RECCOMENDATION?? Long term EDC

adinb114

adinb114

Joined
Feb 25, 2011
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Im just getting into collecting knives, and my collection is mostly fixed blades and Saks.
I edc my Izzy and mini grip, and im happy with both, but i wan't to step it up a little.
Ive been meaning to get something to be a user; something i can carry in my pocket for years, so good build quality and a good warranty are a must. I want a fairly large knife that carries well.

My ideas of such a knife are as follows.

BM 940
Spyderco Gayle bradley
Benchmade 710
Spyderco Perrin
Spyderco manix 2 (Sprint run, so think s30v, cts-xhp)
ZT 350
Benchmade 806
Ritter grip with custom scales

Id be open to other reccomendations.

So,
What do ya think?:jerkit:
 
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While all of those ideas on EDC knives are good choices and would hold their own, I would suggest the knife that I've carried with me for five plus years and still going strong.....the CRK Sebenza. :D
 
Of the ones you mentioned, I really like the Manix 2. I have a Koster EDC that I am working on getting a sheath for that will be my edc from there on out until I find something better.
 
The Manix 2 is a good blade but it's a bit on the heavy side. I know everyone has one but I'm a big fan of the Endura 4. Its relatively light and strong enough for all that I need it to do. I can see it being a really long lasting blade as long as it's not misused.
 
+1 on the Endura. I was just stating my opinion based on what he listed for folders. The Endura can be a little long in the blade in some jurisdictions so maybe the Delica? Don't forget that Spyderco is coming out with the Manix 2 light weight which I think will weigh same or less than Endura.
 
man you've already got a pretty killer combo with your Izzie. I think you perfectly described it "something i can carry in my pocket for years, so good build quality and a good warranty are a must." the mini grip too. Hate to say that I like a Benchmade over a Spyder, but the mini grip is a home run! I love how smooth, and useful the blade is. Just comfy to hold, play with, and use hard. 2nd day that I had it, I started chopping icicles off my roof. It can take a lot of abuse, and is wicked easy to sharpen. I had a 710 before, and really just didn't like it. It was a little too big for my tastes, and I'm not a huge fan of re-curves. so for EDC, the ZT probably won't serve you as well. I'm thinking that a letter would be a bit small for that big blade to cut. I also had a CTS-XHP Manix and that thing was great. I ended up trading it off, but that was a mistake. Personally i dig Spydercos. I am and have been going strong with a Spyderco paramilitary 2 s90V. I have heard stories of people edcing SAKs for ages though...I don't know i guess u just don't dig them anymore?


Have you looked at the Spyderco sage at all? I will still recommend the Para 2 over that though. Just carry it and use it and you will see why.


I'll give you some feed back on sebs when mine comes in on Monday. I'm getting a small since it carries more like a mini grip. I love that blade shape and overall size for most edc tasks. I will eventually probably get a regular titanium large one. So I can have something that will compete with my Para 2. Overall right now though that baby takes the cake!!!


Good luck with your choices. The best way I think to keep the same knife as an EDC for years is to

A.) put all your other knives away so that u only have 1 option...maybe 2 at the most.
and
B.) Avoid looking at other knives and knife companies and YouTube reviews about "the best knife on the planet..."

All those adds and what not just make you lust after newer and "better" blades. When in reality, the Izula is already one of the best EDC fixed blades on the planet.

I have 2 new blades that will be coming in soon though, so i'll be needing to break those in as well.



Hope that helps and good luck with your choice
 
orchunter93 said:
man you've already got a pretty killer combo with your Izzie. I think you perfectly described it "something i can carry in my pocket for years, so good build quality and a good warranty are a must." the mini grip too. Hate to say that I like a Benchmade over a Spyder, but the mini grip is a home run! I love how smooth, and useful the blade is. Just comfy to hold, play with, and use hard. 2nd day that I had it, I started chopping icicles off my roof. It can take a lot of abuse, and is wicked easy to sharpen. I had a 710 before, and really just didn't like it. It was a little too big for my tastes, and I'm not a huge fan of re-curves. so for EDC, the ZT probably won't serve you as well. I'm thinking that a letter would be a bit small for that big blade to cut. I also had a CTS-XHP Manix and that thing was great. I ended up trading it off, but that was a mistake. Personally i dig Spydercos. I am and have been going strong with a Spyderco paramilitary 2 s90V. I have heard stories of people edcing SAKs for ages though...I don't know i guess u just don't dig them anymore?


Have you looked at the Spyderco sage at all? I will still recommend the Para 2 over that though. Just carry it and use it and you will see why.


I'll give you some feed back on sebs when mine comes in on Monday. I'm getting a small since it carries more like a mini grip. I love that blade shape and overall size for most edc tasks. I will eventually probably get a regular titanium large one. So I can have something that will compete with my Para 2. Overall right now though that baby takes the cake!!!


Good luck with your choices. The best way I think to keep the same knife as an EDC for years is to

A.) put all your other knives away so that u only have 1 option...maybe 2 at the most.
and
B.) Avoid looking at other knives and knife companies and YouTube reviews about "the best knife on the planet..."

