EDC SD Knife Suggestions

As some have mentioned here, I don't really carry for defense but any knife is better than no knife at all. Those of us that worked all dressed up with coat and tie I still carried my 110 buck knife. Just got used to having it on me since I was in the Army. The great thing about the horizontal holster for a knife is if you have to wear business attire if fits nicely in the small of your back and it is not on display. As mentioned, dress pants can be pretty flimsy and is the reason I never liked the clip style knives.
 
The great thing about the horizontal holster for a knife is if you have to wear business attire if fits nicely in the small of your back and it is not on display.

That is only the case if you're wearing a sport coat over it. If not then that pouch will quickly become glaring obvious.
 
The steel almost doesn't matter in an only SD civilian knife.
OP titled the thread as an EDC SD knife so I envisioned it serving multiple roles. I think VG10 is an excellent EDC steel and as you noted, SD doesn’t require much in way of attributes.
 
Before retiring , business attire meant to me wearing a suit or a sports jacket. Forget that it is a new world and the paradigm has shifted where it is cool to wear flip flops or sandals to work now.
I used to wear suit when I worked in banks. I got a government job and showed up my first day in a very nice suit. The manager gently mentioned that I didn't have to dress up. Slacks and a sport shirt were fine. Jeans on Fridays.
I did buy a sportscoat for meetings with state commissioners. Last time I wore a suit was for a daughters wedding years ago.
 
I always have one knife on me, mostly a Waved Emerson CQC-10.
I have never considered it for Self Defense, Because I have no real training using a knife for that purpose, I have only read a few books. I have realized that if I do use it for SD, it will most likely be me getting cut from my own knife.
 
Kind of a crash course in how to think about the targets in using a knife.
 
I don't really understand the common preference for fixed blade over folding knives. Yeah, I get that they're more durable ver the long haul, but if the intended use is to open the blade and stick it into soft tissue, (whether in SD or processing game) I don't see how a folder is inferior; it's not like I'm going to be trying to baton firewood with it.

I actually prefer a folder over fixed blade for everything, but especially in this context of concealment being the priority. If I'm not carrying a knife at all because I can't hide it, that fixed blade isn't very useful.
To start off with, I believe carrying a knife instead of a firearm, if a firearm is legal, is not a good idea. I have trained, frequently very hard, for almost 30 years, and even someone like me is generally better served with a firearm.

If you're going to carry a knife for defense, there are some things to think about. Some of these things may have already been mentioned, or mentioned in a little different way.

In general, folders are much easier to conceal than fixed blades. Law enforcement are also more likely to view a fixed blade with suspicion than a folder.

Fixed blades do have the advantage of being inherently stronger than folders. Also- and this is a big deal- you should be able to use your FB with the same grip that you draw it with. Some folders force the user to change his grip after opening. (This is the reason, for instance, that the assisted openers I've seen are not good knives for SD. Every one I've seen requires a hand move or shift before being able to use effectively.)

Okay, pictures.
The Spyderco Native, I could use immediately after opening, though it's even more secure if I rotate my grip slightly. It's a 3-part opening sequence: draw, thumb into hole, swing open.

IMG_20230209_190731.jpg

IMG_20230209_190741~3.jpg (could cut fairly well at this point)

IMG_20230209_190755~2.jpg
The Spyderco Yojimbo 2 is the right size and pivot location that I can reduce this to 2 movements, drawing and "popping" the blade open In a way that I can't with the Native. It's extremely fast. (The first knife I was able to do this with was the Buck Crosslock. Be careful, and build this ability up slowly and precisely. I saw a customer at a K-mart open himself up pretty badly trying to pop a Crosslock open like I could.)
IMG_20230209_190823~2.jpg

IMG_20230209_190829~3.jpg (usable)

Again, at this point, the knife is in a perfectly usable pinch grip, though changing it to a traditional or saber grip would be preferable for me.

The large Cold Steel Voyager Dave Mc gave me is a different proposition. It's so long that opening is a three-step process, and I have absolutely no control until I move my grip. So, even though it's more capable once in my hand and open then the much smaller Spyderco Native, it's much slower into action.
IMG_20230209_190908~2.jpg

IMG_20230209_190921~2.jpg (no fighting control here)

IMG_20230209_190928~2.jpg
 
I carry a Gerber Propel Downrange Auto. Made in USA, good quality. They now make it without serrations too.
 
I'm not saying to not carry a knife. I carry one everyday.

I am saying, it's not a good choice to carry a knife instead of a gun.
 
To start off with, I believe carrying a knife instead of a firearm, if a firearm is legal, is not a good idea.

Agreed. if I could, I would.

you should be able to use your FB with the same grip that you draw it with. Some folders force the user to change his grip after opening. (This is the reason, for instance, that the assisted openers I've seen are not good knives for SD. Every one I've seen requires a hand move or shift before being able to use effectively.)

Yeah. I'm starting to see that.
 
This is the closest thing I have to an EDC/SD folder. It's an assisted opener axis lock BM Barrage. The blade shape and size is to me, good and would serve either purpose. It's 154CM steel which is plenty good enough for the likes of me. The assisted opening is VERY positive and easy to start.

I've had this knife for several years now and still like it a lot. Don't see the whole changing grips issue as much of a problem with this particular knife and my XXL hands. Photos below show how knife comes out of my pocket, accessing the thumbstud to open, open knife immediately after opening and open knife ready for use.

barrage 1.jpg barrage 2.jpg Barrage3.jpg Barrage 4.jpg
 
I EDC a Kershaw Launch 8 (the larger one) and it's smaller brother a Launch 12.
Both Automatics, both made in the USA. They can be had for around $100 when
on sale.
476yt.jpg
My other EDC is this one, a Kershaw Outlier. An assisted flipper and/or thumb stud opening folding
Karambit. It's not made in the US but it holds an edge well and is a very handy tool and only runs
around $45 bucks.
Karambit.jpg

Karambit 3.jpg
These serve my needs very well.
Dano
 
Amtac Northman or Minuteman, or occassionally a Headhunter blade for EDC. A folder is the wrong choice for defense use. You want a fixed blade that is designed for thrusting. These aren't cheap but they last a lifetime and serve the same purpose as a firearm.
 
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