EDC Expectations

[earlthegoat2]

Another thread about the price point of EDC knives made me ponder a few questions.

What are the expectations you have of an EDC knife? What do you typically use your EDC for? What price point do you typically look for to achieve these goals?

I use my current and for the last 7 years EDC, Spyderco Yojimbo 2, typically for opening mail, screw driving, bottle opening, rubber hose cutting, and maybe a little whittling. Right or wrong these are the tasks it does on a daily basis.

Nope, I don’t need a $150 knife to do these (it was only $80 when I bought it) but it was a wedding present to myself so I got exactly what I wanted and I am using it for what I got it for.

 

[WrongHanded]

My expectations are that any EDC knife I choose to carry, can take far more abuse than I ever intend to put it through, and delivery far more performance than I generally need on a daily basis.

As a parallel, my EDC pistol need do nothing more than be comfortable and available on a daily basis. But should I ever need to actually use it, it needs to work correctly in extreme circumstances.

So although an EDC knife is usually used for cutting packaging and other mundane chores, it needs to be capable of functioning at a higher level should it need to do so. From fire building to self defense. Cutting a seatbelt quickly or through clothing to address a serious wound immediately. I may need it for prying, or smashing a window, or cutting through material for which is was never design. It may never been the same after an extreme usage event, but I'd prefer it were capable enough to get me through whatever that task may be.

 

[rust collector]

My EDC must be handy. For many years I worked in suits, so the SAK classic was about as chunky as I could carry. That tiny bit of blade still did most of what I needed to do. Now, just about any well made folder will meet my needs, but most are bigger than I require. Biggest tasks these days are opening packaging, cutting line and dealing with tiny fasteners. The SAK cybertools now make the most sense for me, but the Leatherman Wingman is on my belt for field days.

 

[SteadyD]

Mostly I just need/want it to not look tactical. I don’t typically work them hard but I also don’t want to be afraid to abuse them a bit either. A balanced steel with aesthetic appeal is my ideal EDC.

 

[herrwalther]

Low budget is pretty important to me. I have had a knife clipped to my jeans pocket for better part of 25 years. Different makes and models. Sometimes they get caught on something and get pulled out by something other than my hand. It that happens on a $20 knife, not that big a deal. An inconvenience to order another or go to the store, wherever I got it from. If it happens on a knife over $100, that is another story.

 

[Armored farmer]

I used to carry a set of full blown pliers on my belt and a SAK nomad in my pocket.
I have since evolved into a Leatherman Wave.
I likecto be able to loosen a wing nut, or tighten a screw, cut a wire .....etc. etc...without walking halfway across the farm and back for just a simple screwdriver or pliers to remove a cotter pin...or whatever.
I often usevthe needlenose wave to remove a hook from a fish.
The most used tools are the knife blade, pliers, the scissors , the screwdriver, and the caplifter.
I am serious considering a regrind on the canopener to make a more effective bottle cap lifter.

The SAK climber is in my pocket for casual wear.

 

[Bazoo]

I carry two knives, a large and a small. First I have to like the way a knife looks and feels. Second I prefer a normal steel so it's easily sharpened.

Whittling is my main task I use a knife for. Not every day, but often. I carry a pocket knife like a case stockman that can handle such. It also can handle various light cutting chores. Skinning a squirrel to opening the mail. Also this knife needs a sharp point for digging splinters out.

I generally also carry a larger knife. A buck 110, or a buck 192. Those handle some whittling okay too, but are more for everything else. Cut a stray briar, food cutting. Open the mail or cut a string off my clothes. Cut rope or twine.

I also carry a leatherman original. It handles all the non knife stuff, screw driving, pliers, coke opening.

 

[jmr40]

A 3" to 3.5" blade. Slim to carry and under 4 oz. Closer to 3 oz is even better. Liner lock isn't a deal killer, but not my 1st choice. A lot of the "knife guys" like frame locks, but I don't. The Benchmade Axis style lock is my preference, but I have no problem using a lockback.

I prefer to have a better steel than a lot of knives. The Spyderco VG10 is about the least expensive I want. D2 is a little hard to sharpen, but I've had good luck with that steel. S30V is my favorite. IMO it is the ideal balance between price and performance. There are better steels, but they are more expensive.

