Quality, Versatility & Durability: These Are The 5 Best EDC Knives That You Can Own!

What is EDC? EDC stands for “Every Day Carry” which are items that you carry with you on a consistent basis which helps you deal with your normal everyday needs.

Some of the most common EDC items that most of us carry today are our wallets, smartphones, notebooks, portable chargers, pens, flashlights, multi-tools and knives.

In this article, we will not be discussing all of the EDC items above, but instead we will be focusing on just EDC knives. A knife is probably one of the most important tools one needs to have when faced with crisis, most especially during survival situations.

We will also be touching on the qualities that make the best EDC knife.  And finally, we will be listing our top 5 Best EDC knives that you can own and are available in the market today.

EDC Knives

Throughout history, men have been carrying knives with them wherever they go for this very simple reason: “It’s better to have a knife and not need it than it is to need a knife and not have it.”

An everyday carry knife is more of a tool, than a weapon. Thus, an office person’s EDC knife may be different from an outdoorsperson’s EDC knife of choice. A simple multi-tool pocket knife is more likely to be carried by an office employee for purposes of cutting open boxes or peeling fruit for lunch. While for an outdoorsman, a sturdier knife that can be used for say cutting tinder to make fire or field dressing a fresh kill would be ideal.

But all knife enthusiasts agree that the best EDC knives are those knives which can save your life in a crisis situation.

So, what makes an EDC Knife ideal? Here are just some of them:

• Open a box at work
• Make quick repairs at home
• Cut rope for camping
• Strip cable and electrical wires
• Has multitude life saving uses (from cutting seatbelts to cutting cloth for tourniquet)
• Can be used as a self-defense weapon
• Can be used for hunting

Choosing the Best EDC Knife

The type of knife that you want to carry depends on you completely. Folding knives like the Swiss army knife is an ideal EDC knife that is extremely useful in a wide variety of everyday situations.

For people who love the outdoors and are more into camping and survival adventures, fixed blade knives are the more common choice. Fixed blade EDC knives are built to handle tougher jobs like cutting meat and chores that require chopping.

Now let’s take a look at our top 5 best EDC knives.

Top 5 Picks For The Best EDC Knives That You Can Own Right Now

1. Ontario 8848 RAT

Specifications:

• Made of AUS-8 Steel
• Knife Open Length: 8.5-Inch
• Weighs 5 ounces
• Open post construction for easy cleaning
• Full flat grind
• Lanyard hole
• 5 inch plain edge blade
• Knife Closed Length: 4.5-Inch

With the clean profile of classic EDC knives, the Ontario 8848 RAT folding knife is the perfect EDC knife to own because it’s not only designed for utility use but also for survival situations.

The 8848 RAT has corrosion resistant properties and its blade is made from a 3 1/2″ AUS 8 Stainless Steel Blade. The molded nylon mesh handle of the 8848 RAT provides excellent grip, dual studs, and has a compact closed length of just 5-inches. The only downside of the 8848 RAT is that it has no spring-assisted mechanism. This means that you have to open the knife by pulling out the blade yourself. Nonetheless, and with a little bit of practice, opening the knife with just one hand can be perfected.

2. James Brand Chapter Knife

Specifications:

• Blade Length: 2.8 inches
• Open Length: 6.5 inches
• Closed Length: 3.8 inches
• Thickness: 0.4 inches
• 416 Stainless Black-Oxide Hardware
• D2 Stainless Steel Blade
• 6AL 4V Titanium Handle
• Frame Lock Pocketknife
• Drop Point Blade

Today, the market is flooded with different EDC knives that feature sleek designs and top of the quality blade materials. What the James Brand Chapter Knife offers is its minimalist design that is perfect for everyday carry.

The Chapter Knife boasts of a rust-free stainless steel blade with either a straight blade or serrated combo blade. The titanium frame lock construction of this EDC knife is also guaranteed to last a lifetime. The James Brand EDC Chapter Knife is also one of the cheapest EDC knives that you can buy today.

