Boring EDC's

K

Knife Outlet

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Jan 4, 1999
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I was doing maintenance on my knife collection this evening and spent some time sharpening my most commonly carried EDC's. Since I'm in the knife business, people expect me to be carrying the most exotic knives available. While I do have some very cool knives, I usually carry EDC's that are pretty boring. When people ask to see what kind of knife I'm carrying they usually aren't too impressed. Here are the ones I sharpened this evening.

edcs.jpg


At the top left is a Boye BDS1. I've had three of them. This is the only one left that doesn't have a snapped off tip. Talk about brittle steel! I've carried this knife since the late 1990's.

Below that is a Gerber Silver Knight with phony scrimshaw on phony ivory. It's a perfectly good EDC and I've been carring it since 1980 something.

Beneath that is a kit knife I assembled myself to see if my customers would be able to do it. I was amazed that I was able to do it. It's a good EDC as well and I put it together about 3 years ago so it's the youngest member of this bunch of knives.

Beneath that is a Normark Pocket Swede. I've tried to lose I don't know how many times but it is still there. I've carried it since the mid 80's. At this point I'm almost tired of it. I may lose it on purpose.

At the bottom of the left row is a Kershaw Talon. It's ugly but it is the smoothest operating liner lock I've ever encountered. Period. Mid 90's, I think, and pretty high tech for its time with a titanium handle.

The little fixed blade is a Russell Easler stag caper that I carry on the rare occasions I feel like having a fixed blade. It doesn't scare anybody but it cuts quite well, thank you. ATS-34, I believe. Mid 90's somewhere. A very practical knife.

The top knife on the right is a smallish Robeson jack that my father gave me somewhere around 1958. It's amazing I've never lost it. I lost most of the others he gave me. It holds a very good edge and works as well today as it did back then.

Beneath that is the popular and currently available Yellow Delrin Case Congress. You can buy one brand new if you like. I bought this one in the late 90's and carry it quite often. It's nice to have 4 blades.

The last one is my "dressy" congress, a Hen and Rooster with mother of pearl scales that I've had since the late 90's as well.

So tell us about some of your boring EDC's.
 
I like the kit knife, but otherwise you're right, they're pretty boring. But, when it comes to knives I follow two philosophies: to each his own and keep it as simple as possible. I like a knife to look different, but still be only one or two colors, with a more or less plainly functional handle and blade. That's why I'm such a huge fan of titanium framelocks, Axis lock Benchmades, and most Spydercos. My most "boring" knife is probably my Spyderco Kiwi. Most people get pretty excited about that little knife for some reason, but it is pure and simple functionality in a slightly different package and that's why I love it. :)
 
And not "boring" at all! That Kershaw Talon is a highly coveted "pikal" knife by some. If it were tip-up carry, it'd be "wave" city with that knife. Thanks for the pic! :)
 
My EDC folders are boring (but excellent) Benchmades...An 805s and a 721s. I also carry a pair of boring multi-tools; A SOG Deluxe Pocket PowerPlier and a SOG Crosscut.:).
 
I carry a Victorinox Settler....A SAK with no additional tools! :eek: How boring is that? :D All the knives in my rotation are 1 or 2 layer SAKs, with a CRK Mnandi thrown in for good measure. :cool:

Paul
 
More often than not I carry a Ka-Bar Mule: it's not very exciting, but it cuts very well for the $$$.
 
I'd be impressed if you showed me those knives. All of good quality, and they work well it seems. How's that not impressive?
 
The funny thing is that I see guys come around and fall in love with the super cool looking whizzbang tacticals, crazy grinds a massive blades, once they start carrying them they realize that all of thecool stuff does not amount to much when you actually need to cut something.

How do I know? Been there, done that & got the credit card bill ;)

Most of the design styles you EDC are ones that have been around a long time, when people were focused on making tools that work for their designated job, cutting. Today a lot of designs are intended to look good first & perform second.

While I still have a good deal of beefy tacticals, day in and day out I mostly carry efficient cutting, and to varying degrees somewhat "boring" knives. Today I'm carrying an 80 year old Schrade Wirejack I picked up this weekend.

But as others have said, boring is in the eye of the beholder.