I like knives. I have too many, a box full. Which one I carry on any given day depends on my mood and what I'm doing that day. But most of the time it is either a Spyderco or Benchmade. I have no problem carrying a $150 knife. Many of mine would cost that to replace but didn't cost that much when I bought them. I have a couple over $200, but that is my personal limit. I just can't justify a $400-$500 knife. I don't think I've ever lost a knife. I've misplaced a few that I later found under a truck seat or the couch.

I prefer USA made if possible, Chinese made as last resort. I have some made in Tiawan and Japan. That said, there are some amazing quality knives out of China selling at or under $50. And I do have some. Very few USA made knives under $100 that have everything I'm looking for.

Some that I reach for the most:

SPYDERCO

Stretch II
Native
Manix 2

BENCHMADE

Griptilian
Bailout
Casbah

HOGUE

Deka

 

[hso]

nothing more than be comfortable and available on a daily basis. But should I ever need to actually use it, it needs to work correctly in extreme circumstances.

Excellent explanation.

 

[Boattale]

I carry a few different knives. With real pants with real pockets it can be just about anything from a CRK large Inkosi to a Case medium stockman and all kinds of stuff in between. Nothing from China. Everything is USA except Kabar Dozier folder (Taiwan) and Lionsteel Warhorse (Italy). There are five other locking folders besides the Inkosi. Nine slipjoints - all classic designs with visual appeal to me. And two Opinels, one old (at least to me) and one newish. An old Gerber LST from back when Gerber was good is in the drawer too. In a category of its own, a suit knife.

Sometimes but not always carry two knives. When that happens it's normally a lockback folder and a smaller slipjoint.

During warm weather with lightweight shorts one knife is normally it - Spyderco Para 3 lightweight, the wire pocket clip is a breeze to use and has good retention, the blade is a nice size, stays super sharp and the knife has a safe user friendly compression lock. The knife just disappears in your pocket until needed, and then it's right there. And speaking of locks, no liner locks.

So what do I expect? Quality design, materials and workmanship. Put those together and you will always get a knife that is up to the job.

This is going to be an interesting thread!

 

[Speedo66]

Being retired and living in a suburban setting, I won’t be doing heavy tasks with it.

So light weigh and slim are high on the list, along with the ability to hold an edge.

My partially serrated Leek seems to work well for me.

 

[Reinz]

My expectations are that any EDC knife I choose to carry, can take far more abuse than I ever intend to put it through, and delivery far more performance than I generally need on a daily basis.

As a parallel, my EDC pistol need do nothing more than be comfortable and available on a daily basis. But should I ever need to actually use it, it needs to work correctly in extreme circumstances.

So although an EDC knife is usually used for cutting packaging and other mundane chores, it needs to be capable of functioning at a higher level should it need to do so. From fire building to self defense. Cutting a seatbelt quickly or through clothing to address a serious wound immediately. I may need it for prying, or smashing a window, or cutting through material for which is was never design. It may never been the same after an extreme usage event, but I'd prefer it were capable enough to get me through whatever that task may be.

My thoughts exactly! But you articulated it 10 times better than I ever could.

 

[lemaymiami]

I only have a few folders since I’m a fishing guide and always have a few fixed blades at hand. I tend to carry the same large Benchmade folder on my person day in and day out since I’m wanting its use to be instinctive in an emergency. If you work around the water there’s always a chance that an anchor line or castnet line might tangle and end you up in the water. More than one guy has been drowned that way. The ability to cut yourself free, one handed, is a small safety factor…
My job also has me in strange places out on the road at very odd hours so that same blade might be needed one day at very close quarters… Once again, if it’s ever needed it will have to be instinctive and very quick at hand. Hope that never happens…

Lastly, it’s handy for a variety of other chores that might range from cutting up an apple to hacking away a tire casing wrapped so tightly around my boat trailer’s axle that I wasn’t going anywhere until I removed it ( and that little job still took 30 to 40 minutes at roadside as the sun was setting down in the Everglades…).

 

[gryphon1911]

I’ve had a knife on my person since I was 8 when my dad gave me my first pocket knife.

im now 47. My current carry is a SOG Twitch.

it is used a lot. My EDC requirements are light, comfortable to the point that I do not realize I have it, stays reasonably sharp, is easy to re sharpen and can double as a utility tool as well as a self defense tool. It must also have the capability of being opened one handed. The lock mechanism must be strong and not fail on me when in use. It must also be able to be unlocked one handed.

I believe when I got that knife years ago, it was $50-60, which isn’t too bad IMO.

 

[JohnKSa]

What are the expectations you have of an EDC knife?

