Just thought it’d be cool to do a quick survey of what knife everybody’s carrying at this present moment, so:
Which knife or (let’s be honest – with a lot of you that’ll be) knives*, are you currently EDC-ing?
If you’ve got two in your pocket, list ’em. If you’ve got one in your bag & one in your pocket, list ’em and state where each is housed. Want to go a bit more into detail in your comment? Tell me:
- How long that knife has been in your pocket?
- Whether it’s your favourite EDC or just something you happen to be carrying at the moment?
- Your overall impressions of the knife; would you recommend it?
Spyderco Manix 2 Folding Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
I’ll go first:
Since I have no pockets (okay, I do have a couple in the back, but they’re exceptionally pathetic woman-sized pockets with no room for anything besides a tissue or two), I’ll just go right ahead and pretend we’re talking about what I carry in my purse, which would be:
- The Spyderco Roadie
- The Opinel No. 5
I carry the Opinel in the little Maxpedition pouch that never leaves my purse (you can see what else I stuff in there here), and I carry the Roadie as a main EDC in the zippered pocket in my purse so it’s easy to access and doesn’t get buried under my other stuff. No, I don’t have two knives in my purse because I need to have two (especially since they’re similar knives and roughly the same size), I have two in there because I’m a forgetful person and worry that if I don’t have a backup knife in a spot that’s hard to get, I’ll one day when I need one be without a knife completely. With the Opinel always in there, if I forget to put my Roadie back in my purse after using it, I’m still good to go. And yes, if you’re wondering, forgetting my main EDC has happened to me on occasion before – like I said, I’m forgetful.
How long have I been EDC-ing these two? I think a good year. Are they my favourite knives? Hell no, but they’re probably my favourite UK-legal knives to take around with me. Handy little slip joints, with the Roadie being quite cute/quirky and the Opinel being probably the least threatening knife known to man.
Yes, we live in the UK, and we’re limited in what we can carry out, but it’s not so bad. Plenty of great knives on the market that fit the UK legal criteria. And I can carry whatever I want (always the Sage 1, always) at home.
Spyderco Roadie Tiny Slip Joint Folding EDC Knife – Amazon / Blade HQ
And now Thomas’ turn –
As a byproduct of reviewing so many knives, I do rotate considerably. At home, I am currently rocking the Kershaw Shuffle II, the CQC-10K (just ‘cos I love it so much) and the Spyderco UKPK. I choose what I feel like in the moment from my knife drawer, and these have come up the most recently.
I have a CRKT Journeyer in the bag I carry with me. It’s everywhere legal and cheap enough that I don’t care if I lose it.
I switch knives more or less every other day. My knife drawer is full of steel “to be reviewed” and I alternate whenever the mood takes me.
Now it’s your turn – what knife is in your pocket?
Edit: Interested in seeing a compilation post of the knives mentioned in the comments section of this article? Check that out here.
Benchmade HK 14925 I’ve been carrying it for almost two years. In my car kit I keep a basic Swiss Army Knife, a Gerber multi tool and an old three blade Craftsman pocket knife. I know! Not Tactical! Still, it does a good job for what it is. For a fixed blade, I have a KBar in my bug out bag.
Kershaw Thermite or Shuffle II in my pocket depending on the day. Leatherman Wave in a MOLLE sheath on my pack for ease of access.
Spyderco Matriarch 2, wave. Bunch of others in rotation, from Izulas to Higos.
I recently got the Matriarch 2 (wave)- what do you think of it? Do you keep it purely for defensive purposes or have you used it in a utility scenario?
Spyderco Yojimbo 2
Currently carrying a Spyderco Dragonfly 2, a forest green SAK alox cadet, and a SAK Classic in forest green. Thanks for all of your work. I really enjoy the reviews you two put together.
I am currently carrying the Para 3 Cruwear sprint in my right front pocket.
Back pocket I have a Spyderco Military s30v satin blade finish
Coin pocket is a Spyderco Air with custom paper Micarta scales.
These three cover all my bases. Big knife (military for utility), EDC knife (para 3) great steel and an excellent slicer, Small EDC(Gayle Bradley/Spyderco Air) Looks classy as hell, doesnt scare people, and that M4 Wharncliffe!!!!!
Byrd Robin 2 -pocket
Bear Grylls ultimate in my bag
Victorinox SwissTool Spirit in small pouch in my bag’s webbing.
Very rarely in need of anything else.!
Benchmade “rift”.
I’ve carried a William Henry Pikatti (Ti handle) in my right front pocket all summer.
Excellent little knife that doesn’t produce gasps when I bring it out in public.
