Do your Expensive EDC’s stay at home? Or do you carry less expensive EDC’s?

[mitchnola]

There was a time I hesitated to use an expensive knife. Thanks to Sharp & Fiery and Kettleman
I’ve come to realize the purpose and intention of a knife is to be used. All of my knives get carried and used. Admittedly though I don’t need to use a knife on a daily basis but if something needs to be cut I use whatever is in my pocket. I do have a few that I only carry on weekends or in the house but will still cut something if needed. And those are my “safe queens” because of rarity not cost.

 

[calm]

 

[stabman]

If I didn't carry and use my pricey/discontinued knives, I'd feel stupid.

 

[stabman]

I don't carry and use every single knife I own, but I rotate through most of them. Whether they are expensive or not is irrelevant. What matters if if I want to.

If I didn't carry them, you would all have missed out on this great picture of Mighty Toadin.

So carry what you want, lest Toadin look down on you and bar your path to Valhalla.

 

[elevator man]

That's like buying a lariat and putting seat covers over your leather seats. I am in the camp of I like to have quality tools and Edc items. But I expect them to earn their keep and be used, and i enjoy using them. Having a nice knife at home to daydream about while I struggle at work with a cheap knife is no fun. I don't get the point of owning something nice if your not going to use it.

 

[scoobtay]

My knives wear their scratches and wear with pride. Harder to carry the cheaper ones when the spendier ones are so good.

 

[Modernflame]

I only own knives from one manufacturer: Chris Reeve Knives. I use them all, cut what needs separating, but I also take care of them. I maintain a clean pivot, protect and seal wood inlays, keep the blades clean and sharp.

And have a helluva good time doing so.

 

[sixate]

I only have a few knives, all are expensive, all users. I used to have knives at all different price points, but now I only like a quality knife.

 

[Captiva]

I won’t come across enough stuff to cut with all of my knives for the rest of my life.

Corporate tie job, hire pros for real work jobs. A $5 utility blade knife and a Pierre Cardin letter opener handles 85% of what I need a knife for.

My expensive knives ($600 and over for me) stay on beautiful display as eye candy.

Once in a while I make sure they still cut paper with ease.

Now occasionally the Nighthawks and Guncrafters see range time if I feel, they feel ignored.

 

[Kettleman]

I only own knives from one manufacturer: Chris Reeve Knives. I use them all, cut what needs separating, but I also take care of them. I maintain a clean pivot, protect and seal wood inlays, keep the blades clean and sharp.

And have a helluva good time doing so.

My Brother!

 

[Ikhnaton]

I only have a few knives, all are expensive, all users. I used to have knives at all different price points, but now I only like a quality knife.

That's so true. I used to carry a Gerber Paraframe or some kind of Smith&Wesson tactical folder - I don't know which model though, it had a firefighter emblem on it, was an assisted flipper with a thumbstud and completely black with a beltcutter at the butt of the handle. But then I got my Sage 5 LW and it blew me away. And a year after I got that one, I got a Manix 2XL and it's just as amazing! I just cant go back to carrying those others, because the Spydies are much, much better knives (and I think those are quite expensive knives at 200 and 230€ respectively) and thats why I use them and enjoy using them

 

[KenCaz]

I Do Carry them, however, it's hard not to baby them...!!! Even though they don't need any babying...

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I am currently carrying the middle one, a William Henry Monarch given to me by the wife 12 years ago. These are all under $1K each so they are among my least expensive folders. I do most of my cutting at home (retired) and I mainly use my Microtech OTFs to open mail, breakdown boxes, etc. and even the wife uses them to open mail, etc.

 

[Barman1]

I have plenty of knives I don't carry because I just like owning them, and honestly, I have hundreds more knives than I'll ever need for the rest of my life so it's no big deal. I am not a minimalist. Also, as a member of the Laptop Class, my cutting needs on a daily basis tend to be few. Hell, many of my knives were bought simply because I liked them and wanted to own them, not because I necessarily needed a new cutting tool.

That said, if I have a dirty cutting job, no, no I'm not using an expensive knife when a cheaper Cold Steel or Opinel will break down those boxes, and my nice stuff doesn't get scratched up.

Ditto, and thanks, now I don't need to type all of that on my phone.

 

[fuyume]

Hi all. Bike Doc here.
I was wondering who leaves their expensive knives home and carry alternatives? I am impressed with some $60 well made knives I’m not afraid to use.

I mean, define "expensive"? My big EDC is a vintage Gerber Harsey AirFrame, has been for about 20 years. My small EDC is a Victorinox Rambler. The AirFrame was about a $250 knife when it was new, I think? I probably paid $150 for mine, on eBay, but I can't remember, it was so long ago, now. I actually have two of the AirFrame, one is a FPR with the original machined titanium scales and the "Fine Edge" blade, which is my main EDC, the other is from the later 1 of 1000 run with cast aluminium scales with a serrated blade, which I only carry for special occasions, because it's lighter and won't weigh my lingerie down so much if I need to clip it under a formal gown.

To buy a knife of equivalent quality today would probably cost about $450 USD. Closest thing would be a Spartan Harsey Folder.

I wish I could get that schmutz off the pocket clip. I don't even remember how it got there. The Fenix E12 v2.0 has been replaced by a NiteCore EC11 for my EDC light.

 

[Danny Linguini]

I have plenty of knives I don't carry because I just like owning them, and honestly, I have hundreds more knives than I'll ever need for the rest of my life so it's no big deal. I am not a minimalist. Also, as a member of the Laptop Class, my cutting needs on a daily basis tend to be few. Hell, many of my knives were bought simply because I liked them and wanted to own them, not because I necessarily needed a new cutting tool.

That said, if I have a dirty cutting job, no, no I'm not using an expensive knife when a cheaper Cold Steel or Opinel will break down those boxes, and my nice stuff doesn't get scratched up.

Yeah, that’s me. I just can’t see dinging up something more valuable when I have something less valuable that will do the job just as well. I have a few that I might reserve for dress-up affairs, though I can’t recall the last time I attended one of those … that wasn’t a funeral.

 

[cutchu]

Some members here have just a couple knives. Some here have more than they could realistically use in a lifetime. It's just the way it is.

While I certainly understand the different perspectives posted here and numerous other threads about something similar to "use it or sell it", I really do not see the point to buy a 2K folder just to beat on it and baton through bricks just to post pics of doing it.

We've seen similar on this forum.

Most of us here carry multiple knives "EDC". If I have a 2K knife and a SAK on me and need to pry a nail out of a car tire, I will pick the cheaper knife first. Or a tool designed more for that task.

I carry ALL of my knives. Some I use just lightly. Some are basket cases.

 

[Drop bear]

I have cheaper ones for edc. They do fine. And I keep my good ones nice.

 

[stabman]

I really do not see the point to buy a 2K folder just to beat on it and baton through bricks just to post pics of doing it.

People don't baton through bricks to post pictures...they take video of it and upload it to YouTube.

 

[DavidABQ]

My more expensive knives stay at home and I carry less expensive knives as EDC these days. I used to carry a CRK Mnandi but I got a little Paranoid about losing it or damaging it. Back into the drawer it went. At this moment I am carrying an old Buck 501 with the micarta scales that was replaced back in 2013. I think I paid about $40 on eBay several years ago. I like the knife very much but if I was to lose it I can replace it with another Buck 501 easily enough and it won’t cost me near as much as the Mnandi.