EDC - your Thoughts?

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UnknownVT

Joined
Feb 15, 2003
Messages
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EDC - your thoughts.

EDC - it might not be the most expensive, or the most valuable, or even the "best" knife owned -
but it is the one carried on a daily basis.

So what led us to that EDC knife?

Rationally, logically, analysed, and thought out?

Learnt from hard earned experience?

Usage over time?

So what's your EDC, and why?

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Mine?

I always wanted to carry a knife - but for me I'd also wanted a screwdriver, and when I first started to EDC I was into wines - so a corkscrew.......

Those requirements basically took me to SAKs.

The Victorinox Waiter model gave me all this and more, in a package that was about the same size as a single bladed knife. The combination tool gave the screwdriver along with bottle-cap lifter and can-opener functions all in just one "blade" as well as a wire-stripper.

In fact it wasn't even a full-priced version - but a budget Economy line Victorinox - I was told with the same tools as the full-priced version - even the same red plastic/Cellidor handles - but with pressed-in printed logo with simplified shield (instead of the imbedded metal scalloped shield logo) and no tools in the handle. That was over 22 years ago -

Victorinox Economy SAK "Waiter", my first real EDC Jan/1982 - Feb/1988
First_Waiter82.jpg
Vic_Bdgt_S.jpg



This became my EDC for over 6 years - it basically did everything that I wanted for a knife carried in my pocket on a daily basic -
ie: my EDC before I had even heard of the term EDC.

About 6 years later, I studied a Victorinox SAK leaflet and notice the Scientist model - what added an in body Phillip screwdriver and a magnifying glass.

The magnfying glass seemed silly to me and I wanted to see if there was another model that had some other tool, until I eventually worked out SAKs often have tools that seemed paired - and the in-body Phillips seemed always paired with the magnifying glass, so I had to accept it.

The clincher was the ballpoint PEN in the handle - and that was a WoW! for me.

Catalog_Scnt_Vic2S.jpg


So it took me nearly 6 years worth of learning and usage experience to arrive at another EDC - the Victorinox Scientist.

About 5 years after that I had a Scientist customised with "stag" handles BUT retaining the tools in the handle (actually ivory micarta - scored/scorched to look like stag) - not much of a functional upgrade - even if one could agrue that micarta is better than the standard red cellidor plastic - it was done purely for aesthetics -
my own "tribute" to the knife in my pocket.

My current EDC Feb/1993 to present
Scientist2.jpg


Please see these linked threads -

My EDC Story - Victorinox Combo Tool Story

EDC - What's in Your Pocket(s)??

This latter is a huge thread standing at 545 responses -
a real resource repository of BladeForum members' EDCs -
please add or update your EDC to that thread.....

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Yours thoughts?

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
I think my EDC has gone from practical to not-so-practical and back again. When I was a kid I always went to gunshows with my dad. I loved knives then and always wanted one of the big mean looking knives, especially the Rambo type knives. Dad who of course knew better always steered me to more practical models such as the stockman pattern and such.

When I grew up (sort of :) ) and moved out, my interest in knives got going again and I carried various things like Buck 110s and a SAK Pioneer that a friend got for me. I then did what I think many newbie types in the knife world do, I read all the magazines which at the time were Blade, Fighting Knives and Knives Illustrated. I, like most who did not know any better, bought into the articles and ads telling me that if I didnt have the latest greatest tac-job, then I was pitifully ill-equipped.

So out I went blowing money on thick edged/bladed tac-jobs, especially the chisel tanto. In my opinion, they did not cut all that well, but hey, I had the best, right? I had tons of the things. I carried probably 3 or 4 at a time, still none of them cut all that well, but I still had the best, right?

Fast forward a few years. I was at Wal-Mart (where else?) with my wife and was browsing at the knives. I figured what the heck, I havent had a new knife in a few weeks, and a Schrade stockman and an SAK Tinker are cheap enough and will satisfy my itch to spend a few bucks. It had been so long since I actually used a pure cutter that the SAK fairly well amazed me when I used it. It was by far more comfortable and easy to use than my growing pile of dust collecting tacs.

Since then I have had very little desire to carry a tac-job, and in fact have very few left. Now when I spend money on a knife, it darn well better be able to do the job of a knife, and do it well. I concemtrate mostly on SAKs, but have a few stockman patterns as well as doctors and trapper patterns.

I do have a few large fixed blade that I use on thoese extremely rare occasions when I work outside. And I do carry a tac-folder (A Carson M4). I consider the M4 as a very good knife since it is one of the few tac types that actually makes a great utility knife. The blade itself is not to thick, the edge is thin enough to get extremely sharp and cuts very well.

