Every day carry, what manufacturer are you choosing?
- Thread starter blackops
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Spec ops Grunt
Member
Spyderco, since Case isn't on there.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Various
At any given moment I have three or four -- sometimes five -- manufacturers represented in my daily carry.
Smaller traditional classic patterns -- prefer Case (the XX people) because of good springs, good fit & finish, good steel, good edge, good handles. Not the "bestest of the bestest" but consistently good and reliable. I also have an old Gerber Silver Knight in the rotation, and a Lone Wolf Paul Presto (basically the same guys under a different name). Couple of low-end Buck pieces, because they're fair value and comfortable; good edge and steel, too.
Medium traditional classic patterns -- Case (again) and Buck (couple of older Buck pieces, very well made, comfortable, sharp). Couple of Kershaw 31xx series classics; well made, sharp, sit well in the hand. EKA/Wenger Swiss Army Knife with upgraded scales, because you just need to have a SAK around.
Medium modern patterns -- A number of Kershaw pieces in this range (Leek, Packrat, Vapor) for easy opening, sharp edges, fit & finish. Good ergos, and light, too. Buck's Vantage Avid, light, easy to hold and use, sharp as heck, just a darn nice knife. I'll have to get another, just in case.
Full-sized classic patterns -- EKA (Swede 92, Nordic T8); serious quality at a decent price. Buck 110; solid, sharp, just a nice comfortable old-fashioned do-everything knife. Case (again) because a large Sod Buster is everything a classic knife should be.
Full-sized modern patterns -- Kershaw (Northside Hunter) because it was more comfortable and versatile than I expected. It's a lot of knife, really.
Multi-tool patterns -- Leatherman. Why? Versatile, serious quality, good edges, terribly useful gadget.
When I say that I may have multiple manufacturers represented at any given time, today would be a good example of this:
Tomorrow I'm thinking of swapping the Buck Vantage for the Kershaw Packrat and the Kershaw Northside for the EKA/Normark Swede 92. I might switch the Case Stockman for a Buck Stockman or Muskrat.
Won't know til morning.
At any given moment I have three or four -- sometimes five -- manufacturers represented in my daily carry.
Smaller traditional classic patterns -- prefer Case (the XX people) because of good springs, good fit & finish, good steel, good edge, good handles. Not the "bestest of the bestest" but consistently good and reliable. I also have an old Gerber Silver Knight in the rotation, and a Lone Wolf Paul Presto (basically the same guys under a different name). Couple of low-end Buck pieces, because they're fair value and comfortable; good edge and steel, too.
Medium traditional classic patterns -- Case (again) and Buck (couple of older Buck pieces, very well made, comfortable, sharp). Couple of Kershaw 31xx series classics; well made, sharp, sit well in the hand. EKA/Wenger Swiss Army Knife with upgraded scales, because you just need to have a SAK around.
Medium modern patterns -- A number of Kershaw pieces in this range (Leek, Packrat, Vapor) for easy opening, sharp edges, fit & finish. Good ergos, and light, too. Buck's Vantage Avid, light, easy to hold and use, sharp as heck, just a darn nice knife. I'll have to get another, just in case.
Full-sized classic patterns -- EKA (Swede 92, Nordic T8); serious quality at a decent price. Buck 110; solid, sharp, just a nice comfortable old-fashioned do-everything knife. Case (again) because a large Sod Buster is everything a classic knife should be.
Full-sized modern patterns -- Kershaw (Northside Hunter) because it was more comfortable and versatile than I expected. It's a lot of knife, really.
Multi-tool patterns -- Leatherman. Why? Versatile, serious quality, good edges, terribly useful gadget.
When I say that I may have multiple manufacturers represented at any given time, today would be a good example of this:
- Leatherman (Wave, belt)
- Kershaw (Northside, belt)
- Buck (Vantage Avid, front pocket)
- Case (medium "John Deere" Stockman, leg pocket)
- EKA/Wenger SAK ("Executive Major", leg pocket pouch)
- Case (Peanut, leg pocket pouch)
Tomorrow I'm thinking of swapping the Buck Vantage for the Kershaw Packrat and the Kershaw Northside for the EKA/Normark Swede 92. I might switch the Case Stockman for a Buck Stockman or Muskrat.
Won't know til morning.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
CaseXX
REAPER4206969
Member
My EDC is:
Primary:Case CV Mini-Trapper.
Defense:CRKT Triumph NECK fixed blade.
Backup/support:Victorinox SwissCard Lite.
Primary:Case CV Mini-Trapper.
Defense:CRKT Triumph NECK fixed blade.
