— editor's note) I don't spend my life behind a computer screen. I have worked as a firefighter and paramedic for the past 16 years and am currently a lieutenant in the fire department in the city where I live. And today I have selected for you a list of the best modern folding knives for everyday carry, which we also call “ knives for edc».
You may have found this article by accident, having previously looked at several websites specializing in knives. According to my observations, on many resources like Amazon, reviews are paid. I think you can make the right decision based on my experience, because I didn’t cut butter with my knives at home, I need them for self-defense, everyday routine and work.
I didn't include fixed blade knives in the list because there are plenty of decent folding knives out there, most of which I've used myself or heard from friends about the quality of others.
Knives for EDC- these are the knives that we use in everyday life. And then you can choose the best one for your personal purposes.
Top best folding knives for EDC: #1-5
The first five EDC knives on the list are based on my own choices. I used four of them for quite a long time as part of my . Yes, Spiderco deserves to take first place in this top five - this knife has only positive reviews from those who have used it for EDC. And I'm also a fan of his. But I liked these knives more.
1. Zero Tolerance 0095BW Titanium Flipper Knife
0095BW Titanium from Zero Tolerance- a small knife that is specially designed for everyday carry. Thanks to the titanium handle, the knife is lightweight, and the blade made of S35VN steel is made in the form of a “harpoon”.
Additional characteristics of the knife:
- a latch with a titanium retainer that securely holds the blade during heavy work;
- Smooth and precise KVT opening system from Zero Tolerance;
- pocket clip that allows you to turn the knife in different directions when carrying it.
2. Cold Steel Recon 1 Tactical Knife
Without a doubt Cold Steel Recon 1- one of the leaders in tactical edged weapons and one of the favorites in my arsenal. I can say that rescuers and the Ministry of Emergency Situations will appreciate the advantages of this knife in field conditions. The knife blade is made of AUS 8 stainless steel and is subjected to special heat treatment for extreme strength.
This knife also features:
- black Teflon coating of the blade, which resists corrosion and wear, and also ensures easy movement of the blade when cutting;
- embossed comfortable handle made of G10;
- Tri Ad Cold Steel blade lock.
A powerful "urban" knife that can cut ropes, ropes and even seat belts.
3. Zero Tolerance Hinderer 0566 Flipper Knife
If you decide to purchase knives from the company Zero Tolerance- you can never go wrong. Strong, light, over time their appearance will only get better, and abrasions will even give them a certain brutality.
A pocket knife should not be lying around idle, I have used it successfully Hinderer 0566 for 8 months to solve a variety of problems.
The ZT 0566 blade is made of ELMAX stainless steel, allowing for maximum service life.
Additional options:
- KVT ball bearing system for comfortable one-handed use;
- titanium frame lock with steel blade lock in open position;
- Branded titanium black handle with G10 coating and checkering.
4. Zero Tolerance 0801 Titanium Blackwash Knife
My second favorite knife to carry all the time. I love feeling the weight of a knife in my pocket. 0801 Titanium Blackwash Knife made of solid metal. The titanium frame and ELMAX steel blade give it a beautiful distressed look.
Additional features of the knife:
- reliable pocket clip;
- built-in flipper for turning in one motion;
- steel locking that holds the blade securely in place.
5. James Brand Chapter Knife
When you need a small everyday knife, it is better to give preference James Brand Chapter Knife. Despite the wide selection of multifunctional pocket knives on the market, this knife is one of the most optimal. The smoothness of the shape combined with minimalism are the ideal properties of a folder for everyday use.
Additional options:
- the knife is made of 416 stainless steel;
- various design options: partially with a serrated blade, or just a straight blade;
- titanium blade lock.
Thanks to the functionality of this model, this EDC knife is almost eternal.
The abbreviation EDC comes from the phrase every day carry, which literally translates to “wear every day.” This prefix is used in the name of things of daily use.
