Comeuppance
Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2013
- Messages
- 4,765
I'm no collector, but I certainly have more (and more expensive) knives than most people. I justify this in part by having each knife I own serve a different purpose. Additionally, there are certain tools and supplies one needs to properly (or, at least, ideally) maintain such knives. There are a lot of people here with varying philosophies regarding their knives, and I think we'd all benefit from seeing some different assortments, perspectives, and tips. Also, a little knife porn never hurt anyone 
First and foremost, a very pleasant surprise for me: The Cold Steel Tuff Lite.
As my tape-and-cardboard knife, this probably gets the most use. Small, tough, reliable, sharp, easy to sharpen, comfy, functional, and light.
- Hard use knife I won't fret about if damaged.
- Feels like a natural extension of my hand.
- Can get it completely covered in tape gunk and not feel the need to clean it.
- Weighs very little, locks up like a tank, capable of everything but holding an edge for long.
- Legal basically everywhere locking knives are legal, non-threatening at work. Definitely a tool by design, not a weapon.
The next knife was an impulse purchase at a local Army Surplus store: a Benchmade 530 Pardue
- Insanely light. Seriously. 1.88oz, but with a fully capable axis lock and a 3.25" 154CM blade.
- Invisible in the pocket of black slacks, light enough to not make somewhat loose pants sag.
- Kinda threatening, but still very functional as a tool.
Now a knife I had been eyeing for over six months, but never purchased due to the mediocre reputation of the company and the remarkable lack of reviews: The Meyerco Darrel Ralph "DDR EDC"
- I kinda want to get this duracoated with multicolored DDR arrows.
- Handsome, shiny, solid, smooth knife.
- I can carry this when I'm in less-than-desirable parts of town and feel reasonably prepared for anyone that doesn't have a gun. I've actually had cause to make someone back down from a fight with this knife - over him refusing to accept me refusing his request for a cigarette.
- Sharpest knife I own; should not be handled while drunk and in the dark.
Next is a big shout-out to Preacher on these very same forums. This knife popped up on the For-sale-by-individual forum, and we worked out a trade. It was an absolute pleasure talking to the guy and his work is fantastic. I present my Preacher-customized Spyderco Gayle Bradley.
- Orange Anso-Cut C-Tec scales that practically glow with the light reflected off of the underlying steel liners.
- Second time I've owned this variety of knife. Sold the first, regretted it, and now it's back and better than ever.
- My most favorite work knife of all time. I once heard someone call it the "James Bond of knives" - Classy looking (with the default Carbon Fiber scales), but tough as nails. It's a dress knife and a workhorse at the same time.
- Seriously, did you see those scales?
- I mean, hot damn.
- Just look at them.
Finally, my most recent and currently completely un-used Zero Tolerance 0550 DLC
- Bought off eBay with no pocket clip, contacted Kai for a replacement a week ago - haven't heard back yet, but I've heard good things about their customer service.
- Purchased because I had a good experience with S35VN steel through one of the higher-end knockoff Hinderers. The Hinderer knockoff was okay, but I really loved the steel. When I realized I could get a knife with the same steel, but with better build quality and a warranty for the same price, I gave that knife to a friend and bought this one.
- Super stupid crazy smooth action. Flips open with a middle-finger-flick on the thumbstud just as quickly, easily, and smoothly as my 0561 did with a flipper.
- Will be my work knife when the weather here in Denver becomes too snowy to risk the M4 steel on my Gayle Bradley.
- ASSUMING THE CLIP EVER GETS HERE
(I also have a Becker Necker and a Svord Peasant en route, but those are just for giggles.)
So, that's the knives, but I also have to maintain them!
Maintenance equipment:
- Wiha screwdriver set. Tool-steel bits that don't strip out like all other torx bits I've had. Anti-static as well, which allowed me to safely install memory into my laptop.
- Nano-oil (often called nano-lube?). Best knife lubricant I've ever used, and I've used quite a few. Blows tuff-glide out of the water.
- Marine Tuff-Glide: Not the best lubricant, but hot damn does it protect against corrosion. I was carrying a Gayle Bradley clipped inside of my pocket on hot, humid Oklahoma work days. Never had a single spot of corrosion pop up.
- Loctite Blue 242. Standard tool of the trade. Dial it in, lock it in.
And then the sharpening:
- Knivesplus strop block. Didn't feel like making my own, bought this one, and it's fantastic.
- Smiths 3-in-1 sharpening system. Basically a Sharpmaker knockoff by design, but I just hold the ceramic rods in my hand to sharpen my knives with greater control. Also, the diamond sharpener and carbide v-sharpener are extremely useful when people give me their beat-up gas station knives so I can sharpen them. I sharpen out the chips on the carbides, correct the grind with the diamond, and then finish off with ceramics and stropping.
- Not pictured: KME Sharpening system. It's useful and worth the money, but I've only needed to use it a couple times when I wanted to put a whole new edge on a blade. I butchered the edge on my old Cold Steel Kobun back when I was fresh into knives and couldn't sharpen for anything. This brought it to a nice and clean 34-degree edge. I probably wouldn't purchase such a system again, though, given how much they cost and how rarely I use it.
