What is EDC folding knives for?

[Alan0354]

I bought a lot of knives, nothing expensive because I don't believe in "rare" "different" and "big name". Here are my 3 most favorite knives. All depends on the blade length and weight. They all passed my test including cramping the blade 1/2 way down on a big vice and pulled in plying direction with BOTH hands back and fore to make sure the blade don't break and the handle pivot part doesn't break and no damage after the bending. I pulled hard.

Then I hit back side(thick blunt side) of the blades of 2 knives to see who suffered a bigger dent to test of hardness. You'll be surprise the hardness of the blade doesn't follow the money.

For the money, Kexmo is really really good. It's light, thin and survive the plying test on the vice. The blade is hard enough.

To me, EDC is for self defense and for using in emergency situation that you have to ply and dig yourself out. Sharpness retention is not that important as I do NOT use them for opening boxes, eating. All it has to is be sharp ONE TIME.

I do a lot of blade sharpening and I know what I am doing. All of them can slice paper like butter. For the 2 longer ones, I had to redo the edge to get a much steeper angle to get the sharpness. Most thicker blade is not as sharp as the angle of the edge is not steep enough.

I used one of the Cold Steel SR1 Lite, dull the edge, put on a rubber boot at the point and use it to practice on my heavy bags, chopping and thrusting to make sure I hold it strong enough that the blade would not shove back into my hand. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.

I bought all of them on Amazon

 

[Alan0354]

Otherwise I now mostly carry a cold steel ultimate hunter.

Which is just a really nice knife.

It's a strong knife by design as shown in the picture. Only thing is the hand protection is a little short for me. The flipping tap position is very important, a lot of knives have a weak point there if the hole drilled wrong. This one have enough beef to make up for the hole drilled.

 

[Call-Me-Matt]

The folding pocket knife has long been carried by men in the United States for generations. My father, my grandfather, and my great grandfather carried simple slip joint pocket knives, even in elementary school. A knife is a tool, not only a weapon. The real weapon is a man's mind and his ability to use anything as such.

In modern times, absolutely yes, a folding knife can be useful for possible self defense and survival. It is very versatile. I usually have one on me all the time. Where I live, and without getting into the exact details for privacy, the knife laws are much better than in other states. I carry this one often. It is an old Schrade knife that cost me ten dollars at the time. While it has a liner lock instead of a frame lock, it is pretty sturdy, and if I am going out hiking in the woods, I would rather have something heavy and solid like this. It is easy to sharpen, and it is showing some pocket wear as well. I have a few others as well, both folding and fixed blade.

 

[drop bear136 11]

It's a strong knife by design as shown in the picture. Only thing is the hand protection is a little short for me. The flipping tap position is very important, a lot of knives have a weak point there if the hole drilled wrong. This one have enough beef to make up for the hole drilled.

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The handle itself is pretty chunky though. So the grip is good.

There is a similar knife called the bushranger that might be more your speed.

Interestingly the elements you prioritised. Was a turn off for this reviewer.

 

[Dirty Dog11 1]

My EDC is generally a Benchmade or Microtec. Mostly automatics. They are most commonly used to open boxes or envelopes. I would be unlikely to use them for self-defense. A gun is a much better option. My EDC firearm is a G19 with a red dot and a flash.

 

[Alan0354]

My EDC is generally a Benchmade or Microtec. Mostly automatics. They are most commonly used to open boxes or envelopes. I would be unlikely to use them for self-defense. A gun is a much better option. My EDC firearm is a G19 with a red dot and a flash.

Yes, gun is the best. I have plenty. My newest is Glock 26. I have Colt 45, revolvers, S&W 9mm and all. I was quite good, average 70% in the black at 25yds and got 2nd in competition once.

I just not comfortable in taking a life anymore, so I stopped carrying.

I love to buy a Byrner, BUT stupid Kalif won't sell and illegal to use pepper balls.

G19 is a better choice, problem is it's illegal to sell one with mag over 10 rounds. With this limit, I pick the smaller size 26.