EDC knives are included in the list of items from the list of people of a certain profession or hobby. The demand for a particular knife varies depending on the area and place of use, gender and age of the person, and social group. Of course, a number of characteristic requirements are put forward for such knives:
Compactness;
Ease;
Long service life;
Functionality;
Durability subject to various types of external influences.
Everyday carry knives are universal knives. They are predominantly folding type. They are lightweight and easy to use. Can be used both for household purposes and for self-defense.
It is important that EDC knives have such dimensions and characteristics of the blade, spine and retainer that are acceptable for free carrying and use. They are not included in the group of bladed weapons to which legal restrictions on use apply.
In our rating of EDC knives, connoisseurs should be pleased that in the modern world models are produced from durable, interesting and high-quality steel grades: M4, Elmax, M390, S90V, CTS-XHP, D2, 154 CM. “Plasticine” types of steel are fading into oblivion. Increasingly, knives made of different materials are appearing within the same model.
Tenth place today went to Ganzo 704.
This is a Chinese copy of the Benchmade snody knife from an American company. The assembly is of high quality, without burrs or visible flaws. Easy to use Axis lock. Easily and effortlessly folds with one hand. The blade is made of steel 440 C. The clip is located on the right, does not interfere with squeezing the handle. The thickness at the butt is 4 mm. The price is 18 USD. This is $120 cheaper than the original. You can choose the handle in any color you like.
Next in the ranking is the best-selling Ontario Rat 1 model with a 92 mm blade made of AUS-8 steel.
There is also a new product on sale with a D2 blade and a carbon handle. Butt - 3 mm. The clip has four attachment points. It can be moved to different positions to suit your hand. The American company developed this knife thanks to Jeff Randal, who has a reputation as an expert in jungle survival. Price - 40 US dollars.
Eighth place - the legend Spyderco Paramilitary 2.
Recognizable triangular design. Blade made of S30V steel with a completely flat blade 87 mm long. The incredibly compact handle uses G10 steel. The Pivot system adds even more convenience. Has a hole for a lanyard. The Compression Lock securely fixes the blade. Clip with four mounting options. Weight - 108 grams. This is the best EDC knife to carry in the city. The cost is 140 US dollars.
In seventh place is a copy of Sebenza 21 Kevin John.
Price - 80 dollars. USA. The original from Chris Reeve is four times more expensive. On a D2 blade, titanium handle. The classic design of the structure will appeal to many. Ergonomics are excellent. The blade length in the Sebenza 21 replica is 75 mm, thickness - 3.1.
Sixth place for Shirogorov Khati.
This model is selling out all over the world at breakneck speed. The 100 mm long blade is made of stainless steel S30V, which has a high degree of hardness. Blade thickness - 3.9 mm. The butt has a notch for comfortable placement of the thumb. It has a carbon handle with a ribbed polished surface on one side and titanium on the other. Fixation is thought out using the Frame lock mechanism. Titanium clip with 3D processing and lanyard hole.
The classic from Benchmade 581 Barrage is in fifth place.
The blade is 91 mm long and has M390 steel. Great mixing. The handle is made of G10. Aluminum bolsters. Precise and neat execution will delight connoisseurs. Lock with semi-automatic mechanism. The blade lock switch will protect against spontaneous opening. Removable double-sided clip. Cost - 180 US dollars.
Fourth place for its unique versatility in use goes to the Benchmade 810 Contego.
This knife can be everything. From an ax and machete to simple kitchen utensils for cutting meat. The blade has M390 steel with a hardness of about 62 units. This makes it easy to handle hard surfaces. Blade thickness 3.9 mm. For travelers, this knife is simply irreplaceable. Weight is 168 g. Two-color G10 on the handle with 3D processing. Perfect fit of all parts. Price about 200 US dollars.
Spyderco Domino in third place.
