Posted on Nov 17, 2017
What features do you look for in an everyday carry (EDC) knife?
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I'm thinking about buying my father-in-law a pocket knife of some sort for Christmas, but I'm not sure what exactly to get. I currently carry a Benchmade Mini-Griptilian 556 (blade just under 3", non-serrated, folding knife). I actually bought the mini version by mistake but for my purposes it ended up working better. What features do you all look for when buying an EDC knife? Do you prefer something with a smaller blade or something bigger? Fixed or folding blade? Serrated or non-serrated? Any particular brands and/or models you prefer? He's a pilot so he can't carry it while he works, but he spends his down time working on his farm, where I imagine it would get put to good use.
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Depends on what your father-in-law does with his knife.
I tend to shy away from "new fangled" high technology like folding blades :)
The following are my opinions and combined with about $10 will get you a decent sandwich and fries at the local bar.
_Nothing made in China. The steel is crap
_Light use - German blades tend to be more flexible and retain an edge better, but will snap if abused
_Moderate Use - English Blades stiff and tough, but you need to be good at sharpening or know someone who is; once you screw the edge, it's tough to get it back.
_Japanese blades are best but I have never found a satisfactory profile for a general purpose small knife.
_Heavy use - get a hatchet or machete
_Multi-blade folding knifes try please everyone and succeed in disappointing everyone. Plus they're hell to clean after a messy job.
_If you are hell-bent on a folding knife, get one with a Marlin Spike, a grossly under-valued tool
_I don't know anyone who uses the serrations on a pocket knife after the first month.
If your father-in-law:
_lives where the winter is cold, get a wood handle. All Metal folding knives and many plastic/resin handles suck the heat out of your hand.
_Cuts a lot of wet stuff (gutting fish, skinning varmints, etc.) get a 2&1/4 to 3&1/2 fixed drop blade with a wide profile and moderate spine point with a pronounced heel and guarded heel to the blade (prevents cut fingers)
_Uses the point for every thing, when he shouldn't, and doesn't do much slicing, get a tanto profile.
_Uses the point carefully, and needs a good slicing blade, get a drop point profile.
_Uses the blade to do a lot of light piercing, some slicing get a clip point profile.
_Uses the blade for bar fights get a spear point profile.
_Uses the blade belly for cutting (not slicing), but never uses the point get a sheep's foot profile.
My personal carry all the time is a Sheffield Drop Point with a 2&1/4 inch blade that has a 1&1/4 deep face on a Home made 4&3/4 ash handle with a thumb press blade guard.
I tend to shy away from "new fangled" high technology like folding blades :)
The following are my opinions and combined with about $10 will get you a decent sandwich and fries at the local bar.
_Nothing made in China. The steel is crap
_Light use - German blades tend to be more flexible and retain an edge better, but will snap if abused
_Moderate Use - English Blades stiff and tough, but you need to be good at sharpening or know someone who is; once you screw the edge, it's tough to get it back.
_Japanese blades are best but I have never found a satisfactory profile for a general purpose small knife.
_Heavy use - get a hatchet or machete
_Multi-blade folding knifes try please everyone and succeed in disappointing everyone. Plus they're hell to clean after a messy job.
_If you are hell-bent on a folding knife, get one with a Marlin Spike, a grossly under-valued tool
_I don't know anyone who uses the serrations on a pocket knife after the first month.
If your father-in-law:
_lives where the winter is cold, get a wood handle. All Metal folding knives and many plastic/resin handles suck the heat out of your hand.
_Cuts a lot of wet stuff (gutting fish, skinning varmints, etc.) get a 2&1/4 to 3&1/2 fixed drop blade with a wide profile and moderate spine point with a pronounced heel and guarded heel to the blade (prevents cut fingers)
_Uses the point for every thing, when he shouldn't, and doesn't do much slicing, get a tanto profile.
_Uses the point carefully, and needs a good slicing blade, get a drop point profile.
_Uses the blade to do a lot of light piercing, some slicing get a clip point profile.
_Uses the blade for bar fights get a spear point profile.
_Uses the blade belly for cutting (not slicing), but never uses the point get a sheep's foot profile.
My personal carry all the time is a Sheffield Drop Point with a 2&1/4 inch blade that has a 1&1/4 deep face on a Home made 4&3/4 ash handle with a thumb press blade guard.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I would generally agree with all that except the bit about serrations. Everyone I know that works with ropes and straps carry a partially serrated blade or serrated bladed knife. They work much better with cordage. As an every day knife a carry a Leatherman that is not made anymore, but is very similar to their current C33X which partially serrated. If I am doing rescue work, I teach Swift Water Rescue, I carry a Spyderco Rescue 79MM in a River City Sheath. That knife is a sheepsfoot with a fully serrated blade.
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Maj John Bell
CPT Lawrence Cable - I cut a fair amount of cordage. My problem with a serrated blade is that it inherently causes fraying from the git go. I keep my blade razor sharp and can even cut 550 cord without fraying it.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
Maj John Bell - When I talk about working with rope, climbing/rescue line stuff like 1/2" thru 7/8" Dynema or Spectra and both flat and tubular webbings. I've never seen a non serrated blade that cut these cleanly, especially when they are wet. Some of my peers in the trade just carry trauma shears, which do work well on both, but I still prefer to use a knife for knife work.
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SOG Aegis or Benchmade Griptilian both plain blade. Also Leather multi tool
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I'm partial to smaller knives because they're easier to control. Tanto blade, half serrated. I also have a little boot knife, but it's more for sentiment than actual usefulness.
Oh, and a rainbow folding mermaid knife. It's pretty and I make no apologies for it.
Oh, and a rainbow folding mermaid knife. It's pretty and I make no apologies for it.
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Cpl Brett Wagner
First I am surprised there is not more interest and activity in this group. I hear the term EDC all the time and especially when talking about knives. I personally think it is too broad a term. EDC for who? In what job? Again personally I would not carry the same EDC knife in an office job as I would in construction. What kills me is that I can't carry even a 1" pocket knife where I currently work and my job site is about 98% veterans.
IMHO - I try to stick only with knives made in the USA. I like the look and capabilities of a tanto blade but cringe thinking about sharpening it which is why I don't like serrated (I guess I'm just lazy). I do however like the reverse tanto like the Benchmade 940. I love all Benchmade knives as far as folders go but when it comes to fixed blade knives nothing beats a Bark River. They have great functional knives as well as those you just want to own like the V-44, Golok, or Barong. Looking forward to reading other people's thoughts.
IMHO - I try to stick only with knives made in the USA. I like the look and capabilities of a tanto blade but cringe thinking about sharpening it which is why I don't like serrated (I guess I'm just lazy). I do however like the reverse tanto like the Benchmade 940. I love all Benchmade knives as far as folders go but when it comes to fixed blade knives nothing beats a Bark River. They have great functional knives as well as those you just want to own like the V-44, Golok, or Barong. Looking forward to reading other people's thoughts.
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