3. Spyderco Delica4 Lightweight

Specifications:

• Materials: Blade – VG-10, Handle: FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon)
• Overall Length: 7.12″ , Blade Length: 2.87″, Closed Length: 4.25″, Weight: 2.5oz
• Lock Type: Lock Back
• Blade Grind: Flat, Blade Shape: Drop Point
• Manual opening with ambidextrous thumb hole
• Made in Seki City, Japan
• Best Use: Every Day Carry

Tipping the scales at an incredibly light 2 1/2 oz., the Delica4 is considered as one of the most lightweight EDC knives today. The blade of the Delica4 is just 3 inches in length and the entire knife is only about 4 1/2 inches with the blade closed. The blade is made of VG-10 stainless steel and its handle is fabricated from fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) for long term durability and firm grip.

The Delica4 has no assisted opening for the blade because it’s barely necessary anyway. Opening the blade of this EDC knife is a breeze because it easily glides open without a fight before locking securely in place. Finally, the built in clip of the Delica4 offers different carry options that you can use.

4. Al Mar Mini Sere 2000

Specifications:

• 4 inch closed liner lock
• Matte black finish VG-10 stainless false edge spear point blade with dual thumb studs
• Textured G-10 handles with black finish stainless pocket Clip
• Lanyard Hole

The Al Mar SERE 2000 has been around for decades and was designed specifically for use in the Army’s Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape program. This is the reason the name SERE was given to this EDC knife. This Mini SERE 2000 is a smaller version of the original SERE.

The blade is made of 3-inch VG-10 steel variety, which is both strong and easy to sharpen, and is a lot less likely to break at the tip. At 3.5 ounces, the Mini SERE 2000 is fairly lightweight. It has a deployable blade via a pair of thumb studs and the scaled G10 handle on top of the steel liners provides a sound grip.

5. Kershaw Volt SS

Specifications:

• 5” precision heat-treated 8Cr13MoV stainless steel blade with excellent hardness, edge retention and wear resistance
• 410 stainless steel handle is contoured for a comfortable in-hand feel with heavy jimping along the spine for a secure grip
• A great companion for any backpacker, hunter, angler, hiker, mechanic, hobbyist, and anyone in need of a strong and stealthy EDC
• Handle features SpeedSafe assisted opening, a sturdy frame lock, a 3-position pocket clip and a predrilled lanyard hole
• Versatile EDC for numerous tasks like opening packages, cleaning small game, removing zip-ties, piercing holes, animal defense and preparing kindling

The Kershaw Volt SS was primarily built and designed for convenience. Made from a corrosion-resistant, bead blasted, high quality 410 stainless steel blade, the Kershaw Volt SS EDC knife is not only your typical everyday carry knife but it is also considered as one of the best EDC survival knives available in the market today.

The Volt SS has a 3 1/2″ long tip with aggressive point for piercing and rooting task as well as 3 position pocket clips for easier carry. And since this EDC knife is a folder, you will never have to worry about accidentally opening the knife while it’s inside your pocket. All in all, the Kershaw Volt SS EDC knife is one of the best choices for campers, outdoor enthusiasts, and for ordinary people who just want to have an EDC knife with them wherever they go.

Final Word

The idea of EDC knives has been around for many years now and it’s not going to go away soon. People from all walks of life have been toting these tools around for varying reasons. The 5 EDC knives discussed in this article are some of the best that are available in the market today. USe this list as a guide and basis on what to look for in an ideal personal everyday carry knife. Since EDC knives come in a wide variety of choices, it’s now up to you to choose which one suits your taste and budget better.

A friendly advice when buying your EDC knife:  do a little research on the one that you’re planning to purchase. A quick Google search about the product will go a long way. Also, it is wise to check local laws on knives in your area before buying an EDC knife. Folding knives with blades that are no longer than 7 inches are mostly legal. However, it should serve you best to check your local laws on carrying knives on your person or vehicle.

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