EDC and How many threads.

[Todd A]

The "Whats your EDC" and "How many" threads got me to thinking,yah I know its dangerous.

As an accumulator of knives I do forget that most normal people don't have a lot of knives laying around. Some of you guys carry the same knives,or even knife , daily.

I,on the other hand,will often change knives during the day. What I put into my pockets in the morning might not be the same as what I put away at bed-time.

Those of you who carry only a certain knife,or knives, know the capabilities of your EDC's far better than I do mine. Since I don't have a set EDC.

So...Since it is a new year I decided to actually try an EDC combo. Now,I am not crazy , so I am not going to try to emulate Carl's famous peanut experiment.There is just no way I could limit myself to one knife :banghead:.

But until Jan 2010 this is what I will allow myself to carry and use on a daily basis. No other knife will enter my pockets or hang off my belt.



My brand new Becker BK11, my trusty Buck Smidgen, and a Vic Hiker.

With these three I believe I will have all the bases covered. From every day use to hikes and camping with my son.

It will be hard to not carry a vintage slipjoint , but at least I will know what my knives are capable of doing. Something I can not answer right now as I never have them in my rotation long enough to find out.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

A Year?

I have found that I can pretty much get a solid feel for a knife over 90 days.

I've been routinely carrying five knives for close to six months: EKA Swede-92 (belt, horizontal), Leatherman Wave (belt), Case XX medium stockman, EKA/Wenger "Executive Major" SAK, and a Case XX Peanut.

Notes:

On and off throughout this period, I've swapped the Swede-92 for a Case XX Large Sod Buster (in the same belt case).

The Case XX Peanut was recently changed to Case XX "Pocket Hunter" which is the same size, but the secondary blade is the same size as the main.

During that time, I was able to determine that the Swede-92 makes a very good full-sized folder for EDC, the Leatherman is pretty much my geek work tool, the stockman does "medium pickup" work, the SAK has its moments, and the Peanut/Pocket Hunter gets used way more than I originally thought -- especially in public (office) settings.

From my usage patterns, I know that I could dispense with the SAK and not suffer, since I have the Leatherman, but I like the SAK for certain things (bottle opener is more handy than the Leatherman's, and the blade spreads peanut butter or liverwurst very nicely). I could actually drop the stockman, but for handling most fruits and veggies, that long thin main blade is great, and for opening stupid blister packs, the sheepsfoot rocks.

I have determined that a full-sized folder is a must. When you need a large folder, there's just no substitute.

I've determined that a multi-tool or SAK is a must. You just never know. My Leatherman has a very thin "precision" screwdriver. Last week my granddaughter locked the master bedroom door in our new house (pushbutton lock) and nobody could get in. Turns out the screwdriver is thin enough to push the release through that little hole in the knob.

A small "gentleman's" knife (Peanut/Folding Hunter) is a must. It does those fiddly little around-the-office tasks without ruffling any feathers.

Now, if I actually have to, I can get by with a single knife. I did it for twenty years. Twice. The first twenty was a SAK. The next twenty was a Gerber Silver Knight (small gentleman's lockback).

Now that I'm a knife snob, I "have to have" at least three.​

In reality, I had established everything above in about ninety days.

While a self-imposed project duration of a year is an admirable exercise in self-discipline, I would rather imagine you'll know everything you need to know in three months.

In any case, enjoy the ride.

 

[bikerdoc]

Just my .02, but I would cut the time and add a slipjiont and med/lge
folder, but its your experiment. Keep us posted, and good luck.
P.S. My becker shipped today, cant wait!!

 

[Todd A]

Doc... great!! I hope you will share your initial impressions of this neat little knife when it arrives.

When you have it in your hands I am sure you will see why I feel it is a viable option to a locking folder like my Schrade 7OT,60T,125OT,194OT, Spyderco Native,Byrd Cara Cara,Kershaw Storm II, and Leek.

As to the slipjoint that was a tough choice. The Stockman is my favorite pattern and I own about a dozen. My other choice was a traditional Scout/Utility but I chose the Vic Hiker for the saw and Philips driver.

 

[hso]

I had the chance to play with the KaBar prototypes at Ethan's and liked the look and feel. The few Camillus Beckers were real treasures.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

While I'm not a knife collector, or a knife accumulator, my knives I use regularly are like what you've selected.
I have the same cheapo stainless folder that does nearly everything from roadside repairs to whittling. I also have a Smith and Wesson HRT ... dagger I suppose, and a US made Schrade Sharpfinger.
Those three to it all for me.

My pack knife is a wee little stainless folder with extra doodads like scissors.

 

[TimboKhan]

I have determined that a full-sized folder is a must. When you need a large folder, there's just no substitute.

Boy, I agree with this, and if you had asked me a year ago if this would be true I would have said "no". I have come to appreciate the usefulness of a large folder, particularly given the benefit of no appreciable gain in weight or loss of space in my pockets.

 

[bikerdoc]

right now my EDC's consists of a scout/ utility and Native lfp, Endura, rrp, and SAk rfp
I think your idea of replacing the SAK and scout/utility with a hiker is somethin I might consider.
thanks for the insight

 

[Carl Levitian]

"You're a braver man than I, Gunga Din!"

I admit to being a lifelong knife accumulator, and at times my edc knives changed with every whim. Then came middle age.I'm not sure what happened, but one day Karen and I came to a conclusion that we had too much stuff. Clothes, household stuff, tools, and in my case guns and knives. We had a major downsizing.

