I’ve noticed my dad keeps certain knives in his pocket in our home and also, when he goes hunting. He used such knives to perform various tasks. Out of curiosity I asked about it and told me that it is an EDC knife and explained its benefits.
After some time, I got one for myself in the next few days due to its lightweight and portable properties. It didn’t disappoint me a bit. Over the years, I’ve owned multiple knives and helped to do daily tasks with ease.
If you have seen or read this term anywhere, I know how curious you would be to know about it. Continue reading and you’ll get the answer.
What does an EDC Knife mean?
EDC stands for Everyday Carry. It is a compact, portable and durable fixed blade knife built to perform tasks like opening delivery packages, cutting or slicing vegetable/ fruits, DIY fixes etc.
There are various types of knives available such as:
1. Foldable
It comes with high-quality materials, an advanced locking system, and is easy to use.
Example: Spyderco Tenacious
2. Fixed-blade
It has no moving mechanism and is straightforward to use.
Example: Kizer Mini Harpoon
3. Keychain knives
You can carry this knife using a sheath or pocket clip for everyday tasks.
Example: KeyUnity KK06
4. Multi-tool
This one contains multiple blades such as fixed, serrated to perform specific tasks.
Example: Leatherman Free T4
Still have some doubts? Watch this video and you’ll get to know more about this knife.
How helpful are EDC pocket Knives in Everyday Life?
Here are the things you can do with pocket knives:
- Open packages: Easily open the delivery packages on-the-go.
- Outdoor activities: A perfect tool to carry while camping, hunting, fishing, trekking etc.
- Gardening: Easily cut fruits from the trees, open the seed packets, and prune plants.
- DIY and Crafting: It helps you when crafting a new tool and fixing anything at home.
Size & weight
1. Small EDC knives:
A knife with blade length between 2 to 3 inches is considered a small-sized knife. They are small and can be used for lightweight tasks such as opening an envelope and cutting boxes.
Doing heavy-duty work with this knife is a bit hard, and sometimes, it isn’t even safe to use it.
The average weight of these knives are between 0.15 lbs to 0.25 lbs.
An example for such a knife is Smith & Wesson Benji. It is one of the EDC knives I own and use it for smaller games while hunting.
2. Medium EDC knives:
This would be the perfect choice for beginners. The average blade length is between 3 and 4 inches. Holding it while doing any task is easy, as it weighs only about 0.3 lbs.
An example for this knife is Blur Olive and Black Pocket Knife by Kershaw. It is one of my favorite knives for relatively big games such as Black Bear.
3. Large EDC knives:
If you want a knife that can do demanding tasks, this might be the right option for you. The average size of these knives are 4 inches and more. The average weight is 0.43 lbs (0.19 kg).
This isn’t recommended if you haven’t used an EDC before. Once you get used to smaller or medium-sized knives, you can move on to this.
An example for a large knife is Folding Pocket Knife by Mossy Oak. This is also one of the ones I own and carry this knife for big games like Bison, Mountain Goat etc.
Factors to Consider When Picking a Knife
1. Budget
For beginners, I recommend you go with the budget-friendly option and then move on to the high-end models. This is what I did in my early days as an amateur hunter.
You can get a high-quality knife for a $50 budget. Premium models would cost $100 or even more depending upon the brand and the model.
Some of the top brands I would recommend from my experience are: Benchmade, CRKT, Microtech, Spyderco, TOPS, Kershaw, Gerber, LEATHERMAN, Zero Tolerance & Cold Steel.
2. Steel
Popular steel for EDC knives are carbon steel and stainless steel. Both have their own pros and cons.
Carbon steel EDC knives are stronger than the stainless ones, but it isn’t rust-resistant, and you need to take care regularly to maintain their blade edge and sharpness.
Stainless steel knives, on the other hand, may not be as strong as carbon steel, but it requires minimal maintenance, is rust-resistant, and durable. For outdoor tasks like hunting, camping, I always prefer this over carbon steel because it stays sharp for a long time and has enough strength for most tasks.
3. Blade Type
I will recommend top 3 EDC blade types from my experience and they are:
1. Drop point
It has a gentle curve on the back edge and the wide belly helps you do slicing and meat processing. For hunting, my first choice is a drop point knife and I own dozens of knives with this blade.
2. Clip point
This design has a blade with straight cut-out on the spine near the tip. Similar to drop point, this blade is suitable for hunting, survival, self-defense, hiking and everyday use.
3. Wharncliffe
It features a long, piercing tip for maximum cutting performance. It can be used for camping, fishing, police, EMTs and firefighters like myself. I own a couple of Wharncliffe and are pretty useful in my job.
4. Handle Design and Ergonomics
Modern EDC knives come with various handle designs such as split handles and D-Shapes. Always choose a comfortable design.
5. Lock & Deployment
This is how you can open and close a knife.
I recommend you go for simple lock options like the liner locks, as it is easy to use. After a while, you can go with some advanced options like dual thumb studs.
6. Carry Options
With an EDC, you have the option to go for a pocket clip and a sheath, and need to decide which way you like to opt for before getting a knife.
7. Legal Restrictions
I live in Alaska and I do not have any restrictions on owning or carrying an EDC knife. You must check the law in your region before you get one.
How to maintain an EDC knife
- Sharpen your knife once every two or three months, even if you use it every day.
- Make sure to clean it regularly after use.
- Don’t throw away a wet blade. Always dry it under the sun or air-dry it so it doesn’t get rust.
- If you don’t use it regularly, apply olive oil or vegetable oil to prevent rust on the blades.
FAQs:
1. What’s the point of an EDC knife?
It is built to help you do everyday tasks easily. With this knife, you can slice food, cut ropes, break down a cardboard box, cut unwanted grass in your lawn, cut annoying threads from the shirt and more.
2. Are pocket knives illegal in the US?
No. They are legal in most parts of the U.S. You need to double-check the law before using them.
3. What size knife is best for an EDC?
A mid-sized knife around 3 to 4 inches is best EDC due to its compact size, versatility and portability.
4. Is an EDC knife worth carrying?
Yes, it is worth carrying to assist you in everyday tasks such as unbox packages, cut fruits, cut twine, open seed packets and its compact size is perfect to keep it in your pocket easily.
5. What does EDC stand for?
It stands for Everyday Carry, referring to items like keys, phones, wallets, knives, flashlights, multi-tools etc.
6. Why do people carry EDC?
People carry it for self-sufficiency and to manage their everyday life easier.
Conclusion
Whenever I leave for hunting, I usually carry at least one EDC pocket knife as it weighs less and takes up a tiny space in my kit. I own multiple such knives and utilize them to perform household chores in the kitchen, hiking or even while camping. If you are planning to get a lightweight knife, it is worth giving a shot to an EDC.
If you think I’ve missed any important point, do let me know in the comments and I’ll add them. Cheers
