Truthfully, I feel a bit lost when it comes to knives. I don't have much money to spend, but i feel like i need something for an EDC and all the uses it entails. I am almost 18 and have never had a knife before and it just feels so strange and wrong in a way. So my question is and I'm sure this has been asked many times before, what is a good beginner EDC for myself? I am looking for reliability over anything else and knowing that when I need to utilize this tool, it can handle the intentions. What do you think a good beginner folder would be? Also, knowing that some people collect insane amounts of these, dis it possible to get them super cheap with quality? Can anybody spare one of their previous blades that sits in a drawer or something not in use to help me start my adventure in the field? I just want to get started in a good way and learn as I go. I am assuming this will turn into a life-long experience because I have read about the many addictions and already feel them coming on even though I don't own one in the first place. This is my first post also BTW so I hope this isn't against any posting policy. Any responses are helpful and i would appreciate all that i can get! Thanks so much everyone! Really means a lot with such a knowledgeable community!
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Looking for an EDC
- Thread starter NewGroove
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Welcome to bf.
Something along the lines of a spyderco would be great. If I were you I would look at blade HQ spyderco section.
One of my first knives was a spyderco delica, there are spydercos in all different price ranges shapes sizes, locks.
Maybe you can get an idea of a couple that appeal to you, and a price range. If you sock away $10 $20 bucks a week you can really do wonders in a short period of time.
Something along the lines of a spyderco would be great. If I were you I would look at blade HQ spyderco section.
One of my first knives was a spyderco delica, there are spydercos in all different price ranges shapes sizes, locks.
Maybe you can get an idea of a couple that appeal to you, and a price range. If you sock away $10 $20 bucks a week you can really do wonders in a short period of time.
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You know, the Victorinox SAKs are a great option too. I carry a Vic Farmer daily, and its never failed me in any way. The price is amazing at well under $50, and the many uses of the blade come in crazy handy all the time. Just a thought 
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Check out kershawguy.com, specifically a kershaw blur or skyline. You can get awesome deals on blem models.
And welcome to BFC!
And welcome to BFC!
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Start by examining what your needs are and what the knife will be used for primarily - be honest! Most of us here have a drawerful of knives because our wants became needs ( it will happen to you as well). My advice is to start with something small and work up from there. You'll never ho wrong with a good Swiss Army Knife (SAK); I recommend the Recruit for several reasons - its very non-threatening to non-knife people, it has a multitude of tools that make it very useful fir every day carry, and it can be had almost anywhere for under $20 (you don't say where you are from but Lowes is a good place to find them). I would also warn against buying one of the knives you see on the counter at your local conveinience store - they may be cheap, but there's s reason for that! Good luck!
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New Groove ~~ email me your address and I will send you a good knife to start with and if you don't like it you can trade it or sell it and get you a Delica or a Sak or whatever.!
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You sir, just made my day. Great form!
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Mine too! He beat me to it! Good on you!
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I would recommend a Benchmade 940/943 or a 530. But since money is tight (I've been there), I would simply suggest the 530 first. - if you shop around, you can find one new for around $70, and it will last you for a long time. BM is quality. It's very light, and I'm sure you would like it. Since your already used to the feel without a knife in your pocket, a 530 will be an easy transition.
Guys. thank you for the great welcoming into these forums! I would like to especially thank wolf-man-12 for his extra special welcome! Because of his generous offer, i know sit here with a spyderco police serrated SS and a smaller 4 blade bulldog to practice sharpening for later use! Thank you so much to everyone! I am really digging this knew tool and the amazing community blade forums is! Thank you all!
Start with a swiss army knife, a victorinox cadet would be my recommendation. There are several reasons why, one of them is to get you use to carrying a knife and how to not rely on the locking mechanism because if you do that with a slipjoint knife which consists of most swiss army knives or SAK for short. It will collapse the blade into you, sounds worse than it actually is with a SAK as you typically don't have time to put a lot of pressure into it before it collapses to do serious damage. Where as with other locking mechanisms it takes more force to make the lock collapse and if you put enough of it and manage to break said lock you can do some serious damage to your finger. Typically you may do this once or twice and there may or may not be blood, I know when I did this as a kid I typically didn't draw blood and if I did it was a few drops and I learned my lesson.
