blade lenght and it needs to NOT have a lock.

It needs to have a screw drivers and be easy to carry around.

I am EDC'ing a Vic farmer as it fits my needs very well.
 
My EDC must...

Be comfortable to carry and comfortable to use.
Be reliable and consistant, time after time, day after day.
Be able to cut a wide variety of materials very well.
Have good blade-steel that holds an edge for a decent amount of work.
Be a locking folder.
Have a fine tip for delicate cutting.
Have at the least a 3.5" blade.
Be strong and inspire confidence.
Be able to open with one-hand.
Be something that I'm proud to own.

Lately, it's been my Cabela's Alaskan Guide Buck 110.
 
I mostly agree with STR, but would like to add the following:
1. the EDC must not attract too much attention;
2. It must fit (style and lookswise) with the dress code, culture and policies of your most common environments; and
3. It must comply with local laws.
 
Aside from the take down for cleaning bit , sounds a lot like a Spyderco - several models fit those criteria . Personally I never take my stuff apart , just flush and relubricate . There are a number of good spray products that do a great job , not to mention hot soapy water .

If you are prepared to get more spendy , a small Sebenza should please you . They are replacable , but costly .

Chris
 
For the record. I'm not particularly looking or trying to decide on one to buy for another EDC in my rotation. The knife I made there in my signiture line fitst the bill for me as do several other knives in my EDC rotation including my Spyderco Atlantic Salt with reprofiled blade, a Pacific Salt, my old Gerber Sportsman folder and several others like my BM HK29, Kabar Dozier designed Thorn, Kershaw Leek and Scallion, Case BlackHorn 3.5 and Buck 112 Ranger, and Schrade LB7. I was just curious what others look for and thought it would be interesting to hear differing views and needs.

I didn't say it had to lock so for me slip joints are not out of the question but just slower to get out. However nothing I said there is written in stone. That is just the ideal I generally shoot for. Its nice when you find one that meets all criteria but many times you have an ideal and get the one that comes the closest to what you hope to find. I like a splinter picker point on my EDC also and forgot to mention that, and for me a sheath knife is out of the question. I have to have either a clip or one that carries in the pocket. I've already got too much on my belt now...

STR
 
I was thinking about starting a thread along the lines of "Why do you EDC the knife you do?," but this is close enough. Here are my priorities for my EDC knife, in no particular order....


-Thin blades, flatground highly preferred. Drop point is my favorite tip style, followed by clip and spear. Optimal blade length is around 3 - 3.5 inch cutting edge.

-Its kind of a given, but high level of sharpness maintained. General use folders are usually left with a slightly coarser finish than say my SAKs, which get used mostly with food, shaving and whittling.

-Comfortable handle. I'll take something fat and long over a thin folder that rides easy in the pocket.

-Aversion to thumbstuds, opening discs, liner and framelocks, full steel handles, chisel grinds, tantos, blade or handle cut-outs, recurves, pocket-clips, thin handles, thick blades, low saber grinds and folders with handles that readily flex.


I don't have very strict criteria. Even some of the rules above are broken, such as my fondness for Alox SAKs contradicting my avoidance of SS handled knives. Main priorities are thin blades with a good grind and useful point shape, packed into a comfortable handle. I'll take wood, brass, FRN, G10 etc for scales, carbon steel or stainless from 420hc to S30V for the blade and weight simply is not an issue with me. I take the clips off all my folders, I care more about ergonomics than keeping a knife clipped. Prefer pocket carry anyways, even with 110's or the Spyderco Manix. My most frequently carried knives in order are an Opinel #10, Victorinox Farmer, Buck 110 and Vic Nylon Solo. Vic Rambler or Classic with an LED attatched to keyring often compliments one of those, especially at night. I prefer simple knives with proven designs for comfort and raw cutting ability.
 
Vivi said:
-Aversion to thumbstuds, opening discs, liner and framelocks, full steel handles, chisel grinds, tantos, blade or handle cut-outs, recurves, pocket-clips, thin handles, thick blades, low saber grinds and folders with handles that readily flex.
Click to expand...

Wow, Camillus EDC can score a lot: thumbstud, framelock, full steel handle, handle cutouts, recurve blade, pocket clip = that sums 6 (and I don't count thin handles, because it depends on what is thin for you) :)
And it is one of my favorite knives :)
What will beat it? :)
 
Until recently my EDC requirement would have been "Cheap". I tended to pickup something that worked and just stick with it. After losing my last cheap folder, I decided to try a different tactic. I decided that it is worthwhile to spen money on something that I carry around with me everyday. Afterall I wouldn't buy cheap eyeglasses, and I'm already carrying a very high end watch and upscale flashlight everyday. I just happened to try out a Kershaw Leek at a local shop and loved the SpeedSafe AO feature and the blade profile. I was going to buy a standard Leek, but found myself interested in the G10-S30v Leek. I wasn't too keen on the idea of textured G10, so when I found a polished G10 Leek for sale NIB on E-Bay, I jumped on it. It should be arriving this week, I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival.

For me the lightwieght and blade profile were the deciding factors, that blade just looks like you could perform surgery with it.
 
STR said:
strong but light weight on the pocket, easy to open and close one handed if need be, capable of being used for survival in a pinch, for food prep, field dressing, and other outdoors chores in a pinch, used for some whittling and minor carving work if I ask it to, able to hold an edge well, and take one well also, relatively stainless and care free, capable of being deployed fast for defense or rescue if need be, easily replaced in the event of loss or breakage, and easily taken down to be cleaned.


Thats my criteria. Whats yours?
STR
Click to expand...

Great definition/prerequisites for an EDC!

Racerx2oo3 said:
I was going to buy a standard Leek, but found myself interested in the G10-S30v Leek. I wasn't too keen on the idea of textured G10, so when I found a polished G10 Leek for sale NIB on E-Bay, I jumped on it. It should be arriving this week, I'm eagerly awaiting it's arrival.

For me the lightwieght and blade profile were the deciding factors, that blade just looks like you could perform surgery with it.
Click to expand...

You'll love the S30V Leek and the polished G10. I have the textured G10, but the polished blade.:thumbup:
 
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