Over time, I have learned that it stinks to carry a knife and need to use it, only to discover that when you try to cut heavy material, that the blade simply isnt up to cutting. My current EDC is usually a Carson M4, SAK (Soldier, Climber, Explorer...whatever, depends on mood I guess). And each of them CUT!
 
Thanks Richard for that very thoughtful input.

I often will carry supplemental knives specifically for the purpose - for example -

Picnic outings with polite company - an Opinel #8 stainless - recognizable, non-intimidating, but cuts like a mother - due to its zero bevel edge. Stainless because its my preference for cutting food and lower maintenance. However my EDC would more than do, if I didn't get a chance to pack the Opinel.

Outdoors - when I used to do field archery - I always carried a cheapo Mora (Swedish) fixed-blade - a Falcon by KJ Eriksson - it was cheap, very sharp and I used it to cut all sorts of things and earlier on in my archery used to dig out field points (deeply) stuck in trees :o Fortunately I learnt (before any accidents) how to palm a knife handle to allow pushing hard without a finger guard.

KJ_MoraRR.jpg


Both these examples are supplemental - carried in addition to the EDC in my pocket - they did specific duties that I normally would not need on a daily basis.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
I carry all kinds of knives. But the one that I really liked, that I gave away to a family member is the Camillus EDC. Great little knife with 154cm steel and a frame lock.
 
I think your EDC evolves with you as you move thru life. My first EDC was a VicNox Fisherman which I originally bought for fishing circa early 80's but soon found it accompanied everywhere, in the city at that time when there was no hue and cry over "carrying". When I retired to the farm it was a Schrade Senior Stockman but after I had to go on crutches I moved to a Drop Point Hunter as it was easier to get out one-handed. When we started the shop I started carrying an assortment of small blades until I settled on a Katz Vets Knife which I recently had a neck sheath made for. It has done all the cutting I want it to do - opening parcels, cutting cardboard, string and even leather on my workbench. Soon I will upgrade to a Tom Krein TK1 Neck Knife which for me will be the ultimate EDC - well at least until there is a lifestyle change. I always carry a folder with my Neck Knife - currently a CRKT Mo'Skeeter which is due to upgraded to a Spyderco Native. And now that winter is around the corner and the shorts are in the cupboard I will carry my Leatherman PST on my belt instead of in my "bum bag".
 
For me it's always been a attempt at a balance between "cool factor" and handiness. For example, I love carrying my BM-42MC or BM-31 as an EDC, but they really aren't that "useful". The partially serrated blade on the 31 works wonders, but neither bali is particularily handy for cutting tasks at work. I'm adept at opening/closing, but it's still more effort/time than justifiable to open a sealed plastic bag. Whenever I need to "whip it out" to do a task that takes less time than whipping it out does, I feel goofy and wish I had my auto or any of my folders.

I get my MT Scarab on Wednesday, hopefully that'll be the perfect balance of "cool" and "handy".
 
Over the last few months, I have tried to put an EDC combo together that will actually work rather than just be a bunch of gear!
I work in an office environment and rarely need more than my daily carry SAK Recruit.
I usually carry a Jens Ansø Small Sheepsfoot or Busse Assault Shaker as a "back up" if I need better hardware as well as an LM Micra either in a pocket or in my Maxpedition FatBoy.
I'll usually keep a larger knife like a Busse Buffalo Solider or Jungle Defender in the bag along with a SureFire 6P! You never know what dangers are lurking on the fifteen minute drive home! :D

Bo Hansen
 
EDC-

After carrying a Puma - folder for years, which ruined some trousers i changed to folders with a clip.

That´s nearly all to say about that. I prefer stainless which need little maintance.

Actually a customiced 806 RWL34 is my EDC for two month and always looking at a 520 in my box, i can´t change it. :D

Hard, tough and fine grained, it needs a touch up when you are bored from doing nothing to it. :D :D

Didn´t found much difference between carrying a large folder like the 806 and a smaller one like the Gerber 3.00AR or the 520.
 
Over the past few years my EDC has either been the Camillus Cuda Jr. or the Ka-Bar Dozier Thorn. I usually carry the Ka-Bar know, but I will go back to the Cuda every once in a while.
 
I made my first post to these forums a few days ago about the SAK One Hand Fireman/One Hand Parachutist and my EDC the One Hand Trekker (Trailmaster).
Here is a cut/paste from that thread of how I chose this as my EDC.

"When I started my quest for a new EDC I was almost set on getting a Spyderco Delica but then I started to pay closer attention to what my EDC needs were. I had been carrying a Kershaw Vapor for the past two years and I found that I was either reaching for my SAK on my key chain or looking for a screw driver etc. But I liked the one handed opening and lock blade offered on the Vapor. So when I found the Trekker it was the best fit for me."