All those adds and what not just make you lust after newer and "better" blades. When in reality, the Izula is already one of the best EDC fixed blades on the planet.

I have 2 new blades that will be coming in soon though, so i'll be needing to break those in as well.



Hope that helps and good luck with your choice
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Great suggestion, and i love my Saks, but i find the thin blades don't always cut it (Heh heh) when it comes to some tasks.
 
Shadow213 said:
While all of those ideas on EDC knives are good choices and would hold their own, I would suggest the knife that I've carried with me for five plus years and still going strong.....the CRK Sebenza. :D
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+1 on that one!

adinb114 said:
As much as id love an umnum or a sebbie, i just don't have the dough right now.
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If you want a knife that will last you a lifetime and do whatever you want it to do and keep going strong the sebenza is an excellent choice! Plus CRKs customer service is second to none!

I'd save up enough dough until you had enough, you won't regret it.
 
adinb114 said:
Im just getting into collecting knives, and my collection is mostly fixed blades and Saks.
I edc my Izzy and mini grip, and im happy with both, but i wan't to step it up a little.
Ive been meaning to get something to be a user; something i can carry in my pocket for years, so good build quality and a good warranty are a must. I want a fairly large knife that carries well.

My ideas of such a knife are as follows.

BM 940
Spyderco Gayle bradley
Benchmade 710
Spyderco Perrin
Spyderco manix 2 (Sprint run, so think s30v, cts-xhp)
ZT 350
Benchmade 806
Ritter grip with custom scales

Id be open to other reccomendations.

So,
What do ya think?:jerkit:
Click to expand...

Out of those, I'd say go for the Gayle Bradley. It's a great slicer, but very tough. It won't rip up your pockets, it holds an edge very well, and has spectacular build quality. The barrel spacers won't crumble like the plastic backspacers on most of the knives on that list, either. Other than that, you might want to wait for the ZT 0550, or track down a 0551. I'm loving my 0551 as an EDC, and I can tell it will last for an eternity barring any unforeseeable mishaps or abuse. As for customer service, it goes like this: Kershaw/ZT>Benchmade>Spyderco.
 
Spyderco para2, the cts-20cp version if you're willing to wait. Benchmade 581 barrage has also been good for me, especially with the smooth g10 scales which makes it unobtrusive in the pocket. The manix 2 is okay, but I find I don't like the spearpoint variant leaf blade, as something with a higher tip would have more belly for cutting.
 
The combo that Ive become most fond of is a small micarta Sebenza and a small BRK or BHK FB, either a mini-Fox River or a small Cascade. If I only carry one, it'll most often be the FB.
 
Some thoughts:

-I like large knives but I wouldn't recommend one as a primary long term carry knife unless you wear the same clothes every day. You may be able to carry a 5+oz knife in your jeans but your shorts or khaki pants might not handle the weight. Or your pants may have different pocket shapes that make a larger knife uncomfortable.

-You may be carrying the knife in different situations--one day in the woods, one day at a meeting, one day at a party, etc. For this reason you should look at either understated knives or nice/classy looking knives. Something like the ZT is too tactical and a knife as large as the 806 or 710 would turn too many heads.

-I had a 943 but returned it because I didnt like the aluminum handles. It is a nice knife though and the 940 would satisfy the needs I mentioned.

-The 806 is a sweet knife and probably my favorite of all my large knives, but it is big--about the same size as a spyderco military. I dont carry it often because my pants can't handle it, but I plan to get a pair of jeans to change that heh.

-As you noticed, the sebenza is also a popular option. If you are curious, I recommend saving up and buying it first to see what all the hype is about. I didn't like the large very much (too heavy) but maybe the small will be light enough.
 
>>> Great suggestion, and i love my Saks, but i find the thin blades don't always cut it (Heh heh) when it comes to some tasks.

Which SAKs are you carrying? I like to carry a Victorinox Soldier or Pioneer, and I use the awl blade for any "heavy" cutting task, like clamshell packaging.

As mentioned already, a good SAK & Izula combo is pretty hard to beat for EDC purposes.
 
Good thread! :thumbup:

I haven’t found my ‘signature’ knife either. I’m sure many of us can remember *the* knife our dad or grand-dad carried. He didn’t seem to need or want a huge selection, and the knife he carried seemed all the more special that way.

One day, I'd like to find such a knife of my own, but it ain’t looking so good… ;)
 
I like the Benchmade 940 series, but I like the clip point of the 943 better than the reverse tanto point of the 940. I don't do a lot of skinning, so the 940 is not my favorite. I do a lot of food preparation, so I like ability of the 943 to make tight turn. The Axis lock is great, and it is ambidextrous. The weight (82gm.) makes for an easy carry.
 
Good knives on your list. From there I'd say Spydie Manix 2 or ZT 350. Personally I am currently alternating a Spydie Para Mil 2 with a ZT302, both a bit larger than the aforementioned.
 
I plan on EDCing my Gayle Bradley for years to come. That, and the upcoming zdp ladybug....

The GB is just amazing, and the patina the blade will get over the years gives it character.
 
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