So, that's my full setup at the moment - What's yours?
First and foremost, a very pleasant surprise for me: The Cold Steel Tuff Lite.
As my tape-and-cardboard knife, this probably gets the most use. Small, tough, reliable, sharp, easy to sharpen, comfy, functional, and light.
- Hard use knife I won't fret about if damaged.
- Feels like a natural extension of my hand.
- Can get it completely covered in tape gunk and not feel the need to clean it.
- Weighs very little, locks up like a tank, capable of everything but holding an edge for long.
- Legal basically everywhere locking knives are legal, non-threatening at work. Definitely a tool by design, not a weapon.
The next knife was an impulse purchase at a local Army Surplus store: a Benchmade 530 Pardue
- Insanely light. Seriously. 1.88oz, but with a fully capable axis lock and a 3.25" 154CM blade.
- Invisible in the pocket of black slacks, light enough to not make somewhat loose pants sag.
- Kinda threatening, but still very functional as a tool.
Now a knife I had been eyeing for over six months, but never purchased due to the mediocre reputation of the company and the remarkable lack of reviews: The Meyerco Darrel Ralph "DDR EDC"
- I kinda want to get this duracoated with multicolored DDR arrows.
- Handsome, shiny, solid, smooth knife.
- I can carry this when I'm in less-than-desirable parts of town and feel reasonably prepared for anyone that doesn't have a gun. I've actually had cause to make someone back down from a fight with this knife - over him refusing to accept me refusing his request for a cigarette.
- Sharpest knife I own; should not be handled while drunk and in the dark.
Next is a big shout-out to Preacher on these very same forums. This knife popped up on the For-sale-by-individual forum, and we worked out a trade. It was an absolute pleasure talking to the guy and his work is fantastic. I present my Preacher-customized Spyderco Gayle Bradley.
- Orange Anso-Cut C-Tec scales that practically glow with the light reflected off of the underlying steel liners.
- Second time I've owned this variety of knife. Sold the first, regretted it, and now it's back and better than ever.
- My most favorite work knife of all time. I once heard someone call it the "James Bond of knives" - Classy looking (with the default Carbon Fiber scales), but tough as nails. It's a dress knife and a workhorse at the same time.
- Seriously, did you see those scales?
- I mean, hot damn.
- Just look at them.
Finally, my most recent and currently completely un-used Zero Tolerance 0550 DLC
- Bought off eBay with no pocket clip, contacted Kai for a replacement a week ago - haven't heard back yet, but I've heard good things about their customer service.
- Purchased because I had a good experience with S35VN steel through one of the higher-end knockoff Hinderers. The Hinderer knockoff was okay, but I really loved the steel. When I realized I could get a knife with the same steel, but with better build quality and a warranty for the same price, I gave that knife to a friend and bought this one.
- Super stupid crazy smooth action. Flips open with a middle-finger-flick on the thumbstud just as quickly, easily, and smoothly as my 0561 did with a flipper.
- Will be my work knife when the weather here in Denver becomes too snowy to risk the M4 steel on my Gayle Bradley.
- ASSUMING THE CLIP EVER GETS HERE
(I also have a Becker Necker and a Svord Peasant en route, but those are just for giggles.)
So, that's the knives, but I also have to maintain them!
Maintenance equipment:
- Wiha screwdriver set. Tool-steel bits that don't strip out like all other torx bits I've had. Anti-static as well, which allowed me to safely install memory into my laptop.
- Nano-oil (often called nano-lube?). Best knife lubricant I've ever used, and I've used quite a few. Blows tuff-glide out of the water.
- Marine Tuff-Glide: Not the best lubricant, but hot damn does it protect against corrosion. I was carrying a Gayle Bradley clipped inside of my pocket on hot, humid Oklahoma work days. Never had a single spot of corrosion pop up.
- Loctite Blue 242. Standard tool of the trade. Dial it in, lock it in.
And then the sharpening:
- Knivesplus strop block. Didn't feel like making my own, bought this one, and it's fantastic.
- Smiths 3-in-1 sharpening system. Basically a Sharpmaker knockoff by design, but I just hold the ceramic rods in my hand to sharpen my knives with greater control. Also, the diamond sharpener and carbide v-sharpener are extremely useful when people give me their beat-up gas station knives so I can sharpen them. I sharpen out the chips on the carbides, correct the grind with the diamond, and then finish off with ceramics and stropping.
- Not pictured: KME Sharpening system. It's useful and worth the money, but I've only needed to use it a couple times when I wanted to put a whole new edge on a blade. I butchered the edge on my old Cold Steel Kobun back when I was fresh into knives and couldn't sharpen for anything. This brought it to a nice and clean 34-degree edge. I probably wouldn't purchase such a system again, though, given how much they cost and how rarely I use it.
So, that's my full setup at the moment - What's yours?
)
