The Best EDC Knives For Your Pocket – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

Over the past few years, people prefer to live a more adventurous outdoor life. This new trend has changed many things and resulted in a significant increase in some specific types of equipment and gadgets. When it comes to adventurous outdoor life, survival situations, or self-defense, the EDC knife is something that you would like to keep with you. It may not seem usual to keep such an everyday carry item, but yes, the trend to keep the best EDC knife as a hobby has become popular in recent years. Keeping an everyday carry knife adds something extra to keep a simple wallet, car keys, or a gadget.

The fact is that with every single day, the selection of the right product is becoming difficult. The primary reason is the release of several new models every few days/weeks and the availability of hundreds of variations in the market. Our team of experts evaluated over 59 knives and picked the best EDC knives based on certain metrics, i.e., rating, user experience, expert advice, blade, design, weight, size, price, etc. We selected the top-rated pocket knives and then evaluated them to bring top EDC knives for you. If you have been looking for the best-rated EDC knife, your search will come to an end today.

Best EDC Pocket Knife of 2020

Our experts have come up with a list of cool pocket knives based on certain metrics and divided them into the following separate categories.

IMAGE PRODUCT OUR RATING PRICE
EDITORS CHOICE
Spyderco ParaMilitary 2
Spyderco ParaMilitary 2
  • Features: Textured G-10 Handle, CPM S30V Blade Steel with Compression Lock
9.8
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BUDGET PICK
Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife
Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife
  • Features: Anodized Aluminum Handle, 420 HC Steel with Frame & Tip Lock
9.5
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TOP CHOICE
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops
Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops
  • Features: Black Contoured Aluminum Handle, 7Cr17MoV Steel Blade with Liner Lock
9.5
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BUDGET PICK
Kershaw Blur Blackwash Folding Knife
Kershaw Blur Blackwash Folding Knife
  • Features: Aluminum Handle, Stainless Steel Blade with Liner Lock
9.3
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BUDGET PICK
Spyderco Delica 4
Spyderco Delica 4
  • Features: FRN Handle, VG-10 Blade with Back Lock
9.2
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BUDGET PICK
CRKT M16-14SF EDC Folding Pocket Knife
CRKT M16-14SF EDC Folding Pocket Knife
  • Features: Aluminum Handle, AUS 8 Blade with Liner Lock
9.0
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BUDGET PICK
CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife
CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife
  • Features: Glass Reinforced Nylon Handle, 8Cr13MoV Blade with Liner Lock
8.9
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Check out the complete Buyer’s guide on finding the best EDC knife

Spyderco ParaMilitary 2

Number: 1
9.8/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Textured G-10
  • Steel: CPM S30V
  • Lock: Compression Lock
  • Blade Length: 3.42”
  • Overall Length: 8.28”
  • Origin: USA
  • Weight: 3.9 oz (111 g)
  • Blade thickness: 0.141” (3.5 mm)
  • Special feature: Water-resistant

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (PM2) is one of the iconic knives due to various reasons. Our experts went through over 59 knives, but PM2 won the title of Expert’s Choice. Let us tell you why!

Design: Spyderco Paramilitary 2 has one of the most demanded designs for Spyderco’s EDC knives. Though many of Spyderco’s knives are amazing, the high-quality craftsmanship, slim design, and great steel are some of the qualities that make it one of the best EDC knives available out there. The G-10 grip increases the performance in all types of situations. The 4-position pocket clip with a four-way lock and a compression lock gives it a very handy design for both left and right-handed users.

pm2 pocket knife

Blade: With a new military design, Spyderco Paramilitary 2 has a superior quality high-performance blade considered one of the most reliable steels for EDC knives. The 3.5 inches flat-ground blade is extremely sharp, making it important to handle it with great care.  The full flat-ground blade has a pretty precise tip. It is neither super thin nor thick; it has a superior quality blade that fulfills the requirements in all situations. When it comes to blade finish, you’ve satin or diamond-like carbon to select from, but the diamond-like carbon is mostly preferred due to the amazingly fine look.

Usage: We also experienced a fantastic Jimping on Spyderco Paramilitary 2, and it is even better when you put your thumb on the thumb pad. Its weight has been amazingly distributed, and it doesn’t matter at what angle you use it which makes it the best EDC knife to use. You will always find a good experience. The compression lock of PM2 is strong.

