What is EDC?

[Sonnydaze]

EDC---in my case--- has meant a large CRK Sebenza or a Zaan for quite a few yrs. I haven't found any reason to change my mind.

 

[jazub]

Benchmade 940, 470-1, Amicus all fill this role for me. If the assist is no bueno in the moment, a hand over the back of the blade allows for slow, mellow opening. SAKs fill this role also.

 

[bearfacedkiller]

EDC is a marketing term...

 

[Srtr]

as much stuff as you can fit into a picture to be heavily edited for instagram.

 

[K.O.D.]

The term EDC annoys me. The only things I consider as EDC are my phone, wallet, insulin pump, and medicine bag. Everything else is based on whim and/or environment.

 

[dsalazar]

I every day carry a knife. Wichever one I feel like at the time. With all the variety why be subjected to only carrying one all the time. Zt 0350 for work. Spyderco endura while wearing shorts. I believe that edc doesn't have to be just one.

 

[bdmicarta]

I think the definition by the OP is a bit too restrictive. Circumstances can change from day to day so my EDC rotation covers 99% of my days, well over the past few years it could cover virtually 100%.
I have a rotation of knives that I use for my weekday carry to my office. I could and do carry these same knives on weekends but I have a different group of knives that I normally carry on weekends. I am able to carry a PM2 or Manix 2 every day to work and not have any problems no matter who is around when I use it so these are the true EDC knives for me. I have a couple of Manix 2 XLs in my EDC rotation but I can't say that I would feel free to pull them out and use them no matter who is around so I will exclude them from this discussion. On weekends I either carry a different Manix 2 with tougher blade, or a Military so again I won't place the Military in the EDC category. I could carry a tiny knife and I have in the past, but since I already have fingernails I have no use for a tiny knife. The PM2 is the smallest knife that I will normally carry.

 

[James Y]

To me EDC means what it says, something you can carry no matter what, Every Day Carry. If you need to adjust what knife you are carrying based on the company you might keep, the venue, or the climate/environment, then it is NOT an EDC.

For me I have seem to have discovered a very few EDC knives. An EDC better not be embarrassing to open in public settings, should be capable for any task you might encounter(within reason), and should not make you feel like you have left needed capabilities at home to appease the sheeple.

What knives have done this for me so far?

Victorinox Champ (or other similar models)
CH Knives CH3001
Ontario Rat2
Leatherman Juice series
Spyderco Delica

I would like to include the Cold Steel Code 4, the Rat1 in D2, my ZT0566, Benchmade Ritter Grip S30V, Byrd Cara Cara 2, Harnds Talisman, but these all would be rather hard to pull out in mixed company and not cause gasps of fear. I would assume that Victorinox will be high on the list of never scaring people.

What other knives do people here think that might be truly classed as EDCs without reservation? I assume no specific country. I am a Canadian living in Chile and knife laws here aren't very clear to the police and are rather arbitrarily enforced. Some knives that are fully acceptable in the US will be clearly illegal in the UK.

TBH, by your criteria, then NOTHING can be an EDC. Because venue and environment DO matter. In most states, it's generally not allowed to carry any kind of knife into:
Gov't buildings
Amusement parks (especially major attractions like Sea World, Disney, etc.)
Airports beyond certain points, and airplanes
Sporting events
Concerts
Etc., etc.

Even a tiny Victorinox Classic will not be permitted, let alone a Delica, Ritter Grip, Rat 2, etc. Even my Victorinox Executive doesn't go with me into those places. Now, I'm sure someone will say they've gotten through Disneyland or Universal Studios security with their ZT or Spyderco or SAK. That just means they happened to slip through. It was an anomaly, and not worth the risk of losing a knife to security, or losing your place in line to run back to put it into your car, IMO.

I think the original question is a little OCD about the technicalities of what EDC really means. The same as someone saying they go to work every day but only work 5 to 6 days/week, then someone else telling them they don't really work every day. Nearly every day on a regular basis is good enough.

Jim

 

[Aldebaran]

OP - Playing Devil's advocate here... You listed 5 items you consider EDC. Do you carry them all every day? Your premise of EDC would suggest it! Or is it an EDC rotation? Most of us EDC something, usually a handful to be changed out with our moods or workloads.

I carry either a Swiss champ or a Leatherman XE6pro every day. I also always carry either a Fallkniven U2 or a Vicorinox Officer Suisse. I have with me all the time a Leatherman Surge with all the optional accessories either on my belt where it is not a fashion sin, or in my back pack where it is. Sometimes, rather rare, I might not have my back pack nor belt mounted Batman tools with me.