As I had mentioned what was important to me was a lockblade, one hand opening and some of the tools normally found on a SAK a corkscrew would be nice but the One Hand Fireman I think would be too thick for my liking.
I thought a One hand Rucksack or Picnicker would be great if they made one.

Vincent,
That Scientist looks like a good choice too. Do you think you could whip me up a one handed lock blade version? :D

Chuck
 
UnknownVT said:
So what's your EDC, and why?
Click to expand...

Excellent question VT. I would say considerations are comfort of carry, quality and sharpness of blade, excellence of construction, value (bang for the buck), and a good customer service. So, that is why CRK and Benchmade are two of my EDC favorites.
 
Great thread Vincent. :D

My EDC, take it with me the most knife is a Victorinox Settler. Not the usual SAK. This one has no extra tools. Just a large and small blade. This is the general size of knife I have kept coming back to over the years. It carries extremely well in the pocket. It has no exposed corners to wear a hole in your pocket. It is nicely rounded on the ends and very flat. It carries very well. The large blade handles most EDC cutting chores while the small (pen) blade serves as pencil sharpener and whittler.

I have other knives in my rotation, but they are usually carried in conjunction with the Settler. If I only have one knife on me, chances are it's the Settler.

Paul
 
Wow.........considering I change edc's about as often as my underwear (daily, thank you....if I have any clean ones) it would be hard to answer this question, but of course I'll try! ;)

Can't ever remember when I didn't want a goodly sized single bladed folder in my pocket. The first was a Queen Steel melon tester with a 4" or longer blade. Carried this for my 7th and 8th grade years. We could still carry pocket knives to school back then. Went through 110's and all their German cousins until I discovered custom folders and the Blade Show. This was when the show was still held in Knoxville, TN. Even then the folders I purchased required belt sheaths and that simply cut down on constant carry.
Once I discovered the pocket clip the love affair really blossomed. I found myself being able to carry a folder from the minute I walked out of my house until I returned. Very few people ever noticing I had a 4 or 5 inch bladed folder in my pocket!

Brings me up to today. I currently carry a John W. Smith large Evolution folder. I have both the liner lock model and the framelock model, but time after time I find the liner lock in my pocket. Why would a dedicated proclaimed lover of the framelock be carrying a liner lock? I think it starts with the fact that the fit and finish of Johns work is exceptional. Then the functionality comes into play. Finally the materials just seal the deal!
F&F on the Evolution is fantastic. Everything meshes together with no gaps, or even little tiny spaces anywhere. The liner lock engages perfectly, has great pressure due to the prebend of the locking liner, and survives the dreaded "spine whack" test with 5 quick and hard blows to the back of the blade. Grinds on the blade are perfection. Edge is razor sharp and the blade is tapered in such a way as to lighten the entire knife yet keep the thickness and strength of the blade where they are most needed. The blade is 5/32" thick with titanium liners that measure .065" thick. These are thick enough to handle most anything I'm typically going to use a folder for. Plus the thicker blade and liners give the knife a very solid look not to mention feel in the hand.
Blade is a straight clip point that has a needle point and plenty of curve to handle everyday tasks. The cf grips are bead blasted so the hand is firmly attatched to the grip. The shape of the grip also helps your hand to stay in place with a couple of slight finger grooves up front and dropped butt at the end. John just has a way of sculpting a tactical folder to bring out lines that you would not think to be there.

Hey, I could go on and on and on, but you get the drift. The above is why this knife is my edc. Need to mention though that I have another Smith, LDC-5 coming that will definately become an edc for the same reasons as quoted above. Only it is built even heavier duty than the Evolution! :eek: :cool: This is a knife I had to sell last year so I'm extremely lucky to be able to buy it back from the buyer...THANKS Barry...and I know its characteristics. Also have a RJ Martin Avenger coming sometime in the next couple of weeks that should see some pocket time.

So you see I do change edc's about as often as my underwear, again this is FREQUENTLY, but I find myself very happy with whatever I put in my pocket!!
 
a slip joint and a necker. The pocket knife changes (Laguiole, Trapper, Stockman, Opinel, SAK) but the necker is always the same (TOPS Prairie Fox). I started carrying slip joints because their thin flat ground blades really cut. I still haven't found the perfect one. I love verything about the Opinel except how the wood swells when it gets wet. I still want to try a Douk Douk and a single bladed slim line trapper. Still haven't found a multi tool that I can't live without. Might have to try a Juice, looks like a good compromise between tools and weight. Micra too small, Gerber too heavy, PST was just so-so. I tried an Arclite before I got the TOPS. I liked it but...without the cord wrap there's not much to hang on to, the grip doesn't fit my hand like a a glove and it's a little long to hang from a beltloop with my keys. Here in CA a fixed blade must me carried openly at the waist and I have too much belly to get a Tek-Lok and tuck in my tee shirts (not too fat too wear a belt sheath, just fat enough that I don't look good in a tucked in tee). The little Fox gets clipped with my keys and a Princeton Tec PulsarII. It doesn't swing around too much and it's small enough to hide in plain sight. It's stout and very qiuck and the two-fingered micarta scales feel like they were made for my hand. Keep thinking about a Nite-Ize Pock-Its as a way to carry folder, fixed and light.

