Your EDC and the reasons behind it

My knife carrying has gone through 3 different phases: slip joints -> multi-tools -> single blade lockers.

First phase was Boy Scout knives, which I've had since I was 8. This led to a few SAKs, mostly on my key chain but I never took the SAKs. All of the ones I've owned (Victorinox) lost their scales quickly and had tools that either didn't open, didn't work well or ended up breaking. In particular, the Victorinox scissors have a very short useable life. I also never took to the narrow profile stainless blades of the SAKs and preferred the wider carbon blade of the Ulster BSA knives. The last traditional slip joint that I got was after I was married as a gift. It was a nice Camillus 2 bladed jack. The blades were just too small to do anything with them. In any event, I almost never carry a slip joint any more except for an old Ulster Camper which I carry occasionally for old time's sake.

I got my first multi-tool after college. I was backpacking a lot and pretty into bike touring. I got a small SOG tool but ended up getting terminally frustrated with it. Pliers didn't work well and it was horrible screwdriver. Years later, I tried a Leatherman Wave, which was a bit better but weighs about 10 pounds. And, on both tools, I've managed to wreck or bend screwdriver blades. Feh. Eventually Leatherman came out with the Micra and now I keep either a Micra or a PS4 in my briefcase and backpacking 1st kit. I do this primarily for the scissors and small pliers. I like the small multi-tools better than any SAK I've carried and while I still dislike using the tools, they're better than nothing. I don't EDC them, but I keep them nearby if I need them.

Like many people, I got a Buck 110 as a young man. Great knife for hunting and such but way too big for pocket carry. Tried it backpacking but again it's too heavy and truth be told, I didn't care for the clip point blade. About 5 years ago I bought some used bike parts and got a used and pretty beat up Opinel #8. I cleaned it up and, on a whim, started carrying it. I've not been without a single blade knife since. I've tried several different knives since then. I have a shorter Schrade 5OT in 1095. Easy to carry but the blade is too short for kitchen use. I got a Buck 500 in stainless. Shiny, thin. Nearly perfect. But, I missed the wider belly of the old Ulster Camper and started to get itchy for a wider blade than either my Opinel #8 or Buck 500. So, I got an Opinel #9, filed the blade down to a drop point and reduced the handle down to an easy open style about the size of the #8.

Here they are:

Lockers by Pinnah, on Flickr

The Buck 500 (bottom) and the modified Opinel #9 (second from top) are the most carried. Really, the Opinel #9 is just about perfect for me. It's insanely light and the handle fits my hand like it was made for me (in truth, it was, cause I made it). But, most of all, I love the blade. The shape is perfect for all kitchen use and meals and yet it's tough enough for use in the shop. The 1095 sharpens right up in a hurry.
 
I'm like Dave in the fact that I have wandered through EDCs, it's funny how the desires of the pocket just suddenly up and change.

I started with a single blade Case locker, just a little camo knife from the caliber series, from there I found my way to the peanut. I went for quite sometime with a peanut and I got by just fine, somewhere along the lines though I lost that little delrin nut, so I was without a pocket knife. My grandfather gifted me an old Case whaler, I used that knife for a few months before realizing it was an older one and I should just add it to the collection. Then I bought a Case slimeline trapper, it had the brown delrin, just like my peanut, shortly after I got that one, the peanut returned to me. So I went with two knives for a while.

I got a job working on a produce farm and I started carrying a bigger knife, Buck 422, Queen folding hunter, and a few other single blade buddies. I was gifted a Case large stockman and to work I went, this knife was it. I used it like crazy on the farm, with the three blades I never felt that another knife was needed. AND BOOM, the large stockmans are put away.

I've gone through just about every GEC knife that interested me for EDC, I got bored and went on to a Buck 301, I wanted something smaller so I went with a 303. Got bored again and ordered a Buck 501, I used this knife for quite a while, then back to the GECs.

So, right now it's a GEC Bull Nose and a Buck 501. :thumbup:
How I got here, I don't know, but I'm here.
 
I tend to carry a high end one-handed locking folder clipped in my pocket but also tote along my Case Sway Back Jack. While I have many traditionals still the SBJ just seems to do everything right given the Wharncliffe blade. Great for the typical things I use it for like opening mail, cutting packages, opening boxes, cutting limes, and that sort of thing. I also keep the small pen blade very sharp for things that need an ultra keen edge.
 
case peanut most of the time for me, its pretty much my go to knife now.
I got to becuase I carried stockmans and larger jacks for a wile, but found that for most jobs I was using the smaller pen or sheeps foot blades, and that those 2 inch blades would do most thing as good or better than the larger main blade, hence where the peanut comes in.
 