The other reason is your going to be 18 and carrying a knife most people will be looking at you like your trouble if you live in an urban area in the US and they notice you are carrying a folding knife that is visible (you probably have cops called if you carried a fixed blade, even if it was legal). Where as a SAK is seen as a work knife and doesn't attract any unwanted attention typically. Trust me I know I am in my mid 20's and I encounter this every now and than when someone notices I am carrying a knife, so I tend to carry folding knives that have deep pocket clips so all that is visible is the pocket clip or if I have the option I put it in the small pocket watch pocket. The only time I don't attract attention was when I was in uniform and looked 110% professional.
The Cadet is also quite thin for a knife and you will probably forget it's even there, as well as it's being cheap and durable. I probably own somewhere around 20 or more knives by now and rotate around 5 of them as a primary EDC and I must admit I been drooling over that knife for awhile now after having handled my brothers Cadet and he put that knife through it's paces in his job and it's still going strong.
But no matter what you get I would pick up a small SAK with tweezers and toothpick on it, there is a reason to my madness on this one. Your young and when your going on a date it's a PITA if food gets stuck in your teeth on a date, that toothpick is a life saver (not to mention she may think your crazy if you are carrying a full size knife on a first date and doesn't know you). Than there is the fact you can pick up something like a victorinox rambler which has that as well as scisors, blade, small flat head and philips (comes in handy a lot to fix electronics, it saved my phone after it went swimming in a lake once), and a bottle opener for when you get old enough. And it's by far the least intimidating thing you can pull out in public if you need to cut something not to mention very useful and pairs up very well with about any "primary" EDC you are carrying to give you added versatility.
The other reason is your going to be 18 and carrying a knife most people will be looking at you like your trouble if you live in an urban area in the US and they notice you are carrying a folding knife that is visible (you probably have cops called if you carried a fixed blade, even if it was legal). Where as a SAK is seen as a work knife and doesn't attract any unwanted attention typically. Trust me I know I am in my mid 20's and I encounter this every now and than when someone notices I am carrying a knife, so I tend to carry folding knives that have deep pocket clips so all that is visible is the pocket clip or if I have the option I put it in the small pocket watch pocket. The only time I don't attract attention was when I was in uniform and looked 110% professional.
The Cadet is also quite thin for a knife and you will probably forget it's even there, as well as it's being cheap and durable. I probably own somewhere around 20 or more knives by now and rotate around 5 of them as a primary EDC and I must admit I been drooling over that knife for awhile now after having handled my brothers Cadet and he put that knife through it's paces in his job and it's still going strong.
But no matter what you get I would pick up a small SAK with tweezers and toothpick on it, there is a reason to my madness on this one. Your young and when your going on a date it's a PITA if food gets stuck in your teeth on a date, that toothpick is a life saver (not to mention she may think your crazy if you are carrying a full size knife on a first date and doesn't know you). Than there is the fact you can pick up something like a victorinox rambler which has that as well as scisors, blade, small flat head and philips (comes in handy a lot to fix electronics, it saved my phone after it went swimming in a lake once), and a bottle opener for when you get old enough. And it's by far the least intimidating thing you can pull out in public if you need to cut something not to mention very useful and pairs up very well with about any "primary" EDC you are carrying to give you added versatility.
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Most of the 18 year olds (or young men) that I know want a pocket folder with a clip. I would make a conservative choice but very well made and useful. My choice would be the Spyderco Delica. From my experience, I find the Delica to be a wonderful folder. If you want something larger, then the Endura.
I also really like Victorinox swiss army knives (SAKs). I'd only buy Victorinox or Wenger brands; no Chinese copies. SAKs may not be "cool" from a show me your knife and how fast you can deploy it point of view, but their utility goes well beyond speed. I like the simple (or thinner ones, 2-layer) but large size (110mm) the best. My choice has been the Advernturer, but I really like the One handed Trekker (plain edge). There are a lot of different choices.
I also really like Victorinox swiss army knives (SAKs). I'd only buy Victorinox or Wenger brands; no Chinese copies. SAKs may not be "cool" from a show me your knife and how fast you can deploy it point of view, but their utility goes well beyond speed. I like the simple (or thinner ones, 2-layer) but large size (110mm) the best. My choice has been the Advernturer, but I really like the One handed Trekker (plain edge). There are a lot of different choices.