Backup/support:Victorinox SwissCard Lite.
joshk-k
Member
I carry a Kershaw Leek! I love it!. I use a knife with some regularity and with the exception of brute prying uses, I've found this knife to be more than satisfactory. I can open it with one hand, it's sharp as heck, fits well in my hand, etc. I live in Portland and every December go to their factory warehouse sale, where I pick up factory seconds at 75% off of retail. Kershaw Leeks for $15? I'll take four, please!
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Need?
Well, I didn't say that I need five (or six) knives at all times, but I suppose some rationale is in order.
Some years ago I set about discovering what knives were available and which would be useful for my family and me to take hiking and camping. I had been out of the game, so to speak, for a couple of decades, and the knives I used when I was young were no longer manufactured.
I tried big knives, like Bowies and fighting knives and found that they didn't do so well for me in general purpose uses. I tried various medium and smaller knives. I found that the quality from certain countries is generally poor, and that the quality from others is generally good.
I joined discussions here at THR, and found that I had overlooked whole classes of knives, so I picked up some of those, too. Of course the whole point of the exercise was to try out different patterns and designs for usability, durability, and so on. In order to do that, I had to start carrying them around.
So I went from carrying a single knife (a Gerber Silver Knight) that I'd used for twenty years, to carrying two or three, sometimes four or more, just so I would have a variety to test as I ran into different tasks suitable for knives.
After a couple of years of doing this, I found certain brands and patterns that worked well for me. I would not declare them to be the best on the market, but within my budget and the time available, the ones I chose were quite satisfactory.
As a consequence of my geek day job, a multi-tool is appropriate gear for me. A small-to-medium "gentleman's" knife is good to have around people who otherwise pay little attention to knives and mostly don't carry one of their own.
I grew to like having a bigger knife that I could use for hacking up a salad for lunch, so one of those became a regular item, too. Although the basic can/bottle opener etc. are also part of the Leatherman, I found that the ones on the SAK are a little more effective, and besides I had extra room in one of my pockets.
And so it goes.
I generally carry one or two that I'm trying out, and another two or three that are just regular gear.
Need?
Not really. Now it's just more of a habit. If I had to strip down to one, I could, but it's really rare that I wouldn't have at least one general purpose knife and the Leatherman. When I'm "going light" it's the Leatherman, a small (under 3") knife, and/or whatever medium knife I have room for.
"Light load" combos have been Leatherman & Leek, Leatherman & Case Pocket Hunter (same size as the Peanut), Leatherman & Stockman, Leatherman & Sod Buster, and so on. When traveling by air, I switch to the "economy" combo, and carry a Gerber Suspension, Kershaw Vapor, and Gerber Mini Paraframe or similar small blade. The reasoning there is that if the luggage goons raid my stuff, it will only cost me $70 or so to replace it all, as opposed to the more usual $250 to buy a new set of the good stuff.
Nah, I don't need all that hardware, but I've gotten used to having it around.
Well, I didn't say that I need five (or six) knives at all times, but I suppose some rationale is in order.
Some years ago I set about discovering what knives were available and which would be useful for my family and me to take hiking and camping. I had been out of the game, so to speak, for a couple of decades, and the knives I used when I was young were no longer manufactured.
I tried big knives, like Bowies and fighting knives and found that they didn't do so well for me in general purpose uses. I tried various medium and smaller knives. I found that the quality from certain countries is generally poor, and that the quality from others is generally good.
I joined discussions here at THR, and found that I had overlooked whole classes of knives, so I picked up some of those, too. Of course the whole point of the exercise was to try out different patterns and designs for usability, durability, and so on. In order to do that, I had to start carrying them around.
So I went from carrying a single knife (a Gerber Silver Knight) that I'd used for twenty years, to carrying two or three, sometimes four or more, just so I would have a variety to test as I ran into different tasks suitable for knives.
After a couple of years of doing this, I found certain brands and patterns that worked well for me. I would not declare them to be the best on the market, but within my budget and the time available, the ones I chose were quite satisfactory.
As a consequence of my geek day job, a multi-tool is appropriate gear for me. A small-to-medium "gentleman's" knife is good to have around people who otherwise pay little attention to knives and mostly don't carry one of their own.
I grew to like having a bigger knife that I could use for hacking up a salad for lunch, so one of those became a regular item, too. Although the basic can/bottle opener etc. are also part of the Leatherman, I found that the ones on the SAK are a little more effective, and besides I had extra room in one of my pockets.
And so it goes.
I generally carry one or two that I'm trying out, and another two or three that are just regular gear.
Need?