In my back pocket when I’m walking the dog: Fiddleback Forge Runt.
In my day pack for longer adventures: Fiddleback Forge Back Packer.
In my car: Leatherman Wingman.
First time I read about someone EDC’ing a William Henry- seems to be a rarity these days! How do you find it?
H&K Entourage Automatic, by Benchmade
Kershaw Chill. Great edc!
Victorinox Evowood 10. If UK law permitted, I’d always have my Paramilitary 2 on me as well.
SOG 3.5 folder with large oval flip hole. Three years. It’s indestructible. Easy to open one handed and great for lefties.
CRKT Ripple 2 in my front pocket. I’ve been alrernating between it and the full-size Ripple for about two months. I like how light they are. I can barely tell the smaller one’s there, and the larger one is lighter than most its size, but the blade still has a nice weight to it. They seem to hold an edge fairly well compared to my 8Cr13Mov knives.
Lately we’ve had a case of Mexican Coke around, so I’ve carried my Kershaw Shuffle some days. I love the feel of that small, solid blade. In addition, I keep a Victorinox Swiss Army Manager on my keychain.
I carry many different knives from day to day but right now it is: Spyderco Paramilitary 2, a Cold Steel Ti_Lite and finally my third (yes, three knives!) one is Case Stockman!
By the way, many of the links on your reviews (even here) is dead links!
Leatherman Surge
It is the only one handed flip out knife I think I could get away with in germany. I have never been checked, but it fits with work anyway.
Wenger Esquire on keychain.
Victorinox Fieldmaster on P-7 clip in front pocket.
Okapi ringlock in leg tool pocket.
Benchmade Contego in M390 steel (knifeworks exclusive run) at all times front left pocket. By far my favorite edc, been carried daily just over 2 years now.
New to that pocket is a Fura S35vn… which is the steel as well as the name of the knife… it’s a $20 Chinese mini folding knife, has maybe a 2″ blade, modified sheepsfoot, linerlock. I actually love this knife so far (only 2weeks in). The liner lock doesn’t hold very well, and I had to file the choil larger to fit my finger, but it doesn’t matter. It’s comfy, sharp, love the blade shape for the work I do (radio communications etc– cable stripping etc). It’s so small that any kind of locking mechanism almost makes no sense. It’s recently replaced (likely not permanently), a Spyderco Dragonfly that used to live there.
On the belt I carry a leather man charge ti, daily during workdays, for about 3 years now. Love the tool, use it constantly.
Left front pocket: Spyderco Tenacious. A decent quality knife that is cheap enough to use or lose. If it breaks, I’ll buy another one. I’ve been carrying it for about a year and a half. My Benchmade Griptilian lives in my desk drawer – too expensive to lose!
Right front pocket: Gerber Dime on my keys. I’ve been carrying it for a few months. Its knife is useless, as is the file – but the package opener blade is actually really nice and useful. Usable screwdrivers and pliers too.
Kershaw Chill in my front right pocket and a SOG key knife on my key chain. I really like the slim profile of the Chill and the SOG is just a backup,
Spyderco Pacific Salt
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Pacific-black-Blade-PlainEdge/dp/B0028S9M88
AND
Black Leatherman Surge Multi-tool
https://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-Surge-Multitool-Black-Sheath/dp/B019EN7SWG
A Camillius U.S. issue demolition knife (circa 1977) On my first line gear and in my bailout bag/gtfood bag, three or four different knives and a Cold Steel Trench hawk.
When dressed casually?, as I usually am, I have the following on my person:
1 – *Tactical Survival 325S – right front pocket
1 – Leatherman Wave Multi-Tool – in pouch on belt – right hip
1 – Stanley box cutter…….}
1 – Leatherman Micro……..} – these 3 in Nite-ize Pock-its Plus on belt – right hip
1 – Leatherman Mini-tool…}
1 – CRKT Squid – in Rosary pouch – right cargo pocket
1 – *Credit Card knife – in Nite-ize phone case on belt – right side
1 – *Credit Card knife – in wallet
1 Victorinox Classic – in Vanquest Personal Pocket Maximizer Organizer – Slim 2.0 – left cargo pocket
*When in dress slacks, I have those starred on me.
In addition in my backpack, I have:
1 – Tactical Survival 325S
1 – Tactical Survival Fang (full tang)
1 – Camillus Trench Pocket Tool
Would recommend any of these, I have carried some for as little as a few years and others for as many as to 15-20 or more years.
L J Real
Left front pocket: Spyderco Persistence. (Liberally rotated with a Tenacious or a Cat.).
Belt: very old Leatherman.