I also carry my ZT0566, or Code 4, or Harnds Talisman, or Rat 1, PM2, Byrd Cara Cara 2, or Benchmade Ritter Grip S30V, if the situation allows, so they are not my true EDCs, but I prefer bigger knives if possible.

True possible EDC in pure knives, that I have, consist of Rat2, CH CH3001, or Delica 4.

You will see that I have rotations of my EDCs, but that is just how I feel for that day. If I had to choose my true EDCs, and only say that they are with me all the time, I would be happy with a Leatherman XE6 and a CH CH3001. With these two I would not feel like I was lost because of capability in a regular "Can you help me with this?" situation to a survival situation where I had to rely on only what I had in my pockets. These two things would not raise too many eyebrows in any situation that doesn't require security scanners, and also would be capable enough to handle almost any situation you might find yourself in without warning.

If I were to set an EDC list where I could give zero concern to sheeple concerns on what I had on my person, it would be many bigger items. If possible I would never let my Leatherman Surge and accessories be left behind. The Code 4 would also be a big contender for a never let me down folder.

 

[sabre cat]

So what do we call a knife we mostly carry but rotate occasionally?

It is still an EDC. Consider it short for "EDC rotation" or "EDC item", etc. The term has become slang for just about anything we might carry, use, or have near us on a normal day.

If I went by the standards set in the OP to pick my "EDC" then I would be forced to choose a Vic Cadet. Why? Because out of every knife I own, it is the most PC. In other words, both public opinion and the law consider it acceptable. And, during a 30 day carry challenge, I found I could make it work about 80-90% of the time I could ever need a knife other than for food prep. But, there is a problem. Even though it may be considered acceptable; it is not the most practical, or best tool for my daily needs. Plus, I don't like nail nicks. So, it receives little pocket time.

 

[singularity35]

It is still an EDC. Consider it short for "EDC rotation" or "EDC item", etc. The term has become slang for just about anything we might carry, use, or have near us on a normal day.

If I went by the standards set in the OP to pick my "EDC" then I would be forced to choose a Vic Cadet. Why? Because out of every knife I own, it is the most PC. In other words, both public opinion and the law consider it acceptable. And, during a 30 day carry challenge, I found I could make it work about 80-90% of the time I could ever need a knife other than for food prep. But, there is a problem. Even though it may be considered acceptable; it is not the most practical, or best tool for my daily needs. Plus, I don't like nail nicks. So, it receives little pocket time.

Understood. In an earlier post in this thread, going by the OP's definition, I don't have an EDC even if I carry a knife everyday.

 

[Yonose]

Nobody plans on it, but I hope if it happens its on a day I've got my 110 on my hip ( it'd have to be a coincidence because I don't carry for defense ) because it was designed to cut flesh, and that it'll do all too well.


That was me, and I mistakenly wasn't clear that I was referring to lockbacks.
It's way easier to simply push a slipjoint closed than to have to go for the lock bar to depress before closing.
But since you brought up safety, I do find slipjoints safer than a liner or frame lock because you don't need to have any part of your hand near the blade channel.

Where I live, any knife over 3" cannot be concealed, and the law clearly states that clip carry is not concealed. So it has to be on a belt or clipped to a pocket. It has to be said that in a state that does not issue ccw's unless active or retired LEO or judge, a one handed blade within reach and the awareness of such is the only deterrent available period. Since I always have a buck on the belt and a millie, ZT or Rat1d2 within arms reach, the SAK or Leatherman only come out when a screwdriver or pliers are required. This also conserves the steel on said tool, since it is thin, low grade stainless which doesn't hold up to daily use/frequent sharpening. When I am able to move to a free state, my attitude and opinions will change as well.

 

[_nw]

I largely agree with the person(s?) that said EDC is a marketing term. They used to be called pocket knives or simply knives, but these days they are all EDC, Tactical, Bushcraft, or some other such nonsense.

I think I get the OP's view though. There is definitely a subset of the EDC community that is truly looking for tools that will be their companions every day — till death do you part. They are looking to solve the problem of what they carry and how.

This is ostensibly my own goal as well, but it takes experimentation to know what's good and what works and changing one piece of my "EDC" often has a ripple effect on other parts. Nowadays I'm just enjoying the journey. But I think for some, the clarity and resolution is important.