 

[Dirty Dog11 1]

G19 is a better choice, problem is it's illegal to sell one with mag over 10 rounds. With this limit, I pick the smaller size 26.

Have to stay legal, of course. If I lived under that restriction, I would probably still prefer the 19 for EDC. The single most significant factor for concealability is grip. I have a couple G26's. You can add a grip extension, but that makes it the same size grip as the G19. Without the benefit of the longer barrel.
Colorado does have a 15-round mag limit. Mostly. Sort of.
You are allowed to keep any pre-limit mags. And of course, there's no date on a magazine. So of course I have owned all of these mags since before the ban. There is also an exception made for LEO.

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

Otherwise I now mostly carry a cold steel ultimate hunter.

Which is just a really nice knife.

I have one and it’s a lovely knife. Of course mine is made of gold and has rhine stones embedded in the handle

 

[drop bear136 11]

I have one and it’s a lovely knife. Of course mine is made of gold and has rhine stones embedded in the handle

This one?

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

I bet Elvis carried on of those!

 

[drewtoby]

Yes, most people only need a pair of scissors for their daily needs, but their machismo leads them to a knife.

Luckily I live in a place where using a knife for self-defence isn’t a need and again, a pair of scissors is just as effective and perhaps less conspicuous.

I’ll be honest and say I’m simply like unusual knives and they seem to be made by a small group of manufacturers.

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I thought I was looking at a pocket knife on the top photo! Lovely looking blade. I still have and use a cheap Sanrenmu 4059 from my restaurant days (no longer useful for EDC but still very useful around the house). Holds a decent edge and has a great back lock for opening anything stubborn. It has held up surprisingly well over a decade or more.

Do you have a favorite type of steel?

 

[Alan0354]

I thought I was looking at a pocket knife on the top photo! Lovely looking blade. I still have and use a cheap Sanrenmu 4059 from my restaurant days (no longer useful for EDC but still very useful around the house). Holds a decent edge and has a great back lock for opening anything stubborn. It has held up surprisingly well over a decade or more.

Price and quality has NO relation. This is my point of creating this post. It's all about science, not fashion. " jewelry" and all that.

I just don't comprehend people go with stupid "jewelry" for EDC knives. Want to show off, buy a Rolex watch and you have more conversation piece. DON'T MIX EDC knives with jewelry. THAT IS SO STUPID.

 

[drewtoby]

Price and quality has NO relation. This is my point of creating this post. It's all about science, not fashion. " jewelry" and all that.

I just don't comprehend people go with stupid "jewelry" for EDC knives. Want to show off, buy a Rolex watch and you have more conversation piece. DON'T MIX EDC knives with jewelry. THAT IS SO STUPID.

Interesting take I have not thought about before. I know that price does factor into the steel and handle material(s), the latter of which could be life and death in a self defense scenario (if you intend to carry involving that purpose). However, after a certain point, as with anything else, you arrive at diminishing returns. Or do you think that the ergonomics are the only important part?

And same thing can be said about designer clothes and luxury cars. Some people just like to share/admire craftsmanship and utilize it to foster conversations

 

[Same Trick82 33]

What is this EDC everyone talks about ? I thought to myself, now I know “everyday carry”, if I would do that (carry a knife every day) I would take my Swiss multitool army knife(not the most tooliest, they’re to bulky and would be clumsy in the pocket), if I was more of an aesthetic mind I would bring a classic Buck knife, I think they’re elegant.
For self defense I would borrow my teachers walking cane that hides a long(thin) “blade”

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

I thought I was looking at a pocket knife on the top photo! Lovely looking blade. I still have and use a cheap Sanrenmu 4059 from my restaurant days (no longer useful for EDC but still very useful around the house). Holds a decent edge and has a great back lock for opening anything stubborn. It has held up surprisingly well over a decade or more.

Do you have a favorite type of steel?

D2 tastes the best but in terms of performance, CPM S35VN.

Having said that, it makes little difference to me since it’s the way the look that is my thing.

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

Price and quality has NO relation. This is my point of creating this post. It's all about science, not fashion. " jewelry" and all that.

