Core EDC blades - opposites attract

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

So I've recently added a Spyderco Salt 2 to my core BK-14 as the base of my EDC blades, which should cover 90% of uses.

I was cringing every time I had to cut open a bag of pool salt with the 1095cv of the Becker and having to wipe it down fairly quickly after using on wet stuff or before sheathing after use, so it demanded an EDC adjustment.

The Becker: thick stock, fixed blade, drop point, FFG with convex edge and an absolute tank of a pocket survival knife that can take a BEATING and resides in a pocket sheath at all times.

Spyderco Salt: thin stock, folder, modified sheepfoot (strong tip), hollow ground, serrated spyderedge , rust proof H1 steel with a deep carry clip for IWB carry.
It also has a 3" blade, for traveling to places with such a restriction.

I think it's a great combo for my uses and the first day I carried it, I used it to cut a lemon for some walleye fish tacos and then used it to cut a steak that completed my surf 'n turf meal, without any concerns about corrosion and WOW... World's best steak knife!!!!

Both have an angle /cant to the handle and in hand / practical use, makes for an awesome feel, geometry and ergonomics.

Sure, there's still occasion for a Wharncliffe and / or hawkbill... And multi tool, and....

Do you guys have 2 very different blades that covers most of the bases, that you always carry?

 

[sXePhenomenal]

I’d have to say these 3 are my core choices. Tops Tex Creek great package and size easy to carry, XM-18 my go to modern folder, and Case/Bose improved trapper amazing cutter with very thin hollow ground blades

 

[eveled]

I’ve tried them all. I have lots of great knives to choose from. But in the end I always come back to a Buck 110. It’s literally done everything I’ve asked it to do for 30+ years.

I did add in a very small SAK to my watch pocket. The little blade, scissors, tweezers and file all come in handy. If I remember I have it.

So I have very opposite edc knives as well. One large heavy single blade. One very small light multiblade.

 

[22-rimfire]

.... I was cringing every time I had to cut open a bag of pool salt with the 1095cv of the Becker and having to wipe it down fairly quickly after using on wet stuff or before sheathing after use, so it demanded an EDC adjustment.

The Becker: thick stock, fixed blade, drop point, FFG with convex edge and an absolute tank of a pocket survival knife that can take a BEATING and resides in a pocket sheath at all times.
<snip>
Do you guys have 2 very different blades that covers most of the bases, that you always carry?

I think you have made some good choices, very practical and functional. I also would be troubled cutting bags of pool salt with many knives. Might even just use a utility knife for the task. Same concern cutting concrete bags if I am cutting more than a couple open.

I like the BK-14 a lot but have moved to the White River Backpacker Pro or my recently purchased Condor Mayflower if I want to carry a small fixie. My criticism of the BK-14 and all of the Becker neck knives are the sheaths. I think they suck which is the dominant reason the BK-14 and BK-24 have been moved to the seldom used pile. I think a knife manufacturer should provide a functional belt sheath as almost nobody wears a neck knife.

My other criticism of many small 2.5"-3" fixed blades is they tend to be made with too thick a blade stock. You don't need the strength on such a small knife that in essence can be replaced easily with a folder for most uses.

I keep the Vic Small Tinker in my watch pocket all the time now. It gets used every day and often is the only real knife I have with me day to day. Of late when I carry a second modern folder, it has been the Benchmade Mini Presidio II which I really like.

 

[eon blue apocalypse]

I think you have made some good choices, very practical and functional. I also would be troubled cutting bags of pool salt with many knives. Might even just use a utility knife for the task. Same concern cutting concrete bags if I am cutting more than a couple open.

I like the BK-14 a lot but have moved to the White River Backpacker Pro or my recently purchased Condor Mayflower if I want to carry a small fixie. My criticism of the BK-14 and all of the Becker neck knives are the sheaths. I think they suck which is the dominant reason the BK-14 and BK-24 have been moved to the seldom used pile. I think a knife manufacturer should provide a functional belt sheath as almost nobody wears a neck knife.