Very good question.

Two part answer since I carry more than one "knife".

One of my EDC carries is a mini-Swiss Army knife.

• I expect it to provide tweezers, toothpick and scissors when I need them--I probably use the scissors more than all the other blades combined.
• I also expect it to provide an incredibly sharp blade for tiny trimming jobs where precision is important but there's not going to be any significant effort required to make the cut. It doesn't lock open, it's got a tiny, very thin blade, it's not a strong knife design, and there's not a lot of gripping surface so I don't ever use it for anything that would stress the design, the blade, or the human/knife interface.

I also EDC a locking folder with a blade length of ~3.5". I expect it to:

• Ride securely on a pocket clip where I can access it rapidly and easily and replace it rapidly and easily when I'm done.
  
• Open easily with one hand and be capable of being closed safely with one hand. I find I am often using the other hand to hold that which needs to be cut and I don't have both hands free to open/close a knife. I make it a point to try have the knife open only when I'm actually using it to cut something to minimize the chance of accidents. I also try to avoid setting it down (especially while open)--also to avoid accidents, but also to minimize the chances of forgetting/losing it. So one-hand opening AND closing is very important to me.
  
• Lock open automatically when opened and have a lock that is secure/strong enough that there's no reasonable likelihood of the lock failing. I can't tolerate this knife closing in me when I don't expect it to.
  
• Provide an excellent grip so that I don't have to worry about my hand slipping if I'm having to exert pressure during a cut.
• Provide at least some mechanism that discourages the hand/fingers from getting onto the blade. Some kind of a handle design that provides a resting place for the finger or thumb that is relatively secure so that it's easy to tell that the hand is in the proper position and also to help the hand keep its proper position.
  
• I don't really plan on using the knife for self-defense, but I acknowledge the possibility that it could come into play, so I like this knife to be a bit on the large side.
  
• I plan on using this knife for routine tasks so I don't like this knife to be so large that it freaks people out when I open the blade.
  
• Be sturdy enough that I can use it to do things that might otherwise be considered abuse if I get into an emergency situation. Don't get me wrong, I normally baby my knives, but if I get in a jam the knife is going to get used for what I need it to do, even if that's not ideal. The knife must stand up to the challenge.

The mini-SAK cost me ~$10, as I recall. I couldn't tell you what I paid for the locking folder I'm carrying now.

 

[sparkyv]

I have about 5 knives I rotate for EDC. They are all locking pocket clip folders which can be opened/closed one-handed, are D2 or better steel, have 3"+/- 0.5" blades and are US made. Preferably tip down carry for me. I carry heavier/beefier ones for work days and thinner, less tactical ones for weekends and church.


You and I have similar tastes, jmr40.

A 3" to 3.5" blade. Slim to carry and under 4 oz. Closer to 3 oz is even better. Liner lock isn't a deal killer, but not my 1st choice. A lot of the "knife guys" like frame locks, but I don't. The Benchmade Axis style lock is my preference, but I have no problem using a lockback.

I prefer to have a better steel than a lot of knives. The Spyderco VG10 is about the least expensive I want. D2 is a little hard to sharpen, but I've had good luck with that steel. S30V is my favorite. IMO it is the ideal balance between price and performance. There are better steels, but they are more expensive.

I like knives. I have too many, a box full. Which one I carry on any given day depends on my mood and what I'm doing that day. But most of the time it is either a Spyderco or Benchmade. I have no problem carrying a $150 knife. Many of mine would cost that to replace but didn't cost that much when I bought them. I have a couple over $200, but that is my personal limit. I just can't justify a $400-$500 knife. I don't think I've ever lost a knife. I've misplaced a few that I later found under a truck seat or the couch.

I prefer USA made if possible, Chinese made as last resort. I have some made in Tiawan and Japan. That said, there are some amazing quality knives out of China selling at or under $50. And I do have some. Very few USA made knives under $100 that have everything I'm looking for.

Some that I reach for the most:

SPYDERCO

Stretch II
Native
Manix 2

BENCHMADE

Griptilian
Bailout
Casbah

HOGUE

Deka

I'd carry a Yojimbo if I could get one for $80!

I use my current and for the last 7 years EDC, Spyderco Yojimbo 2, typically for opening mail, screw driving, bottle opening, rubber hose cutting, and maybe a little whittling. Right or wrong these are the tasks it does on a daily basis.

Nope, I don’t need a $150 knife to do these (it was only $80 when I bought it)