We have tested it under several circumstances, and it has always been an amazing EDC knife. When you have it with you, you don’t need to worry about any alternatives, and this is why it has ranked as one of the top EDC knives.

Pros
Cons
  • Costly as compared to some other EDC knives

Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife

Number: 2
9.5/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Anodized Aluminum
  • Steel: 420 HC
  • Lock: Frame lock, tip lock
  • Blade Length: 2.4”
  • Closed Knife Length: 3.5”
  • Origin: USA
  • Weight: 68 g
  • Special feature: Fade and Scratch-resistant

Kershaw Scallion is a beautiful EDC knife with tons of functionality in a small package. The US-made EDC knife with an easy-to-clean and matt appearance makes it an ideal choice for looking for the best EDC knife.

Design: We liked the design of Kershaw Scallion in the first look. Undoubtedly, a knife’s design is something that attracts people. It has a compact design that can easily be kept in the pocket, bags, purse, or backpacks. Like most EDC knives, they can be handled with one hand with a nice clip to keep in a pocket. The design of Kershaw Scallion makes it easy to deploy and close. In fact, Kershaw has done a good job in terms of designing this really cool pocket knife. This knife has a classy deployment and can easily be used with a single hand that makes it the best EDC knife.

Kershaw Scallion Pocket Knife

Blade: Kershaw Scallion has a 2.4″ stainless steel blade with an Anodized aluminum grip. The durable blade with this combination makes it the best pocket knife to buy. The blade offers good edge retention with a beautiful finish that is easy to clean. It also makes it one of the best mini pocket knives for survival and outdoor activities. It is highly recommended for anyone who is looking for a small, well-built cutting tool for outdoor activities.

Usage: Kershaw Scallion is a terribly useful pocket knife specially designed for 1-hand use. Jimping is very good, and you can use it as a cutting tool during your outdoor activities. It is a small quick deploy knife with a durable blade to use in any type of situation. For outdoor activities, it is quite useful for cutting rope, opening boxes, and for everyone who is a gardener, hiker, hobbyist, or hunter.

Pros
  • Resistant to fading and scratching
  • A lightweight EDC knife with a beautiful design
Cons
  • The locking mechanism is not that great

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops

Number: 3
9.5/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Black Contoured Aluminum
  • Steel: 7Cr17MoV Black Oxide High Carbon Stainless Steel
  • Lock: Liner Lock
  • Blade Length: 3.1” (7.9 cm)
  • Overall Length: 7.1” (18 cm)
  • Origin: China
  • Weight: 3.5 oz
  • Special feature: Blade doesn’t slip with the security of the liner lock

Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops is a small, balanced, and dependable EDC knife made with black high carbon stainless steel. We noticed a lot of people discussing the best EDC tactical knife, and here it is. We evaluated Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops SWA24S thoroughly to find out why it is so famous that everyone is talking about it!

Design: Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops has a really good textured handle with finger indentations resulting in a pretty solid grip. The design is good, and the way it looks will make you feel like a ninja. The size is pretty good, which adjusts in the pocket easily. Just because of the compact size, Smith & Wesson Extreme Ops is a nice everyday carry pocket knife. The access becomes quite easy with the pocket clip and thumb knobs resulting in quick deployment. It is the best EDC knife for those who are looking for more than just a decent-looking everyday carry pocket knife.

Smith and Wesson Extreme Ops

Blade: The blade is made of durable black oxide high carbon stainless steel, and for a lot of guys, it is the sharpest EDC knife. It needs to be handled with great care until you really know how to open and close the blade. Half serrated blade is fully capable of performing any outdoor task. Once the blade is extended, it will lock into place. A small metal piece sticks in behind, which prevents it from closing. We used it for outdoor activities, and it didn’t disappoint us in any way.

See also  How to Sharpen a Serrated Knife

Usage: This is, undoubtedly, the best pocket knife to buy. The reason is quite simple. When you have it with you, you can perform your outdoor tasks easily without any hassle. We have used it for several hours without any trouble, and from whittling stakes to backpacking or any other outdoor activity, it never disappointed us in any way. The overall quality is quite good in this price tag. It is one of the best-selling EDC knives just because of the features in this price tag.

