You can only keep 1 EDC. What is it today? Yes, I searched similar threads. I'm downsizing my life. Photos in thread.

AmericanEDC

AmericanEDC

Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
448
What is the 1 single EDC you would keep? Please post your photos if you've got 'em. It's a serious question as I'm not opposed to moving around the chess pieces of my insane board.
This might be my choice. The Benchmade 565-1 Mini Freek in S90V. It's lefty friendly, lightweight friendly and ridiculous edge retention.
Possibly my Chris Reeve, small 21, lefty, micarta inlay, double naked thumb stud that I carry in a leather sleeve.
In a survival situation though I'd keep only my Leatherman Wave+'s, full bit set, extender, Nichia emitter torch on the side in extended pouch, but carry in my manbag/murse/bugout bag.
AayB9U9h.jpg

7kZQip1h.jpg

(EDIT: this is a fraction of collections....laid out for insurance photos)
Please don't take this as a flex: I certainly don't at all. I bet anything that many of you would have similar dissections of your accumulations.
Young people: Take it from this older guy in his 50's. Don't do this to yourself. It's stressfull as I downsize. This doesn't include most of my kitchen knives, whetstone/sharpening bin, photography, scuba, camping, fishing, tools, hiking, audio. It feels endless as I pull out bin after bin. This project had multiple goals: help me get this stuff back into the correct bins, photograph for insurance purposes, decide what to list for sale, confront myself with my reality.

This sort of thing can be a real burden on those left behind. Not to be morbid, but I'm trying to get a handle on this for my heirs. :p

L70YHNKh.jpg

jG5sfTnh.jpg

rYU96Z2h.jpg

W7LnG7Oh.jpg

rCHyl31h.jpg

1hLkctoh.jpg
 
Last edited:
Spending any time on this type of forum, it’s easy to get caught up in the ooh aah when we see something cool and if the wallet allows, end up with a full treasure trove of unnecessary yet cool stuff. I have been thinning the herd and in some cases consolidating/upgrading the keepers.
If I had to pick one edc blade “right now” I would pick the one I have been carrying the most since I got it (6mo to a year ago I suppose.) CRK small Sebenza. Suits my needs at this stage in the game.
Edit: I’m about 10 years your senior and have seen and experienced the complications left behind. Once I get going, I find downsizing very liberating. It’s great to have a life and live in a place in which you have opportunities to have this high quality problem but my opinion is that a good hard look at the ridiculous amount should prompt action on many people’s “problem”. How much do we really need to have it all covered?
Yeah I know, many do not feel the same. Rock on
 
Last edited:
What an excellent thread :)

My choice would probably be an Endura. Light weight, affordable, narrow profile (as far as spyderco goes), easily replaced and with a long enough blade to use for self defense if it absolutely came down to it. Very practical.

I feel like if I was carrying a $300+ edc I would baby it and basically reduce it's utility as a tool, but that's just me ;)
 
dialton said:
Spending any time on this type of forum, it’s easy to get caught up in the ooh aah when we see something cool and if the wallet allows, end up with a full treasure trove of unnecessary yet cool stuff. I have been thinning the herd and in some cases consolidating/upgrading the keepers.
If I had to pick one edc blade “right now” I would pick the one I have been carrying the most since I got it (6mo to a year ago I suppose.) CRK small Sebenza. Suits my needs at this stage in the game.
Click to expand...
It can be an issue having disposable income. 🤣
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
What an excellent thread :)

My choice would probably be an Endura. Light weight, affordable, narrow profile (as far as spyderco goes), easily replaced and with a long enough blade to use for self defense if it absolutely came down to it. Very practical.

I feel like if I was carrying a $300+ edc I would baby it and basically reduce it's utility as a tool, but that's just me ;)
Click to expand...
I think I have an Endura.....somewhere. My newest keychain doodad. So yeah, not $300!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4943.jpeg
    IMG_4943.jpeg
    777.3 KB · Views: 5
Easy: Small Sebenza

There have been periods of time where one was my only EDC. No matter what others I may flirt with I always come back to the Sm Seb (In fact there’s one in my pocket as I type this.)
 
Only one? Easy, I wanted one since I was 10yo, finally got one when I was fourteen, wore 2 out completely. Have used it for work, fishing, hunting, food prep, never let me down. Buck 110.

As far as being worried about my heirs, all they have to do is get a dumpster and fill it with whatever they don’t want. If they choose to try to get money for it, then that’s on them.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
What an excellent thread :)

My choice would probably be an Endura. Light weight, affordable, narrow profile (as far as spyderco goes), easily replaced and with a long enough blade to use for self defense if it absolutely came down to it. Very practical.

I feel like if I was carrying a $300+ edc I would baby it and basically reduce it's utility as a tool, but that's just me ;)
Click to expand...
While I get that sentiment, the knife I chose is guaranteed for life and I never use it or any of my pocket knives in an abusive manner but for cutting purposes. I have other tools for screwdrivers, pry bars and such.
 
I don't count multitools in these "only X knife" threads, because I make a psychological distinction between the two.

Of the knives pictured, I suppose the Forum Consensus would be either the PM2 or the CRK.

Personally, I would take the William Henry over any of the others. I like being different, sometimes for no other reason than to be different.

I think the Buck 110 is the most practical choice of all though. I'm biased against frame- and linerlocks, because I've been able to get one to unlock with plain old grip pressure. Yes, it was my fault, that's not the point: I want some larger margin of safety than I feel while using either of those locks.

