Are ergonomics that important for a EDC...?

I have a SAC too.
But it's my secondary don't scare the populace
It's ergonomics are ok.

My primary blade must fit and feel good in my hand.
The yojimbo2 being at top of the list..






Bo T said:
I edc a SAK so no. Pretty much every other pocket knife I have has better ergonomics than my SAK. They also have better steel. They carry better in my pocket. I edc my SAK because of its usefulness.
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Are ergo's, aesthetics, blade steel important for a edc, you better believe it. Whether it's used for 30 seconds or 30 minutes it's all important to that person who owns the knife of choice. I don't carry a sebenza because it's a great edc knife, I carry one because I can.
 
Shrub said:
YES! Ergos are extremely important for edc.
Just my opinion/observation, but, a real survival knife
is the one you have on you.
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Wait. Wut? How this become about survival knives all of a sudden? :confused:

Anyhoo, to me....life's too short for uncomfortable and/or ugly and/or poorly-slicing knives. So, yes, ergos are important.
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
It's your EVERY DAY CARRY, for crying out loud. If there is one knife that should have good ergos, it should be the one you use every day. :)
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:thumbup:

Couldn't phrase it better myself.

My favorite knife is a $10 Rough Rider Canoe, it has 440a steel. I have knives ranging up to $100 with S110V steel and I still take that Canoe over just about any other knife I own unless I need something for a specific task. And there is a very simple reason why, that knife has the best ergonomics for my hand in such a small package it's not even funny. If I were to get a custom knife made tomorrow, I would ship that knife to them and tell them to copy that knife's dimensions exactly with only a few small changes to the blades.

I used to not value ergonomics as much until I got that knife and let me tell you it's night and day difference when you find a knife that just fits your hand that well.
 
I own quite a few knives, but I EDC the same knife M-F, in the urban non-knife jungle. The non-threatening, incredibly useful Dragonfly 2. For what it is - a very small knife - the ergos are as good as I have ever seen or felt, and yes, that is one of the reasons I EDC it every single working day. Perfectly shaped for the tasks for which it is designed, and therefore as useful a feature as blade geometry, type of steel, lock mechanism, and handle material.
 
My opinion is that most people buy knives making the purchase decision visually, not by feel.

If, however, it turns out to be TOO uncomfortable once they receive it, they will return it. A "bit" uncomfortable they'll keep it because it looks so good. Looks prevail. :calm:
 
A truly good knife will have good ergos, so it should already be at the top of the list for EDC.
 
I read some really good points ...some i really didnt think about when i wrote the thread..I guess some of my point was that some knife designs as far as folding knives go are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and sacrifice somewhat on the ergos...but its ok to want a knife like that !!! I read every reply and everyone gave me something to think about...THANKS !!!
 
fetzer85 said:
With so many thousands of knives available, why settle on any that don't feel good in your hand - regardless of how often I use them?
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Agreed. Why sacrifice ergonomics when you do not have to. Like saying you ccw gun stays holstered most of the time or all the time when carried so what does its ergs matter. I prefer to have a nice ergonomic gun and knife.
 
Bob6794 said:
:thumbup:

Couldn't phrase it better myself.

My favorite knife is a $10 Rough Rider Canoe, it has 440a steel. I have knives ranging up to $100 with S110V steel and I still take that Canoe over just about any other knife I own unless I need something for a specific task. And there is a very simple reason why, that knife has the best ergonomics for my hand in such a small package it's not even funny. If I were to get a custom knife made tomorrow, I would ship that knife to them and tell them to copy that knife's dimensions exactly with only a few small changes to the blades.

I used to not value ergonomics as much until I got that knife and let me tell you it's night and day difference when you find a knife that just fits your hand that well.
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Kowan said:
Exactly. I'm not going to EDC a knife that doesn't feel good holding/using it.
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Thanks! And to the other reply, I have over 80 knives, but the only one that I carry every day is my CRK small Seb 21. I carry it because it is sharp, strong, carries well, and feels good in the hand.
 
I would say that ergos are exceptionally important in a knife that you'll be spending most of your time with. But, of course, your mileage may vary.
 
Part of the reason I carry a knife is to help me deal with any unforseen situations, just because I only use it a few times for light use on most days doesn't mean I'm willing ti leave myself unprepared on the day when I do need it.
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
It's your EVERY DAY CARRY, for crying out loud. If there is one knife that should have good ergos, it should be the one you use every day. :)
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I agree. If the knife doesn't have good ergos than I really don't see why you would buy it IMO. You can get ergonomic knives that are also good looking. Of course this just reaffirms my opinion that most people carry a pocket knife as jewelry first and utility second. This is also why you see so many high end knives with squared off handles. Why take the time to round them off when they sell either way?
 
Ergos are part of the package. Poor ergonomics are a deal breaker. Especially on future purchases as I tune away from that brand of knife. People like or prefer different things.

Someone mentioned that the ergos are poor on a SAK. Well, I dissagree or mostly dissagree. Probably why I carry one of the 111mm sized ones however as I always felt the smaller sizes were too small for me. I want a knife to fit my hand; that's ergos.

A classic case where ergos are really important to me is with utility knives. I've had a lot of different ones. But ultimately I moved back to the tired and true designs that protect my hands more from impact or abrasion injury.
 
I rarely use my knife for long periods of time. So hand fatigue and hot spots are not a particularly important factor for me as far as ergos go. It is more about security and usability.

I have found that I like a knife that is secure in my hand and doesn't slip. One way to do this is with a textured handle.

Another way is with choils and gimping and curves. I like maximum handle to skin contact with ergos to match the contours of my hand. Using ergonomics for a secure grip is especially important if, like me, you like a slick handle for ease of slipping it in and out your pocket.

During the work week it is not uncommon for me to use my knife ten plus times a day for various chores. I need something that I can remove, open, use, close and put back in my pocket without too much thought or fumbling around.

I have also found that a knife with good ergonomics allows for multiple grips, depending on the job at hand.


Other than that ergos are not particularly important.
 
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I much prefer a knife that is comfortable in my pocket as it will be there up to 12 hours at a time, only coming out for a couple of minutes.

My collection has reduced considerably because I have sold off quite a few knives that were extremely comfortable in my hand but due to their "tank-like" build, I couldn't stand to carry them.
 
If it's your every day USE knife, then it's very important.
I want my pocket knife to do everything from cutting string and tape, to carving stuff out in the woods, to cutting thick rubber hose or plastic when needed at work.
In short, I want a knife which will cut things when needed, whatever they may be.
An ergonomic handle is a key component of this.
 
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