Pros
  • Price is reasonable
  • Compact size, which makes it easy to hold and use
Cons
  • Sometimes you may face difficulty opening with 1-hand
  • Clip is not reversible

Kershaw Blur Blackwash Folding Knife

Number: 4
9.3/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Aluminum
  • Steel: Stainless Steel
  • Lock: Liner Lock
  • Blade Length: 3.4”
  • Closed Length: 4.5”
  • Overall Length: 7.9”
  • Origin: USA
  • Weight: 3.99 ounces
  • Special feature: A good tactical EDC knife

For those who are looking for the best EDC tactical knife, here is the Kershaw Blur Blackwash knife. It is undoubtedly the best EDC knife for the guys looking for a mid-range EDC knife with high performance, especially in tactical situations. Kershaw Blur Blackwash knife can give an exceptional performance in an outdoor activity.

Design: For those who are looking for a matt black pocket knife, Kershaw Blur Blackwash has that beautiful look. This mid-range EDC carry knife has a thumb stud instead of the flipper, which is pretty cool. The design is decent, but the jumping is not that amazing as compared to other knives we evaluated. It also has a reversible pocket clip making it easy to adjust at any position.

Kershaw Blur Blackwash edc Knife

Blade: The blade is made of Sandvik 14C28N high-performance steel that has excellent corrosion resistance and hardness. The drop point style blade with very sharp serrations (optional) makes it one of the best tactical folding knives. Kershaw Blur Blackwash has the speed-safe assistant, and it was quite obvious for such sharp EDC knives. The blade shape is nice, and for many people out there, a tactical knife should have the same blade shape.

Usage: Aluminum handle is durable, which makes it scratch and stain-resistant. The grip is pretty nice with the excellent design on it, and the design is one of the reasons that make it the best EDC knife for many people. The track-tec surface makes the grip really strong to avoid any chance of slipping.  The grip is nice, and with a sharp blade, it does pretty much everything for those who enjoy fishing, hunting, or camping.

Pros
  • Sleek & stylish design
  • Works well in marine and wet conditions
  • Reliable for hunters, bikers, fishermen, or campers
Cons
  • Doesn’t have any lock to prevent misfire

Spyderco Delica 4

Number: 5
9.2/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: FRN
  • Steel: VG-10
  • Lock: Back lock
  • Blade Length: 2.75”
  • Closed Length: 4.5”
  • Overall Length: 7” – 7.10″
  • Origin: Japan
  • Weight: 2.5 ounces
  • Special feature: Ultra-lightweight

Spyderco Delica 4 is the best EDC knife for looking for a lightweight knife with a superior blade and strong grip. Spyderco was founded in 1976, and it has made some great EDC knives since then. There is a full range of Spyderco quality pocket knives, and we added multiple of Spyderco’s top-rated pocket knives just because of their performance.

Design: The design of Spyderco Delica 4 is pretty nice with a slim, lightweight body. The beautiful handle made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon makes it anti-slippery in the hands. The slightly curved handle with several vibrant colors makes the design quite attractive. It is, undoubtedly, a perfect knife for an average person who wants to have the best mini pocket knife.

Spyderco Delica 4

The slip-resistant jimping provides you with better control to use in an outdoor environment.  The FRN handle, and the bi-directional texturing give it a better look and improve the grip. A four-way tip-up, tip-down, left or right-hand clip makes it the best mini EDC knife.

Blade: The full flat-ground VG-10 steel blade with a 13mm opening hole makes it the best steel pocket knife. The blade has a slip-resistant jimping resulting in an improved grip to perform certain tasks effectively. Spyderco Delica 4 has a really sharp full flat-ground blade that is less than 3″ long. The VG-10 blade is very easy to sharpen, and it will be ready again to serve for years. For everyone out there who is looking for a lightweight mini EDC knife without the serrated blade, Spyderco Delica 4 is for you.

Usage: The pretty nice grip with an impressively sharp blade is capable of doing any task during your outdoor activity. In our personal opinion, Delica 4 is mostly for outdoor activities like rope cutting, webbing, and cable cutting, rather than self-defense. The locking mechanism works well compared to some other EDC knives having an inner lock, and the thumbhole helps in the single-hand opening, which is one of the demanded features in an EDC knife.

