How do you choose your EDC knife?

One day when they invent teleportation technology, we won't need to carry anything. Well just be able to call upon the knife from our collection that we need at that moment and have it pop into our hand ready for use:D
 
I carry knives with different options, say a sheepfoot in one pocket and a 2 blade clip-pen in the other. If the job demands it, I add a multitool or SAK. I always have a screwdriver-caplifter on one knife (radio jack, sometimes SAK). And like link2derek, I often carry the newest knife I own.

I keep my users/EDC in the top dresser drawer and rotate frequently.

 
If I'm going to work I carry a Vic Cadet because that's about all they will allow under corporate guidelines without it being considered a weapon. Outside work it's whatever I'm in the mood for. If I'm dressed nice it's usually a Sage 1. In jeans I will usually have a PM2, Manix 2, or Delica 4. In shorts it's a Delica 4 or Dragon Fly 2. Sometimes I feel like my custom Mini Grip. Others a Tenacious or Rat 2. Really depends on what I'm wearing or what I'm doing. I always have a Cadet on me though, regardless if I have a folder or not.
 
Agreed, when I get beyond the shtf, or steel type, aesthetics it finally comes down to what actually has proven functional and useful in my daily circumstances, and the knife that best serves my use patterns is the lowly SAK
 
For me it depends on if I'm in the office or working from home during the week. I travel from CA to OR every Monday so no knife that day. The rest of the week I'm either in my office at work or working from home. In office days it's either a Vic Alox Cadet or a small CRK Insingo dropped into my pocket. Work has a no "weapon" policy so having a knife clipped on is a potential issue. On the weekend or when working from home it's basically anything I'm playing with at the moment. Current rotation is between a CRK large Insingo, CRK large Classic, Hinderer 3.5 slicer grind, or a Spyderco Southard. I have quite a few others but these are the main ones in rotation over that last few months.
 
Scatter folders across my bedroom and flail darts around. Whichever knife has the most darts stuck in it is the winner
 
I typically carry a knife to my liking. Or by predicted task for the day.
I don't need to take an ESEE 5 to the office. Same as I wouldn`t want only a paramilitary 2 in the woods.

A CRK or ZT to the weekdays. Maybe a beefier knife on the weekends.
No set rules though. Might carry one; maybe 3.

Simple put carry what your comfortable with. Perhaps carry something a little more than needed.
 
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I'll generally carry whatever my most recent acquisition is, but my default EDC seems to have become my ZT 0550BW with wood scale (I hate the G10 texture). I keep another 0550 at home as a backup, so I can beat up the first one to my heart's content.
 
I couldn't agree more with the op.
I can't seem to retire the old stuff, so I just keep adding I have enough now where I have to choose, but it still a ton of stuff.

Here's a EDC no joke. I had it all on me. No bag, nothing but pockets and belt, (& neck)
96d3e63ec9f98414480983cc06bc3c0b.jpg



Here's some sets I made up, but honestly, I'd probably rarely carry those exact combos. I wouldn't be able to take the 42, and leave the alpha beast.
Take the xm, and leave the 21, I'd much rather have both/all ;)

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I like knives (duh!) and appreciate a good quality blade as much as the next guy; however, over the course of my life I've been alone in some very tight spots and had to rely on myself for rescue. That has cultivated my personality to where I'm just way too practical to carry a pocket knife that is nothing more than knife blades.
I'm multi-tool guy. Whether or not I carry a simple knife, I will always also have a SAK or Leatherman on me. I just can't see carrying a pocket knife that DOESN'T have other tools in it. How do I choose my EDC? Balancing size/weight with versatility and practicality.
 
Tmack said:
I couldn't agree more with the op.
I can't seem to retire the old stuff, so I just keep adding I have enough now where I have to choose, but it still a ton of stuff.

Here's a EDC no joke. I had it all on me. No bag, nothing but pockets and belt, (& neck)
96d3e63ec9f98414480983cc06bc3c0b.jpg
Click to expand...


