EDC musings

hornetguy · Oct 12, 2023

As I was touching up the edge on the Bunny knife (didn't really need it.... just wanted to) I was thinking about what, to me, makes a great edc knife. I mean, one that will do pretty much anything you require a knife to do, from day to day. I know that we all have different needs, many of them real, some imagined (which makes them real to us)
but I thought it would be interesting to hear what knives just feel right to you in a daily carry.
I also understand the pleasure in variety, but I'm finding that even when I change out knives, the "replacement" knife seems to have the same characteristics as the one being replaced...

My preferred knife (at this time in my life) is usually a two blade, jack style knife.... bonus points for having both nail nicks on the same side. I want the main to be a clip style, and the secondary to be a pen style. I also want it to be no smaller than 3" closed, more or less. I have several that fit this criteria.... the aforementioned Bunny knife, the Case Texas Jack, a Schatt and Morgan English jack (even though it's a spear main)....
I am also ok with the added sheepfoot blade in a stockman, as long as the blades don't have to be krinked to close together.

I've tried several different styles, laguioles, lambfoot, sheepfoot.... but still come back to a two blade jack... they do everything I need a knife to do, and they are generally unobtrusive.... they just fit.

The Bunny, after touching up on the Arkansas stone, and oiling the joints.....

waynorth

screened porch · Oct 12, 2023

Almost always a standard stockman, with or without non-stockman additions.

Modoc ED · Oct 12, 2023

A Bunny knife by A.Wright

pmek5 · Oct 12, 2023

hornetguy said:
As I was touching up the edge on the Bunny knife (didn't really need it.... just wanted to) I was thinking about what, to me, makes a great edc knife. I mean, one that will do pretty much anything you require a knife to do, from day to day. I know that we all have different needs, many of them real, some imagined (which makes them real to us)
but I thought it would be interesting to hear what knives just feel right to you in a daily carry.
I also understand the pleasure in variety, but I'm finding that even when I change out knives, the "replacement" knife seems to have the same characteristics as the one being replaced...

My preferred knife (at this time in my life) is usually a two blade, jack style knife.... bonus points for having both nail nicks on the same side. I want the main to be a clip style, and the secondary to be a pen style. I also want it to be no smaller than 3" closed, more or less. I have several that fit this criteria.... the aforementioned Bunny knife, the Case Texas Jack, a Schatt and Morgan English jack (even though it's a spear main)....
I am also ok with the added sheepfoot blade in a stockman, as long as the blades don't have to be krinked to close together.

I've tried several different styles, laguioles, lambfoot, sheepfoot.... but still come back to a two blade jack... they do everything I need a knife to do, and they are generally unobtrusive.... they just fit.

The Bunny, after touching up on the Arkansas stone, and oiling the joints..... waynorth

View attachment 2352858

Fully agree with everything you said. The Bunny knife has checked all the boxes for me including my favorite Ebony. Most carried knife by far next to my BF 2017 TC. If i could only keep one knife this would it.

waynorth · Oct 12, 2023

hornetguy said:
As I was touching up the edge on the Bunny knife (didn't really need it.... just wanted to) I was thinking about what, to me, makes a great edc knife. I mean, one that will do pretty much anything you require a knife to do, from day to day. I know that we all have different needs, many of them real, some imagined (which makes them real to us)
but I thought it would be interesting to hear what knives just feel right to you in a daily carry.
I also understand the pleasure in variety, but I'm finding that even when I change out knives, the "replacement" knife seems to have the same characteristics as the one being replaced...

My preferred knife (at this time in my life) is usually a two blade, jack style knife.... bonus points for having both nail nicks on the same side. I want the main to be a clip style, and the secondary to be a pen style. I also want it to be no smaller than 3" closed, more or less. I have several that fit this criteria.... the aforementioned Bunny knife, the Case Texas Jack, a Schatt and Morgan English jack (even though it's a spear main)....
I am also ok with the added sheepfoot blade in a stockman, as long as the blades don't have to be krinked to close together.

I've tried several different styles, laguioles, lambfoot, sheepfoot.... but still come back to a two blade jack... they do everything I need a knife to do, and they are generally unobtrusive.... they just fit.

The Bunny, after touching up on the Arkansas stone, and oiling the joints..... waynorth

View attachment 2352858

We only really need one knife; and I am glad you like this plain, unassuming knife!!
I like 'em too!!

waynorth · Oct 12, 2023

pmek5 said:
Fully agree with everything you said. The Bunny knife has checked all the boxes for me including my favorite Ebony. Most carried knife by far next to my BF 2017 TC. If i could only keep one knife this would it.

waynorth said:
We only really need one knife; and I am glad you like this plain, unassuming knife!!
I like 'em too!!

Same for you, Tim!!!

pmek5 · Oct 12, 2023

waynorth said:
Same for you, Tim!!!

Want to thank you for your contributions to some amazing knifes that you & Bill have given us. This one reminds of a knife that my grandpa would have pulled out of his pocket. Just has that nostalgic feel to it.

mrknife · Oct 12, 2023

waynorth said:
We only really need one knife; and I am glad you like this plain, unassuming knife!!
I like 'em too!!

thats right, we only need one, but as

Old Engineer knows, we can stop any time right

afishhunter · Oct 12, 2023

1) Stockman ("Large" or "Extra Large" 3 7/8 inch closed and above).