Pros
  • Lightweight
  • Grip is pretty strong and anti-slippery
Cons
  • Not very suitable for those who want to keep an EDC knife for self-defense

CRKT M16-14SF EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Number: 6
9.0/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Aluminum
  • Steel: AUS 8
  • Lock: Liner lock
  • Blade Length: 3.99”
  • Overall Length: 9.25″
  • Origin: USA
  • Weight: 5.7 ounces
  • Special feature: Automated liner safety, Special Forces EDC

If you like badass pocket knives, M16-14SF is there for you because of several reasons. One of them is the size and the way it looks. During the purchase and the unboxing, I started having a different feeling about this unique EDC knife in many ways. By different, I mean this knife is more professional rather than just to keep in the pocket for cutting cardboards, and it is only because of the tag lines CRKT used everywhere to present M16-14SF.

Design: The design of M16-14SF is pretty nice, with some extra length that you usually find in the EDC knives that people like. The overall length of 9.25 inches makes it look like the best survival EDC knife with the matt black finish and a long 3.99″ sharp blade. CRKT (Columbia River Knife and Tool) is pretty famous among sportsmen, special forces, and those who love the toughest pocket knives. The grip of the aluminum G-10 handle is lightweight and looks pretty nice with a good texture on it. When you hold it, friction grooves help you hold it comfortably.

CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Blade: M16-14SF has a 3.99″ sharp blade with VEFF serrations on it. You can cut ropes, belts, branches, cordage, or cable with the help of a large blade easily. The virtually indestructible blade works pretty well and maintains the same sharp edge even after extensive usage.

Usage: When it comes to usage, we noticed a pretty fine grip. We missed the G10 grip, but M16-14SF offers a solid grip as well. Some of you may not like the smooth grip, which seems to be made of compressed fiberglass, and wish it to have a texture on it like G10. When selecting a good quality EDC knife, one will always prefer a durable knife, and CRKT M16-14S covers the space. It can do extensive work, but if you keep using it for extensive jobs like chopping wood for a longer time, it may not go well. Well, it is a big knife, and you’ll feel it once you hold it. It is a heavy, sturdy, and pretty solid EDC knife that opens nicely, and it makes you feel good about it.

Pros
  • The grip and size will make you feel good about it
  • The design looks amazing
  • Limited lifetime warranty available
Cons
  • Serrations are not sharp and sometimes feel useless
  • Black color can have visible scratches after extensive usage

CRKT CEO EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Number: 7
8.9/10 Our Score
  • Handle Material: Glass Reinforced Nylon
  • Steel: 8Cr13MoV stainless steel
  • Lock: Liner lock
  • Product Dimension: 7.63 x 0.6 x 0.44 inches
  • Open Length: 7.625″ (193.68 mm)
  • Blade Length: 3.107″ (193.68 mm)
  • Blade Thickness: 0.086″ (2.18 mm)
  • Weight: 2.1 ounces
  • Special feature: Strong & lightweight, fast opening

The search of finding the best EDC knife may come to an end if you are looking for a slim but strong & durable knife. The slim size with the short clip may look like a pen tucked into the pocket. You will feel like a ninja while holding a CEO knife.

Design: The design of the CRKT CEO knife is amazing, which makes it highly usable and simple. The location of the thumb stud doesn’t allow a smooth one-hand opening, and this could be improved, but everything went well after using it for a few days. The sleek look of this beautiful everyday carry knife makes it look like a decent tool, but the 3.107″ blade is really sharp, making it a dangerous carry item. We noticed that the knife’s grip is slim, just like the knife’s overall look, which doesn’t feel very strong in bigger hands. This is why we don’t recommend it to those who have bigger hands and want to keep this everyday carry knife just for protection purposes. If it fits well in your hands, then you can go for it.

CRKT M16 14SF EDC Folding Pocket Knife

Blade: The 8Cr13MoV drop point blade with a satin finish gives it a graceful look. The blade length is 3.107” and looks sleek and sharp due to the overall knife structure. The blade works fine in some ordinary outdoor tasks but is not suitable for hardcore adventurous outdoor activities.

See also  The 10 Types of Knife Blades: Which One is the Best for You?

Usage: The CRKT CEO EDC knife has a sleek and stylish design with a sharp blade. Sometimes it will look like a pen in your pocket due to the slim clip and overall knife look. We believe that it is not meant for survival or heavy usage after extensive usage, but it doesn’t make it an ordinary knife. You can easily use it for almost every ordinary task on a daily basis.

