What factors do you take into account when selecting your EDC?

O

outofgum

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
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And do you vary how you carry it?

I usually consider: where I'll be, who will be there, what I'm wearing, and what I carried the day before. Knives can be fashion accessories! Heh.

If I'm going somewhere with lots of sensitive NKP (school, library), I usually select something smaller, like a Spyderco Calypso or Minigrip. Location changes from front or back pocket to IWB.

Usual public (around town, mall), I can carry something a little larger like a Delica or 710. Usually goes in the back pocket.

If I'm wearing suit or am somewhat dressed up, I try to bring a gentleman's knife. Something with a ss handle or a low profile like a jess horn. Try to keep it on the smaller side.

If I'm going on a trip by plane it gets tricky. If I check in, usually I can't bring anything, though once I got a vnox classic through the metal detector by accident. If I check in, I usually include something small, not terribly expensive. That becomes my edc for the trip.

If I go camping or somewhere with liberal knife laws... I go with a FB, and 1-2 folders. Sky's the limit!

How do you vary your edc and what factors do you take into consideration?
 
I'm not one of the fashion type.

Spyderco Manix, all the time, everyday.

I think about how sturdy and what size when I buy a new ECD every few years.

OK, I lied. Not all the time, on the very, very rarest of times, when I wear a suit, I sport a stainless Kershaw Chive. It's as close to a "gentlemans knife" as I own.
 
It's gotta be flat when in the pocket, It's gotta be strong when in sheath..

Pocket: Rat Trap, Wegner Hunter (or smaller like Leek and Calypso jr.)
Sheath: Buck 880 Sp, CQC-8, Ontario Retribution, Harsey Tactical Hunter..

something like that

:rolleyes:
 
Aside from quality, which is pretty much a given for any knife company I buy from, I look for funnessssss. If I go to Spyderco, I can feel comfortable that the knife can handle what it was designed for. So as long as I enjoy it, it's good enough. And I enjoy all types of knife features.
 
Fixed blade, not too big, strong, unobtrusive.

Here's mine at the moment -


100_0663.jpg


That's a Bark River TUSK in a sheath I made. Horizontal carry.

Andy
 
General use: SOG tomcat
more formal: Mcusta kasumi
toolbox in your pocket: leatherman charge tti

I just baught the sog and the mcusta today, so they still havent arrived, but the reason I picked them is this: the sog is a beast of a knife. It looks like it could hack through just about anything, and its a hell of a lot thicker than most 3.75" knives. Also, its a mid priced knife, so if it got a little damaged, it wouldnt be a tragedy. The mcusta I chose because it's gorgeous, supposedly they hold up well, and I would never feel self conscious pulling it out--even at the most formal event. Certainly carrying a leatherman or a knife as threatening as a tomcat would be looked down upon in some situations. I anticipate that these three knives, with the spyderco tri-angle sharpener, will last me a long time.


EDIT: also, the mcusta falls in the small knife category, so it's ultimate functionality is less important than its aesthetic, as long as it wont fall apart under normal stress. The tomcat is much more aggressive and, as I understand it, able to take quite a beating.
 
I ask one question:

Does it have a Spyderco logo on it somewhere?

If yes, it'll work.
 
I look for usable size (between 2.5-3.5 inch bladed folder), quality materials, and good fit and finish.
David
 
For a while I was EDCing my BM min-ambush, and that' it. Good little knife, but I recently went back to my original set-up:

Byrd Meadowlark G10 (PE) in back pocket and SAK Alox Cadet in front.

I went back to the 'lark because that steel holds an edge for a pretty long time and was easy for me to get it extremely sharp using a WallyMart cheapo lansky type sharpening system. The SAK is good around the office for smaller stuff and more people friendly.

I like thin and smaller knives and mostly a plain edge.
 
I usually carry a particular model for about a week or two then switch to another. I consider where I will be, who will be around and what I might need to use it for then pick one. On my days off, I carry whatever suits my fancy for that day. I do have several that I carry more often than others and I have some that I will carry only when I'm pursuing outdoor activities, i.e., hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, etc. because of their size and intended use. Around town and the house, I carry smaller sized models in the 2 to 3 inch blade range. I do feel bad for the ones that sit in the storage pack more than the others and so occasionally I pull them out and wipe them down on occasion so they dont' feel ignored. (No I'm not weird).
 
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