I just don't comprehend people go with stupid "jewelry" for EDC knives. Want to show off, buy a Rolex watch and you have more conversation piece. DON'T MIX EDC knives with jewelry. THAT IS SO STUPID.

But I have every Omega watch available (Rolex are vulgar looking watches ) so now I’ve moved on to knives. Next, motorbikes

 

[Gyakuto137 146]

Interesting take I have not thought about before. I know that price does factor into the steel and handle material(s), the latter of which could be life and death in a self defense scenario (if you intend to carry involving that purpose). However, after a certain point, as with anything else, you arrive at diminishing returns. Or do you think that the ergonomics are the only important part?

And same thing can be said about designer clothes and luxury cars. Some people just like to share/admire craftsmanship and utilize it to foster conversations

drewtoby, you are an aesthete! You’ve risen above the hoipoloi and are really flexing you frontal lobe

 

[Dirty Dog11 1]

Price and quality has NO relation.

Not really true. Easy examples:
Benchmade is a fairly expensive blade. If you can find an Infidel, like mine, they're $500 or more. For that, you get a fully auto OTF, double edged, single bevel with exceptional ergonomics that will take and hold an excellent edge. And is warrantied forever.
Now go look at the knife case in your nearest gas station or Walmart. Lots of them for less than $50. They're cheap steel, and will neither take nor hold a decent edge. But they will unalive someone just fine. In many ways, I'd rather use one of those for self defense. I wouldn't care when the police took it into evidence.

I just don't comprehend people go with stupid "jewelry" for EDC knives. Want to show off, buy a Rolex watch and you have more conversation piece. DON'T MIX EDC knives with jewelry. THAT IS SO STUPID.

So who died and left you King of the Knife World? I'm very much a function over form guy, but I am not going to tell someone else that they should or should not buy and carry whatever they like.

 

[Alan0354]

So who died and left you King of the Knife World? I'm very much a function over form guy, but I am not going to tell someone else that they should or should not buy and carry whatever they like.

I specifically talked about Spyderco as in my first post. This is my opinion from practicing. YES, a lot of knives are expensive because of the names like handbags and jewelry. I question why people pay a lot for something they have to conceal carry and nobody notice?

I am not objecting about showing off of luxury items, but who to showoff if you have to conceal it?

You know when the blade is too hard, it's BRITTLE? I remember on youtube someone broke the blade of a Spyderco at the big hole when dropped on the ground.

I listed out the reasoning in my first post. THIS IS COMMON SENSE AND SCIENTIFIC.

 

[Alan0354]

Not really true. Easy examples:
Benchmade is a fairly expensive blade. If you can find an Infidel, like mine, they're $500 or more. For that, you get a fully auto OTF, double edged, single bevel with exceptional ergonomics that will take and hold an excellent edge. And is warrantied forever.
Now go look at the knife case in your nearest gas station or Walmart. Lots of them for less than $50. They're cheap steel, and will neither take nor hold a decent edge. But they will unalive someone just fine. In many ways, I'd rather use one of those for self defense. I wouldn't care when the police took it into evidence.

I never said just because it's expensive, then it's no good. I said you can get good ones for cheap also. I listed something that to me is very important in my first post, if the expensive ones have those, it's all good. I just named Spyderco as an example that is expensive and LOUSY. I have 2 of my friends carrying that!!!

Like I said in the last post, why spend money on things that you have to conceal? Also, I do test the hardness of the blade by wacking the thick side of two blades on each other to look at the dent made to judge how hard it is. The 3 I showed in picture have decent hardness. Also, to me, all it needs is to be sharp ONE TIME to get me out of a jam. I can sharpen it after use.

I do a lot of mechanical works, sharpening knives, gun smithing, auto and other thing. I literally have a workshop in the garage. I even have a milling machine. I don't just empty talk. All based on testing and actually practicing on heavy bags. You don't want to hold a Spyderco to thrust into hard object if you care about your hand.

Like I said, to show off, buy a Rolex, a diamond ring that you can wear in the public, not a knife you have to hide away.