If you are looking for a sleek and stylish everyday carry knife to keep with you, this one is the right choice. For tough outdoor adventurous life and hardcore tasks, there are other choices available for you.

Pros
  • Sleek and stylish compact design
  • Lightweight
Cons
  • One-hand opening is difficult
  • Not suitable for left-handed folks

Everyday Carry Knife Buyer’s Guide

There can be multiple reasons for keeping an everyday carry item. It can be a hobby or a requirement during outdoor activities. An everyday carry knife (also known as an EDC knife) is something you can keep with you as part of your everyday carry.

When you start looking for the best EDC knife, you come to know that there are hundreds of models and their different variations/ versions available in the market, which makes the decision difficult. As an expert, we have evaluated 59+ models and picked the top EDC knives for you.

What is the first step before selecting an EDC knife?

The first step is to define your budget and needs. For the budget, you have to keep in mind that the EDC market is vast, and you will find knives in almost any budget. Some may really be expensive, but it all depends on the needs.

If you are going to get your first knife, the requirements may differ, whereas getting an everyday carry knife for adding to your collection is something different. Certain aspects contribute to the pricing of the knife, i.e., blade material, handle material, locking mechanism, etc. But you can always narrow down the choice according to the needs.

If you are going to get a knife for your outdoor activities where you are going to use the knife in extraordinary circumstances, you will need a pretty solid knife with a strong grip. But, if you want to keep one just as a hobby, you may want to have one that is slim, lightweight, and looks good. Whatever the reason is, some factors are worth consideration.

The best approach is to select a few knives and then remove one of them. Keep doing it until you are left with a couple of knives. It will make the decision easier for you and you will finally get the best EDC knife.

What do you need to know before making the selection?

Whenever you want to get a pocket knife, you have to keep some important points in mind. An EDC knife is meant to be a convenient tool that is easy to carry and keep as an everyday carry item. It should be slim and lightweight. Though not all everyday carry knives are lightweight, this should be your priority. The knife specifically for an adventurous outdoor activity may not fit into the criteria to use the knife in a robust situation.

Usage:

The blade must be strong and sharp, which should stay and work under tough circumstances. If you are going to keep one as a hobby to use within the city, several everyday tasks may perform for you.  Undoubtedly, an EDC knife is an invaluable asset and a companion.

Some important tasks to perform with an EDC knife are:

  • Opening packages
  • Chopping food
  • Cutting woods
  • Opening bottles & canes
  • Cutting tapes & strings
  • Sharpening pencil & removing stickers
  • Defending yourself

You have to define the purpose of getting the EDC knife. We have mentioned mainly two purposes, i.e., to keep one for normal usage and extensive usage in the outdoor activities. You are the one who has to determine it and decide because if you do not define your goals with your EDC knife, you might have trouble in the long run, just like you cannot use a kitchen knife as a survival knife.

Size:

For a lot of people out there, the size of the pocket knife is the decisive point. In fact, there are several reasons that size should be the top priority for an EDC knife. You won’t want to limit the usage of your everyday pocket knife just because of the size. The size should neither be large nor small. It should be compact enough to fulfill your needs. The overall size will determine the size of the blade. If you keep the knife in your backpack, you don’t really need to worry about the size, but the size does matter when you talk about keeping an everyday carry knife in the pocket.

Also, some places have specific laws about the size of a pocket knife. At one place, you can’t keep a pocket knife larger than 3″, whereas, at other places, you are allowed to have one larger than 3″, so you need to check your state laws about keeping the pocket knife.

Deployment:

Another important factor is deployment. If you are going to have an EDC knife that offers manual deployment, it will take a longer time than a knife with an assisted opening or flipper. If you are going to get one for the outdoor or usual indoor activities, then you can go for the manual one, but to get a knife as a survival tool, you need one that can be deployed within no time. Pretty much, flipping knives are way more popular in self-defense. They are fast to open, even if they are in your pocket, you can consider yourself as ready as holding it right in your hand, and that is the beauty of it.