Not really. Now it's just more of a habit. If I had to strip down to one, I could, but it's really rare that I wouldn't have at least one general purpose knife and the Leatherman. When I'm "going light" it's the Leatherman, a small (under 3") knife, and/or whatever medium knife I have room for.
"Light load" combos have been Leatherman & Leek, Leatherman & Case Pocket Hunter (same size as the Peanut), Leatherman & Stockman, Leatherman & Sod Buster, and so on. When traveling by air, I switch to the "economy" combo, and carry a Gerber Suspension, Kershaw Vapor, and Gerber Mini Paraframe or similar small blade. The reasoning there is that if the luggage goons raid my stuff, it will only cost me $70 or so to replace it all, as opposed to the more usual $250 to buy a new set of the good stuff.
Nah, I don't need all that hardware, but I've gotten used to having it around.
Carl Levitian
member
I didn't vote as there is no Case or Opinel on the list. That's my edc carry knives. If I need a sheath knife, I have a few old wood handle mora number 1's around.
Carl.
Carl.
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Spydeco Native and Endura along with an old Schade-Walden are my edc's these days
bannockburn
Member
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,306
For work, I carry a S&W S.O.R.T. with a half serrated blade. Does really well cutting through straps and cardboard, and stays sharp for a surprisingly long time.
JLaw
Member
Carl you took the words out of my mouth.
Case Sodbuster Jr., CV blade ..... my Old Faithful
Opinel, carbon ..... testing it out to see if I like it
Mora #1 ..... I've kept a fixed blade with me for years now, this is a great knife to have.
JLaw
Case Sodbuster Jr., CV blade ..... my Old Faithful
Opinel, carbon ..... testing it out to see if I like it
Mora #1 ..... I've kept a fixed blade with me for years now, this is a great knife to have.
JLaw
jahwarrior
Member
i picked Benchmade, but in reality, i could have picked Spyderco, Kershaw, or Cold Steel, too. i always carry a balisong with me, but i carry at least 3 knives all the time, so two of them could be any other knife on the list. i rotate my EDC regularly.
Ya you forgot some pretty good names like Esee and Ka-bar Beckers just to name a couple of them but I picked Kershaw because I own the most of their knives. My favorite edc knife is my Zero Tolerance which is owned by Kershaw and is more their top shelf class of knives. Kershaws better line of knives are made just a few hours from me and they have top notch customer service. I also like how they are well represented on my favorite knife forum http://www.bladeforums.com/. Very good forum and I would say on the same level as this forum is for guns as far as well moderated etc etc. Benchmade is also only a few hours from me and I do like their blades also but don't feel for the price they are that much better than my favorite Kershaws although I do love the axis lock that many of the Benchmades offer. I'm partial to the flipper design of most of the kershaws knives.
Soundmixer
Member
I'm with Carl.
No Case, no SAK = no Peanut, no Alox Farmer
No vote. The poll has to include these classics.
No Case, no SAK = no Peanut, no Alox Farmer
No vote. The poll has to include these classics.
There's a lot missing from that list.
Victorinox/SAK
Case
Chris Reeves
KaBar
etc.
And what in the world is Loveless doing there?
Victorinox/SAK
Case
Chris Reeves
KaBar
etc.
And what in the world is Loveless doing there?
o Unforgiven o
Member
My EDC for the past month or so has been the Kershaw Volt II. For $30 it is a very nice knife. Opens quick, pocket clip is good and reversible, good steel and the textured grip fits my hand well. For the price it is an absolute steel.
Walking Dead
Member
I have bought 1-2 knives every year for about the last 12 years. I have owned about every popular brand there are except the Chinese stuff. But 2 years ago I picked up my first Benchmade a griptilian 553. It is to date my favorite EDC with the runner up being the Buck alpha hunter I bought in 2002. I don't like little or cheap knives I use them as tools and I am not easy on them at all. Benchmade makes some great stuff but with that said a coworker owns a Chinese made Benchmade that is clearly junk. Bottom line is you get what you pay for.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I own and carry on a rotational basis the following:
Case
Buck
S&W
Kershaw
Old Timer
Imperial
Cripple Creek
Steel Warrior
Saber
Swiss Army
I carry 3 of these every day.
Buck 110 on my belt, a small kershaw in my cell phone case and either a Barlow, Canoe, Stockman or Sodbuster in my left front pocket.
Case
Buck
S&W
Kershaw
Old Timer
Imperial
Cripple Creek
Steel Warrior
Saber
Swiss Army
I carry 3 of these every day.
Buck 110 on my belt, a small kershaw in my cell phone case and either a Barlow, Canoe, Stockman or Sodbuster in my left front pocket.
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