Hard use EDC recommendations?

K

koal.sammoms

Joined
Aug 27, 2015
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Hey. I'm looking for a new hard use edc. I would prefer something that is very resistant to dirt and dust and lots of abuse. I don't care if it's a fixed or folding but the only thing I do care about is that it would be around $200 Canadian and easily available. (maybe not a custom). Thanks to everyone that answers.
 
Cold Steel Recon 1, Spyderco Paramilitary 2, Benchmade Griptilian, ESEE Izula. Any of these awesome knives would suit your needs well.
 
hard use = fixed blade.
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Esee izula for smaller knife and they have excellent sheath and clips system. Want bigger get the esee 4. The handle size on the 3 and 4 are the same but you get a bigger blade and both have excellent sheaths that can be IWB. I carry my esee4 concealed occasionally. Or you could go 440c esee also but its not as hard use and warranties not the same.

I wouldnt recommend a folder for hard use and by hard use I mean do whatever you want with it, stab, pry, baton, torque whatever. Esee's warrenty is amazing and you can really beat the bag out of their 1095 stuff. Easy to sharpen keeps a great edge. And for your budget you could get a canduri for pocket carry. izula for iwb or pocket, even a larger one for hiking or edc.

For me fixed blades are not as useful unless the carry system is excellent. And sadly most fixed blades fall short on sheaths with nice clips. The tech locks are bulky and push the knife to far out for me making it uncomfortable. The esees are nice and slim. No one will know you have a knife on you as well.

If you want a folder as well and plan on beating the crap out of it. Again folders not really great for hard use but, I would say go with a Ganzo due to their excellent and rugged build quality also they are $17 ish USD. I own a few and am amazed with all of them. Theres several different models, the more robust ones people baton with such as the g720. Great beefy knife you can beat the crap out of and not care. My favorite is the G7392, i got it recently and actually returned my bm 908 that I bought that day. This 17$ knife had better lockup than a $150 bm. Sure its 440c but...they do a great heat treat and you can get them razor sharp easily. The axis locks is stiffer than a BM but better than a bearing lock on a Manix 2.

(( Do not link to non-paid dealers ))

Thats said if you want a BM, and you want to beat it up an adamas is decent. pretty heavy but it has benchmades warranty so when you do break it. They will fix it.

But again for hard use I would always go with a fixed blade. If your just going to be cutting into stuff, stabbing normal things then I would go with whatever you want. I used a dragonfly salt to do construction work, saw wood, remove nails from drywall, cut cordage, zip ties, hard plastic. That little serrated knife can do a lot. I dont consider that stuff hard use, just normal use.
 
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Definitely a fixed blade, it won't give you grief with any sort of dirt or gunk like a folder will, and it's stronger and quicker to pull out. I haven't used an ESEE but only heard good things about them. I LOVE my Moras, easiest fixed blade to own IMO. I do have interest in buying a nice sheath, like lemonslush said, the sheath can really make or break the comfort and ease of carry of a fixed. So look into our sponsored sheathmakers, and spend a good amount of money on one. Buying a Mora, you can find a model you like, keep the sheath and replace the knife if you ever break or lose it.

Connor
 
(( Do not link to non-paid dealers ))

3 and 4 are the same but you get a bigger blade and both have excellent sheaths that can be IWB. I carry my esee4 concealed occasionally. Or you could go 440c esee also but its not as hard use and warranties not the same.

I wouldnt recommend a folder for hard use and by hard use I mean do whatever you want with it, stab, pry, baton, torque whatever. Esee's warrenty is amazing and you can really beat the bag out of their 1095 stuff. Easy to sharpen keeps a great edge. And for your budget you could get a canduri for pocket carry. izula for iwb or pocket, even a larger one for hiking or edc.

For me fixed blades are not as useful unless the carry system is excellent. And sadly most fixed blades fall short on sheaths with nice clips. The tech locks are bulky and push the knife to far out for me making it uncomfortable. The esees are nice and slim. No one will know you have a knife on you as well.

If you want a folder as well and plan on beating the crap out of it. Again folders not really great for hard use but, I would say go with a Ganzo due to their excellent and rugged build quality also they are $17 ish USD. I own a few and am amazed with all of them. Theres several different models, the more robust ones people baton with such as the g720. Great beefy knife you can beat the crap out of and not care. My favorite is the G7392, i got it recently and actually returned my bm 908 that I bought that day. This 17$ knife had better lockup than a $150 bm. Sure its 440c but...they do a great heat treat and you can get them razor sharp easily. The axis locks is stiffer than a BM but better than a bearing lock on a Manix 2.

http://www.amazon.com/Ganzo-G7392P-..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0085G57DRV7HC0AY18YS

Thats said if you want a BM, and you want to beat it up an adamas is decent. pretty heavy but it has benchmades warranty so when you do break it. They will fix it.