The kids, nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and co-workers, all had a chance at the give aways. What didn't go to a loved one went on sale at e-bay, local consgnment shops, and Salvation army.

As a result, over the past couple years, my edc has been only a couple of different knives in combonation with each other. Small basic model sak's, a peanut, small pocket fixed blades, and the odd Opinel here and there. I've had a long running on and off love affair with Opinel's since 1982, when I bought my first one.

Then this past fall I developed a problem with my left hand that made opening a conventional pocket knife a difficult thing. Trigger finger in my left thumb, and an inflamtion of the big base joint where the thumb joins the hand. I had never really appretiated how the thumb set us appart from the rest of the animal world.

For the last few months I've been operatating with one hand for the most part, and my edc has been rueduced to my little Buck Hartsook, and a small 2 inch blades custom pocket fixed blade by Mike Miller of Oklahoma. With an overall length of 4 1/2 inches, the Miller knife is a un-folding pocket knife.

It's amazing how well you learn to use something when it's your main every day knife. My Hartsook has been my sharpened finger. So small, yet so handy, I had never really learned how usefull such a small knife can be till I really needed it. Hung on a cord neck knife style, or carried in the right hand pants pocket with a lanyard cord from the sheath to the belt loop in front of the pocket, I grew so used to it, I don't know if I can go back to a conventional pocket knife.

Todd, I'll bet you are going to come to love that smidgon. I've found that in general, it will do everything you or your grandad would do with a conventional pen knife or peanut size knife, with a plus. The plus being nothing to open, no hidden area's to accumulate dirt or food debris, no way it can fold over on you if you get careless, and so easy to deploy it's like having a sharp claw you can extend. It opens mail, plastic packages, UPS boxes, bags of dog food, cuts twine, just like any good sharp knife. The butt end makes a decent stand in for screw driver duty like a coin. It's become my main un-folding pocket knife. I'm due for my surgery on January 22d, so I should be able to go back to using a regular folder, but I don't know if I will.

I'm begining to understand the scandinavian view of a puuko for everything. For pocket duty, a small pocket size puuko. I'm begining to see the light. I just may have to reduce my edc yet again.

I don't know if the Hartsook will do duty for defense, being so small. But a small sharp blade stuck in the right place or slashed in the right spot can ruin a day for the common street thug. And like I said, the Hartsook/smidgin is so easy to grab a hold with while still concealed in a pocket, that it can be a wicked little surprise.

Limiting your edc is an interesting thing. I've done it with my knives, and learned how well we can get by with one 2 inch blade. I've done it with my firearms after downsizing, and my marksmenship improved when I only had one or two handguns or rifles to shoot.

Todd, I exepect that between the sak and the smidgin, they will do 99% of what you will face in the real world. Think of the smidgin as a high tech version of the original obsidian flake.

Good luck friend!

Carl.

 

[bikerdoc]

Brother Carl
good luck with the surgery, had mine 35 days ago, real slow recovering.
PM me to comiserate if you want,
To get back on topic we also are thinking of downsing an I can see some hard gun and knife decisions coming.
Doc

 

[Todd A]

Todd, I exepect that between the sak and the smidgin, they will do 99% of what you will face in the real world.

I believe so. My smidgen doesn't even startle non-knife people. In fact it has been called "cute".

I could manage with just those two quite well. Before I caught the knife bug my EDC was a VIC Tinker for many years. It even served well during my hitch with Uncle Sam,( my only other knife was a Cold Steel Tanto I bought to look "bada@@" on my LBE) Never got to use or carry that one much. Sold it off when I was separated.

I added the BK11 to my rotaion as my heavy duty knife. Good for street carry and woods work so far. I like it. A little to large for pocket carry in jeans, but I don't even notice it on my belt.


I wish you a speedy recovery after your surgery.

 

[JShirley]

This semester I've often carried a little Case sm was kind enough to send me. I have something I can cut oranges with that won't alert on anyone's radar.

I packed most of my knives and firearms recently. I will have limited access to them for probably a few months. I left out my 9x19mm Commander and a spare magazine, and my black Spyderco Native.

Peace,

J

 

[TimboKhan]

You love your Native! I like mine a great deal, but thanks to a Sportsmans Warehouse giftcard from Christmas, I now have a new Endura that is making it awfully hard to choose which Spyderco to carry on the days I don't carry my Griptilian.

 

[bikerdoc]

Timbo.
did you read my post? Native lfp, endura rrp. Your a big guy you wont even notice!

 

[JTW Jr.]

In May of this year , I will have carried and used the same 3 knives on a daily basis. A few months ago I added a 4th ,Sodbuster Jr , just to have a loaner on me for co-workers who ask to borrow , cause they ain't borrowing my small RInaldi Fixed blade , they ain't borrowing my Strider PT CC and no way are they being trust with my Erickson.

With my EDU's ( every day users ) , I can accomplish all I need to ( city boy ).

I alternate carry of my concealed handgun , between a officers ACP , combat commander and Colt Gov model , but my blades , they are a constant. I don't see a reason to change what is working for me , at least until I finish this 2 7/8 carry blade I am making for myself.

 

[TimboKhan]

Biker, I saw that! Curiously, I have taken to carrying a SAK Super Tinker in my vest pocket because the tools come in handy at work! We are like EDC buddies!

 

[bikerdoc]

Proud and honored to be your friend, will be be in denver next october, a good meal, geat gun and knife conversation and beer on me!! Or we can go to conn and and see todd or you both can come here , then we can drive to baltimore and get carl,..... sounds like a we should plan something!!! we are all so much alike!!