Right front pocket: the revolver du jour. ;)
Er… I ain’t saying whether I still have pockets nearby after hours on a Friday night. I will say that before that point, I was carrying my favorite Benchmade Torrent.
Orpinal #7 carbon steel for the last 4 years. Leatherman and a Juice S2, with a lanyard attached to my belt for 11years. Every day. I also have a Leatherman Wave in my lap top pack. Had it for about 15 years. The Orpinal has been used used every thing from slicing tomatoes to cleaning and skinning rabbits. The little Leatherman is one of the most useful tools I own. It was once confiscated while going through airport security but the kind security lady posted it to my home address for a small cash donation to cover expenses.
Smith and Wesson Tanto
Victorinox Huntsman
Been carrying a Kershaw 1605 assisted flipper for several months. Good steel easily sharpened, inexpensive, light and handy and most of all I just enjoy flipping it open with one finger. Brings back fond memories of my first switchblade from so many years ago
Emerson CQC 7
It’s been my goto EDC knife since 2005
My wife who was my girlfriend at the time bought me this knife. She didn’t know anything about the knife she just knew that I wanted it because I would stop by to visit it at a shop in a mall we would frequent.
I will always carry this knife unless the clothes I’m wearing prohibit it’s carry then I will switch.
The craftsmanship and quality speak for its self. The name Emerson is synonymous with quality and dependability. I would recommend a Emerson to anyone who can get one.
Around the house it’s my Victornox Executive model knife. Not much to say about it except I use it daily for opening letters, cutting with the scissors, toothpick, using the screwdriver/file tool, and, sometimes the tweezers. It’s small, handy, and light.
Giant Mouse GMP 2, GMP 3, or Spyderco Spydiechef.
For lower profile environments, Spyderco Roadie, Northwoods Barlowe, or Smith and Sons Mudbug.
Thanks to you guys, a Kershaw Chill that I bought last year through your Amazon link!
It’s a great knife. Thanks for giving us the review that convinced me to buy it!
My everyday, always with me pocket knife is a double bladed Barlow. I also keep a M-Tech Ballistic folder in the console of my van in case I need to punch out a window or cut a seat belt while traveling and an old style Air Force Survival knife in my “get home bag. Tried the new AF Survival knife but it was just too pretty. My granddaughter has it in her Bug Out Bag now.
Workdays for last 5 years, Mini Grip & Leatherman Micra dressed in suit and tie, Nights & weekends for many years, one of my SAK’s and a Kershaw / Emerson CQC 7k ( replaced my recently lost Emerson Mini CQC7 ). Change out the SAK for Leatherman Wave if I know I’m doing some heavy projects on weekend time,
All are excellent in their own way for the task I’m called on to use them for. Even the Kershaw/Emerson replacement works fine and I won’t be @#!*%/ off when it gets lost, as I was when the Emerson went missing from my pocket after a trip to the DMV office. Clip did not keep it in the pocket, nor did the wave feature when I was sitting down waiting my turn.
Oh, I also have another SAK that is always in my briefcase 24/7.
SOG Vulcan. Always liked the look of it, got it the other day, about 5 days in to carrying it: Its a bit too expensive for what you get but if you don’t mind the price its great
UKPK in pocket
Opinel No. 7 in my edc backpack
Left pocket: Opinel #8 stainless
Right pocket: Boker Rangebuster lockback
Neck chain: Boker Voxknives Gnome
Victorinox Pioneer. Front right pocket at all times. My favorite in town EDC knife.
Kershaw CQC-8K in my right front pocket side-by-side with a Streamlight Microstream. Have had them as my EDC combo for a few years now. The blade style, blade length, and Emerson design on the CQC-8K is perfect for my fairly utilitarian uses and I love that satisfying “click” (“clack”?) it makes when it flicks open. Even though the tanto design is far from perfect for bushcraft, I often find myself using it to create feathersticks and cut cordage when I’m around the house (or by the fire pit in the backyard). Because of bushcraft, I’m looking pretty seriously at a Cold Steel Finn Wolf as my next folder but I wonder how long it will be until the Kershaw/Emerson ends up back in my pocket again.
I’m carrying two Kershaws. On my belt is my A100 Kershaw multitool, In a typical day I use it 4 or 5 times. I also carry a Kershaw Emerson cqc 7k folder in a pocket which I try to keep for clean jobs.
In the glovebox is a semi-retired leatherman wave.
Forgot to add, I keep a kukri in the shower, just in case…….It’s just too big for edc.
I carry a Kershaw Ken Onion Leak. It is small and lightweight I have carried it for for 7-8 years now. It is a great knife for general use. It holds a razor sharp edge, and nice point! I personally would not use it for hd work.
