EDC SD Knife Suggestions

What about a cold steel safe maker I push dagger? You could have it in a pocket, iwb, or strapped to your leg.

Another vote for the Kabar TDI or I like the CRKT Bearclaw. Neither are long in blade but useful in a bad spot. Plus, the short blades meet some location's rules.

I carry a buck knife 110 in a horizontal sheath on my weak side so the opening is towards the center of my body. I prefer it that way as I am able to pull it out fast and deploy it easily or I can palm it in my hand and use it like a roll of quarters for punching without having to deploy it. Something similar like this. This is not me.

I don't know the first thing about the best way to carry a knife. Just offering information not choices. When I am dressed for work, having a knife on my belt is a non starter. It sticks out and customers don't want to see me carrying around something on my belt. I do carry all the time. Usually a pocket clip knife that allows for low carry so only a clip is visible and is mostly out of sight. Am I carrying for self defense, not really. When I visited FL-NC when I was on a work trip. He had an excellent carry system that he showed me.

As mentioned earlier. Wearing a knife on my belt was a no when working in an office. Even a belt/pocket clip was a no...
A larger flip blade like a Kershaw Leak. Was a go to, but not utilizing the clip.
I normally carry a Swiss Army, not much of a fighting tool, but a great daily carry tool.
Not sure if western style boots are something that you like to wear. A dagger boot knife is a good choice. Not the fastest to retrieve, but one heck of a weapon.

I need a knife to do my job and I get some leeway. I also travel at lot for my job. Mostly domestic, but have been as far as Europe, Australia and the Middle East. I like low carry clips, but also can't have a clip ruin my pocket. Nice pants aren't cheap or strong. If I don't clip it, it needs to be light and fit in my pocket. Keep in mind not looking for defense, just need a knife for the job. Of all the knives I have (temper that with not a knife expert), I carry the Civivi Elementum with wood scales (looks dressy), the Kizer Yorkie (hard to open one handed, but the smooth sides carry nice in dress pants), Steel Will Tasso (as big I will take) or the MKM VOX (kind of small) the most.

I have to dress appropriately when I work and my work is almost always out of town. I check my bags when I fly (which again is almost always), knives are always placed inside a shoe that is stuffed with socks. People will go in your bag to inspect. Just make it hard to get since their time is limited. Had someone steal a belt buckle once (no reason because it was worthless) but never a knife. As I said, not a knife expert. I can lend experience to carrying in work places when dressed the part. I am faking it until I figure it all out, so with disposable income, I buy what I like and then figure out if I like it. With 10 years of doing my current job, and 40% travel, one gets to know what one needs.

Last week I went to a hockey game in Syracuse, Metal Detectors. Went to a Holiday Party, on the way out metal detectors were being setup for the night crowd. Took my dad to the ER, metal detectors at the entrance. Hotel in the middle east had metal detectors at the door and an xray machine for your bags. So also keep this in mind. More and more places have these setup.

Spyderco Delicas are kind of the Glock 19 of pocket clip folders. They were common in my knife classes. Easy to open, not too expensive.

I carry a sog vulcan usually. Good knife but heavy. Before that i had a sog trident. An early one made in the USA. The later ones have a crappy lock that ive seen fail twice. I have many knives from buck, Benchmade, SOG, and CRKT and older ones from Camillus and such. I also have a leatherman tti charge on me 99% of the time that I use for most of the actual cutting.

I used to think I had to have an expensive knife and an expensive watch. I still have all my nice ones but even the lower level knives these days are better than the expensive ones from 30 years ago IMO. The blade metal on 75-100 dollar Camillus and Schrade hen and rooster etc etc knives from the 90s was trash compared to some cheaper knives today.

I use a knife multiple times every single day. Cutting hose or line, cutting hay string. Cutting animals open. Cutting my daily apple up.. opening the mountain of boxes we get when I'm too lazy to get a utility knife.....I don't care to spend several hundred if I feel it benefits me. But I really don't. My last leatherman was 154CM. The one I have now is s30v. The one before that was aus8. With daily use I can't tell enough difference to care. Compared to the old 1095 or 440a that most knives were....its all great

The only problem with pocket knives with clips is the clip. It's not really an issue but everyone can see it, whether it's a standard or deep cover design.

