What are the best little EDC utility knives?

matus

matus

Joined
Apr 24, 2009
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662
Having owned Spyderco Dragonfly with super blue edge I learned how incredibly useful a small blade can be when the design is right. Unfortunately I have lost this little fella somewhere in Norway when on a vacation. I have just learned that a sprint version with HAP-40 blade and burned orange handle should come out this year which sounds really cool, but while waiting I started to think what else is out there.

So - what in your opinion are really good and useful small (say blade around 2") EDC utility knives?
 
for fixed i like crkt minimalist bowie version

for folder a swiss army alox farmer or pioneer
 
I would second the SAK suggestions (I like the Farmer model but that's just me) and add the Cold Steel Tuff Lite. It's an awesome and affordable little utility blade. The full size might be a bit larger at 2 1/2", not sure, but the mini might be a great and likely even more affordable choice.
 
Cold Steel Mini Tuff Lite. It's now my go to knife for work. Very useful blade shape and I'm able to get a full grip on the knife. Plus, it's only around $20 online if something should happen to it.
 
My vote is for the Delica. I have a Delica and a Dragonfly, and they are the smallest knives that I sometimes use. For actual use I would not want anything smaller than the Delica. I carry the Dragonfly only as a backup knife to the bigger knife that I always carry. I suppose anything is better than a sharp fingernail, but my contention is that if you know you will need too use the knife, you are better off with something a little bigger.
 
As mentioned above Cold Steel's Tuff Lite and Mini Tuff Lite are both great and very useful knives. My favorite mini knife is no longer available but you can still buy them occasionally on eBay, spyderco's copilot, a great little knife.

Mike
 
Folding: DPx Heat, multiple scale materials and steel types available, mine is g10 and sleipner. (top)
Fixed: JK Knives Mini Canadian Belt Knife (middle)
JK Knives USK Knife with his modified wharncliffe (bottom)

each square is 1/2" for scale.
 
Interesting knives indeed - most of them I did not know before.

supergnat said:
What sort of budget are you considering?
Click to expand...

Good question - I would probably not go beyond $100 unless I was particularly impressed by the design in what case I may go a little higher. As I have learned small knives are apparently easier to loose than bigger ones, so going for some midtech may not be the best idea and is, from the usability point of view, probably not really necessary. I am using the time until the Dragonfly in HAP40 will be available (which will be a couple of months, not even pr-eorder at this time) to widen my horizons, so to speak :)
 
I second the DPx Heat and have the same model described above. A blade with a smaller feel and a better slicer is the LionSteel Mini. I just received the KnifeArt exclusive version with D2 blade steel, carbon fiber scales with titanium bolsters. It has a 2¼ inch blade and a sort-of-front flipper.
 
The little LionSteel does look nice (and D2 is a great steel), but I would prefer pointier blade for little utility blade as the tip gets quite some work (package opening for example)
 
EDC "utility", small.... SAK. There is one for every budget and to suit everyone's needs; I prefer the Huntsman.
 
OH, I already have a small multi-tool knife from Fox (similar to small SAK, but I miss the little scissors some SAK models have), but the blade shape is not quite as useful and it does not lock. It is still a very useful tool, but not something I would carry in my pocket. I also agree that SAKs are excellent value. Even my wife who is not a knife person has one in her purse (good girl! :) ).

I have the SAK rescue tool permanently in my car (and hope that I will never have to use it for the intended purpose).
 
Cold Steel micro Recon1

SRM 710

BM 530 - not <2" but very lightweight and compact

BM mini Grip
 
Ok, dont laugh at me....

I bought a Spyderco Dogtag folder a few months ago. I wear it around my neck cord attached to a double sided magnet that has 6-8 pounds of force. Whenever I need a cutting tool I just reach up and pop the magnet loose. I've been amazed how much use that knife has gotten. I suppose mainly because its the one that is always with me...even around the house when I'm in warmups or whatever. I've also realized that the vast majority of my edc cutting tasks don't require much more than a modern day (and much sharper) equivalent of an arrow head. Native Americans used to skin a buffalo with one...surely I can open my package of soy sauce!!
 
I like a cold steel hold out 2 with a 4" blade. serrated. excelent but that lock is a tough one to operate. Crkt m_16 when i feel mall ninjarish.Lol is that even a word?
 
Surfingringo said:
Ok, dont laugh at me....

I bought a Spyderco Dogtag folder a few months ago. I wear it around my neck cord attached to a double sided magnet that has 6-8 pounds of force. Whenever I need a cutting tool I just reach up and pop the magnet loose. I've been amazed how much use that knife has gotten. I suppose mainly because its the one that is always with me...even around the house when I'm in warmups or whatever. I've also realized that the vast majority of my edc cutting tasks don't require much more than a modern day (and much sharper) equivalent of an arrow head. Native Americans used to skin a buffalo with one...surely I can open my package of soy sauce!!
Click to expand...

very true! i would do that as well, but the spyderco dog tags are heiniously overpriced over here... so i opt to carry small fixed. enzo necker in 12c27 flat or scandi grind and rather inexpensive.
 
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