Small flipper. On the CTS-XHP blade. The handle is coated with titanium on one side and laminated G10 carbon on the other. Soft flip due to bearings. Weight - 119 g. Powerful Reeve Integral Lock, which is equipped with a replaceable steel “cracker”. The handle has a hole for a lanyard and a clip that can be adjusted to four different positions. Lots of options to grab. Holds an edge for a long time. The knife was made in Taiwan.
A worthy second place is occupied by the mini version of the Benchmade Bone Collector knife.
Compactness and ease of placement are its main advantages. Beautiful and recognizable thanks to its larger predecessor, which is no longer in production. But it is still available for sale. Hunting design with checkered G10 stainless steel handle. The blade is made of D2 steel. Excellent cut and reasonable price.
Zero Tolerance 0562 CF Hinderer takes first place.
It can be purchased in a version where the blade is made of Elmax steel and the handle is made of G10. Or with M390 steel on the blade and a carbon handle. The American manufacturer gives you the opportunity to make a choice based on personal preferences. The handle is made as a monolock or framelock. The left die is titanium. It has a stonewash finish and a frame travel limiter. The flip is excellent. The blade moves easily from any position. I would like to highlight the presence of KVT bearings on the axial mechanism. Development of knife design and blade profile by Rick Hinderar. Frame Lock with steel insert and stabilizer is used to securely fix the blade. The removable two-position clip is designed to be carried in a deep pocket. The hole for the lanyard has also been thought out. Weight - 155 g. Cost varies from 200 to 300 US dollars.
No matter what fashion trends this or next year brings us, we must always remember about our own convenience and take into account all the possible advantages and disadvantages of a knife for every day. Of course, this rating does not pretend to be super objective, and the places are rather arranged simply in order of review, but if it helps you decide on the choice of a knife for EDC, we will be glad. If you manage to choose a comfortable version of an EDC knife, it can serve you well for a long time.
What knife do you always have in your pocket and why?
The main problem with items meant to be worn every day is that they can easily get lost. If it’s not difficult to keep track of the location of your wallet or phone, then you can use a folding knife, for example, and forget to put it back in your pocket. And if this is an expensive and beautiful Benchcraft, it will be very expensive to lose it, since you will have to pay several thousand rubles for a new copy.
Always having a knife with you every day is a responsible matter. It should be easy to use and cut well. And it is not at all necessary to choose a model made from the best materials for this purpose. Most likely, when choosing a knife, you should pay attention to its reliability and the optimal combination of price and quality. If you don’t want to spend more than 3,000 rubles, focus on a copy that can serve you well for a year or two. In any case, it is not advisable to turn such an item into a family heirloom. Here is a list of the five most the best budget knives for every day, which can be purchased at a reasonable price.
CRKT Drifter G-10 knife – entry point
Pros: You can choose a knife with a handle made of light and rigid reinforced polymer (G10) or opt for a steel handle.
Cons: very rigid clip for attaching the knife to your pocket
The manufacturer puts on the market many more models of high-quality and relatively inexpensive knives than any other brand. His products are popular, and the example of the Drifter model can easily show why. For little money, the buyer is offered a beautifully designed knife with a length of 165 mm and a weight of 68 to 90.7 g with two possible types of locks for fixing the blade - Liner Lock or Frame Lock.
Price: 2,870 rub.
Kershaw Cryo Knife - Heavy Duty
Pros: The groove on the knife prevents rust
Cons: The pegs and serrations of this folding knife often get caught in your pocket
The first thing I would like to mention about the Cryo is that it is quite heavy. With a length of 165 mm, it weighs more than 110 g. It will feel very good in your pocket. Other than that unfortunate fact, the Cryo is a beautiful knife with an 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade designed by famed designer Rick Hinderer. This knife is easy to sharpen and, thanks to the phosphor bronze spring mechanism, it opens just as easily.
Price: 1,600 rub.