My wife needed to go to the mall, it was lunch time, so I went and we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants. Fast forward and we were walking to the store, sheriff's deputies always hang out by the info center.

Yep, you guessed right, we were laughing about something and I feel a tap on my shoulder. Standing there is a deputy letting me know that weapons are not allowed in the mall! I was like this , he said the knife.

As I'm walking back into the mall after putting said knife in car... the sign is about the size of a football! And it's only on the main entrances to the mall, not on any side entrances.

If it can't be seen at work, I would look for something that can go completely into your pocket. If you carry a briefcase or satchel, that would afford you another level of carry options.

Mk-211 said:

The only problem with pocket knives with clips is the clip. It's not really an issue but everyone can see it, whether it's a standard or deep cover design.

My wife needed to go to the mall, it was lunch time, so I went and we decided to have lunch at one of the restaurants. Fast forward and we were walking to the store, sheriff's deputies always hang out by the info center.

Yep, you guessed right, we were laughing about something and I feel a tap on my shoulder. Standing there is a deputy letting me know that weapons are not allowed in the mall! I was like this , he said the knife.

As I'm walking back into the mall after putting said knife in car... the sign is about the size of a football! And it's only on the main entrances to the mall, not on any side entrances.

If it can't be seen at work, I would look for something that can go completely into your pocket. If you carry a briefcase or satchel, that would afford you another level of carry options.

Click to expand...

I've worked entrances at several large events and have suggested to a number of people that they might want to unclip that knife and put it in their pocket. Clips don't necessarily have to be used.

I have sewn the equivalent to belt loop strips horizontally to the inner surface of my off-side pocket of some of my work pants.
This allows me to utilize a belt clip to hold my main knife hidden within my pocket while making sure that it is always in the correct position for quick access,

The main-side pocket normally has a pistol in it, of course... .

I'd be looking on the used market for something like this:



Assisted opening that is very positive. Axis lock that it also very positive. I've had this for a long time and still like it a lot.

Kershaw Leek. Opens fast, slim. Decent size. I saw once what and old guy in the army could do with a straight razor. Hope to everything you never get in a knife fight. Especially with someone that knows how. My druthers would be a Bowie type fixed blade. It takes way to many slashes to stop a guy.

NYC prohibits knives from being carried displayed.

The NYPD considers seeing the clip as being displayed. If you’re in that city, keep it in your pocket.

Another vote for the Kershaw Leek, nice pocket knife, very slim and light.

It’s spring assisted and opens quickly. Similar warning about NYC, they now consider an assisted knife to be a switchblade, which is illegal.

I was gifted a Leek a few years ago and never carry it. Do not trust liner lock. But if you do and you want it, PM me your address and you can have it. I'll even pay shipping if you will use the knife.

Boker and Artisan Cutlery both make affordable options.

If you really want a defensive weapon that can pass a casual inspection by co-workers in an office type setting, perhaps consider something designed to look like a pen and for stabbing.

I'm no knife fighting expert. But I like a Spyderco Endura. With a 3 3/4" blade is big enough for me. It is light (3.67 oz) and slim (.45") in my pocket with or without the clip. And I can get it open pretty fast. And you can still find one under $100.

Spyderco Endura 4 Knife Flat Ground Black FRN (3.75" Satin) C10FPBK - Blade HQ

Unpopular opinion - Sell something else in order to finance a good pocket knife. It's something that you'll use every single day...





Now, with that out of the way, let's take a close look at what you're wanting here. Just a very good EDC knife, or a tailored fighting/defense knife?

I've carried some nice, various Benchmades for years, but without a doubt, the Benchmade 535 is hands down, the best folder I've ever carried. Axis lock, extremely thin, and nearly disappears in your pocket. If you want a small knife, their 533 is a little smaller, but otherwise just as nice.

A used Griptillian or Mini-Grip should fit your budget.

A Kershaw Leek is a nice inexpensive knife, on a tight budget.




If you want a defensive/fighting knife, I don't think you'll find a better option than a Shivworks Clinch Pick. With training.