Choosing the appropriate steel type

One of the biggest knives fails to take place when you neglect the right steel type. If you ask EDC knife keepers from their experience, you will hear different stories. Of course, there are thousands of people who keep thousands of different knives. And not every knife they possess belongs from superior quality. You are more likely to lose your blade if you hit it hard on wood, especially if you do not choose the best steel type.  After buying a new EDC knife with a shining blade, people think they will not encounter a situation where they have to hit it on the surface, but that does not what a survival knife is meant to do.

A real survival knife is meant to get you out of the situation, whatsoever mess you might be in. Keep it real, keep your EDC knife with the best steel type blade, and figure out the best steel blade. And no, we are not talking about your ordinary stainless steel. Many people make this mistake too. They think every stainless steel is the best, which is not true. So, let us find out what it takes to have a survival knife.

So, the first thing you would want to get your hands on for a perfect survival knife is carbon steel. The carbon steel knife is indeed ideal concerning survival knives. These are some tough and durable knives that would put up with you even if you have to use them roughly. They can easily be whetted. However, they are vulnerable to corrosion. 420 HC steel is another type of steel you may be interested in.

Read About: What is Elmax Steel

Then comes tool steel, which is steel that is mixed with some other metal in order to produce an alloy. This makes the steel stronger, and it resists corrosion, so if you are looking for a tool knife, you can give it an upper hand on other knives. But since they are used as a tool, they are heavier.

And then comes all-time favorite steel, which is stainless steel, stainless steel knife has carbon steel and chromium, which prevents corrosion. The amount of added chromium should be about 13% to 14%, and then it makes the perfect stainless steel knife, which would be durable, light in its weight, and of course, weather-resistant.

Edge Retention of blade:

The term edge retention is also associated with the sharpness of the blade. It defines how long your blade will stay sharp, even if you keep using it for a long time. Edge retention also refers to how the edge will resist wear and deformation, and that can be from striking it hard against the surface, such as hitting your knife on wood. So keep two things on your mind always, so basically, we talk about two important things: when we want to have the best knife, durability, and blade’s hardness.

However, we do not have any specific equation that would fulfill the criteria to measure the blade’s hardness. You just need to rely on some brands, and reviews of course.

See also  Swiss Army Knife vs. Pocket Knife: What’s the Difference?

Durability and hardness:

Be mindful that not many people would use their knives just to defend themselves; it means more, like a tool so, if you want to use it in your day-to-day activities such as cutting a log for your fireplace. Then you would need a knife that should not chip or bend if you apply pressure on the blade. Over time your blade will go brittle if you do not have a hard material. Also should not be so hard that it does not allow you to sharpen it. Because then it will not serve the purpose. Just you need to buy something in between that fulfills your requirements, and that will do for you.

Also, make sure the blade is neither too thin nor cheap, you can tell this by looking at the knife too, and a smaller or thinner knife will have a blade that may bend on exerting pressure. Some of the premium materials for added durability are the alloys that have molybdenum along with stainless steel.

Corrosion resistance:

Corrosion resistance is something you should be keen about. If you are purchasing your knife as a survival tool, you would not know what kind of environment you go against, and having a tool that you can rely on is a big relief in survival situations. If you go for a stainless steel knife, then you can consider yourself free from the fuss of oiling them often. They won’t catch rust. And yes, this is recommended to buy a knife that offers you high corrosion resistance. Cleaning a pocket knife is important but the weather has a huge impact on steel, especially if they are not corrosion-resistant. We are talking about survival knives, not your ordinary kitchen knife that you would be using to chop chicken and vegetables.

The sharpness of the blade:

Another thing that I would discuss is the sharpness of the blade. The sharpness of the blade is how nicely and how sharply your knife can cut through the object if you hit it or apply pressure on the object. Every knife has its own sharpness level; if you exceed the level, the blade might just be wrecked. And you would not want to do so. That’s why I purchase a blade with high sharpness. Also, consider purchasing the knife with recent alloy types, as most companies are enhancing their material, so go for the latest one for better sharpness.

Choosing the suitable locking mechanism

A locking mechanism is another important aspect to factor in. Choosing the most suitable locking mechanism shows you are good at selecting survival knives. Always choose a locking mechanism that suits your requirements based on how you want to use your knife. EDC knife can be dangerous to oneself too if you do not use it properly, which means you can compromise on your safety if you do not go for the right lock. Let us discuss some of the main locking mechanisms you will come across in many EDC knives.