Edited to add a shot of the Wirejack I'm carrying today..

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I wouldn't call your EDCs "boring", "classic" and "time tested" come to mind for some of them (not for the Talon, which is really not my cup of tea).

I go to a couple of craft classes (leather working, silver working, etc.), all of them oriented to rural "criollo" stuff. Knife use is very intensive, some of the guys know I'm a knife collector, so the first couple of times I had to pull out a knife they watched to see what miracle of modern technology I was going to produce, out came an Opinel and a classic mora. There were some dissapointed guys, but the older fellows all praised my choices.

I have a good number of modern design folders, one hand openers, assisted openers, etc. but I keep going back to the traditional designs time after time.
 
Not boring at all; it's a very eclectic group of knives that shows a true range of knife interests.

Of the bunch, my favorite is the fixed blade. I love the Silver Knights and have two or three, but I definitely prefer the natural handles; I believe they were (and are again) also available in stainless, wood, and mother-of-pearl, should the plastic 'ivory' get on your nerves. The Congress pattern doesn't usually turn my knobs, but that Hen and Rooster of your's is quite attractive.

My EDC, nothing usually. Unless I'm hiking or working outdoors, then I carry an Opinel or AG Russell's Hunter's Scalpel.

Thanks for the pic!
-Bob
 
Interesting responses. I expected to get stories from others who often carry out-of-fashion or "uncool" knives. Instead I get responses that some of the knives are cool. It shouldn't surprise me, I guess, since the respondents are all knife knuts and most knife knuts like a wide range of products.

I can't stand the looks of the Talon. I said above that it is the smoothest operating liner lock I've ever encountered. I wasn't kidding and I've encountered thousands and thousands of liner locks. My microtech Socom is in second place. Nothing else comes close. But this Kershaw is truly a mechanical marvel. I just open it and close it. It gives me the same sensation I get from closing a door on an S class Mercedes Benz. I wish Kershaw would update the look of that series of knives and make them again with the same quality, precision and action. They would sell just fine for well over $100.

The Easler fixed blade actually is a "cool" knife, I suppose, and a custom. It is included with the others simply because I sharpened it at the same time as the others so it became part of the group.

I have a thing about congress pattern knives - particularly stag handled ones. I own about a dozen stag congress knives large and small and perhaps another dozen with other handle materials. It is my favorite pattern. I like barlows and the copperheads too, but the congress is the classic classic for me.

The wire jack is very cool, indeed. I'd carry one if I had one. I like the little bone handled sleeveboard below it as well. It might be to you what the Robeson in the picture above is to me.

Today's EDC, by the way, is a large Schrade Old Timer stockman. I've had it for about 30 years. It has spots all over the blades but it is a terrific performer. I think sawcut Delrin is getting more popular now that Schrade has been liquidated. Thanks for the discussion.
 
Glockman, you should treat yourself to a Leatherman Xti. It is as though, after all these years and all these models, the multi tool was finally perfected. The fit and finish are amazing. The sheath even houses a little removable pocket clip. It's a fun product to just hold in your hand. I haven't carried mine yet. I carry my Wave occasionally but it's heavy and isn't quite the mechanical marvel that the Xti is. Check it out. You may replace that SOG.
 
I have three of those and they also are part of my EDC rotation, just goes to show a good knife is a good knife.

BTW the three I have are the Boye, the Silverknight and the H&R. :D :cool:
 
If a knife performs the function for which it was designed, is not boring, but functional!!

You've had some of those knives a long time, and they are obviously old friends! Some of my old friend are boring perhaps, but I value them just the same.... perhaps more than a few 'johnn come lately's"

Great little collection:)

Doug
 
I can see it now.... a trade thread just for boring knives :D I have one or 2 or 10... :rolleyes:
 
T. Erdelyi said:
I have three of those and they also are part of my EDC rotation, just goes to show a good knife is a good knife.

BTW the three I have are the Boye, the Silverknight and the H&R. :D :cool:
Click to expand...

There, you see! I'm not the only appreciator of congress knives.
 
Nice group ,Fred, the closest to traditional I am carrying is my Lone Wolf City Knife.
 
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