Frank
 
First thanks to all who replied -
this has been thoughtful,
and thought provoking.

I guess replies/posts kind of requires some thought
- so they might be slower in coming,
but almost guaranteed to be interesting :cool:


Geode said:
I would say considerations are comfort of carry
Click to expand...

Now this is a question I have been pondering about.

For in pocket carry - I find that 3 5/8" length, and about 3 layers/backsprings
just about the maximum - for me.

I guess it may be something to do with the knife length being able to sit horizontally in the bottom of pants pocket and still be easily retrieved.

Even if carried vertically in the pocket - it still can't be too long so that sitting down the knife won't cause discomfort from the pressure exerted from pressing against the pants pocket bottom and one's crotch crease :o :o

As anecdotal evidence the very popular SAKs are in the 3 1/4 to 3 1/2" lengths, and most people don't regularly carry in-pocket much more than about 2 or 3 layered models.

The popular Case 6318 Stockman pattern is 3 5/8" and two backsprings thick.....but the 6347 pattern Stockman at 3 7/8" seems just a bit too long to me.

Now with the advent of the pocket clip (thank you Spyderco) the clipped to pocket carry allowed longer knives - especially if clipped to the back-pocket.
I found I could easily clip say a Benchmade Axis 710 to my jeans back pocket - although it clips well there - I found that when I sat down on some surfaces I definitely will feel the knife - so although it worked - it wasn't that conducive to an EDC for me - same for a full-size Sebenza.

In the end I found about 4" closed to be a good overall length for a clipped knife, and the handle fits my hand in use well.

EDC_home3_S.jpg


My at home EDC knife is the Kershaw/Ken Onion Leek - because of its assisted opening and pocket clip convenience - despite the fact I can have almost any knife "to hand" lying around in my home - the Leek is actually more convenient to have on my person to use.

Thanks guys
- keep them coming.

--
Vincent

http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net/
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net/
 
Over the years, I've carried everything from a Camillus "Official Boy Scout" camp knife to a Cold Steel Vaquero Grande :D, (with even a couple CRK Sebenzas tossed-in for good measure), but I have found that I like the Benchmade (G-10 scales, dual stainless liners, Axis-lock, reversable pocket-clip, dual thumb-studs) folders the best, with the BM 805 and BM 722 being my 2 current EDC's.
 
My first EDC was a Cold Steel medium tanto point, fully serrated Voyager. It was a used knife, given to me by a friend. I carried it for 1 1/2 years before getting my current EDC, a D2 Benchmade Griptillian.
I found the Voyager to be extremely useful. I actually liked the tanto point, since it allowed me to do several "no-no" things, such as screw in flat-headed screws and pry open paint cans. Since the knife was used when I got it, I didn't mind beating it. That little knife held up fine and is still one of my cherished knives.
As a knife, I prefer my Griptillian to the Voyager. The handle fills my hand well and the blade is a great cutter. However, geting a nicer knife has made me not want to use it for all the tasks that I encounter. Well, and the fact that they would void the warranty :D .
I like a knife to be hand filling, without totally filling my pocket. That is a combination that I have yet to exactly match. I would go with Spyderco, except I find the handles to generally be too slim for me.
So, those are some of my EDC thoughts. I like a medium-big folder, tough and reliable, that rides well in the pocket and also fits my hand... but, isn't that what we're all looking for? :cool:
 
Mine are a small cgg Sebbie (Stars and Stripes) and a Vic SwissChamp.
The Sebbie just felt right early on and the Vic is about the 4th in a series of ever larger SAKs due to finding out all the neat things a SAK can be used for!

Larry S.
 
Hi Vincent...I think I have found the SAK that has all the features I want, without all lthe extras I may never need....

How do you feel about the Hiker?

http://www.swissknivesexpress.com/swisarhikred.html

I have carried a classic forever, and I own a Compact,

http://www.swissknivesexpress.com/swisarcom54.html

just because I saw it at a flea market and couldn't stand to see a quality knife tossed in among all those junk knives....

My main blade is usually a framelock....I think the Hiker would be a good companion, for those times my Swisstool may be to much...
 
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