Locking VS Non-Locking Knives:

Locking of knife ensures it won’t open accidentally, making it safe for every individual who will keep it. The locking mechanism, however, does not have anything fancy other than just a simple manual button that, upon pressing, would release the hinge, and the blade would open up. You must press the lock bar if you want to release the blade. On the other hand, non-locking blades do not possess this mechanism; you can open the blade if you pull off the spine.

Of course, there are benefits, and then there are things that you would much appreciate. It all depends on how you want to use your knife. If you want to be safe from any sort of mishaps, then locking knives is the best option for you, but they are more likely to have jam in the opening mechanism, adding the chance of opening delay. Now, if you fall among such situations where you would want instantaneous opening and your blade gives up, you are done. Let us look at some of the common locking mechanism types;

Liner lock:

The liner lock is one of the most common locking mechanisms; you will surely encounter it quite much, especially when you are a fan of EDC Knives. In liner lock, upon opening, presses the piece of metal against the blade, which helps the blade to stay in its place.  And in order to close the blade, you will have to close its way down all by yourself.  The liner lock is always a good option to prevent closing itself when you are holding it. If you do not want to fall into a situation where the blade turns down, it is for you.

Frame lock:

Another type of locking mechanism is frame lock, and it is almost like a liner locking mechanism. All the frame lock does is hold the blade in its static position rather than holding the metal piece, and that is all.

Back Lock:

In the back lock, you can find a notch in the spine. This is supposed to be hooked to pivot the rocker arm at the backside of the knife. When a person tries to open the knife, the notch gets on the rocker’s arm to keep the blade open. The very same thing is done.

Axis lock:

Axis lock entertains a tension bar that has a button on it, allowing the knife to stay open, and when you push the button, it closes the knife back. It is also a common type of lock.

Button lock:

Button lock can be found on most EDC knives. You simply press the button so that lock moves away from the blade, which opens up the blade. It usually pops open the blade with a swift movement, the button of the knife is placed where your thumb can reach easily.

Choosing the locking mechanism depends on what kind of safety you expect from your knife, different situations, and different people keep up with different locking mechanisms.

Choosing the opening mechanism of your EDC knife

Just like the locking mechanism has a variety, and not everyone would stick to one specific locking mechanism, the opening mechanism is also something you should be keen about.  An upper-class best quality EDC Knife will have any of these opening mechanisms.

Thumbhole:

The thumb hone opening mechanism is a hole close to the spine, which allows the blade to pull open; you can use your finger to pull open the blade easily.

Thumb stud:

This mechanism has a button that helps to open the blade when it is pressed. It is very easy as you can open the blade with just when hand, making it very nice under many survival situations.

Nail nick:

This opening mechanism lets you slip the fingernail inside in order to pull the knife open. However, it requires a two-hand operation. You cannot simply open it with one hand like a thumb stud mechanism.

Automatic button:

The automatic button is also a very popular type of opening mechanism. It releases the internal tension and opens up the blade as soon as you press the button.

Choosing the opening mechanism solely depends upon what kind of situation you encounter the most. If you want to have a comfortable one-hand opening, then try to go for a thumb stud opening mechanism, which is very easy to use and will put up in many survival conditions. But can be dangerous as the blade is forced open.

Abide by the law

You must abide by the rules and regulations. If you want to keep the knife, you must educate and acquaint yourself with the local and state law so that you do not fall among any mishaps.

Read More: Pocket Knife Rules & Laws in the U.S.

Local and State Laws:

If you are a USA resident, you should get yourself acquainted with local knife-carrying laws, which will help you later when you purchase your EDC knife. If your knife blade is not very long, then you can consider it legal. It differs from knife to knife, the maximum length of the blade, such as in the Rambo movie, will impose the state law on you, and you can be questioned. Make sure you go through state and local law.

Furthermore, the age restriction is another factor to consider. Underage kids are not authorized to have a knife with them. So, just be mindful of the state law so you do not get into any trouble. You can carry the knife for your safety or as a tool. But knowing the safety precautions, safety measures, and proper right to use is something that not only will save you but also people around you. This is why we recommend you go through your state law about what kind of knife is not allowed and what age group can keep the knife. This is very important if you travel from one state to another with your knife because if the law is not imposed on you by your state, it might be imposed on you upon traveling to some other.

Every Day Carry Tools

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