Right now I am carrying my Kershaw Deer Hunter (https://images.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/kershaw/images/1030.jpg). My dad gave it to me when I was 12 or 13, and I have carried almost daily (except when I go primitive) since then. That would be around 40 years. Yikes!
I am also carrying the Buck 501 my first ex-wife gave me for a birthday 25+ years ago. It has also been a nearly daily carry since I got it.
I almost hate to include it, but I carry a Coleman Hobo tool which includes a “knife” blade. I’ve carried it daily for about 15 years or so. Can’t remember if I’ve ever used it as a knife, though.
And I carry a BenchMark BMK062 ceramic folder that I picked up from eBay a few months ago, just because I wanted to play around with a ceramic blade. It’s the only knife in a (vest) pocket, since the others ride on my belt.
I’m checking myself to see if there are any more on me at the moment, but I don’t find any, so I guess that’s it.
Main carry knife: clipped in right front pocket. Gerber Razorfish 31-003013. Been carrying it everyday for about two weeks. I have always liked the looks of it. Saw it on clearance and picked it up. It’s okay. It would be nice if the pocket clip was reversible. I prefer right hand tip up carry. I don’t care for the blade grind. It is chisel type grind and tends to wedge instead of slice. Despite my personal preferences, the major drawback to this knife is the blade steel. It is soft and dulls easily. Another problem with my knife is that the liner lock engages clear to the other side of the handle. It hasn’t failed, but it doesn’t inspire confidence. I own many knives. My main carry knife consists of a small rotation of favorites. I add new knives to that to see if I like them. If they fail to impress they get drawered. I the Razorfish will not stay in the rotation.
Secondary knife: left front pocket. Victorinox Sportsman 2 economy 0.3803. This knife is carried everyday. It was given to me by my wife thirteen years ago. It has a corkscrew. You can’t leave the house without a corkscrew.
Keychain knives: Kept on keychain in right front pocket. Victorinox Signature 0.6225.T2 and Sog Key Knife 101B. I have had these knives for many years and they are carried everyday. I like the Victorinox because it has a pen and I carry the Sog because you can never have too many knives.
Neck knife: CRKT Folts Minimalist Wharncliffe. Carried as a neck knife. I have had this for around five years and is carried most days. Good backup knife that basically disappears on you.
Leatherman Charge Ti: Carried in belt sheath. Owned for roughly ten years and carried most days. Love this multi tool. I have a lot of stuff that is in constant need of fixing.
Currently carrying a Spyderco Delica 4 for those tasks that require precision, and a Tenacious for everything else. Also carry a Gerber Diesel multitool on my belt while the Leatherman Wave is being cleaned/sharpened. The knife I am not carrying at the moment, but that I do carry most often is the Gerber Obsidian – super cheap, but worthy of most tasks I run into in the wild, as it were.
Obsidian: https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Obsidian-Screwdriver-Bottle-22-41021/dp/B001342W4O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505491016&sr=8-1&keywords=gerber+obsidian
Diesel: https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Diesel-Multi-Plier-Black-22-01545N/dp/B000EDVU2K/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1505491041&sr=1-1&keywords=gerber+diesel
Delica 4: https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Delica4-Lightweight-Ground-PlainEdge/dp/B003CH3V5E/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1505491075&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco+delica+4
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tenacious-Plain-Folding-Silver/dp/B001EI7578/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1505491093&sr=1-1&keywords=spyderco+tenacious
If I’m driving I always have my Swiss-Tech Utili-Key coupled with a True KeyTool on my keychain. A tiny little multi-tool that has come in handy more times than I can remember.
In my pocket today is a Ken Onion Hootenanny by CRKT. It’s my current favorite.
Out of the dozen or so folders I have, I’ve managed to favor two of them that I always have with me.
My EDC folder is a Kershaw Speedsafe model # 1985ST. It has a 3 3/4″ Tanto blade that I keep razor sharp.
My Buck 560C titanium folder goes everywhere with me in it’s belt pouch. Just because I love it and it’s kind of rare.
In my wallet/iPhone case is one of those handy “credit card” knives and on my keychain is a little Kershaw folding scissor/knife.
I live in the mountains (Big Bear Lake) where being prepared is not just a catchphrase.
Benchmade Griptillian
I have more than normal today. I am carrying four SAKs (I forgot to take one out this morning before leaving for work). They are the Victorinox Evogrip 14, the Camper, the TInker and, on my keychain, the Mini Champ with alox scales. Generally I carry two full-sized Saks (one in each front pocket) and the Mini Champ on my key chain.
kershaw 3655 rj martin design