Quality EDC Knives

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Sour_Mash

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Nov 2, 2015
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I’ve been reading posts on this site for several years now but have never registered. There’s always a lot of good info and this site is usually where I end up when I’m researching a knife. Thank you to everyone for all the helpful info.

I basically carry two knives. Through the week while I’m wearing a suit, I carry a small Hen & Rooster peanut and on the weekends I’ll pack my Buck 55. I’ve had both for years and they’ve served their purpose. I wanted to add to my collection so on a recent trip to the Smokey’s I picked up a few Case knives and another Hen and Rooster. I was showing them off to my Family and friends at our cabin and within five minutes of handling, the emblem fell out of the scale on the Case toothpick. I returned it the next day. After 3 months of LIGHT use, the same happened to the Hen & Rooster. The fit and finish of all of the knives I purchased that weekend just seemed cheap compared to what I grew up on – I still have some USA made Old Timers from my Grandfather

I know the quality of basically everything has gone down nowadays but I was really shocked by the standards of what used to be solid brands. I have a young Son who I’ll eventually be buying knives for just like my Father did for me. I guess my question is, what’s your go to brand for a quality everyday pocket knife today?

Thanks again for all your insight
 
Go to the traditional and slipjoint section of BF.
The go to for lots of folks now seems to be
Great Eastern Cutlery /GEC. thats the quick and tidy answer...:)
 
If you like traditional patterns, Great Eastern Cutlery is doing some pretty cool stuff. Definitely check them out.

If you're open to more modern designs, one handed openers with fancy locks and pocket clips and the like, Benchmade or Spyderco are my go-to. Zero Tolerance is good quality but generally bulkier and heavier than I want to carry regularly, and the geometry's rarely optimized for slicing. Benchmade's prices are getting a little high but they're still good, American-made designs with good materials and great customer service. Spydercos are usually very functional, if occasionally a little weird looking, and you can play around with all different sorts of designs or steel.

Personal favorite answer: carry a traditional and a modern. Great Eastern Cutlery #48 Improved Trapper and Spyderco Paramilitary 2:

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Thank you both.

This is going to sound stupid but, how to I get to the traditional section? I can't seem to find it from the home page.
 


Canal street cutlery punch lockback above on sale at Perry knife works a blade forum dealer.

The case wharniffe on the right is my everyday 7 days a week if I had to edc. Love it. It has very good fit and finish and makes for a great user. With case it can be hit or miss. Gec, ag Russell, canal street cutlery all make fine knives. The csc above feels almost semi custom and it's under a $100

 
Sour_Mash said:
...I guess my question is, what’s your go to brand for a quality everyday pocket knife today?
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Victorinox. I carry a Victorinox silver alox Cadet every day.

I have a pretty good number of Case knives and have never had a shield fall out yet. If I did, I would glue it back in with gel-type superglue. The build quality on Case knives varies. I have never had one bad enough to send back to a dealer or to send in for factory warranty work, and for the most part I am happy with my Case knives. I often carry a Case knife of some sort along with the Victorinox Cadet.

If you are not looking only for traditional knife patterns, I find that Spyderco, Benchmade, Kershaw, and Zero Tolerance are also good brands.
 
GEC if you want to play the game of racing to obtain a limited, special factory order barlow knife in 1095 carbon steel and not much else.

Queen Cutlery is very solid and is run by a two of the guys who were amongst the top of GEC's organization before splitting off. Lots of regular production, variety in patterns, and D2 steel. Also use ATS-34.

Still, for me, nothing beats an alox handled Victorinox Soldier, Pioneer, or Farmer. Reliable, sturdy, stainless, lots of tools, no games to obtain one. I normally pair this with a modern Benchmade and am good to go. :thumbup::thumbup:

-Oh, and careful in that Traditional Forum. Any mention of modern life or correctly referring to handle scales as "scales" is likely to get you an old timey admonishment :p
 
jazub said:
GEC if you want to play the game of racing to obtain a limited, special factory order barlow knife in 1095 carbon steel and not much else.

Queen Cutlery is very solid and is run by a two of the guys who were amongst the top of GEC's organization before splitting off. Lots of regular production, variety in patterns, and D2 steel. Also use ATS-34.

Still, for me, nothing beats an alox handled Victorinox Soldier, Pioneer, or Farmer. Reliable, sturdy, stainless, lots of tools, no games to obtain one. I normally pair this with a modern Benchmade and am good to go. :thumbup::thumbup:

-Oh, and careful in that Traditional Forum. Any mention of modern life or correctly referring to handle scales as "scales" is likely to get you an old timey admonishment :p
Click to expand...

The GEC shopping isn't always that bad, depending on what patterns you like. If I liked #47s or special #15s, I might agree, but as it is I prefer two-blade #48s with simpler sca- I mean, simpler covers, so I manage to make out ok. :D

What's your take on Queen's quality control? I still seem to read some iffy reports about their stuff, even with the newer runs like the ones they put together for Northwoods.
 
Skywalker31 said:
The GEC shopping isn't always that bad, depending on what patterns you like. If I liked #47s or special #15s, I might agree, but as it is I prefer two-blade #48s with simpler sca- I mean, simpler covers, so I manage to make out ok. :D

What's your take on Queen's quality control? I still seem to read some iffy reports about their stuff, even with the newer runs like the ones they put together for Northwoods.
Click to expand...

AAARRGGHH!! "Covers!" :eek: 48s are excellent, though; I have two. :D

You know, I stepped back from GEC traditionals a year or two ago. GEC's current business model of focusing on sfos and barlows is kind of convoluted. A guy just looking for a sturdy knife in a pattern he likes could be in for a bad surprise.

The last traditional knife I got was a Queen knife over a year ago and I asked the dealer to inspect it. I've gotten mixed results from Case, Queen, and even GEC in terms of aesthetic perfection. The traditional dealer I work with is happy to check before shipping so I generally receive great looking examples.

But, as I said, I switched to the Vic Soldier/Farmer a while back and am very happy. I love the functionality of a scout knife as well as the stainless tools.

That said, variety is the spice of life. That is why sometimes when a great song is written, another band might want to "cover" it. Why some people like to sit in front of a fire when it is cold and others like to get under the covers. I mean, if the ground is covered with snow, who is to say how one should get warm. In any case, if you bring blankets and firewood, you should be covered. :D
 
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