Thanks folks, I'd like to go with a Spyderco. I did a forum search for "Spyderco EDC" and there's just so many recommendations. Literally dozens of Spyderco EDCs in my price range, I really just don't know what to get. I can look at a picture of a BG-42 Military which goes for almost $200, and then look at a Salt I for $50 and not see any advantages to the BG-42. Logic dictates that the expensive one is simply "better", but I really don't know what to look for.
There's really 3 major differences here. First, is the overall shape and size. Military has a blade that's an inch longer, and is shaped differently. Next you have the blade materials. BG-42 is a great steel, one of my favorites. It's quite stainless and it takes and holds a wonderful edge. H-1, the steel used in the Salt series, is very different. It's very low carbon, but contains nitrogen, allowing it to be hardened more like a traditional steel. It's also almost impervious to rust. One guy dunked one in a jar of sea water for a month with no ill effects on the blade. It won't hold an edge as long as BG-42, but is a little easier to sharpen. Lastly, the handle materials. The Military is G-10 or Carbon Fiber, both of which are very rugged, durable, and visually appealing high end materials. The Salt series uses FRN, which is a fancy way of saying very durable plastic.
Both are excellent knives. In fact, I've been carrying a Salt 1 as my EDC for well over 2 years now. It's a great knife, and personally, I love the fact that it's essentially maintenance free, and I never have to worry about it rusting.
Now, I feel compelled to ask - why do nearly all Spyderco blades have that one hole in the top-back of the blade?
That's something of a trademark design for Spyerco knives, as they pioneered the idea. That hole is designed and positioned in such a way that you can catch it with your thumb to open the knife with one hand. The most common alternative to that is the thumb stud found on many other knives. The thumb stud is considered by many to be more visually appealing, as it doesn't affect the shape of the blade as much, but personally I find the spyder hole to be more comfortable and usable.
EDIT - And what do you think of combo edges?
Personal opinion is that I'm not a fan of serrated edges (whole or part) for a general purpose knife. They're difficult to sharpen, more likely to tear than cut, and less aesthetically appealing to me. I think they can be very useful, but they're not my favorite. I do own a handful of knives with fully or partially serrated blades, but when it comes to picking a knife to carry or use, they don't get chosen often.
And let me know if you need some more information, though I won't be able to respond for a good 8 hours yet.