My other criticism of many small 2.5"-3" fixed blades is they tend to be made with too thick a blade stock. You don't need the strength on such a small knife that in essence can be replaced easily with a folder for most uses.

I keep the Vic Small Tinker in my watch pocket all the time now. It gets used every day and often is the only real knife I have with me day to day. Of late when I carry a second modern folder, it has been the Benchmade Mini Presidio II which I really like.

This is the reason I commissioned a custom kydex sheath for my BK24 from a local guy. Now I have a great sheath that can be worn exactly how I like.

To answer the original question, my every day work carry is a Spyderco Native 5 but I've always got a SAK cadet in case I need something even friendlier looking and/or to pry with.

Outside of work it's usually a larger folder (today a CS AD15) and a always a Case sodbuster Jr, carbon steel and jigged bone. Big and small, a necessary combo a lot of the time in today's society.

 

[22-rimfire]

The Native 5 is a great knife! I have one in G-10 and an older FRN version from years ago. The Cadet is a good knife too. I chose the Small Tinker because I seldom have a need for such a small scissors.

I suggested to the White River folks at Blade that they make another version of the Backpacker Pro using a thinner blade stock. I own one. I told them I loved the knife and as I recall they said it was their top selling knife. If they did this, I would buy it in seconds..... I suspect many others would do the same thing.

This is one of the reasons I intend to buy their new "Small Game" knife. I think it would work really well for an edc for regular folks.

I'm always looking for what works for average use or works "better".

 

[dberry]

I carry a victorinox tinker and a spyderco endura or Kershaw blur. I've tried to carry a spyderco enuff and the SAK but didn't work out.

 

[GB940Rookie]

These are what I consider my core group.
The RC 6 is in my truck, backpack or on my person pretty much year around.
The Gb2 is my regular after work carry in good weather.
The 940-1 is my regular after work carry in bad weather.
The Kershaw Blackout has been my work knife for 15 years now.

 

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

I think you have made some good choices, very practical and functional. I also would be troubled cutting bags of pool salt with many knives. Might even just use a utility knife for the task. Same concern cutting concrete bags if I am cutting more than a couple open.

I like the BK-14 a lot but have moved to the White River Backpacker Pro or my recently purchased Condor Mayflower if I want to carry a small fixie. My criticism of the BK-14 and all of the Becker neck knives are the sheaths. I think they suck which is the dominant reason the BK-14 and BK-24 have been moved to the seldom used pile. I think a knife manufacturer should provide a functional belt sheath as almost nobody wears a neck knife.

My other criticism of many small 2.5"-3" fixed blades is they tend to be made with too thick a blade stock. You don't need the strength on such a small knife that in essence can be replaced easily with a folder for most uses.

I keep the Vic Small Tinker in my watch pocket all the time now. It gets used every day and often is the only real knife I have with me day to day. Of late when I carry a second modern folder, it has been the Benchmade Mini Presidio II which I really like.

I use the stock BK-14 sheaths in a Mercharness setup for some core emergency items. I have a posting on here somewhere about them.

I daily carry my BK14 in a TKC pocket sheath and find it to be the most comfortable and handy way for daily carry. I've converted it into a wallet with some bicycle inner tube. VERY handy setup!

Haven't seen the Condor Mayflower... Very interesting! Now you have me googling! Might make a great gift as well!

This is the reason I commissioned a custom kydex sheath for my BK24 from a local guy. Now I have a great sheath that can be worn exactly how I like.

To answer the original question, my every day work carry is a Spyderco Native 5 but I've always got a SAK cadet in case I need something even friendlier looking and/or to pry with.

Outside of work it's usually a larger folder (today a CS AD15) and a always a Case sodbuster Jr, carbon steel and jigged bone. Big and small, a necessary combo a lot of the time in today's society.

