Topic: The Best EDC Knives of 2023 (Read 38 times)
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The Leatherman Charge TTi is an updated version of the original Charge Ti, and the only big change is the blade steel on the main blade going from 154cm to S30V. I owned the original Ti and carried it exclusively for several years as a line worker and A&P Mechanic, and it was excellent. When it was stolen, I replaced it with the TTi about 7 years ago, and I like it even more. It has a tool for nearly every situation. I’ve carried it hiking and used it for camp tasks including cooking and gear repair. While hunting, I’ve used the hook on the serrated blade for skinning game and the pliers for pulling hide. With the saw, I’ve cleared shooting lanes and trimmed my beard with the scissors. I’ve repaired planes, trucks, sinks, other knives, light fixtures, packs, guns, and furniture with it. The Bit Kit stores in the sheath so you always have a wide variety on hand. If there were some strange rule that I could only own one knife/tool, this would be it. Aside from heavy prying and batoning, the Leatherman Charge TTi can handle any EDC task you can throw at it.
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The Bugout is an ultralight knife that still delivers in the durability and performance departments. co*parable to the Benchmade Griptillian, this knife is an upgrade, and it’s an excellent choice for the backpacker who counts ounces but still wants a blade that will be worth a darn if things go wrong. It’s also perfect for wearing gym shorts or for the user who wants to forget they’re carrying a knife until they need it. When I bought mine, I tested it with the “beaver chew” method to take down a bunch of saplings, which uses a lot of twisting pressure. I also did some bushcrafting with it. While I could feel some flex while twisting and pinching the scales, it never affected performance and always came back to true. The thin blade is an excellent slicer and will easily handle EDC cutting tasks for nearly everyone. I’ve seen Bugouts used hard and was amazed that they held up so well.
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The ESEE Izula II gets its name from the Bullet Ant of the Peruvian jungles. It’s small but packs an incredibly painful bite. The Izula and Izula II are no different: small but mighty. I chose the Izula II because it has an additional half inch of handle that allows for a secure, four-finger grip. The Micarta scales are nicely rounded and co*fortable and offer great grip in wet or dry conditions, and the clip on the sheath can be oriented sideways for a horizontal carry. I generally carry mine clipped into my pocket, and that gives me the easiest access. This knife is great for someone who is demanding on their blades and tends to chew up knives and break folders. ESEE’s warranty covers literally anything, including house fires! However, you will most likely never use the warranty because it takes A LOT to make an ESEE fail. The Izula is great in hand, and will work as hard as you want it to.
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The Spyderco Dragonfly 2 is an excellent EDC blade for someone who doesn’t need a big blade or has smaller hands. The Blade to handle ratio and ergonomics give the user excellent cutting control, and the hollow ground VG10 blade slices like a hot knife through butter. The Handle isn’t all that big, but Spyderco’s patented Bi-Directional Texturing still offers up great grip. The thumb ramp and forward finger choil on the blade both utilize jimping for extra traction to lock your hand in place. While the Dragonfly 2 won’t qualify as a hard-use EDC blade, it’s certainly one that can punch above its weight class. This small blade will easily handle what the majority of people use their knives for on a daily basis. For those who prefer a smaller, more controllable blade, the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 is a great choice.
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The ZT 0308 is reminiscent of the knives that put ZT on the overbuilt map with some design cues of the 0300. However, the 0308 is more refined and user friendly in both size and aggressiveness of traction. Some people like big folders that can tackle anything, and if that’s you, the ZT 0308 should be a great fit. ZT has a solid lifetime warranty, and has some of the best fit and finish in the knife world. The 20CV steel has great edge retention and in my experience is fairly chip resistant. The 0308 can be had in any color you want, as long as it’s Coyote Tan and Satin Titanium. What it lacks in color options it makes up for in functionality. The Flipper tab doubles as a finger guard and forward choil when the knife is open and offers a great grip when you exert a lot of pressure on it. As far as big EDC folders go, the 0308 performs well in action, fit and finish, and material quality. It also outperforms many other big folders in its ability to slice.
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With a Victorinox Tinker, some creativity, and enough re-runs of MacGyver, you could make a space station out of what you find in an abandoned warehouse. Well, maybe not, but you can certainly take care of most things that pop up around the house or out on the trail with one of these bad boys. The Tinker is a classic design that’s been around for a long time because it works. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t. Ok, I doubt you’ll need the reamer with a sewing eye, but you never know. The Tinker was my first knife when I was 5, and I was sure I could do anything with it. In fact, one of the first things I did was cut myself because the blades don’t lock. That’s the only real downside to one of these. The Tinker is great as a stand-alone EDC item, but it also makes a great co*panion to a fixed blade or locking knife. I have one in my truck, my EDC pack, and “the drawer” at home.
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The Spyderco PM 2 is a cutting and slicing machine. If your job requires breaking down a lot of boxes or other high volume slicing, the PM 2 is a good choice. The handle is large and easy to hold onto for long durations, and the blade geometry allows you to keep slicing even when your blade starts to get dull. The PM 2 is a huge player in the EDC knife arena and regarded by many to be the best. As long as you understand that this knife is designed for slicing and wont double as a sharpened prybar, you should do well. At just under four ounces, it’s not a lightweight EDC knife, but its not a pocket brick either. Spyderco has upgraded their standard base model to S45VN steel, which is an improvement over the last model that used S30V, but the upgrade also bumped up the price. The new steel does hold an edge longer and gives you more slicing goodness between sharpening.
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