What do you use your EDC for?

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dip_n_ride

Joined
Apr 23, 2008
Messages
154
Since for whatever reason (maybe the fact that I'm merely "Registered" and not an actual member?) I cannot run a search through these threads and see if this question has been asked before, I figured I would just put it out there and see what kind or reception it got.

Personally, when I got my first EDC, I was 10 years old, had to do about 2 weeks worth of chores around the house, and finally my mom took me to a sporting goods store (probably Dick's or something) and bought me a Gerber E-Z Out Jr. I carried that thing everywhere with me, doing just random kid stuff, i.e. whittling sticks, and the like.

That knife held me over for a good 6 years or so, and I actually still have it (I'm 24 now), thought it's awfully dull, and I managed to break the pocket clip off so it's very hard to hold comfortably. I've always had an interest in knives, not for any specific reason, it just happens to be something I like to collect.

Now I have no doubt that there are a vast number of people on this forum that use their EDC for tough labor every day of their lives. But here's the thing: I don't. I live in Washington, DC, and I spend roughly 8 hours a day in front of a computer, which rarely, if ever, requires me to use one of my knives. I'm not huge into DIY projects around the house, and as far as building or fixing things go, I don't venture far beyond my bikes (another thing I collect), which I use other tools for.

Sure, when I am outside, or camping, or traveling (I spend a lot of time in Africa), etc. I'm always carrying just out of habit. Point being: there is absolutely no reason, other than desire, to have as many knives as I have/know as much about them as I do. Am I alone here? Anybody have any input? I'm not really looking for answers or advice or anything, would just like to hear some stories, that's all.

Thanks guys.

JMB.
 
DnR---My EDC is for PP and companionship. That's it.
Mt EDC folder is a Warren Thomas #2.
 
I use my EDC Swiss Army Highlander everyday to open a can of vegetables for lunch or dinner. I also use it to cut whatever we are cooking that day and to cut up my food as I am eating it. Everything from Porterhouse steak to pork chops. I have a generic lock on the bedroom that can be opened with any kind of edge like a coin or whatever and I use the closed part of the blade to open that. I also use the can opener to clean my teeth after I eat. Sometimes I use the screwdriver to clean my nails. I use it for just about everything.
 
EDC rotation change, a new Stanley Fujisaka flipper. I am in construction, cutting rope, string, tape, cord, stripping wire, cutting labels, wrappers, removing labels, sharpening the carpenter pencil, cutting the tips off chalking tubes and only once. Removing a soft rubber plug. Cutting the bottom off a plastic soda jug, to use as a scoop. There’s other’s, but I am too old to remember.
 
Alot. But mostly...

Freakin zip ties

Freakin blister packs

Freakin bags of french fries at work

Freakin dirt under my nails.



So all the annoying things in life get slaughtered by my Spyderco Caly3 with rage.
 
Loose threads, opening letters/packages, breaking down cardboard boxes, cutting plastic straps.. I think scissors are great for many things, but sometimes there is no substitute for a good knife. Cheers.
 
Surprisingly... the task mine does most is cutting a bag of chips. The bags separate at the end seam, but unless you want to reach in and get chip dust all over your hand, you need to slice the bag open the long way. If you try to pull and tear it, the bag explodes and shoots your chips everywhere.

Oh, but so you can feel better about fancy knives. I can assure you that chips taste better when opened by a $100 knife.
 
Noshtero said:
Oh, but so you can feel better about fancy knives. I can assure you that chips taste better when opened by a $100 knife.
Click to expand...

Ha, was especially amused by that, and the "Caly3 with rage" comment as well.

I guess now that I think about it, I use knives a lot more for menial tasks I just never put a second's thought into. Thanks guys! Keep them comin'.
 
jk904jk said:
Alot. But mostly...

Freakin zip ties

Freakin blister packs

Freakin bags of french fries at work

Freakin dirt under my nails.