Bought a peanut, liked it

Tried a case sodbuster, came back to the nut.

Tried a Schrade 34OT, came back to the nut.

Tried a Vic Climber, liked it, but came back to the nut

Tried a Buck 301, still like it, but come back to the nut

Thought about a Buck 309, came back to the nut

Thought about a Case Medium Stockman, came back to the nut

I can't get this puny, undersized little knife out of my pocket! Anything bigger feels too big, and I love Bucks a lot but they don't have beautiful brass liners or carbon steel (neither do a lot of customs, go figure).
Thin, pointy, CV blades + brass liners + small serpentine shape + nice bone or yeller handles + compact package + great stories about its capabilities = a knife that I will carry.
 
My EDC choice was largely influenced by occupation I suppose but personal preference has evolved over time.

I absolutely feel neckid without my SAK Classic in my left pocket. I've found too many uses for it over the years to not have one right next to the chap stick. I switched to a Rambler this week because I misplaced my classic. No joy. Gonna have to dig out another classic. I gotta have scissors.

For a full blown pocket knife I like a closed length of 3 1/8" to 3 3/8" but do make exceptions. Of the knives I have I carry a Case SBJ, a GEC Conductor, and a Queen jack the most. They ride well in slacks and do whatever needs doing with a pocketknife regardless of occupation.
 
This Eureka cattle knife has been in my pocket since I received it from Ken. I do carry other knives too, but this is always with me. It's single spring makes it thin and sits well in the pocket. I like the main spear blade and smaller sheepsfoot blade for their all around function;it is a nice size, 3 5/8", plus it's a dang nice knife!!!
IMG_2546.jpg
;)
 
Like most of us here, I have gone through a whole slew of EDC knives. My preferences change from time to time with no real rhyme or reason as to why. I guess I just need a change of pace now and then.

Right now my favorite EDC is this Easy Open Jack that Ken Coats made for me about a month ago. I can't get enough of it. In all honesty, I don't know how I can ever do any better than this. It fits me to a tee and it's hard to imagine anything ever trumping it. I know how that goes so I'm not saying it will never happen but right now this is hands down the best EDC I have ever owned.

IMG_1609.jpg


IMG_1593.jpg
 
I saw Mack's mini copperhead in the "What are you totin today..." thread and liked the looks of it. I purchased one off the online flea market and I was smitten by it. It took over my pocket and still has its way much of the time. It's Mack's fault..... Thank you Mack!

Ed J
 
since retirement, i edc without fail a vic alox soldier for utillity purposes. also carry a case yellow medium cv stockman for the nice variety of blsdes. will add that when i was a young street cop, i simply carried a small pen knife and it served me well however most of my fellow officers prefered carrying a buck 110 on heir gun belts. i just never copied this since3 i just liked keeping just the miniimal items on my gun belt.

brian
 
Speaking of gun belts, did you catch the episode of Top Gear where they drove through Romania. One the hosts (the short one) told one of the others (the tall) that he had just been told of the traditional Romanian way to greet Romanian Security Police.

"The traditional Romanian custom is to reach out and and unfasten the strap on their holster. It's their way of saying, "I really like you and I trust you with a gun.""

Annnnyway... Question for those you carrying Peanuts and other small knives for EDC use... Do you use your knives for food prep?

I pocketed my Schrade 5OT this am. It pockets so easily. But the blade is a tick under 3" and really annoyingly small for kitchen duty. I would rather spread butter or cut vegetables and steak with a bigger knife, which generally leads me back to knives with blades in the 3" or more territory.

I'm sort of wondering if folks who carry small knives use different knives when it comes to food.
 
pinnah said:
Speaking of gun belts, did you catch the episode of Top Gear where they drove through Romania. One the hosts (the short one) told one of the others (the tall) that he had just been told of the traditional Romanian way to greet Romanian Security Police.

"The traditional Romanian custom is to reach out and and unfasten the strap on their holster. It's their way of saying, "I really like you and I trust you with a gun.""

Annnnyway... Question for those you carrying Peanuts and other small knives for EDC use... Do you use your knives for food prep?

I pocketed my Schrade 5OT this am. It pockets so easily. But the blade is a tick under 3" and really annoyingly small for kitchen duty. I would rather spread butter or cut vegetables and steak with a bigger knife, which generally leads me back to knives with blades in the 3" or more territory.

I'm sort of wondering if folks who carry small knives use different knives when it comes to food.
Click to expand...

Most of the time I deal with food, I'm at home, and there's a knife block on the counter with some nice Victorinox/Forschner kitchen knives right at hand. If I'm not at home, usually the food I'm eating is at a restaurant or other public eating place that has utensils. Unlike some of the people on another forum, I've yet to eat out where they did not provide a knife to cut a steak with. If we're out in the woods, most of our hiking snacks need much of a knife, if at all. My peanut very rarely gets used for food.