If you are in a situation where you can carry a fixed blade as your everyday, then I would like to see more of the one with the paddle clip on it's sheath. Not the Cold Steel, the other one.

Also, I'd like to hear more about that big flashlight.

Wait. No. I don't need another flashlight. I don't need another flashlight. I don't need another flashlight.....
 
When I read, "EDC", my mind immediately went to folders, despite the fact that I do carry quite a few small fixies on the regular.

For the most part, I'm a fixie guy, and will spend hundreds of dollars on a hard use blade. However, when it comes to folders, I'm not much of a "pocket Rolex" kinda' guy. I'm more of a "Casio" guy in that regard. So, I thought I'd jump-in before my humble little post got demolished/annihilated by all the beautiful and expensive folders.

These are the three that have been riding with me the most, over the last few months...



20230608_155123 (BF).jpg



All are lightweight and unobtrusive. The Demko is absolutely glorious for the day-to-day stuff, like shipping boxes and plastic food containers. However, as an all'rounder, I don't think the "Shark Foot" (*sheepsfoot) blade would be the best option. The Buck 842 "Sprint Ops Pro" disappears in your pocket, appears to hold an edge for quite some time, and seems to be a wonderful all'rounder...albeit having a pretty short blade. (*for me) The 110 Slim Select is a bit larger, super lightweight, easy to sharpen, and is just a typical "Buck" when it comes to cutting.

At the end of the day, I'd have a HELLUVA' time picking just one over the other two. However, for the purposes of this thread, I think I'd go with the 110.

Carry-on with your $300-$900 folders.



*If I knew that things were about to get ugly, my Cold Steel SR1 would have to be my final answer.
 
Alone said:
At the end of the day, I'd have a HELLUVA' time picking just one over the other two. However, for the purposes of this thread, I think I'd go with the 110.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Maybe I should have asked which 3-5. :p I look at the various knives I still have and realize I still have for a reason.

Some on this forum have owned hundreds of knives from their transaction counts. I was partly hoping to hear from some which were the standouts. I really was also in the paradigm of folders. So interesting that some EDC a fixed. That's cool. But it doesn't fit into my workflow.
 
AmericanEDC said:
What is the 1 single EDC you would keep? Please post your photos if you've got 'em. It's a serious question as I'm not opposed to moving around the chess pieces of my insane board.
This might be my choice. The Benchmade 565-1 Mini Freek in S90V. It's lefty friendly, lightweight friendly and ridiculous edge retention.
Possibly my Chris Reeve, small 21, lefty, micarta inlay, double naked thumb stud that I carry in a leather sleeve.
In a survival situation though I'd keep only my Leatherman Wave+'s, full bit set, extender, Nichia emitter torch on the side in extended pouch, but carry in my manbag/murse/bugout bag.
AayB9U9h.jpg

7kZQip1h.jpg


Please don't take this as a flex: I certainly don't at all. I bet anything that many of you would have similar dissections of your accumulations.
Young people: Take it from this older guy in his 50's. Don't do this to yourself. It's stressfull as I downsize. This doesn't include most of my kitchen knives, whetstone/sharpening bin, photography, scuba, camping, fishing, tools, hiking, audio. It feels endless as I pull out bin after bin. This project had multiple goals: help me get this stuff back into the correct bins, photograph for insurance purposes, decide what to list for sale, confront myself with my reality.

This sort of thing can be a real burden on those left behind. Not to be morbid, but I'm trying to get a handle on this for my heirs. :p

L70YHNKh.jpg

jG5sfTnh.jpg

rYU96Z2h.jpg

W7LnG7Oh.jpg

rCHyl31h.jpg

1hLkctoh.jpg
Click to expand...
As an "older guy in his 50s" 😲 (The older I get, the older "old" gets.) I second this assertion. It's harder and harder to get gear organized and I don't want to leave it to friends and relatives to have to go through this stuff. See Margareta Magnusson's book on "Swedish Death Cleaning" (döstädning) for a nice outline of the practice.

Zieg

P.S. I would be relying on an SAK if someone offers to buy ALL my knives 😉
 
Last edited:
I went 40 years with only a Buck 301 or 303 so if I had to pick one then the Camillus made Buck 301 with good old 440C will get me thru. Large enough to do what I need and so non threatening you can open it in the grocery store if needed.


Who am I kidding , if I had to loose all but one carry knife the large Inkosi Insingo would get the job.

But since I don’t have to Ill keep the Zaan and Mnandi in my pocket.
 
Last edited:
The Zieg said:
As an "older guy in his 50s" 😲 (The older I get, the older "old" gets.) I second this assertion. It's harder and harder to get gear organized and I don't want to leave it to friends and relatives to have to go through this stuff. See Margareta Magnusson's book on "Swedish Death Cleaning" (döstädning) for a nice outline of the practice.
Click to expand...
I will check it out. My parents were killed at 56 and 60 years old leaving my brother and I to dispense with a lifetime's accumulation. The ripples are still present 20 years later as I find estate items in my bins. So while "some" may dismiss this type of thing with comments like...it's their problem, donate it all, find a dumpster - that just doesn't work well in reality for those left behind. Or it didn't for us.

I don't know if my 20 year old son would feel guilty with any of the above. Or 22 year old daughter if she rid herself of items left to her. I don't know how my brother would distribute items. Lots of unknowns. Granted I'm gone so it doesn't really matter. But it doesn't really matter in the same way that I carry life insurance. It's not wrong to want to make things easier on one's heirs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top