Ideal Parameters for EDC Knife

[microtech85]

Hello,

I am an owner of a spyderco delica 4 ffg and new owner of a spyderco native 5 and am in the market, like tomorrow, to buy another potential edc knife. I have been considering benchmade 940/940-1, or spyderco paramilitary 2, or benchmade valet in m390, or benchmade nakamura 484/484-1. This got me thinking, what do you feel are the ideal parameters for an edc knife? weight, size, materials (handle, blade) edge retention, or ease or resharpen, toughness blade shape and length etc, etc lock. What would your ideal edc knife feature?

 

[Snapper81]

I've "trial and errored" quite a few that fall into the EDC category. I've come to learn that the category is pretty wide though; what is EDC for me might no be optimal for you. I tend to focus on 3 things: weight, handle size and handle thickness. The one thing that I have seen that gets overlooked by most is HANDLE THICKNESS. I believe this to be very important to consider to EDC a blade, as something too thick will just not get any carry time. I like anything between .40" to .52" so that I hardly feel it in my pocket.

As for the other features, weight I like anything from 2.5oz to 4.5oz, anything more I can "feel" in my pocket.
Handle size I like 4.1" to 4.5", but this will really depend on the size of your hands (mine are slightly below average). Handle size usually determines blade size so I usually overlook this. Depending on the design you can probably expect blade sizes to fall within 3.0" and 3.5" with 4.1" to 4.5" handles.


Here are a few that I EDC that are in my personal sweet spot:

Benchmade 940-1
Handle thickness: .41"
Handle length: 4.5"
Weight: 2.9oz
Blade length: 3.4"

ZT 0450
Handle thickness: .40"
Handle length: 4.1"
Weight: 2.9oz
Blade length: 3.2"

Marfione Sigil CF
Handle thickness: .52"
Handle length: 4.5"
Weight: 3.0oz
Blade length: 3.5"

Spyderco Sage
Handle thickness: .44"
Handle length: 4.2"
Weight: 3.2oz
Blade length: 3.0"

Protech Godson
Handle thickness: .45"
Handle length: 4.4"
Weight: 3.2oz
Blade length: 3.2"

ADV mini Tac Butcher
Handle thickness: .43"
Handle length: 4.0"
Weight: 4.0oz
Blade length: 3.0"


Just for reference here a couple that seldom get any pocket time because of handle thickness, length and/or weight:

Spyderco PM2
Handle thickness: .46"
Handle length: 4.8"
Weight: 3.8oz
Blade length: 3.5"

Lambert Orion MGT
Handle thickness: .68"
Handle length: 4.6"
Weight: 6.3oz
Blade length: 3.5"

 

[Shorttime]

Modified Wharncliffe fixed blade, 3/16 stock, 3" blade, 6" OAL, 1.5" at it's widest point. Steel is negotiable. I would be happy with 154CM, if it was heat treated properly, although I would also like to try the "S-series" steels.

I've been liking Neo Tribal lately, so a well-done cord wrap would suit me.

 

[marcinek]

... am in the market, like tomorrow, to buy another potential edc knife. I have been considering benchmade 940/940-1, or spyderco paramilitary 2, or benchmade valet in m390, or benchmade nakamura 484/484-1. This got me thinking, what do you feel are the ideal parameters for an edc knife? weight, size, materials (handle, blade) edge retention, or ease or resharpen, toughness blade shape and length etc, etc lock. What would your ideal edc knife feature?

If you are in the market for and edc knife, the question you should be asking is what is the ideal EDC knife feature for you.

But, since you are asking me, I think the most important edc knife feature is a hawk bill blade and a brush, like on this Opinel mushroom knife.

 

[corwise]

I have lots of things I like for an EDC. Some of them such as weight and handle thickness depends on what I'm wearing (different knives for military uniform or jeans). But I have one basic rule that I use to see if an EDC knife is right for me:

Can it cut through an apple?

I hate having to use multiple cuts to slice an apple, so it has to be at least 3.5" long. It has to slice the apple, not pry it open, so it can't be a thick blade or have weird grinds. And it can't be some fancy material that I can't wipe apple juices off of and shove back into my pocket. Other then that I'm flexible, any knife that can do that will be able to do the rest of my standard EDC tasks like opening a box, cutting a thread off my clothes, cutting dinner if my kids don't set the table right, etc.

I think we over think EDCs a lot (of course if we're on this forum we're all knife nuts so it's expected), but find something comfortable in your hand/pocket and it should work for 90% of your tasks. Start with some cheap/production knives, find what style/shape you like, then buy some nicer ones.