Spyderco Tenacious knife - fast work
Pros: Liner Lock does not put pressure on the blade
Cons: the blade looks overly wide for its size; there is no heel, which can create certain difficulties in using this knife
A nice design, optimal for quickly throwing out the blade, makes this knife for every day very popular in its segment. The handle is made of G10 material and withstands any operating conditions well. Thanks to the general design solution, the locking mechanism works flawlessly, without moving from the central axis of the blade. The knurled handle and finger rest will prevent the knife from falling out if it is in a dirty or slippery hand with grease. This Spyderco has a very sharp triangular blade.
Price: 5,690 rub.
SOG Twitch II Knife – Main Blade
Pros: the blade does not become dull for a long time
Cons: The release spring may rust and seize.
As a budget option, this knife is really very good. The Twitch II is lightweight as its handle is made of aluminum and will never rust. The AUS-8 steel blade has increased strength due to low-temperature heat treatment performed using SOG technology. The biggest advantage of this knife is its ability to make very thin cuts.
Everyone also knows what is an integral part of EDC. At least I am convinced of this. The term " public knife"came across to me on one of the bourgeois sites dedicated to EDC, and made me think. I drafted a short article based on the translations of these bourgeois sites and my thoughts on this topic, perhaps you will find it useful.
On forums, and in life, many people complain about the negative reaction of others when they pull out a knife in public. Perhaps you are also familiar with stupid jokes from the series “Who are you going to kill?”, “Why do you need a knife, are you a terrorist?” Annoying, isn't it? As someone who has carried a knife since I was 7 years old, this also irritated me. Until one incident, I was walking around the shopping center one day and saw a stranger who took out a switchblade, not a small one, even if it was for cutting a box, but believe me, he really bothered me. It turns out that the reaction to a man armed with a huge knife in a crowd of unarmed people is not entirely positive. Especially knowing what a skilled person can do with a knife and at what speed.
And if you think about it, then scares people not myself the fact of the presence of a knife, but the disproportion knife and purpose of use.
Let's figure out what a “big knife” actually is. Probably 90% of ordinary people will answer that this is “any knife that is not small.” People who are more or less interested in knives divide them into small, medium and large. In terms of size, not purpose. For ordinary people, there are either small knives or large ones. Therefore, that average folding knife that you carry with you may seem big to the average person, and if you show him a really big knife, he will say that it’s a fucking samurai sword!
The reason is simple the majority people no experience handling knives. They are against knives, simply because they are against them, they don’t know which knife is needed for what. This is like the overwhelming majority of opponents of the free sale of weapons - they have never held a weapon in their hands, have not been to a shooting range and in general, they are simply against it.
The Importance of the Public Knife in EDC
So we come to the concept of “public knife”. In order not to look like a samurai with a cleaver in the eyes of the ordinary public, you need select for "public" such purposes knife, which will meet needs and him size will be appropriate. Meeting people halfway and not scaring them is one of the goals.
For an analogy, imagine that you brought a wristwatch for repair, and the repairman, instead of a miniature screwdriver, took out a huge chisel. You will at least be surprised, right? Because what can you do with this crap on a watch? Panic, shock, goodbye to the clock...
Here is another example, just from bourgeois sites. A comrade told how he traveled through Europe, which, in principle, is shy towards any weapon, not just knives. He was there with a local company and needed to cut a piece of lemon for tea. He had 2 knives with him, a 5-centimeter and a 10-centimeter. Taking out a small knife, he carefully cut off the lemon, the reaction of the surrounding public was neutral, one girl even joked, saying how convenient and what a cute little thing. A couple of days later, our hero was walking along the beach with the same girl and the girl damaged her sandal. A friend needed a 10-centimeter knife for repairs. The reaction was still neutral from those around him, the sandals were safely adjusted and the walk continued.
What are we returning to? people around should understand why you need one knife or another. Combine in your mind the size of the knife and the purpose of its use.
This looks normal. 
But this looks strange. If you have to open an envelope or a cardboard box, what will you choose? Which knife is more suitable for this in a public place where there are a lot of people?
When choosing"public knife" keep it simple rules- it should be maximum small, But sufficient for your tasks, and also call neutral reaction surrounding people. Knives with a blade up to 5 centimeters are suitable for this.