Carl.
 
I use my traditional for food prep at work all the time, camping a lot, occasionally at home where a small, precise blade is required. I'll use it if i am cooking or assisting in prep at someone else's house. I get very irritated trying to prep food with a dull knife, and most kitchen knives are duller than our politicians.
 
singin50 said:
The first reason I gave in to the GEC Primitive Bone was seein it at a show and being blown away by the action
and the finish obviously. Second reason was the steel in the blades, keeps a great edge. Thirdly, I really like the half stops on both blades and the size of the #73 Scout pattern.
2ihb1aw.jpg
Click to expand...

What a beaut!
 
Well, right now, my Sapphire Vic Classic rides on my keys (as it has for the past several years), and my left front pocket is taken up by my Buck 371. I can't seem to get through a day without using my Classic for something. It's tool selection is perfect for day to day chores (which is probably why it is the most sold knife in the world. Those swiss really knew what they were doing). For anything my Classic can't handle (which, to be honest, is not much), I have the Buck. It is the largest pocket knife I have ever carried, but rides incredibly (and surprisingly) well in my pocket. And I am used to edcing a Peanut. The 371 just feels like a man's knife. Big, heavy, and tough as nails. My wife calls it a grandpa knife. I love having three different blades to work with should an emergency come up.
Aside from utility, I carry both knives because my daughters picked them out, so they provide utility AND sentimentality.
 
jackknife said:
Most of the time I deal with food, I'm at home, and there's a knife block on the counter with some nice Victorinox/Forschner kitchen knives right at hand. If I'm not at home, usually the food I'm eating is at a restaurant or other public eating place that has utensils. Unlike some of the people on another forum, I've yet to eat out where they did not provide a knife to cut a steak with. If we're out in the woods, most of our hiking snacks need much of a knife, if at all. My peanut very rarely gets used for food.

Carl.
Click to expand...
What about at those Sunday breakfasts?
 
These days, my normal carry gear includes just my Case CV peanut, plus a tool of some sort on my key chain* and a Sears 4-way screwdriver in my wallet. I'm something of a minimalist at heart (though my wife would scoff at that and point to my cigar box full of knives and closet full of music gear). I like not being weighed down and also take pride in making do with just the right tools for the job/s at hand. From about 1998 to around 2006 or so, I spent a lot of time carrying various one-hand openers. But as the kids got older, it occurred to me how silly I felt snipping a stray string from my daughter's sweater with an Endura. A small SAK or pen knife does the job better, doesn't weight down my pocket and doesn't make me feel like a mall ninja. As time went on, I found that smaller, thin bladed knives just plain cut well. I can take down a large cardboard box with my peanut every bit as quick as with my old Spydies, which have all been sold.

-- Mark

* Either a Leatherman Micra, Victorinox Rambler, or Screwpop.
 
I have 3 stockman patterns. 1 Case SS, 1 Craftsman 9552 both are 3.5" medium models. I've recently added a GEC 4" stockman to the mix.

3 blades work well for me. The clip is for food (lunch mainly), the sheepsfoot is the utility blade, the spey/pen is razor sharp and rarely used.

On weekends I alternate a few trappers, 1 Case and one GEC Pioneer.

I have a GEC PB Dogleg jack on the way, I'm thinking seriously of retiring my case knives since they're 2000 models. The craftsman will stay in my rotation, it's cool to have a 40+ yo knife still being used.

Mark
 
Since I use primarily custom kitchen knives the only thing my folder is used for it to cut open food packages or sometimes a lime if I'm not right at the kitchen counter. At work I may use my SBJ pen or Wharnie blade to cut a bad spot from an apple but that is it. My Menefee paring knife sees the real kitchen duties for light work.
 
It seems most people go through an evolution of what they carry. I started off carrying Spydercos. Then I stumbled onto this board (thanks, guys). I still carry a Spyderco on the weekend occasionally. Since I work in an office environment I tend to opt for knives in the 3 1/8 to 3 1/2 inch range. For whatever reason, I really like knives with tools. So, punch stockmen really tickle my fancy. I also really like the GEC #33 Conductor. The White Owl is nice, but it is noticeably heavier than the Conductor and you don't get much more blade out of it. I always have a Victorinox Manager in Sapphire on my keys. The scissors, emery board, and pen are a wonderful combination. I've probably sold dozens of them. As for other knives, I rotate through what I have. Lately, though it has been a Conductor (of various types), a Schrade 899, a Johnson 3 1/8" Lanny's Clip, and a Case Damascus Peanut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top