 

[jmh33]

I EDK.. (Every Day Knife).. I carry a knife every day but it aint the same one.. I switch up daily!! John

 

[PirateSeulb]

EDC is a marketing term...

The term is slapped on to so much as marketing term which is sad but it can be used to refer to the items we would regularly carry as part of our usual daily use items.

The term EDC annoys me. The only things I consider as EDC are my phone, wallet, insulin pump, and medicine bag. Everything else is based on whim and/or environment.

I am annoyed with how it is just slapped on things for marketing but beyond that the term has a practical use too. I would still consider my knife an EDC item even though it isn't used everyday but it is a versatile tool that is suitable for daily carry.

 

[22-rimfire]

To me EDC means what it says, something you can carry no matter what, Every Day Carry. If you need to adjust what knife you are carrying based on the company you might keep, the venue, or the climate/environment, then it is NOT an EDC.

EDC = Every Day Carry..... (Words mean things, right?) One needs to be practical or at least I think you need to be practical and adjust to the situation if you want to carry a knife. So, technically few of us actually have an EDC.

 

[ATJ999]

I guess I consider my knives ADC, ALL DAY CARRY. I usually use one knife for the day, or two to three depending on the tasks for the day.
But, I always have a folder as my default all day carry, but it is a different knife a lot of days, so it is not a single knife I carry every day.

 

[22-rimfire]

... But to me the term EDC means I carry "A KNIFE" everyday ... I never leave home without some type of knife.

That fits me as I normally carry a knife every day. It's usually the same knife, but not always. From a marketing point of view, I suspect EDC means suitable for every day use or carry by many. No absolutes.

 

[Etna]

Going by OP's definition, i don't have an EDC because my country's law makes it clear that carrying a knife without a use or a clear proof that it is absolutely needed at the time it is on me is a non-bailable felony if caught. And because of that, it stays at home if i'm outdoors on my own personal time.

But the knife does travel with me as part of my tool kit during work, so i guess it's part of my work EDC?

 

[Billy The Blade]

My opinion is that the abbrev. phrase
E.D.C. (for Every Day Carry) is simply
yet another shortened general term
that most knife carrying people can
easily relate to. I don't agree that it's
part of a marketing ploy. It just says
that based on the ergos, build & blade
quality, the knife co. is just stating that the particular knife would serve you well, for a multitude of tasks, and
make a great option to carry (said knife) on an everyday basis.
As a fellow knife enthusiast, collector,
w/ plenty of options to vary my
'daily knife carry' Its easily forgotten
that many people are New to knives,
& are trying to find ONE reliable knife
that they can carry on a daily basis.
Obviously, as mentioned, good
judgement on what type of knife to
carry based upon your individual
State's knife laws, as well as the
setting you are going to be attending,
and, of-course, any rules in place
where you are employed.
As also mentioned, anywhere that
strictly forbids entry w/ a knife of
any kind.
I, like many, don't like the idea of
being w/o a good quality knife, that
I feel as dependable, though, as I'm
sure most of you can relate.
To me, there is nothing wrong w/ an
abbreviated term that many can
relate to, wether it is 'Literally' the One
& only knife that you carry w/ you
every day, or if you have been 'bitten'
by the 'knife bug' , so to speak, and
you collect, appreciate, & use several
different desired types, styles, makers, etc. which allows you the
option to carry, test, & appreciate
the many dif. types & styles, on a
Daily Basis. It also gives you the
option for multiple 'daily' carry,
so that you are prepared for the
'I don't have to pull my Large Carry
Knife out to cut off a loose thread,
or similar because you know you
have your smaller, more discreet
option, like a S.A.K., Micra,
small / medium traditional,
or other similar choices.'
I also think that if you are looking for
a Heavy Duty Survival type knife,
that the term 'Bushcraft' was inspired.
A well made & designed fixed blade
that has All of the properties needed
to be considered one.
Blade edge, sharpness, & ease of
(in field / woods) sharpening.
Hardness, heat treat, & toughness.
Corrosion resistance.
Battoning capability, ( provided it is
necessary, & your only tool option
available)
Game / Food process./ prep.
*Of-course, being a 'knife guy',
I would, (ideally), also have a
folding knife along with it's own
set of desired properties to
accompany my needs, w/ 'the
right tool for the task, at hand.'
-Lastly, why complicate a 'well. known' term, by trying to make
it fit your own carry habits,
i.e. EDK & ADC.
B.T.B.