But again for hard use I would always go with a fixed blade. If your just going to be cutting into stuff, stabbing normal things then I would go with whatever you want. I used a dragonfly salt to do construction work, saw wood, remove nails from drywall, cut cordage, zip ties, hard plastic. That little serrated knife can do a lot. I dont consider that stuff hard use, just normal use.[/QUOTE]

Love the purple one.
 
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I work in a very dusty environment and have found that, for me, an open pillar liner, compression, or frame lock works best.

They still get filthy and gritty, but are easier and quicker to get cleaned out than a closed construction folder. As well as an Axis, backlock or BBL. I own all these types by the way.

My personal favorites are the Spyderco Military ( yah it has a backspacer, but still an open design), Spyderco Paramilitary 2, and an Emerson Mini CQC 15.

All three knives have been used to cut, lightly pry, scrape, bore holes, etc and have held up very well.
 
Recommendations from previous posters are great. Get a fixed, Izula, Mora, etc. if there is much dirt and possible prying.

If not, get a Recon 1 in CTS-XHP for long lasting edge, toughest lock in any folder, tough and ergonomic scales, a true beast of a knife. Or get the AUS8 steel version if you find a deal on one, they run cheap these days. It's a true classic of "hard use folder" recommendations.

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The Ganzo G720 can hold up to real beatings, I can tell that from first hand experience. Mine has been through hell and come back many times. Dirty and rusted due to my lack of maintenance, but it keeps going. still cutting and locking perfectly.

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Nice thing about Chinese knives is you can get lots of them for a low price and try lock types, shapes, sizes, etc. without worrying too much if you have to pry, scrape or do abusive tasks with them.

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Some good Chinese folders to beat on for less than $15:

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And my Spyderco Salts may not have liners, or be made with FRN scales, but they've held up after more abuse than most of my other folders. They're the wuintaessential light, tough maintenance free folders IMO.

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Unless you pry with them, they'll cut, stab, rip, and do everything you may need a knife for!

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Best knockaround, take-it-all, put-it-in-the-jeans-and-go-anywhere knife I know of is still the original DPx HEST fixed blade by Rowen. The prybar on the handle is an EDC jewel. They are available again. If I disclosed the abuse I've given them I'd be jailed.

For folders, Emerson, Cold Steel and ZT are some good bets.
 
Checkout the exchange under Knifemakers there are several Canadian knife makers.
 
Bro, if i were you, id go with either a Ontario RAT3 or the Esee 3. The Esee is a bit more atractive and the fit and finish is a smooch more, however they are both nearly identical and designed by the same guy, same steel (1095)same everything almost, and the RAT3 and Esee3 are a damn site bigger and tougher and every bit as concealable as the Izula. I have them both and love them both. and i carry the RAT3 nearly every single day now for over a year and use it all the time for all kinds of things including bush craft. I carry it with a TekLok in the horizontal position up front next to my belt buckle and even with just a t-shirt on nobody ever notices it there. The Ontario is a little cheaper than the Esee but the value is just as good once you make it your own. If you go with the Esee make sure you get it from an authorized dealer. I got mine from 5col,on e-bay and i called Esee to verify their information and address n numbers to be sure.
If you dont mind going a little cheaper, i cd recommend Schrade SCHF 11 or schf12 LOVE them both for under $40, and schf33 $25 -$30 and thats pretty awesome too for the money you cant go wrong, concidering what your getting. Kydex sheaths, 8crMov stainless. I also have a Cold Steel Recon 1 4" tanto, and a Voyager fully serrated tanto, got those for around $120 each and a Cold Steel Thai Machete, love it, and another Schrade schf36, although the same exact knife is updated in the form of a schf51, i prefered the idea of the schf36 and modding it to my own liking. And for under $40 in old or updated version youe literally getting a pry bar that cuts things. Its a quarter inch thick, 1095 steel, a fero rod and sharpener come w it. I also have the new assisted Ontario Rat1, and for shits n giggles i saw a Kershaw Filter for $13 and im very impressed w what i got. I did not expect much at all from that but im very pleased w that buy.
 
You probably want a fix blade. If not, Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 is my favorite folder to beat on.
 
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