Another point is that the appearance of the “public knife” should be neutral and not aggressive. Compare the photos above and below.
Considering the fact that you will use the “public knife” from EDC most often, when choosing a knife, pay attention to its appearance, convenience and technical characteristics. After all, a knife is a knife and it should not become dull, break or look like a parrot. It should be something like this (Spyderco Manbug G-10):
As a result, you can even carry a samurai sword with you, but for everyday tasks and for EDC, have a “public knife” with you, this will greatly simplify your life and save you from unnecessary attention and stupid jokes from others. Yes, and it’s more convenient, most often.
Meet my first knife - Cold Steel Voyager Large Clip Point 29TLC.Thanks everyone for the discussion and advice: .
I paid attention to steel - S30V is certainly better than AUS-8, and Sandvik will have to be adjusted after every job...
I read about locks - Axis is the most reliable, but sometimes the springs break; Back - supposedly also reliable;
and Tri-Ad is even more reliable, improved Back; Liner - against their background raised doubts... for me.But the most important advice turned out to be “you have to hold it in your hands.”
Under the cut is a plate of budget EDC (steel, lock, blade length, weight, handle material, price),
including personal feelings and comments, useful links, as well as 9 more photos of my “cold style”:
Choose for yourself!
Name
Blade length, mm
Lever
Impressions
Benchmade Griptilian 551
Very beautiful, elegant, comfortable in the hand, I almost bought it! A little.
Benchmade Griptilian 550
I didn't like the hinged opening option.
BlackFox Tactical Knife
The handle is uncomfortable, but some may like it.
Boker Plus Kalashnikov 47
The handle is too textured and wide.
“Cute”, but a little not what I wanted.
Cold Steel AK-47
Good in the hand, but expensive. Above budget.
Cold Steel American Lawman
I didn’t like the feel, although it was flat enough for everyday wear. Moreover, the consultant at the store said that this G10 is a thunderstorm for pockets and pants.
Cold Steel Spartan
Cool, funny, big as EDC.
Cold Steel Extra Large Vaquero
Saber. A cutlass with a handle that is uncomfortable for me. Dangerous looking!
Cold Steel Vaquero Large 29TLV
It was meant for cutting with a lasso, it looks cool, but of no use to me.
Cold Steel Voyager Extra Large Clip Point
The handle is too big, and it's too big.
Cold Steel Voyager Medium Clip Point
The handle is too small and uncomfortable to hold.
Cold Steel Voyager Large Clip Point 29TLC
Bought! Delight! Like a native one in your hand.
Cold Steel Voyager Large Clip Point 29TLCH
Again, I have no need for a serrator.
Good, fits like a glove, but expensive.
Kershaw Junkyard Dog II
Sandvik 13C26 + CPM-D2
Doubts about composite - two components - steel. Doubts, in my case, are not substantiated.
Kershaw Junkyard Dog II
Convenient to hold, convenient to open - with a special fin. I liked it.
Kershaw Tremor 1950
Didn't like it.
Kershaw Volt II 3650
Didn't like it.
I couldn’t hold it, I was confused by the “liner”.
Spyderco Endura 4
Didn't fit into my hand. Not at all convenient.
Above budget. Comfortable in the hand.
Spyderco Manix2 Blue
The only "spider" with which I felt comfortable. Expensive.
Spyderco Resilience
If the Tenacious is a bit small on the handle, this one has more than it needs.
Spyderco Tenacious Black C122GBBKP
The black blade looks cool in pictures, but looks cheap in real life. The paint seems to come off very easily.
Spyderco Tenacious C122GP
The handle is too small, the little finger hangs.
Timberline Workhorse
Apparently a good option, but I also couldn’t hold it.
The prices indicated are the cheapest that I could find in Ukrainian online stores.Sorry for the quality, first experience.
Extreme testing of budget knives from St. Petersburg club:
