Why do you EDC?

L

Lamina

Joined
Jun 28, 2013
Messages
31
I have 5 folders from Rockstead, Spyderco and Boker.

Occasionally, I carry one of them with me. But when I do, very often I find there's not a clear usage case:
- I don't see myself going into a knives fight. Although I admit I feel safer with a "tool" in my pocket.
- For meals, at home or restaurants, knives are plenty available. Not razor sharp, but enough to eat.
- In the office, there's nothing to be cut on an average day.
- Most envelopes / packages are relatively easy to open with bare hands, or scissors, or any blunt knife.

Maybe it's because I live in an european city, with facilitated urban atmosphere. There's not really the need to EDC.

I'm feeling more and more a knife as a nice object that I like to own, not so much as a must EDC tool.

What's your experience, usage cases and what environment do you live in (urban office / rural farm / etc.)?

Thanks!
 
I don't find a need for it every day... but when I do, it's right there in my pocket waiting for me. I don't need a credit card most days, but I carry one in case I do.

It certainly isn't hurting me to carry it, so why not?

I work in an office about half the time, and in the field on construction sites the other half.
 
If you don't find yourself in need of a knife for at least 10-12 hours per day, you are living the wrong way. Rarely does a day go by where I don't use my folder to chop down a telephone pole or fight off a pack of rabid wolves.
 
I was brought up that a man didn't leave the house without a knife. This was pre columbine times and I even carried a knife to school from a young age.

Boy Scout motto "be prepared" is ingrained in my brain. Being prepared as far as I am concerned means at all times I have a knife, fire starter, and flashlight of some kind on my person anytime I leave the house.

It's not difficult. I think slot of people really overdue the EDC thing. A Victorinox Farmer, Maglite Solitaire LED, and a Bic lighter doesn't take a lot of effort to carry everyday.
 
In reality, I don't use my knives all that often, but I like having them in my pocket in case I need them or just want to admire of play with them. Lots of people wear jewelry; nice folding knives are like usable jewelry.
 
At work (firefighter) I have at least two folders on me always. Home I don't really need one but have one on or close by.
 
For me, knives are something I enjoy using as well as seeking out and collecting. Was just at best buy to get a new iPod case, the package was all taped up so when I got to my car, out came my Sebenza to open it up. Simple things like that beyond the normal cutting boxes, food or what have you.
 
I carry a variety of knives dependent on the day that's planned but I also carry backups and keep knives readily handy in my truck and by my bed, as far as why I carry everyday? No one ever told me I shouldn't do I don't know any better...

ETA I live in the weeds of NEPA, it's very rural here.
 
I use a knife every day its a tool. I don't carry one for self defense just to cut stuff with and I do all the time. Live on a ranch, carry a pistol for protection.
 
Even though at times our life seems mundane and predictable, you never know when you'll need a sharp pointy thing.
Besides, it's fun to carry a knife each day.
 
because i find knife maintainance theraputic, and because out of my friends, no-one else ever has one, so i make sure that if they turn around and say "anyone got a knife?" i can hand over the blade and no-one's trying to open packaging with their teeth, a blade is more more dignified. also i whittle a lot.
 
I'm sure some jobs require very little knife use. I get to use a knife every day at work. Some days I know there will be heavy usage and I'll carry a small fixed blade. I guess that helps me a little with the job burn out. I get to cut stuff!!!!
 
A knife is a handy gadget to take care of cutting chores of all sorts. I'm guessing your knives are possibly of the tactical style going by the brands.
I have a Victorinox SAK model Explorer Plus. I use the smallest blade for opening my mail, it's so much neater than just tearing open an envelope and at holiday time it's nice to keep the envelope usable to store Christmas cards and such. The larger blade I use for cutting everything else from cutting any cord, opening packages to dicing onions. My SAK has multiple other tools for various uses that I find very handy occasionally including can and bottle opener. I misplaced my kitchen can opener a while ago and keep forgetting to replace it as the one on my knife works just fine, though I wish it was the old Wenger style as the Vic style is a bit clumsy, it still works.
I'm guessin the blades on your knives are in the 3 inch range or around 6-7 cm. If your not used to carrying a knife they might seem large in your pocket. I'd recommend getting a simple 2 blade knife that totals 3 inches closed with a 2 and a half inch blade and a 1 inch blade for mail. Maybe a can and bottle opener as well but not more. You get used to having it in your pocket and using it and in time you'll wonder what you ever did without it.
For your info, up until recently I lived in a large city and presently living rural. It shouldn't matter where you live, a pocket knife always comes in handy whether your an urbanite, rural or farm. I use my knife at work, play, home and everywhere especially since I have an SAK it gets used for quick repairs out camping, fishing, biking or trimming bits of plastic off my golf discs.I feel almost naked on the rare occasions it's not with me. I find I prefer using the bottle opener over twisting the cap. Not that I'm a wimp its just that the bottle opener works better. Of course bottle openers also have a flat blade screwdriver that is handy and on Vics the can opener has a small flathead that works on most (but not all) Philips heads. I hope this helps your decison making.
 
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All of the above plus I really really like sharp pointy things. :thumbup: I always have a few on me, in my EDC bag, or vehicle. I find metallurgy interesting. I like learning about the difference in performance based on materials and edge angles. I use the ones I have on me every day.

As its been said many times before, its just a really handy thing to have. My grandfather always had one on him, and from a young age so did I. My wife the other day actually took one of mine and claimed it as her own. She said the reason was because when I wasn't around, there was nobody around with a knife lol. Little things like opening packages for the kids, to trimming the length of straws so they don't stick 6 inches out of a chocolate milk. I ask her to tell me when she uses it because it makes my day :)
 
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