See I'm not the only one :P

In my pockets every day is this + BK13
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The photo that kinda prompted this thread was this one (on me + EDC bag), again... missing from this photo is a CS Spartan, gerber mini- multi tool, SAK, and two 'loaner' folders.
WP_001815_zpsd8525d55.jpg


On the plus side, the ZT0350OR was pulled out of my pocket and put into my 'house pants'. My rational - I carry a ZT0121 both recurves, only need one or the other.

On the other plus side.... It will be my Birthday soon, and I already told the wife there was a ZT 0562 in my future... It will be added to the daily carry haha.
 
So in my mind, knives usually fall into a niche role. Some are good all around but others are meant for certain tasks. If I have a task I know I'll be doing that day, I take the knife most suitable. But that's easier said than done.

I love my Mini Grip HG, but the sheep's foot blade isn't suited for defensive purposes. However, the hollow grind and small size make it ideal for opening packages and other daily tasks. Another advantage is that it is small and the blade isn't "pointy" so it is less likely to scare non-knife people if I have to use it around them. But if I'm going somewhere that I can't have a CCW, I'm taking a knife that can serve as a defensive tool if needed.

The last thing to consider is the "cool factor" that goes along with your knife. This is definitely objective and there's a million reasons why people consider certain knives cool, but if you're not really needing your knife for anything particular or hard use, then why not carry a knife that makes you feel good. My 940-1 is my current "cool knife". Some people get it, some people think it's too expensive or strange, but I like it and that's what matters.

To summarize, decide on the role that your knife will fill that day. Then pick the best fit for that role. If for that situation the knife is more of an accessory than a tool, then carry the one that makes you feel best!
 
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For me it generally depends on whether it's a weekend or weekday. My EDC is different Friday night thru Sunday night. At my job I work 9 to 12 hour days depending on the work load. I'm walking on a grating most of the time which means if I drop a knife, it's most likely going to break my blade when it hits the metal grate or worse falls through the grate and breaks even more . So I don't generally carry my favorite knives to work. I also tend to carry blades with serrations to work.

All in all Monday thru Friday at work im carrying either my combo blur or tenacious, a multi tool in a belt holster, a 5.11 70 lumen penlight, and my Victorinox classic that's on my car key. I also have a Gerber dime mini multitool on my other keys.

During the weekend or on the rare chance that I go out after work (I get home between 9pm-11pm) I will carry either one or two folders. Paramilitary 2, delica, tenacious, blur, Emerson cqc6, or my leek. Could be any one alone or anyone of those plus the delica since it's smaller. I also sometimes will have a crkt spew neck knife on. Not a huge fan of it though, going to get a new neck knife soon. Sometimes I'll carry my leatherman wave, sometimes not. I also have 2 fixed blades and other gear in my "get home bag" that is in my trunk. It's a small 5.11 rush 12 backpack. In addition I'll always have my Gerber dime and sak classic on my keys. Not to mention my Glock 19 or Ruger LCP.
 
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I carry an osborn design Benchmade. I watched some lady on you to give a review on it and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made. It honestly fits my hands perfect works perfect and I have yet to find any problem with it. Built tough as nails too.
 
Depends on my daily plans. Work I usually carry my zt566 or endura. For my days off usually the 940.
 
I poke through my knife box and the few dozen knives there, sigh deeply at all the money I've spent, then slip my Mini Tuff Lite into my coin pocket, and my XHP Recon into the RHS pocket below it.
 
I have a modest EDC rotation but my OCD is on display when you consider what's in my truck. There's a BK-9 in the rifle sling behind the seat. A sword cane on the floor behind my seat because my hip is a mess so why use a normal cane? I have a Case Kydex hawkbill attached to my keys. A desk knife in my visor. A necker hanging from my rear view mirror. A ZT 200 in the door pocket and a SAK or 3 floating around as well.
I don't even want to think about what's in my Husky toolbox bolted to the bed of my truck :)
 
I usually pick between my Large Sebenza or my Strider SnG. Then I pick a small slipjoint and I'm good to go!
 
Depends where I'm headed for the day. I work mostly in Hospitals, so location is key to what I carry. Delica or yellow-handled mini-grip when in larger cities/higher security places. In more rural areas, I learned that I can get away with larger knives like my newly acquired PM2. I carried a Gerber mini-covert for a year or so, but being assisted, black blade, and combo-edge, it surprised a lot of people.
 
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