2) 4 blade scout/camp knife (or a 3 or 4 layer SAK with at least scissors and maybe a wood saw ... Tho I've been toting a SAK Hurcules a bit overa year now instead of a 4 blade. The pliers come in handy when I make a cuppa tea.)

3) 2 blade jack. As like for many others here, the '22 Bunny Knife has been spending a lot of time in my pocket. Sometimes with, sometimes without a stockman.

The last 3 years I also got into the habit of toting a small (OAL 85mm with a 50mm blade) neck knife.
With a couple minor sheath mods I can carry it in my pocket or watch pocket, as well. I made a new sheath for it to carry (vertically) on my belt, should that be "needed".

I have had ... difficulty ... toting single bladed knives long term.
They are nice, but obviously not as versitle as a multi blade.

.577NE · Oct 12, 2023

The BF's Bunny Knife is THE knife to be carried, for me it checks all the boxes in the "well made, feels good, looks good" department.

kamagong · Oct 12, 2023

I'm not particular. I don't require a knife in my job, but I do recognize the value in having a sharp blade always available. When I do have call for a knife, I want it to be easy to use. That leads me to single bladed spring knives ~ 4" closed. That's the sweet spot for me -- both effortless to carry and comfortable to use.

Johnnythefox · Oct 12, 2023

Lately its been my Bunny or 15,UK law plus they are easy on the eye and the pocket.

mrknife · Oct 12, 2023

havent seen too many deleted bunnys yet

DavidABQ · Oct 12, 2023

It took me a while to figure out what I really want in an EDC knife. I actually found myself buying knives that were similar before it dawned on me. I prefer a single locking blade knife with a blade around 2.5 -2.75 inches long. As far as blade shape I favor clip points and drop points. I am not overly picky about blade steel. The handle shape and the rest of the knife design is more important.

osoverride · Oct 12, 2023

Excluding everything other than traditional knives:

Work EDC Knife: Victorinox Alox Bantam
Street EDC Knife: GEC 2023 BF Knife
Backpacking EDC Knives: GEC H30 Fixed Blade & Victorinox Walker
Car Camping EDC: BPS BS2FTS Fixed Blade & Old Timer 123OT Pioneer
Vehicle EDC: Case Medium SS Lockback in Stag

DavidABQ · Oct 12, 2023

Deleted.

dsutton24 · Oct 12, 2023

I think the EDC phenomenon is kind of funny. Pocket junk now has a TactiCool acronym. Prybars, handkerchiefs that wouldn't hold up to a real, man-sized blow, flashlights, it's all there. There's even a guy on another forum that posts regular videos of his EDC stuff on a regular basis, complete with commentary and purchasing links.

Aside from the old beat up Case Muskrat that I've carried for a few years, I couldn't begin to tell you what all is in my pockets. It just gets transferred day by day to the next pair of pants. When my pants won't stay up, I divest a few pounds-worth and move on.

hornetguy · Oct 12, 2023

DavidABQ said:
It took me a while to figure out what I really want in an EDC knife. I actually found myself buying knives that were similar before it dawned on me. I prefer a single locking blade knife with a blade around 2.5 -2.75 inches long. As far as blade shape I favor clip points and drop points. I am not overly picky about blade steel. The handle shape and the rest of the knife design is more important.

The GEC 74 is one of my favorite single blade knives... along with the 2019 Forum knife. Although, the 23 is right up there with 'em....

hornetguy · Oct 12, 2023

dsutton24 said:
I think the EDC phenomenon is kind of funny. Pocket junk now has a TactiCool acronym. Prybars, handkerchiefs that wouldn't hold up to a real, man-sized blow, flashlights, it's all there. There's even a guy on another forum that posts regular videos of his EDC stuff on a regular basis, complete with commentary and purchasing links.

Aside from the old beat up Case Muskrat that I've carried for a few years, I couldn't begin to tell you what all is in my pockets. It just gets transferred day by day to the next pair of pants. When my pants won't stay up, I divest a few pounds-worth and move on.

I know most of what's in my pockets all the time. I'm not into "tacti-cool" at all, though. In fact, I don't think I've ever been one of the "cool kids" ..

I just used "edc" because it's easier to type than "the knife that you tend to carry every day". ...
but I get your point....

birdsbeaks · Oct 12, 2023

DavidABQ said:
It took me a while to figure out what I really want in an EDC knife. I actually found myself buying knives that were similar before it dawned on me. I prefer a single locking blade knife with a blade around 2.5 -2.75 inches long. As far as blade shape I favor clip points and drop points. I am not overly picky about blade steel. The handle shape and the rest of the knife design is more important.

Any idea as to why you prefer a locking blade?

I grew up thinking that locking was better than non-locking - now, I'm not so sure.

Lately, I've been carrying a pocketable fixed blade and a slipjoint. Little fixed blade takes care of 99%+ of actual cutting and the slipjoint is just kinda there for fiddling with.

My little fixed blade (recycled pic):