So all the annoying things in life get slaughtered by my Spyderco Caly3 with rage.
Click to expand...
So I'm curious as to what sort of bags they're putting those freakin' french fries in that you've gotta cut 'em open!?:D
 
I use mine all the time, especially at work which is strange because I never thought I would use my Spyderco Endura being a server. I cut open pies, bags of strawberries, boxes of milk, I slice up promo thingies to fit the holders on the tables, I literally use my knife 5-10 times a day while at work and sometimes more.

When I'm not there it rides in my pocket at school, and there's been several times I've had to take it out and help the professor open a plug cover so we can plug in a microscope, or open a box with laboratory equipment. Surprisingly no one seems to mind my big ass Endura in class or anywhere else on campus.

I sure do see a lot of knife clips on pockets at school too, I even saw a kid cleaning his nails with a griptilian the other day. I guess Arizona is weird like that, because there's a no weapons rule on campus, and no one seems to care.
 
I'm a line cook and use my 551 grip all the time to open boxes and bags when I'm not near a chefs knife. The axis lock makes it faster to whip it out, cut, and snap close than to run half way across the restaurant to find the work knifes. Really handy when the truck comes in twice a week too, many many corrugated containers to take apart.
 
I find myself constantly having to open packages and boxes. Working in retail means opening lots and lots of cardboard boxes of clothes that need to be either put away in the back or sent out to the front so customers can buy them. When it comes to cutting through icky tape and the like, I keep around a crappy Victorinox Spartan for such occasions, as it doesn't exactly need to be razor sharp and I don't mind if it gets dirty. However, for most all other tasks besides prying, my Opinel #8 does a wonderful job going through envelopes, prepping food if I'm without my Henckels, and pretty much anything else that comes my way.
 
Dip which country of Africa do you visit? I use my Kershaw TacBlur for cutting boxes open, cleaning my nails, cutting stray threads, and just anything that needs to be cut really.
 
90% admiring my toy, 5% cutting things that don't need to be cut & 5% actually cutting things that need to be cut. I'm in sales and one thing that remains evident is that we buy on emotion and justify the purchase logically. I have $1000+ worth of knives on me right now and I can do 98% of what I do with these knives with a $15 Opinel and I couldn't be happier with them.

Just reread my post and there's a lot of frickin numbers in it, at least 5% of the post.
 
I carry my Emerson Police Utility Fixed blade P.U.K) and my Emerson CQC-7bw (or my CQC14 - snubby) every day:

Cutting the following multiple times a day:

- rope, cord, twine, packing straps, plastic wrap, foam, cardboard ect

- The fixedblade sees a lot of use ventilating sealed cans of solvents and paints, to release pressure from the can (sealed shut lid) , it also gets used to hack wood, split thin planks and break down large thinwall packing crates. Stake making for marker stakes on job sites

- food use (clean knife of course)


thats about all i can think of....
 
I often wonder how people get through the day without a knife. Especially those people with short fingernails like me. When someone says they don't have a knife, I'm just stunned. I hate it when I'm flying and can't carry an edge. I usually have at least 2 blades within reach at all times--a SAK and something else.

Today I used a blade to: open a box, cut some zip ties, open a ream of paper, open a can (SAK screwdriver blade), open a bag of trail mix, trim some shoots off an unruly office plant, cut some 550 cord for boot laces, open one of those F'n blister packs, cut the wax on the top of a bottle of adult beverage, and trim a torn finger nail. Sure I could have found other tools, but that edc was right there. :) (Oh yeah, I wouldn't dream of walking a dog with out a knife to cut one lose from a tangled leash.)
 
My EDC duties are shared by one of my Sebenzas, or SnG's, and my always knife, one of my SAK's.

Being retired, my life is rather mundane but I do a lot of woodworking.

So, together with the common uses of an EDC knife, mine work hard in the shop making that last tiny "adjustment" to various cuts, scraping, poking, cutting, etc.

Yes, I have other tools in the shop that perform these functions as well or better, but what would be the fun in that?

Cheers,
dan :)
 
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