Looking for EDC

[Pygmalion]

I'm looking for an EDC. I've seen the Microtech Socom Elite Manual, and I really like it. I'd like some feedback as to whether or not the Microtech, at $300, is that much "better" than some other knives that cost less. Thanks!

 

[Therom]

I have been interested in the socom lately and I came to the conclusion that it is a very good knife for the price

In the EDC-on-steroid category I have narrowed my research to the socom elite manual and the freeman 451, with an advantage for the Microtech

the freeman seems to be more fidgety but the elite manual is just all no-nonsense user

 

[ErocSD]

I think the man to talk to is Retired UPS Driver He has more Socoms than anyone I've ever seen on this board.

 

[Barman1]

Socom is a great knife but I had issues with my really long hand getting in the way of opening without being overly conscious of hand positioning(a heads up in case you have large hands).
That and tip down carry orientation ended the love affair pretty quickly.
I definitely appreciated the non-proprietary hardware on this Microtech though.

 

[Monofletch]

“Much better”? The SOCOM is a very nice knife. But just like the Spyderco Military it’s not for everyone. Carry it for a while and see if it fits your needs. If not, the EXCHANGE will find you another..... and another.....

 

[Retired UPS Driver]

I’ve carried and used mine now for more than a year now. I use it enough that it needs a blade touch up each 1-2 weeks. It carries just fine for me tip down, if it were to be tip up it would carry bottom heavy, so I believe it’s set up to carry just fine. The anodizing on the handle and clip is amazingly strong, it shows almost zero wear and no chips or ding marks from rubbing against things. Only mark is where the clip touches the frame where one of the clip screws had come loose and allowed the clip to rub the frame when I first got it. Mines the black coated DLC and the only wear marks seem to be from sharpening it, it’s held up fantastic. It’s done everything I’ve asked of it and I’ve not found any fault with it thus far.

How much better than a good but cheaper competitor is it, it all depends on the knife. There are others much cheaper that each have their own advantages over the Socom, and I use those others for their more specialized tasks. I don’t abuse my knives, but I use them as they were intended to be used.

There are also a few other members in EDC XIII that also use them daily at their jobs, from the pictures posted I can tell they all have held up as well as mine. We all use Auto’s though, I have no experience with a manual.

If you want a good EDC that you can use every day and it will hold up well, a Socom is a good choice. If I didn’t use it so often, I would go with something else, and there’s just too many options to start naming them, just way too many variables.

If you want any other more specific details feel free to ask away, here or by PM.

Edit to add: The stonewashed finish holds up really well too, and doesn’t show marks or scratches hardly at all.