I also have a kydex sheath
for the BK-14 for horizontal belt carry at 12:00 and it's my favorite carry method, but not exactly work-friendly, so it's more of a weekend and outdoor carry method for me.

I also recently picked up a Spyderco Ladybug Salt which has a pretty great, pointy tip to bring out at kids birthday parties to help open gift packaging, or in the office for some mundane EDC task where delicate sensibilities might get upset.

The Native 5 is a great knife! I have one in G-10 and an older FRN version from years ago. The Cadet is a good knife too. I chose the Small Tinker because I seldom have a need for such a small scissors.

I suggested to the White River folks at Blade that they make another version of the Backpacker Pro using a thinner blade stock. I own one. I told them I loved the knife and as I recall they said it was their top selling knife. If they did this, I would buy it in seconds..... I suspect many others would do the same thing.

This is one of the reasons I intend to buy their new "Small Game" knife. I think it would work really well for an edc for regular folks.

I'm always looking for what works for average use or works "better".

That small game knife looks great, but for pockets, I find 7" to be my max length.

I recently picked up a KA-BAR little Finn and it's a cute, little, super thin slicer with a fairly long blade and in 4116 stainless. It makes for a neat little bird and trout type of knife. Very inexpensive, considering the traditional, stacked leather handle and fancy, shiny pommel.

 

[22-rimfire]

....Haven't seen the Condor Mayflower... Very interesting! Now you have me googling! Might make a great gift as well!

I picked up the Mayflower at BLADE at the Condor booth. I only paid $30 for it with micarta handles (only two made by Condor with micarta). I yanked the cash out real quick when the Condor rep mentioned price and I honestly didn't know what the regular one sold for. Me and another guy got the only two micarta ones at that same moment in time. It's 440C; not the greatest steel these days, but it is a real comfortable little knife and even vertical, not noticeable at all for normal wear (Shopping, and so forth). I really like this little knife. It is one of the few fixed blades I have used lately as a sort of edc. Obviously I can always slip on a Dozier or the White River (mentioned below) which I like a lot.

I spend a fair amount of time at the Condor booth every time I go to Blade. At the last Blade a few years ago (I skipped going for a couple years.), the rep showed me a 18" machete that was discontinued and sold it to me for $20 (sheath and all). I honestly haven't needed the machete to date as I use two of their machetes regularly.

My cross draw type sheaths are almost all Doziers with his knives and I have a number of them. The White River Backpacker Pro can be adjusted to horizontal, but I don't see a big deal with it vertical. I usually wear a Carhartt pocket teashirt loose..... covers most things up within reason during the warm months.

A couple years ago, I wore my Pro Guide's knife (Dozier) which is not a tiny fixed blade.... not a single person even noticed it. Learned something that day. That said, if you happened to be involved with police, they certainly notice such things very quickly.

 

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

So it turns out that the Spyderco Salt 2 comes in handy for bags of pool salt in the summer....


...and driveway ice-melting salt in the winter....

With this little H1 sheepsfoot, I've cut meat, citrus fruits, opened salt bags, etc. without a second thought about blade damage or blade care afterwards.

All kinds of things that would normally induce some urgent blade care angst with other steels.

It gets ridden hard and put away wet.

 

[CanadaKnifeGuy]

Anyone else doing this?

These 2 core blades still haven't left my person, nor let me down.

 

[Knives&Lint]

No matter which of my knives I'm carrying as my primary folder, I almost always also have a SE Dragonfly clipped in my back pocket; going almost completely unnoticed until it is needed, when I've found it to be quite handy. I have one swapped into a Zome Green frame and one into Pakkawood. I am also almost always carrying some sort of traditional as well, but that is more for my own enjoyment if I'm being honest. So while I don't have 2 that I always carry due to rotation of my primary folder, the SE Dragonfly is the constant in my carry. I do, however, go weeks at a time when I'm visiting back home in Florida with the aforementioned Dragonfly and the Sebenza (along with a traditional) as my combo, and feel well served with those two.